Panel II of a Hearing of the House Government Reform Committee - Recommendations of the 9-11 Commission
Federal News Service
August 3, 2004 Tuesday
HEADLINE: PANEL II OF A HEARING OF THE HOUSE GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE
SUBJECT: RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 9/11 COMMISSION
CHAIRED BY: REPRESENTATIVE TOM DAVIS (R-VA)
WITNESSES: SALLY REGENHARD, FAMILY MEMBER OF 9/11 VICTIM; BEVERLY ECKERT, FAMILY MEMBER OF 9/11 VICTIM; ROBIN WIENER, FAMILY MEMBER OF 9/11 VICTIM
LOCATION: 2154 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D.C.
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REP. SHAYS: I thank the gentleman.
At this time, the chair would recognize Ms. Watson.
REP. DIANE WATSON (D-CA): Again, we appreciate and we thank you for your sincere devotion to all of our causes. I just want to say very quickly, we must-I feel the need to move very quickly, as you do. And I would hope that you would take an example of MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which originated in the capital, Sacramento, California. Many years ago a young girl was killed, and her mother organized a group of the neighbors, and now they're nationwide.
Ms. Eckert, you said that there are relatives all over the country. What I would like to see is that you organize yourselves into chapters around the country, and you visit your representatives, wherever the locations are, you visit and you talk to each and every one of them about what you, as family members, as Americans, as citizens, would like to have them do to represent you. MADD, as you know, is a very effective and instrumental organization that has been the basis of many of the laws we've introduced not only in California, but across the country. I see you as being a model for that kind of organization. I would like you to follow up. My staff is going to give you-I have some more information for the three of you that I'll give to you privately, and so we'll see you afterwards.
Thank you. I'll be leaving shortly, but I hope that we can stay in touch.
MS. ECKERT: And a real quick comment on that. It's funny, because we realize we need to take next steps, and we're here for the long-haul, but we could use reinforcements. And I think you've made some excellent suggestions and we've actually already been talking about kind of a subcommittee. We don't want to get too bureaucratic, but we do know that there is a need to, as the Commission is doing, traveling the country and explaining to people exactly what this is all about. So, that sounds like an excellent suggestion.
REP. WATSON: On the West Coast of California could be the surrogate and could visit my office, and the office of our large delegation of 54.
MS. REGENHARD: I wanted to say that one of the family groups, 9/11 Families for Secure America, does visit individual Congress people to advocate for immigration reform, and driver's license reform. And it's a difficult job, because they're not always received the way they would like to be. And a lot of times their goals are misinterpreted. But I think it's a wonderful idea, and we have to continue to do that.
MS. WIENER: I also want to thank you, and rest assured actually there a number of family groups out there that we're all trying to coordinate, and a number of us do maintain databases that we've been able to put together of family members beyond this geographic area, and trying to locate families throughout the country so that we can-we are in, I would imagine, almost every district when you span out to cousins, and uncles, and aunts. We will make sure we fan out as deep as we can, and try to reach everyone.
REP. WATSON: I commend and congratulate you on your efforts, your compassion. We all share your feelings, and I know that something good is going to come out of this. Thank you so very much.
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