By Nathan Ryder - bio | email | Twitter
Posted by Sarah Harlan - email
EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) - It's already law in the state of Indiana, but CJ's Home Protection Act is another step closer to becoming a federal law.
The bill is named after 2-year-old CJ Martin who was killed after an F-3 tornado tore through Eastbrooke Mobile Home Park.
Governor Mitch Daniels signed that state law during a ceremony at Eastbrooke Mobile Home Park back in 2007.
Ever since then, Congressman Brad Ellsworth has been working with a local mom to make CJ's Home Protection Act a federal law.
Congressman Ellsworth took the floor of the U.S. House Wednesday morning, pushing for support of CJ's Home Protection Act.
He was the sheriff of Vanderburgh County when early in the morning of November 6, 2005, an F-3 tornado ripped through portions of the Tri-State, including Eastbrooke Mobile Home Park.
"Until you've lived through something like that and seen it firsthand and heard the silence and saw the devastation, it's really hard to grasp something like that," Ellsworth said.
For three years, Ellsworth has been working to make a federal law requiring NOAA Weather Alert Radios be included with the purchase of manufactured homes.
The law was named after CJ Martin.
"CJ, a loving and playful 2-year-old boy, was one of the victims that night," Ellsworth said. "CJ and 24 other victims, including his grandmother and great-grandmother are the reasons why I'm here today."
"I was watching with my husband today and seeing CJ's picture up there just reminds us of how special life is and how important it is to do things for other people," CJ's mom Kathryn Martin said.
The House voted and approved the bill where it will now head to the Senate.
Some who live in manufactured homes think it's a good idea and know too well the importance of having a weather alert radio.
Jovante McGinnis lives in Westbrook Mobile Home Park, where he said he and his neighbors urge each other to be prepared for severe weather by getting a weather radio and having a plan.
"I suggest everybody get one just to be safe," McGinnis said. "I just watch out for everybody here and you just gotta be cool about it. You just have to be safe. That's the bottom line."
Senator Evan Bayh did introduce the bill last year but it never made it through because it has to go through the Financial Services Committee.
They were tied up dealing with the economic crisis.
Both Senator Bayh and Congressman Ellsworth are hopeful the Senate will pass it on to President Obama so it can be signed into law.
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