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




                      AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 587

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Con. Res. 87, 
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. 87) expressing the 
     sense of Congress regarding the crash of American Airlines 
     Flight 587.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
concurrent resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to 
reconsider be laid on 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. 87) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 87

       Whereas American Airlines Flight 587 en route from John F. 
     Kennedy Airport in Queens County, New York to Santo Domingo, 
     Dominican Republic crashed on the Rockaway Peninsula in 
     Queens County, New York on November 12, 2001;
       Whereas the crash resulted in the tragic loss of life by an 
     estimated at 266 persons, including passengers, crew members, 
     and people on the ground;
       Whereas New York City has strong cultural, familial, and 
     historic ties to the Dominican Republic;
       Whereas many of the passengers were of Dominican origin 
     residing in the Washington Heights community, a vibrant 
     neighborhood that is an integral part of our national 
     cultural mosaic;
       Whereas the Rockaway community has already suffered greatly 
     as a result of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade 
     Center in New York City on September 11, 2001, as the 
     Rockaway community has long been home to one of the highest 
     concentrations of the firefighters of New York City, many of 
     whom lost their lives responding to those attacks on the 
     World Trade Center;
       Whereas many Rockaway residents, ignoring the risks of 
     being harmed by fire or other hazards at the site of the 
     plane crash, rushed to the site in an effort to help;
       Whereas the people of Rockaway have served as an 
     inspiration through their resilience in the face of adversity 
     and their faith in and practice of community; and
       Whereas the professional emergency personnel of New York on 
     the ground at the crash site performed emergency services 
     valiantly, thereby limiting the devastation of this tragedy: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       The Congress--
       (1) sends its heartfelt condolences to the families, 
     friends, and loved ones of the victims of the crash of 
     American Airlines Flight 587 on November 12, 2001;
       (2) sends its sympathies to the people of the Dominican 
     Republic and to the Dominican community in the City of New 
     York who have been so tragically affected by the loss of 
     loved ones aboard that flight;
       (3) sends its sympathies to the people of the Rockaway 
     community who have suffered immense personal loss as a 
     combined result of the crash on November 12, 2001, and the 
     terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 
     2001; and
       (4) commends the heroic actions of the rescue workers, 
     volunteers, and State and local officials of New York who 
     responded to these tragic events with courage, determination, 
     and skill.

     SEC. 2. TRANSMISSION OF THE ENROLLED RESOLUTION.

       The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit an enrolled copy 
     of this resolution to the President of the Dominican Republic 
     and to the Mayor of New York City.

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