[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 67 (Wednesday, May 7, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S5878]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, on behalf of the majority leader, I ask 
unanimous consent that the Governmental Affairs Committee be discharged 
from further consideration of S. Res. 130 and that the Senate then 
proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 130) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate that public servants should be commended for their 
     dedication and continued service to the Nation during 
     ``Public Service Recognition Week.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating thereto be 
printed in the Record without intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 130) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution (S. Res. 130), with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 130

       Whereas Public Service Recognition Week provides an 
     opportunity to honor and celebrate the commitment of 
     individuals who meet the needs of the Nation through work at 
     all levels of government;
       Whereas over 20,000,000 men and women work in government 
     service in every city, county, and State across America and 
     in hundreds of cities abroad;
       Whereas Federal, State, and local officials perform 
     essential services the Nation relies upon every day;
       Whereas the United States of America is a great and 
     prosperous Nation, and public service employees have 
     contributed significantly to that greatness and prosperity;
       Whereas the Nation benefits daily from the knowledge and 
     skills of these highly trained individuals;
       Whereas public servants--
       (1) help the Nation recover from natural disasters and 
     terrorist attacks;
       (2) fight crime and fire;
       (3) deliver the mail;
       (4) teach and work in the schools;
       (5) deliver social security and medicare benefits;
       (6) fight disease and promote better health;
       (7) protect the environment and national parks;
       (8) defend and secure critical infrastructure;
       (9) improve and secure transportation and the quality and 
     safety of water and food;
       (10) build and maintain roads and bridges;
       (11) provide vital strategic and support functions to our 
     military;
       (12) keep the Nation's economy stable;
       (13) defend our freedom; and
       (14) advance United States interests around the world;
       Whereas public servants at the Federal, State, and local 
     level are the first line of defense in maintaining homeland 
     security;
       Whereas public servants at every level of government are 
     hard-working men and women, committed to doing a good job 
     regardless of the circumstances;
       Whereas Federal, State, and local government employees have 
     risen to the occasion and demonstrated professionalism, 
     dedication, and courage while fighting the war against 
     terrorism;
       Whereas the men and women serving in the Armed Forces of 
     the United States, as well as those Federal employees who 
     provide support to their efforts, contribute greatly to the 
     security of the Nation and the world;
       Whereas May 5 through 11, 2003, has been designated Public 
     Service Recognition Week to honor America's Federal, State, 
     and local government employees; and
       Whereas Public Service Recognition Week will be celebrated 
     through job fairs, student activities, and agency exhibits: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends government employees for their outstanding 
     contributions to this great Nation;
       (2) salutes their unyielding dedication and spirit for 
     public service;
       (3) honors those public servants who have given their lives 
     in service to their country;
       (4) calls upon a new generation of workers to consider a 
     career in public service as an honorable profession; and
       (5) encourages efforts to promote public service careers at 
     all levels of government.

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