Norton Introduces 14th-Anniversary Resolution Honoring the Two Postal Workers and the Three Other Americans Killed in Anthrax Attacks, and All USPS Employees

WASHINGTON, D.C.—During the week of the 14-year anniversary of the 2001 anthrax attacks, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced a resolution honoring the late Joseph Curseen, Jr. and Thomas Morris, Jr., the United States Postal Service (USPS) employees who died from anthrax inhalation while working at the USPS processing facility located at 900 Brentwood Road, NE, which is now named for them. The Norton resolution also honors three other Americans who died from exposure to anthrax during the attacks, as well as all USPS employees for their dedicated service to the nation in the face of threats to federal facilities throughout the U.S., such as the anthrax attack, and a lack of deserved funding support from the Congress.

"Each Congress I introduce this resolution honoring the lives of Joseph Curseen, Jr. and Thomas Morris, Jr., two native Washingtonians, who lived in Maryland when they died, and tragically lost their lives while working for their country at USPS," said Norton, a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which has jurisdiction over the USPS. "Our resolution is a way of saying these men should always be honored. We will forever honor them and all U.S. Postal Service workers for serving the nation with consistency in the face of unpredictable danger. The anthrax attacks in the weeks following September 11, 2001, shook an already reeling nation. Today, we remember the dedication of both men and the courage of postal employees, who continued to work then as now."

In 2002, Norton cosponsored the bill that renamed the USPS processing facility on Brentwood Avenue, NE the "Joseph Curseen, Jr. and Thomas Morris, Jr. Processing and Distribution Center." In 2010, Norton introduced a resolution directing the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend to the U.S. Postmaster General to issue a postal stamp honoring the lives and dedication of both Curseen and Morris.

The text of Norton's resolution follows.

RESOLUTION

Honoring the lives, work, and sacrifice of Joseph Curseen, Jr., and Thomas Morris, Jr., the two United States Postal Service employees who died as a result of their contact with anthrax while working at the United States Postal Facility located at 900 Brentwood Road, NE, Washington, DC, during the anthrax attack in the fall of 2001, United States Postal Service employees, who have continued to work diligently in service to the people of the United States notwithstanding anthrax attack, as well as the three Americans who died and the 17 who became ill.

Whereas the founders of the United States, recognizing the importance of a national system of mail to the new country, gave Congress the constitutional authority "To establish post offices and post roads";

Whereas employees of the United States Postal Service provide indispensable public service and honorably represent the United States on a daily basis;

Whereas despite the many terrorist attacks in federal facilities throughout the United States, including the anthrax attack more than ten years ago, Postal Service employees continue to risk their lives daily to serve the people of the United States;

Whereas Joseph P. Curseen, Jr., and Thomas L. Morris, Jr., both natives of Washington, DC, diligently and admirably served the Nation for decades as employees of the United States Postal Service;

Whereas in the fall of 2001, during the course of their jobs with the United States Postal Service, Joseph Curseen, Jr., and Thomas Morris, Jr., were exposed to letters containing anthrax that were placed in the mail and subsequently suffered from the inhalation of anthrax and thereafter died;

Whereas five individuals in the United States died from exposure to anthrax during the 2001 anthrax attacks and 17 became ill in the worst biological attack in the Nation's history; and

Whereas in 2002, the United States Postal Service facility located at 900 Brentwood Road, NE, Washington, DC, was designated as the "Joseph Curseen, Jr. and Thomas Morris, Jr. Processing and Distribution Center" by Public Law 107-225: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors the lives and work of Joseph Curseen, Jr., and Thomas Morris, Jr., and acknowledges the sacrifice that all Postal Service employees make on behalf of the United States on a daily basis.