[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 233 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 233


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 31, 2001

        Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the profound sorrow of the Congress for the death and 
   injuries suffered by first responders as they endeavored to save 
innocent people in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World 
          Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

Whereas law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel 
        are collectively known as first responders;
Whereas following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the 
        Pentagon on September 11, 2001, first responders reacted immediately in 
        evacuating and rescuing innocent people from the buildings;
Whereas first responders also arrived quickly at the crash site of United 
        Airlines flight 93 in southwestern Pennsylvania;
Whereas if it were not for the heroic efforts of first responders immediately 
        after the terrorist attacks, numerous additional casualties would have 
        resulted from the attacks;
Whereas as the first emergency personnel to arrive at the scenes of the 
        terrorist attacks, first responders risked their lives in their efforts 
        to save others;
Whereas while first responders were bravely conducting the evacuation and rescue 
        after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, the two towers of 
        that complex collapsed, and many first responders themselves became 
        victims of the attack;
Whereas the everyday well-being, security, and safety of Americans depend upon 
        the official duties of first responders;
Whereas in addition to their official duties, first responders around the Nation 
        participate in planning, training, and exercises to respond to terrorist 
        attacks;
Whereas emergency managers, public health officials, and medical care providers 
        also invest significant time in planning, training, and exercises to 
        better respond to terrorist attacks in the United States;
Whereas the Nation has not forgotten the heroic efforts of first responders 
        after the bombing of the World Trade Center on February 26, 1993, and 
        the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, 
        Oklahoma, on April 19, 1995;
Whereas there are numerous Federal programs that help prepare first responders 
        from across the Nation, including the Domestic Preparedness Program and 
        other training and exercise programs administered by the Department of 
        Justice;
Whereas there are also domestic preparedness programs administered by the 
        Federal Emergency Management Agency, which together with the programs of 
        the Department of Justice support State and local first responders with 
        funding, training, equipment acquisition, technical assistance, exercise 
        planning, and execution;
Whereas many of the first responders who participate in such programs do so on 
        their own time;
Whereas an effective response of local first responders to a terrorist attack 
        saves lives; and
Whereas in response to a terrorist attack, first responders are exposed to a 
        high risk of bodily harm and death as the first line of defense of the 
        United States in managing the aftermath of the attack: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) expresses its profound sorrow for the death and 
        injuries suffered by first responders as they endeavored to 
        save innocent people in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks 
        on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 
        2001;
            (2) expresses its deepest sympathies to the families and 
        loved ones of the fallen first responders;
            (3) honors and commends the first responders who 
        participated in evacuating and rescuing the innocent people in 
        the World Trade Center and the Pentagon after the terrorist 
        attacks;
            (4) encourages the President to issue a proclamation 
        calling upon the people of the United States to pay respect to 
        the first responder community for their service in the 
        aftermath of the terrorist attacks and their continuing efforts 
        to save lives; and
            (5) encourages all levels of government to continue to work 
        together to effectively coordinate emergency preparedness by 
        providing the infrastructure, funding, and interagency 
        communication and cooperation necessary to ensure that when 
        another terrorist attack occurs, first responders will be as 
        prepared as possible to respond to the attack effectively.

            Passed the House of Representatives October 30, 2001.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.