Carie Lemack Statement

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