IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 731 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

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.