Whereas it has been almost 7 years since the horrific
terrorist attacks against the United States and its people on September 11,
2001;
Whereas al-Qaeda and affiliated or inspired terrorist
groups remain committed to plotting attacks against the United States, its
interests, and its foreign allies, as evidenced by recent terrorist attacks in
Great Britain, Algeria, and Pakistan, and disrupted plots in Germany, Denmark,
Canada, and the United States;
Whereas the Nation remains vulnerable to catastrophic
natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Gulf Coast
in August 2005;
Whereas the President has declared more than 400 major
disasters and emergencies under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act since 2000, in response to a host of natural
disasters, including tornadoes, floods, winter storms, and wildfires that have
overwhelmed the capabilities of State and local governments;
Whereas acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other
large-scale emergencies can exact a tragic human toll, resulting in significant
numbers of casualties and disrupting hundreds of thousands of lives, causing
serious damage to the Nation's critical infrastructure, and inflicting billions
of dollars of costs on both the public and private sectors;
Whereas in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001,
and the continuing risk to the Nation from a full range of potential
catastrophic incidents, Congress established the Department of Homeland
Security on March 1, 2003, bringing together 22 disparate Federal entities,
enhancing their capabilities with major new divisions emphasizing information
analysis, infrastructure protection, and science and technology, and focusing
its more than 200,000 employees on the critical mission of defending the Nation
against acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other large-scale
emergencies;
Whereas since its creation, the employees of the
Department of Homeland Security have endeavored to carry out this mission with
commendable dedication, working with other Federal departments and agencies and
partners at all levels of government to help secure the Nation's borders,
airports, sea and inland ports, critical infrastructure, and people against
acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other large-scale emergencies;
Whereas the Nation's firefighters, law enforcement
officers, emergency medical services personnel, and other emergency response
providers selflessly and repeatedly risk their lives to fulfill their mission
to help prevent, protect against, prepare for, and respond to acts of
terrorism, natural disasters, and other large-scale emergencies;
Whereas State, local, territorial, and tribal government
officials, the private sector, and ordinary individuals across the country have
been working in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security and other
Federal departments and agencies to enhance the Nation's ability to prevent,
protect against, prepare for, and respond to natural disasters, acts of
terrorism, and other large-scale emergencies; and
Whereas the people of the United States can assist in
promoting the Nation's overall preparedness by remaining vigilant, reporting
suspicious activity to proper authorities, and preparing themselves and their
families for all emergencies, regardless of their cause: Now, therefore, be
it
That the Senate—
(1)on the occasion
of the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Department of Homeland
Security, commends the public servants of the Department for their outstanding
contributions to the Nation's security and safety;
(2)salutes the
dedication of State, local, territorial, and tribal government officials, the
private sector, and individuals across the country for their efforts to enhance
the Nation's ability to prevent, protect against, prepare for, and respond to
acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other large-scale emergencies;
(3)expresses the
Nation's appreciation for the sacrifices and commitment of law enforcement,
fire service, and emergency medical services personnel, emergency managers, and
other emergency response providers in preventing, protecting against, preparing
for, and responding to acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other
large-scale emergencies;
(4)urges the Federal
Government, States, local governments, Indian tribes, schools, nonprofit
organizations, businesses, other entities, and the people of the United States
to take steps that promote individual and community preparedness for any
emergency, regardless of its cause; and
(5)encourages
continued efforts by every individual in the United States to enhance the
ability of the Nation to address the full range of potential catastrophic
incidents at all levels of government.