Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. RASKIN. Madam Chairwoman, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 3055, relating to a problem taking place in my district that may be reflective of what is happening in many other parts of the country.

A fire station on a military installation recently experienced a devastating fire itself, but now cannot get the funds it needs to construct a new firehouse.

Madam Chairwoman, the United States spends billions of dollars every year on military projects, but we need the funds to fix and maintain the basic buildings and infrastructure that have fallen into disrepair on military installations across the country.

This situation was brought to my attention by constituents who work at the Naval District of Washington Fire and Emergency Services station located at the Naval Support Activity Bethesda installation in Maryland. NSA Bethesda provides base support for 40 tenant commands, including Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, which the Members of this body know well.

Earlier this year, a fire broke out at NSA Bethesda's station, which exacerbated already hazardous conditions at the firehouse. It began in the kitchen, but because the fire alarm never went off, the flames spread into other rooms, causing extensive damage and rendering the firehouse basically unfit for occupancy. Fortunately, no one was injured because no one was there, but had the fire occurred overnight while everyone was asleep, it would have been a nightmare.

For several years prior to the fire, concerns about the safety of the firehouse, which was built in 1942, were raised by the people who live and work there. The complaints ranged from dangerous mold and asbestos, to roof leaks, electrical problems, and structural instability.

Temporary trailers erected next to the firehouse are also at a breaking point with air-conditioning units that only work intermittently, chronic mold, and leaking septic pipes. Yet, the complaints of the firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs were minimized or ignored. The firefighters have been told repeatedly that there is simply no money available to renovate or to build a new fire station.

In response to the hazardous conditions caused by the fire, the Naval Facilities Engineering Command simply put up some drywall and told the firefighters that the building was now ready to reoccupy.

The firefighters work 48-hour shifts and sometimes longer. They are worried about the carcinogens they are being exposed to, not just when they enter burning buildings, but when they breathe the air inside their own firehouse. This is happening at the fire station that responds to emergencies on an installation that is home to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the most prominent military hospital in America.

The men and women working there serve our military and our Nation's wounded warriors. Many of the firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics are themselves former soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and coastguardsmen. One of my constituents said: ``I served 4 years in the Army and was deployed overseas. The conditions in the firehouse are, by far, the worst conditions I have seen or lived in.'' Another told me that he lived in better conditions when he was serving in Afghanistan.

This is shocking and unacceptable. The men and women working at the fire station deserve better. They need funding to build a new, safe, clean, fire station. In a Defense budget of hundreds of billions of dollars, we should be able to have money for essential projects like this one.

I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), my colleague who has been a real leader on this issue and is the chairwoman of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Chairwoman, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise in support of this excellent amendment.

The health and safety of our troops in the surrounding communities is paramount. We need to ensure basic projects, like fire stations, are funded properly, just as training ranges, barracks, hospitals, and schools are. I look forward to working with the gentleman in future budget submissions, and I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. RASKIN. Madam Chair, I look forward to working with the gentlewoman to secure funding for projects like the one in my district.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source