| Sponsor | Rep. Etheridge, Bob |
| Committee | Judiciary |
| Date | June 15, 2009 (111th Congress, 1st Session) |
| Staff Contact | Andy Koenig |
H.Res. 540 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House on Monday, June 15, 2009, under a motion to suspend the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority vote for passage. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Etheridge (D-NC) on June 12, 2009, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
H.Res. 540 would express the sense that the House of Representatives recognizes:
- "Expresses condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims of the explosion at the ConAgra Foods plant in Garner, North Carolina;
- "Honors Barbara McLean Spears of Dunn, North Carolina, Louis Junior Watson of Clayton, North Carolina, and Rachel Mae Poston Pulley of Clayton, North Carolina, who lost their lives in the explosion, and the 40 others who were injured;
- "Expresses sympathies to the people of Garner, the entire State of North Carolina, and the Nation who grieve for the victims; and
- "Commends the heroic actions of the Garner Police and Fire Departments, the quick response of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and all other first responders, emergency services personnel, and private citizens who responded to the crisis."
On June 9, 2009, a ConAgra Foods plant near Garner, North Carolina, was struck by a massive explosion. The 500,000 square-foot plant had approximately 300 employees on site when the explosion happened. Three workers were killed and 40 employees were injured in the accident. In memory of those killed in the tragedy, ConAgra created the ConAgra Foods Garner Plant Fund, which provides assistance to those who lost loved ones in the explosion.