[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 38 (Wednesday, April 10, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S2504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S2504]]
COMMENDING COURAGE AND PROFESSIONALISM FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF ANTHRAX

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to Calendar No. 342, S. Res. 187.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 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.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution, which had been reported from the Committee on Governmental 
Affairs without amendment and with amendments to the preamble, as 
follows:
  [Omit the part in black brackets and insert the part printed in 
italic.]
       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;
       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 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 for 96 days;
       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 Members and staff whose offices are located in the 
     Hart Senate Office Building utilized 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. REID. Mr. President, it is late tonight, but I want to underline 
this resolution. The staff did tremendous work. I can remember the 
first morning after they found the letter containing anthrax. Everyone 
was very professional.
  I also want to make sure everyone understands the great work that was 
done by the Secretary of the Senate and the Sergeant at Arms, Jeri 
Thomson and General Lenhardt, respectively. Their actions were 
exemplary. General Lenhardt had only briefly been working for the 
Senate. He was faced immediately with 9-11 and then this anthrax 
situation. His being a general has certainly paid us dividends. He 
really knew how to react under fire.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed 
to; that the amendments to the preamble be agreed to; that the 
preamble, as amended, be agreed to; and that the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table without intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 187) was agreed to.
  The amendments to the preamble were agreed to.
  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              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;
       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 for 96 days;
       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 utilized 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.




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