Washington, D.C.--Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-6) testified before the House Appropriations VA-HUD Subcommittee this morning joining Oklahoma City leaders in their request for additional federal funding of $23 million for downtown Oklahoma City. The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City was bombed on April 19, 1995, taking 168 lives and leaving massive structural damage.

"The response this morning from the Chairman of the Subcommittee, Rep. Jerry Lewis (CA-40), and several other Members was quite positive in my opinion," Lucas said. "Basically, the original $39 million funded by the government in 1995 to rebuild and encourage economic development was just not enough.

"There was no model to use when estimating the damage done to Oklahoma City after a bombed ripped through its streets and buildings," Lucas continued. "We worked with the city fathers, mothers, state leaders and building managers in estimating as best we could the damage. But we have come up short.

"Eric Baker of Norman, Oklahoma--a 10-year-old in 1995--wrote a letter shortly after the bombing," Lucas said. "His letter truly represents the feelings of most Oklahomans.

"Eric wrote, 'I dreamed that all the babies and people that died in the explosion came down from heaven to help fix the buildings and find all the victims and survivors. They helped people's hearts so they could build the buildings the way they were before the bomb. Then they brought down roses on their wings so they could be planted all around in honor of the victims, the Firemen, the rescue workers and all the friends that helped. They stayed until it was done. And as they left the babies told the people to never let this happen again'."