HR1427: HR1427 Congress; pass Thiokol Memorial Gold Medical Act; urge

26 LC 64 0048 House Resolution 1427 By: Representatives Sainz of the 180th, Hitchens of the 161st, Willis of the 55th, DeLoach of the 167th, and Townsend of the 179th A RESOLUTION Urging Congress to pass the Thiokol Memorial Gold Medal Act; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, on February 3, 1971, the Thiokol plant in Woodbine, Ge orgia, which2 manufactured trip flares for use during the Vietnam War, sustained a massive explosion that3 claimed the lives of 29 employees: Celia Alberta, Ethel Banks, Annie C. Booth, Gloria W.4 Booth, Bertha R. Brunswick, Bettie R. Burch, Charles Burch, James L. Chapman, Yvonne5 M. Connelly, Jack Cox, Mae H. Davis, Mildred Davis, Howard Ellis Sr., Willie M. Fuller,6 Pearlie M. Hutchinson, Annie M. James, Mack Kennedy, Essie D. K ing, Gracie M. Life,7 Bertha M. Hill, Charles T. Monak, James Parland, Sandra R. Raul s, Cyrus D. Roberson,8 Betty J. Roberts, Lillie B. Spells, Cheryl M. Sullivan, Mae A. Taylor, and Annie L. Williams;9 and10 WHEREAS, in May 1973, another worker, Joseph E. Wainright, died in a mortar shell11 explosion at the same facility; and12 WHEREAS, the Woodbine Thiokol Chemical Plant employees were members of the United13 Chemical Workers Union 832 and the pioneers of men and women of all ethnicities working14 together to earn equally an hourly wage, becoming the blueprint for the modern American15 workplace; and16 H. R. 1427 - 1 - 26 LC 64 0048 WHEREAS, the 600 government-contracted employees of the Woodbine Thiokol Chemical17 Plant manufactured vital munitions for the United States Military during the Vietnam War18 in Woodbine, Georgia; and19 WHEREAS, on February 3, 1971, at 10:53 AM during Tripflare manufacturing operations20 in Building M-132, an explosion occurred at the Woodbine Thiokol Chemical Plant; and21 WHEREAS, on February 3, 1971, the United States Army, Navy, and Coast Guard, along22 with civilian helicopter pilots, police officers, firemen, nurs es, and doctors from 16 cities23 and 14 hospitals, provided emergency rescue and medical care and fought to save lives; and24 WHEREAS, the Thiokol explosion is the worst disaster in the his tory of southeastern25 Georgia and is now ranked as the tenth out of 100 worst industrial accidents in United States26 history in 100 years, which was triumphed over by the human spirit; and27 WHEREAS, the 30 plant workers' lives were cut short in 1971 and 1973, but the tragic loss28 of these Georgians changed the quality of life for millions of Americans, resulting in29 improvements in transportation, emergency medical services, mass tort litigation, and plant30 safety; and31 WHEREAS, in 2026, United States Representative Buddy Carter int roduced the Thiokol32 Memorial Gold Medal Act, a bill that awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the 30 people33 who died while in the service of their country during the histo ric explosion more than 5034 years ago.35 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that36 the members of this body urge Congress to enact the Thiokol Memorial Gold Medal Act.37 H. R. 1427 - 2 - 26 LC 64 0048 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized38 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to the39 President of the United States, the Vice President of the Unite d States, the Speaker of the40 United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the Congressional delegation41 from this state.42 H. R. 1427 - 3 -