[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 170 (Monday, December 10, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12813-S12814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNITION OF FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE TERRORIST 
  ATTACKS ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND THE PENTAGON ON SEPTEMBER 11, 
                                  2001

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Con. Res. 73, 
and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the concurrent resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 73) expressing the 
     profound sorrow of Congress for the deaths 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.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
concurrent resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the 
motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements 
relating thereto be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 73) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 73

       Whereas law enforcement officers, firefighters, and 
     emergency medical personnel are collectively known as first 
     responders;

[[Page S12814]]

       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 attacks on the 
     World Trade Center, the 2 towers of that complex collapsed, 
     and many first responders themselves became victims of the 
     attacks;
       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 Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) expresses its profound sorrow for the deaths 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 if an 
     attack occurs, first responders will be as prepared as 
     possible to respond effectively.

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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