[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 53 (Thursday, May 2, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S3838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK

 Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and commend 
those who make up our Nation's workforce and who now, more than ever, 
make a vital contribution to the success of our Nation.
  This week, from May 6th to the 12th, is Public Service Recognition 
Week, organized by the Public Employees Roundtable. The Public 
Employees Roundtable was formed in 1982 as a non-partisan coalition of 
management and professional associations representing approximately 1 
million public employees and retirees. The mission of the Roundtable is 
to educate the American people about the numerous ways public employees 
enrich the quality of life throughout our Nation and advance the 
country's national interests around the world.
  I am indeed proud to join the Public Employees Roundtable in their 
ongoing efforts to bring special attention to the dedicated individuals 
who have chosen public service as a career. This past year has 
demonstrated the crucial role of our Nation's public employees, and has 
highlighted the brave men and women who make up the public service 
workforce. On September 11th, it was the public employees of New York, 
Washington and Pennsylvania who responded to the tragic events of that 
day. And since September 11th, we have seen public employees playing a 
vital role in the fight against terrorism and in protecting our 
national security. The response of our Nation to the attacks of 
September 11th demonstrates the true value of our public servants.
  President Kennedy once stated:

       Let the public service be a proud and lively career. And 
     let every man and woman who works in any area of our Nation's 
     government, in any branch, at any level, be able to say with 
     pride and honor in future years: ``I served the United States 
     Government in that hour of our Nation's need.''

  September 11th was an hour of our Nation's need and our public 
servants rose to challenge. The first responders on the scene in New 
York, Washington and Pennsylvania didn't hesitate to put their own 
lives in jeopardy in the hopes of saving others. Many firemen died in 
the World Trade Center rushing in to help. Postal employees, too, 
continued to deliver the mail despite the loss of several of their 
number to the anthrax attacks last fall. And as our hour of need 
continues, public servants are everyday making our skies safer, 
investigating the acts of September 11th, and working to prevent 
further terrorist attacks. The remarkable bravery of these public 
servants is a testament to the character of our Nation's public 
workforce, of whom we can be infinitely proud.
  The total impact of the work of public employees is impossible to 
measure. However, I believe very much that the United States will only 
continue to be a first-rate country if we have first-class public 
servants. On September 11th our public servants demonstrated that they 
were more than first-rate, they were heroic. It gives me great pleasure 
to extend my appreciation to such a worthy and committed group of men 
and women and encourage them to continue in their efforts on behalf of 
all Americans.

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