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House Passes Melancon Resolution Honoring 11 Workers Who Lost Their Lives in the Deepwater Horizon Disaster |
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May 26, 2010
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Charlie Melancon’s (LA-03) Resolution honoring the 11 workers who lost their lives on the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil platform accident in April. Congressman Melancon’s Resolution also extended condolences to the families of the workers and recognizes the valiant efforts of emergency response workers at the disaster site.
Congressman Melancon spoke in support of his resolution on the floor of the House today. To view Congressman Melancon’s floor speech, please click here.
Congressman Melancon said, “Setting aside the present crisis for a moment - I am proud to stand with members of this Congress to remember those men who represent a very human face to this tragedy.
“I would also like to take a moment to recognize the families of those 11 people. Those men were doing what so many other men and women do in Louisiana every day – they were working to provide a better life for their families, while braving difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions to provide the domestic energy needed to drive our nation and our economy.
“Our thoughts are with these families and I pray that their grief is not forgotten by the rest of us.”
Congressman Melancon has been leading efforts in Louisiana to coordinate the federal and local response to the oil leak caused by the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil platform over one month ago. Congressman Melancon represents in the U.S. Congress the areas of coastal Louisiana most directly affected by the oil leak, including Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Terrebonne, Lafourche and Jefferson Parishes.
The Deepwater Horizon platform was located 50 miles off the coast of Louisiana’s Third Congressional District.
Click here to view Congressman Melancon’s resolution.
Below are Congressman Melancon’s remarks, as prepared for delivery.
Thank you very much.
I rise today with a heavy heart to remember the 11 men that died on the offshore rig Deepwater Horizon.
Those men and women, and thousands other like them, travel out to offshore rigs every day to work hard and provide opportunities for the rest of us to make a living.
As the crisis in the Gulf of Mexico continues to grow we see shorelines, fisheries and other economies threatened. This unprecedented event has the entire Gulf Coast – and country – watching to see how soon we can end this.
Setting aside the present crisis for a moment - I am proud to stand with members of this Congress to remember those men who represent a very human face to this tragedy.
I would also like to take a moment to recognize the families of those 11 people. Those men were doing what so many other men and women do in Louisiana every day – they were working to provide a better life for their families, while braving difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions to provide the domestic energy needed to drive our nation and our economy. Our thoughts are with these families and I pray that their grief is not forgotten by the rest of us.
And we should also recognize the courageous work of the emergency responders who fought the blaze and saved lives that night.
The loss of those 11 workers is a high cost to their families, and so I ask everyone to remember the personal side to this tragedy.
Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
I yield back.
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