September 13, 2005
Dear Members of Congress,
4 years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, we are awash
again in horrors of a new tragedy. And once again, the questions
must be asked - how can this happen? What could have been done to
stop it? What can we do to stop it from happening in the
future?
As a daughter whose mom was murdered that clear September day, I
know all to well how it feels to contemplate those questions. And
I understand the need to remain resolute to do all we can to make
sure no other families have to ask these questions amidst their own
grief. 3,000 lives are too many lose. Now we have to add
countless other lives lost on the Gulf Coast to that list of
unnecessary deaths that common sense and preemptive action could
have prevented.
I implore members of Congress to look at the big picture, look
beyond their districts' politics, and take actions now that can
save literally millions of lives. There is no more important job
our elected officials can do.
We know of the existing threat caused by unprotected or
inadequately protected chemical plants. The EPA identified 123
chemical plants that, if attacked, could kill more than one million
people. Industry groups claim it is too expensive, too onerous to
have more than video cameras and overworked, underpaid security
guards.
But the horrors of Katrina clearly demonstrate the catastrophic
costs of NOT providing ample security. The 1984 devastation in
Bhopal should have been awake up call enough.
So now we have no choice but to call on Congress to ensure that
the nation's security, from manmade and natural disasters, is
upheld. I leave it to the experts to debate the details, but make
no mistake - it is the duty of our elected officials to pass needed
legislation, securing our nations' chemical plants, encouraging use
of less toxic materials, and re-routing hazardous material
transports. Doing anything less is negligent.
We owe it to the lives that have been lost to learn and change,
to ensure their fate does not befall others. Let our leaders
pledge today to take the necessary steps to protect those future
victims from a fate that should not be theirs.
Carie Lemack
Daughter of Judy Larocque
Co-founder of Families of September 11
Framingham, Massachusetts