[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 167 (Wednesday, December 5, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12456-S12457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 187--COMMENDING THE STAFFS OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, 
   THE CAPITOL POLICE, THE OFFICE OF THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN AND HIS 
HEALTH CARE STAFF, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY FOR 
 THEIR COURAGE AND PROFESSIONALISM DURING THE DAYS AND WEEKS FOLLOWING 
           THE RELEASE OF ANTHRAX IN SENATOR DASCHLE'S OFFICE

  Mr. CLELAND (for himself, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Allen, Mr. Cochran, Mr. 
Miller, and Mr. Akaka) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs:

                              S. Res. 187

       Whereas there are approximately 30,000 legislative branch 
     employees who work on Capitol Hill including approximately 
     6,200 Senate employees, 11,500 House employees, and 12,800 
     staff from other entities;
       Whereas the Capitol Complex consists of approximately 285 
     acres comprised of 3 Senate office buildings, 3 House office 
     buildings, 2 House annex buildings, 3 Library of Congress 
     buildings, and several other facilities;

[[Page S12457]]

       Whereas on October 15, 2001, a letter containing anthrax 
     spores was opened in Senator Daschle's office;
       Whereas approximately 6,000 individuals were tested for 
     exposure to anthrax and 28 of those individuals tested 
     positive;
       Whereas approximately 1000 individuals received a 60-day 
     supply of antibiotics as a precautionary measure;
       Whereas the House of Representatives closed the Rayburn and 
     Cannon House Office Buildings for 7 days and the Longworth 
     House Office building for 19 days;
       Whereas the Senate closed the Russell Senate Office 
     Building for 6 days, the Dirksen Senate Office Building for 8 
     days, and the Hart Senate Office Building remains closed;
       Whereas during the closure of the Senate and House Office 
     Buildings, Members and staff were forced to find alternative 
     office space or to work from their homes;
       Whereas Members and staff whose offices are located in the 
     Hart Senate Office Building continue to utilize alternative 
     office space, including office space donated by other 
     Members;
       Whereas Senate, House, and support staff continued and 
     still continue to perform their duties and serve the public 
     with courage and professionalism in spite of the threat of 
     anthrax exposure;
       Whereas Capitol Hill police officers have worked 12 hour 
     shifts in response to the September 11, 2001, attacks and 
     have been working additional overtime due to anthrax 
     contamination in the Capitol Complex to ensure the safety of 
     Members, staff, and visitors within the Capitol Complex; and
       Whereas the release of anthrax in Senator Daschle's office, 
     and the contamination of 2 Senate office buildings and 1 
     House office building, has further disrupted the daily 
     routines of Congressional Members and their staffs and caused 
     frustration due to dislocated offices: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate --
       (1) commends the staffs of Members of Congress, the Capitol 
     Police, the Office of the Attending Physician and his health 
     care staff, and other members of the Capitol Hill community 
     for their courage, professionalism, and dedication to serving 
     the public in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, 
     attacks and the release of anthrax in Senator Daschle's 
     office;
       (2) recognizes the Congressional leadership, Congressional 
     employees, the Capitol Police, and the Office of the 
     Attending Physician and the health care professionals in his 
     office, in particular, who by their quick actions and early 
     intervention prevented actual cases of anthrax within the 
     Capitol Complex; and
       (3) requests that the President recognize the courage and 
     professionalism of Congressional staff, the Capitol Police, 
     and other members of the Capitol Hill community for their 
     public service in continuing to do the public's business in 
     defiance of terrorist attacks.

  Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution that 
will recognize the courage and professionalism of Congressional Staff, 
the Capitol Police, and other members of the Capitol Hill Community 
following the release of anthrax in Senator Daschle's office. In the 
aftermath of the first-ever evacuation of the Capitol and surrounding 
office buildings due to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, 
and especially after the bioterrorist attack on the Congress and the 
Capitol Hill Community it is important to acknowledge the approximately 
30,000 legislative branch employees who work on Capitol Hill including, 
approximately 6,200 Senate employees, 11,500 House employees, and 
12,800 additional staff from other entities who have been affected by 
the release of anthrax in Senator Daschle's office. Therefore, in 
recognition of their outstanding public service in continuing to do the 
public's business in defiance of the terrorist attacks I am submitting 
a resolution to commend Congressional employees, the Capitol Police, 
the Office of the Attending Physician and his health care staff, and 
other members of the Capitol Hill community for their dedication to 
public service.
  This legislation acknowledges the extensive grounds of the Capitol 
complex which consists of the Capitol building, three Senate office 
buildings, three House office buildings, two House annex buildings, 
three Library of Congress buildings, and several other facilities that 
comprise the Capitol complex of approximately 285 acres. The Office of 
the Attending Physician, in response to the release of anthrax in 
Senator Daschle's office, tested approximately 6,000 individuals for 
exposure to anthrax, 28 of whom were positive. In addition, 
approximately 1,000 individuals received 60-day supply of antibiotics 
as a precautionary measure and the Senate and House office buildings 
were closed while investigators and bioterrorism experts decontaminated 
the offices exposed to anthrax.
  During the closure of the Senate and House office buildings, Members 
and staff were forced to find alternative office space or work from 
their homes. Members and staff whose offices are located in the Hart 
Senate Office Building continue to utilize alternative office space 
including office space donated by other Members. Senate, House, and 
support staff continued to perform their duties and serve the public 
with courage and professionalism in spite of the threat of exposure to 
anthrax. In addition, Capitol Hill police officers worked 12 hour 
shifts in response to the September 11, attacks and have been working 
additional overtime since anthrax contamination in the Capitol Complex 
to ensure the safety of Members, staff, and visitors within the Capitol 
Complex. Finally, the release of anthrax and subsequent contamination 
of Congressional offices disrupted the daily routines of Congressional 
Members and their staffs and caused frustration due to dislocated 
offices.
  My legislation commends the Congressional leadership, Congressional 
employees, the Capitol Police, the Office of the Attending Physician 
and the health care professionals in his office, in particular, for 
their quick actions and early intervention which prevented actual cases 
of anthrax within the Capitol Complex. Capitol Hill employees deserve 
to be commended for their strength, courage, and professionalism since 
the September 11 attacks and this resolution asks the President to 
recognize them for their unwavering commitment to public service in 
continuing to do the public's business in defiance of the terrorist 
attacks. Thank you to Senators Allen, Feingold, Cochran, Miller, and 
Akaka who have signed on as cosponsors to this legislation. I encourage 
other Senators to join us in this worthy recognition of the Capitol 
Hill community by cosponsoring this resolution.

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