July 3, 2007

DEAR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS,

July 4th is a time to commemorate the founding of our nation and celebrate the accomplishments of our founders. Through much debate and compromise they produced an enduring model of government. In the 21st century the government must continue to meet the challenges of new generations, and as know firsthand, much work remains to be done.

Last week, I joined other 9/11 family members in Washington to meet with Congressional offices regarding the status of the 9/11 legislation. As terrorist plots were proceeding in London and Glasgow, we were discouraged to hear that vital legislation that would enact many of the outstanding 9/11 Commission recommendations, remains stalled in Congress. In response, we have written to encourage Congress to move forward in a bi-partisan effort. We will continue to support the 9/11 recommendations and keep you informed of its progress.

In today’s newsletter we are featuring the family tribute page of Carrie Progen, who worked at AON Corporation. Like so many of those who perished, Carrie was an energetic young woman at the prime of her life who valued friends and family. We thank her family for adding Carrie’s story to the 9/11 Living Memorial project.

Finally, VOICES office will be closed on Wednesday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day. We wish you an enjoyable holiday with family and friends as we celebrate America’s birthday. As always, feel free to contact us if we can be of any assistance.

Warm Regards,

Mary Fetchet

Founding Director

SAVE THE DATE: September 10th and 11th

VOICES Information Forum and Commemorative Luncheon

Special Hotel Rates Exclusively for VOICES Members

We hope all of you will join VOICES for our Sixth Anniversary Information Forum and Commemorative Luncheon on September 10th and 11th. Once again, this year’s events will be held at the Marriott Financial Center hotel, located at 85 West Street, steps from the WTC Site. The theme of this year’s commemorative events is The 9/11 Living Memorial: Commemorating the Lives and Preserving the Stories of September 11, 2001. The September 10th Information Forum will include workshops, presentations and exhibits on the 9/11 Living Memorial as well as preservation of your personal items.

The September 11th Commemorative Luncheon will be held at the Marriott Financial Center Hotel following New York City's 9/11 anniversary ceremony. The Luncheon is a peaceful and healing environment to remember loved ones in the company of family and friends.

We are pleased to offer reduced-rate hotel reservations at the Marriott exclusively to VOICES members. Rooms are available at $245 per night for Sunday, September 9 through Tuesday, September 11. Please call VOICES at (203) 966-3911 or toll-free (866) 505-3911 for a special promotional code which will allow you to make reservations.

Visit the VOICES 2007 Forum and Luncheon page for regular program updates.

Family Tribute to Carrie Progen

With Carrie Progen, what you saw was what you got. An honest, quick-witted individual with strong convictions, Carrie Progen went through life with a smile and a keen sense of adventure. She enjoyed snowboarding, martial arts, traveling, and anything else that nobody else would dare to do.    Though another girl from a small town like Ashburnham , Massachusetts might have been intimidated by a big, bustling city like New York , Carrie was more than up for the challenge; “the city,” says a friend, “was her playground.” A talented artist, Carrie would sit on the subway and sketch hurried drawings of commuters in an attempt to capture their thoughts and feelings. In reality, this activity did more than illustrate the thoughts of strangers; it revealed her passions for people, art, and great city of New York .

“The one thing, if you could, is to say how much she loved New York ,” said her boyfriend Erik P. Sharkey. A free-spirited individual who was a leader, not a follower, one could say that Carrie herself was an embodiment of the city she loved so much. The spirits of people like Carrie Progen live on in the memories of their loved ones, more of which have been graciously shared with the 9/11 Living Memorial by her family and friends on her tribute page, click here to visit.   To start creating a page dedicated to your loved one, please contact family liaison Debbie Westfal at (203) 966-3911 or by email.

Legislative Update

Objections Stall Appointment of 9/11 Bill Conferees

The 9/11 Commission Legislation (H.R. 1 in the House and S.4 in the Senate) remains stalled. A conference committee has not yet been appointed to merge the legislation into a consensus bill for the President’s review. Since Congress is on recess, the committee could be appointed next week at the earliest. A number of different issues have impeded the bills progress. And passing the legislation into law will require all involved—Congressional Democrats, Congressional Republicans and the President—to make some concessions. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) (right) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) (left) are shown above. Click to read full update...

WTC Health Effects Update

Whitman Defends EPA Safety Stance

This week, former EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman faced a House panel that promised a thorough investigation on post-9/11 WTC air. But the toughest audience was a group of ailing first responders who claim they have become sick because of their work at and around the WTC site. Many first responders point to Whitman's statements in September and October, 2001 that the air and water in Lower Manhattan were "safe." "In the six years since the attacks," Panel Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) is quoted in Associated Press coverage, "we have accumulated a mountain of evidence that tens of thousands of those exposed are suffering from chronic respiratory disease and, increasingly, a variety of rare cancers." Nadler is shown at left greeting Whitman before the panel. However, Whitman (left) stood by her statements, explaining that the assurances of safety applied to Lower Manhattan exclusive of the "Pile," or smouldering rubble of the WTC site... Click to read full update.

Preparedness Updates

Stronger Skyscraper Safety Standards Announced

Due in part to lobbying by 9/11 family advocates, new safety standards for tall buildings have been adopted by the nation's main building standards board. The most significant change would be requiring a third stairwell in buildings taller than 420 feet, or about 35 stories. At least one elevator in buildings at least 120 feet tall would also have to be specially built with backup power systems and fire-resistant wiring so firefighters could use it reliably in emergencies. Fireproofing for steel columns, to prevent a structural collapse, would have to be nearly three times stronger in high rises up to 35 stories and seven times stronger for even taller towers, making it less likely to fall off...  Click to read full update

Small Boats Could Play Bigger Role in Homeland Security

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff made the following statements last week as part of his keynote address to the DHS National Small Vessel Security Summit: The reason we are all here and the reason we are pleased to have you here is so that we can have a conversation about what we can do collectively as part of federal, state and local government, as part of the private sector, as the owners and operators of small boat vessels, to better understand the security risks that are associated with small vessels, and to talk about the steps we can take to reduce that risk across the maritime domain, as we continue to protect our nation against the threat of terrorism... Click to Read Full Update 

States Leave Federal Security Grants Unspent  

A DHS report issued this week tells us that no state has spent 100% of the federal homeland security grants they have been allocated since 2002. Some states have left nearly half of their federal dollars unspent. All told, only 2/3 of the total $16 billion in appropriations from FY 2002-07 have been spent by the states. Some of the largest offenders are states considered the most vulnerable to terrorism: New York has left 47.9% unspent and California 34.8%. States with the best spending records are generally not considered prime targets and thus have far less money overall to spend: North Dakota has only 15.7% unspent and Iowa 16.1%... Click to Read Full Update