Floor SpeechNeutral2026-02-04

HONORING SEVEN CREW MEMBERS OF LILY JEAN LOST AT SEA

Context

On 2026-02-04, Representative Seth Moulton (D-MA-6) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING SEVEN CREW MEMBERS OF LILY JEAN LOST AT SEA" in the House.

Full Text

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 25 (Wednesday, February 4, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 4, 2026)] [House] [Page H2012] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING SEVEN CREW MEMBERS OF LILY JEAN LOST AT SEA (Mr. MOULTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. MOULTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and in somber recognition of the seven crew members of the Lily Jean who were lost at sea when their trawler sank off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts last Friday. The Gloucester community and the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts mourn the loss of Captain Accursio, Gus Sanfilippo, his crew, and a NOAA observer. Captain Gus was more than just a seasoned mariner. He was a mentor, a leader, and beloved figure in the Gloucester fishing community. We also remember John Paul Rousanidis, Sean Therrien, Freeman Short, and Jada Samitt, a young Federal observer just starting her career. We also think of their families who, devastated today, live with the constant anxiety that comes with having loved ones away at sea. We also extend our deepest gratitude to the U.S. Coast Guard for their relentless efforts, searching more than 1,000 square miles to try to find the crew. Fishing is not just an occupation. It is a way of life built on the hard work, risk, and enduring love for the sea. Fishermen often say they have salt in their blood. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the crew of the Lily Jean, and we stand with the entire Gloucester community during this heartbreaking time. I want to also remember deckhands Paul Beal Sr., and Jr., who understood that fishing is not simply a job, but a calling passed down through generations. ____________________

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HONORING SEVEN CREW MEMBERS OF LILY JEAN LOST AT SEA Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 25 (Wednesday, February 4, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 4, 2026)] [House] [Page H2012] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING SEVEN CREW MEMBERS OF LILY JEAN LOST AT SEA (Mr. MOULTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. MOULTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and in somber recognition of the seven crew members of the Lily Jean who were lost at sea when their trawler sank off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts last Friday. The Gloucester community and the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts mourn the loss of Captain Accursio, Gus Sanfilippo, his crew, and a NOAA observer. Captain Gus was more than just a seasoned mariner. He was a mentor, a leader, and beloved figure in the Gloucester fishing community. We also remember John Paul Rousanidis, Sean Therrien, Freeman Short, and Jada Samitt, a young Federal observer just starting her career. We also think of their families who, devastated today, live with the constant anxiety that comes with having loved ones away at sea. We also extend our deepest gratitude to the U.S. Coast Guard for their relentless efforts, searching more than 1,000 square miles to try to find the crew. Fishing is not just an occupation. It is a way of life built on the hard work, risk, and enduring love for the sea. Fishermen often say they have salt in their blood. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the crew of the Lily Jean, and we stand with the entire Gloucester community during this heartbreaking time. I want to also remember deckhands Paul Beal Sr., and Jr., who understood that fishing is not simply a job, but a calling passed down through generations. ____________________