IRS Heroes Abound in Texas Tragedy, Kelley Tells Hundreds of NTEU Leaders

President Obama Voices Support for Federal Employees in Letter to NTEU In a March 9 letter to NTEU, President Obama notes that the federal employees face certain risks in their jobs and he thanks them for their daily service to our country. "We are grateful to these employees for their dedication to enforcing laws and managing important programs that help all Americans," President Obama wrote. "The Constitution's vision of 'a more perfect union' is only possible because of their tireless efforts." The president also says that his administration is committed to ensuring the safety of federal employees.

Amid the chaos caused by a plane deliberately crashed into their office building, with flames, thick smoke and dangerous debris everywhere, heroes abounded among Internal Revenue Service employees in Austin, Texas, on that fateful February 18.

One aided his disabled colleagues to reach safety; two others led co-workers out by helping break a window with a four-foot-long crowbar, allowing them to reach a ladder rescuers had put up; yet another stood by a door in a blackened room, calling out to those who were dazed: ‘Come to me. Come to the sound of my voice;’ and before he made his way out of the dangerously-damaged building, a manager made sure everyone in his area had gotten out.  

These were some of the stories NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley told hundreds of NTEU members from across the country gathered in Washington for the start of NTEU’s annual three-day legislative conference.

“Without the quick thinking and selfless acts of those employees, and others, this tragedy could have been so much worse, and many more lives could have been lost,” she said. One IRS employee, Vernon Hunter, was killed in the attack, and Shane Hill, a state employee, seriously injured.

The NTEU leader, who visited Austin and the IRS employees there in the days immediately after the suicide attack, told conference participants: “Witnessing their courage and resilience was a humbling experience for me, and one that gives me new inspiration to carry out our work today.” More

NTEU Legislative Action NTEU's Recommendations for the Obama Administration Support the FEHBP Prescription Drug Integrity, Transparency, and Cost Savings Act Ask your senator to support paid parental leave Support bills expanding telework in the federal government   Visit NTEU's Legislative Issues Page		NTEU Press Releases Read all about it! Read our press releases, see how NTEU is making news today and get a monthly round up of media stories. Kelley to Testify at House Hearing on Federal Employee and Workplace Safety Statement of Colleen M. Kelley On the Shooting at the Pentagon Union Leader Details TSA Workforce Issues in Congressional Testimony NTEU, NCUA Sign Collaborative Agreement
Retirement Issues Kelley Urges Congress to Improve FEHBP Prescription Drug Pricing NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley testified before a key House subcommittee in favor of legislation that would take steps to address rising health insurance costs under the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program. More		2011 Pay Raise Kelley Applauds Inclusion of Pay Parity In White House 2011 Budget Blueprint NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley applauded the proposal in the White House fiscal 2011 budget blueprint for a return to parity in pay raises for the government’s civilian workforce and members of the military.

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