[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 731 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 731
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the employees
of the Department of Homeland Security, their partners at all levels of
government, and the millions of emergency response providers and law
enforcement agents nationwide should be commended for their dedicated
service on the Nation's front lines in the war against acts of
terrorism.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 10, 2009
Ms. Clarke (for herself, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Carney, Mr. Cuellar,
Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, and Mr. Bilirakis)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Homeland Security
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the employees
of the Department of Homeland Security, their partners at all levels of
government, and the millions of emergency response providers and law
enforcement agents nationwide should be commended for their dedicated
service on the Nation's front lines in the war against acts of
terrorism.
Whereas it has been 8 years since the horrific terrorist attacks against the
United States and its people on September 11, 2001;
Whereas terrorists around the world continue to plot and plan attacks against
the United States and its interests and foreign allies;
Whereas, as evidenced by a suicide bomb attack in Jerusalem that killed 22
people and wounded 140 on March 27, 2002, a car bomb that exploded
outside a Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, on August 5, 2003,
killing 10 people and wounding 150, 10 bombs that exploded on 4 commuter
trains in Madrid on March 11, 2004, killing 191 people, a major anti-
terrorist operation by British Police disrupts an alleged bomb plot
targeting multiple airplanes bound for the United States flying through
Heathrow Airport, near London on August 10, 2006, and the shooting and
bombing attacks in Mumbai, India, on November 26, 2008, the thwarted
terrorist attacks targeting the Brooklyn Bridge in March 2003, Herald
Square in New York City in 2004, the PATH Tunnel trains in New York and
New Jersey in 2006, the U.S. Army Base at Fort Dix, New Jersey in May
2007, JFK International Airport in June 2007, and the Air National Guard
base in Newburgh, New York and synagogues in Riverdale and the Bronx,
New York in 2009, citizens across the country and in the world should
remain vigilant, prepared, and informed;
Whereas during the month of September, the Nation observes National Preparedness
Month which is sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security, and
encourages all citizens to prepare themselves and their families for
possible emergencies by getting an emergency supply kit that will last
72 hours, making a family emergency plan, being informed, and getting
involved in the community in organizations such as Citizen Corps, which
actively involves citizens in making our communities and our Nation
safer, stronger, and better prepared;
Whereas acts of terrorism can exact a tragic human toll, resulting in
significant numbers of casualties and disrupting hundreds of thousands
of lives, causing serious damage to our Nation's critical
infrastructure, and inflicting billions of dollars of costs on both our
public and private sectors;
Whereas in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, and the continuing
grave threat of terrorism, Congress established the Department of
Homeland Security in March 2003, bringing together 22 disparate Federal
entities, enhancing their capabilities with major new divisions
emphasizing terrorism-related information analysis, infrastructure
protection, and science and technology, and focusing their employees on
the critical mission of defending our Nation against acts of terrorism;
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 intelligence and law enforcement agencies and
partners at all levels of Government to help secure our Nation's
borders, airports, seaports, critical infrastructure, and communities
against terrorist attacks;
Whereas our Nation's firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical
personnel, and other first responders selflessly and repeatedly risk
their lives to fulfill their new mission of helping to prevent, protect
against, and prepare to respond to acts of terrorism, major disasters,
and other emergencies;
Whereas State, local, territorial, and tribal government officials, the private
sector, and ordinary citizens across the country have been working in
cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security and other Federal
Government agencies to enhance our ability to prevent, deter, protect
against, and prepare to respond to acts of terrorism;
Whereas all people of the United States can assist in promoting our Nation's
overall terrorism and emergency preparedness by remaining vigilant and
alert, reporting suspicious activity to proper authorities, and
preparing themselves and their families for potential terrorist attacks;
and
Whereas all people of the United States should take the opportunity during
National Preparedness Month in September 2009 to take steps at home,
work, and school to enhance their ability to assist in preventing,
protecting against, and preparing to respond to acts of terrorism: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commends the public servants of the Department of
Homeland Security and other Federal agencies for their
outstanding contributions to our Nation's homeland security;
(2) salutes the dedication of State, local, territorial,
and tribal government officials, the private sector, and
citizens across the country for their efforts to enhance the
Nation's ability to prevent, deter, protect against, and
prepare to respond to potential acts of terrorism;
(3) expresses the Nation's appreciation for the sacrifices
and commitment of our law enforcement and emergency response
personnel in preventing and preparing to respond to acts of
terrorism;
(4) supports the goals and ideals of National Preparedness
Month as they relate to the threat of terrorism; and
(5) urges the Federal Government, States, localities,
schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, other entities,
and the people of the United States to observe National
Preparedness Month with appropriate events and activities that
promote citizen and community preparedness to respond to acts
of terrorism.
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