Life in Washington DC is 'stressed," Moran says
Congressman fields variety of questions from MHS students
Staff writer
Life in Washington, D.C. has been anything but routine in the days since Sept. 11, 2001.
The recent sniper attacks on top of the bombing of the Pentagon more than a year ago, exemplify just how stressed daily life has become.
"Pumping gas has even become a challenge," First District Congressman Jerry Moran told a group of Marion High School students Tuesday, two days before the alleged sniper suspects were arrested.
Moran said he and his roommate — a congressman from South Dakota — went to fill the vehicle they use with gas.
"He told me it was my turn to get out and fill up," Moran said laughing.
Even though he made light of the situation, Moran said tension was running high in the nation's capital.
"Some stations are even putting up tarps so people can be shielded from the street," he said.
Moran visited Marion High School Tuesday afternoon and spent approximately 45 minutes with students in Rex Ostmyer's government classes answering questions about the sniper attacks, the controversy over whether the United States should go to war with Iraq, and numerous other topics.
Moran's visit came two days before the alleged snipers were arrested and several students asked about the shootings.
"People are wary," Moran said explaining one attack had been been frighteningly close for one of his staff members — all, except one, are from Kansas.
"She had been at the store just about 20 minutes before the sniper killed a person there," Moran said.
In answer to a question about the possibility of war with Iraq, Moran said Congress was treating the issue very seriously.
"We could hope that Saddam's people (Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein) would just run him out of office. But we don't think that will happen," Moran explained. "The possibility exists that nuclear and biological weapons could be used against the U.S. and its citizens."
Recently, however, Iraq has indicated it would allow United Nations weapons inspectors into the country, but that may be "just a game," the Congressman said.
Moran said he always believed it would be possible to make a good, informed decision by diligently studying an issue; however, when it concerns the question of going to war, the choice has been unclear.
"Do I vote to give the President the authority to use force on Iraq?" Moran questioned rhetorically. "I've come to the conclusion there are just some issues you can't know enough to know what the right decision is — it's an humbling experience."
Moran said he didn't want people to believe this was a Muslim vs. Christian issue, or an East vs. West issue, but that it had to do with the stability of government — including those in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Morocco, and Oman.
"The impression I've gotten is the leaders in those countries would love to have Saddam gone, but they wouldn't say it," Moran explained.
During a recent trip to Afghanistan, Moran said he was surprised to see how the people welcomed the Americans.
The United States' presence has signaled many changes in the Third World Country, he said, including the fact that girls between the ages of eight to 14 were actually attending school for the first time.
"In peoples' eyes you could see hope and the desire that maybe some good things would be happening," Moran related.
As for the negative perceptions most people in the world have of Americans, Moran said that was fostered by our own television shows.
"Over there, Muslim cable TV shows things like Baywatch, MTV, and soap operas," Moran explained. "If that's all they know about us, no wonder they have such a negative opinion."
One student asked about Moran's experiences on Sept. 11, 2002.
The Congressman said he had just finished his 2 1/2 mile run around the Capitol, and was preparing to shower when he saw television reports showing the first plane fly into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. He also saw the second plane fly into the South Tower.
"Even as that first plane hit, I didn't feel it was a mistake," Moran said, noting the thought crossed his mind the nation's capital might also be at risk.
"About 10 to 15 minutes after I got to my office, the building shook and I saw smoke coming out of the Pentagon," he said, remembering when a third jet struck the center of the U.S. defense system.
For the remainder of the day, Moran took calls mostly from Kansans who were worried about the safety of their friends or loved ones who were living or working in Washington, D.C.
About 18 hours after the attack, Moran was with a group of Congressmen who visited the Pentagon.
"The walls were at 180 degrees because the jet fuel was still burning," he recalled.
Visiting Ground Zero at the World Trade Center several months later, Moran said visiting the site itself wasn't so very traumatic, but witnessing the reactions of those who had loved ones die there was "very emotional."
Moran said he was deeply touched by the makeshift memorial, which had been established about one block away. One note, in particular, caught his eye.
"It was written on a piece of paper, which had been torn out of a spiral bound notebook, by a girl named Amanda. It said, 'Dear Daddy, How much I miss you.'"
Moran said it was one of those moments when he realized that as a lawmaker it was his duty to try and make the world a safer place.
"So Amandas don't have to post notes saying how much they miss their daddies," Moran said.
"But making the world a safer place is hard to do when there are people out there who will kill themselves trying to kill you," he added.
Moran also told the students about a typical day in Congress. He begins each day at the gym, followed by meetings with Kansans — school groups, Farm Bureau members, etc. — then heads off to committee meetings. He serves on the agriculture, transportation, and Veteran's Affairs committees.
"The House is in session all day and unless you're presenting a bill or voting you're not on the floor," Moran said.
Congressmen and senators keep track of what's occurring in the two chambers by watching C-SPAN on television or by hearing reports from staff members.
"You're either in your office, in a meeting, or going off to vote," he said. "It's a very disorganized place."
Although he resides in Washington during the week for 10 to 11 months a year, he still lives in Kansas.
Each Monday morning, he catches a 5 a.m. plane in Hays and flies to Kansas City, where he catches another flight to Washington. Congress is in session usually about three days a week so about Thursday, he reverses the process and flies back to Hays.
"When you live in Hays, Kansas, there's no such thing as a good way to get to Washington," he said with a laugh.
Moran told the students he became interested in government while still in high school when Kansans Bob Dole and Keith Sebelius were serving as Congressmen. Later, as a college student his parents encouraged him to see the world and he went to Washington as an intern.
He also encouraged the students to make sure and exercise their right to vote when they turned 18.
"Statistically, you're the group of people that votes the least. However, the decisions we in Congress make will affect your lives much more than mine or someone older than me," Moran said.
"I can see why people get cynical, but I personally believe an individual and an individual vote can make a difference," he said. "That's why I desire to make a difference."
