[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 74 (Tuesday, June 1, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H3547-H3549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING AND HONORING FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE, PUBLIC SERVANTS, 
CIVILIANS, AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES WHO RESPONDED TO DEVASTATING FIRE IN 
                 RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ON MARCH 26, 2004

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res.

[[Page H3548]]

612) recognizing and honoring the firefighters, police, public 
servants, civilians, and private businesses who responded to the 
devastating fire in Richmond, Virginia, on March 26, 2004, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 612

       Whereas fire kills more Americans than all other natural 
     disasters combined;
       Whereas all Americans must work together for the common 
     goal of fire prevention, fire use, and fire suppression;
       Whereas firefighters routinely risk their lives to save 
     others, and some sacrifice their lives in the line of duty;
       Whereas on March 26, 2004, the Carver Community of 
     Richmond, Virginia, and Virginia Commonwealth University 
     experienced a devastating fire resulting in the condemnation 
     and destruction of numerous buildings and property;
       Whereas strong winds quickly spread the fire through 
     several city blocks and a section of the Virginia 
     Commonwealth University campus;
       Whereas firefighters, police, public servants, and 
     civilians exhibited resilience and courage in combating the 
     dangerous fire and in dealing with its aftermath;
       Whereas the local firefighters who initially answered the 
     call were later assisted by countless firefighters from fire 
     stations throughout the region who united in a determined 
     effort to defeat the blaze and fight the challenging wind, 
     smoke, and heat conditions in order to save the remaining 
     area;
       Whereas public, private, and civic organizations worked as 
     a seamless team preserving and protecting human lives, 
     defending property, and providing food and comfort to all 
     affected; and
       Whereas all involved met their community's call to duty by 
     providing brave and steadfast assistance and upholding the 
     finest traditions of the Commonwealth of Virginia: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes and 
     honors the firefighters, police, public servants, civilians, 
     and private businesses who responded to the devastating fire 
     in Richmond, Virginia, on March 26, 2004, and commends them 
     for their dedicated service to the people of the Commonwealth 
     of Virginia.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Mrs. Miller) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller).


                             General Leave

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks on House Resolution 612.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 612 recognizes those who responded to 
the tremendous fire in downtown Richmond, Virginia, on March 26, 2004. 
On that day, a colossal fire ripped through Richmond and the Virginia 
Commonwealth University campus area as well. The wind-fueled blaze 
damned more than 30 buildings in the downtown Richmond area and several 
more buildings, and about 50 nearby homes were evacuated. Fortunately, 
no one was killed, and there were only a handful of reports of minor 
injuries. This resolution commends those citizens in the Richmond area 
who helped to minimize the effects of this terrible fire.
  Mr. Speaker, our Nation's first responders provide an invaluable and 
largely thankless service, sometimes, to many of our citizens. The 
scene in Richmond on March 26 and the days that followed proved a 
stirring testament to that fact. Firefighters from Richmond and several 
neighboring counties rallied to extinguish the incredible fire. Law 
enforcement officers went door to door insisting that residents leave 
their homes. Many members of the downtown workforce, private 
organizations, and just your everyday average citizens helped to 
protect lives and defend property to limit the damage and the loss from 
the blaze.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the distinguished gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Cantor) for his work on House Resolution 612. And on 
behalf of the gentleman from Virginia and all the Members of this 
House, I want to thank the firefighters, the police, the businesses, 
organizations, civilians, and others who aided residents affected by 
the fire on March 26, 2004.
  But even beyond the fine men and women from Richmond, Virginia, I 
want to thank all emergency responders across the country who protect 
every one of us every day. First responders routinely put their lives 
at risk to promote the general welfare of all Americans. I am pleased 
that the consideration of this resolution gives us a chance to praise 
medical services personnel, firefighters, law enforcement officials, as 
well as others who serve and protect all of us each and every day, and 
I urge support for this important resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleague from Michigan in 
consideration of H. Res. 612, recognizing and honoring firefighters, 
police, public servants, civilians, and private businesses who 
responded to the devastating fire in Richmond, Virginia, on March 26, 
2004.
  Mr. Speaker, far too often we, as Americans, overlook or take for 
granted the truly courageous risks that the men and women of our police 
and fire departments take to save the lives of others. I am pleased 
that we take time today to recognize and to honor the firefighters and 
police, as well as the public servants, civilians, and private 
businesses, who responded in the face of grave danger to a devastating 
fire in Richmond, Virginia, on March 26, 2004.
  On March 26, 2004, a series of fires, fueled by strong winds, erupted 
in downtown Richmond. This potentially deadly blaze forced hundreds of 
students at Virginia Commonwealth University from their dorm rooms and 
prompted city officials to declare the region a disaster area. By the 
time the fire was extinguished, it had destroyed six buildings and had 
seriously damaged 12 others.
  Despite the enormity of this threat, no serious injuries were 
reported. This was due in large part to the quick reaction of the fire 
and police departments, as well as local public servants, civilians, 
and private businesses which all worked together to control the 
dangerous blaze. According to the City of Richmond's Assistant Fire 
Marshal, the fire could have been much worse. However, the selfless 
actions of the police and fire department and others turned a life-
threatening disaster into a miracle.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I commend all of those who joined together in 
this great spirit of cooperation to save not only property but 
countless lives. I commend the gentleman for introducing this 
legislation and urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from the great 
State of Virginia (Mr. Cantor), who authorized House Resolution 612.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Michigan and 
the gentleman from Illinois for their leadership in bringing this 
resolution to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the brave 
firefighters, police, public servants, civilians, and private 
businesses that responded to the devastating fire in Richmond, 
Virginia, on March 26, 2004.
  Our brave firefighters and first responders routinely risk their 
lives to save others, and some sacrifice their lives in the line of 
duty. The history of our great Nation has been marked with the heroic 
efforts of valiant individuals and organizations exhibiting resilience 
and courage as they combat dangerous fires and deal with their scorched 
aftermath.
  Each year, fire kills more Americans than all other natural disasters 
combined. In order to lessen the death toll, all Americans must work 
together for the common goal of fire prevention, fire use, and fire 
suppression. The valiant firefighters, police, public servants, and 
civilians who protect the Richmond region have added their story to our 
Nation's history of selfless acts.
  On March 26 of this year, the Carver community of Richmond, the City 
of Richmond, and Virginia Commonwealth University experienced a 
devastating fire which resulted in the destruction of numerous 
buildings and property. During the course of the day, strong winds 
quickly spread the fire through several city blocks and a section of 
the Virginia Commonwealth

[[Page H3549]]

University campus. The local firefighters, who initially answered the 
call, were later assisted by countless others from fire stations 
throughout the region. These units joined together to defeat the blaze 
and fight the challenging wind, smoke, and heat conditions. Their 
efforts prevented further destruction and helped protect innocent lives 
from being lost.
  These firefighters were not alone that day, as public, private, and 
civic organizations worked as a seamless team preserving and protecting 
human lives, defending property, and providing food and comfort to all 
those affected. All of these organizations met their community's call 
to duty by providing brave and steadfast assistance to our community. 
They stand as a symbol to all who give of themselves in an effort to 
better our Nation and uphold the finest traditions of the Commonwealth 
of Virginia.

                              {time}  1430

  In closing, I am proud to recognize and honor the firefighters, 
police, public servants, civilians, and private businesses who 
responded to the devastating fire in Richmond on March 26, 2004, and 
commend them for their dedicated service to the people of the 
Commonwealth of Virginia and urge passage of House Resolution 612.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H. Res. 612, which recognizes and honors the firefighters, 
police, public servants, civilians, and private businesses who 
responded to the devastating fire in Richmond, Virginia, on March 26, 
2004.
  On March 26, 2004, a destructive fire swept through Virginia 
Commonwealth University and the Carver Community of Richmond, Virginia. 
The size of this blaze quickly grew out of control such that local 
Richmond firefighters called for assistance from fire stations 
throughout the region. The quick response and valiant united effort of 
firefighters, police, public servants, and civilians extinguished the 
blaze and averted further destruction of property. Additionally, 
public, private and civic organizations provided shelter, food and 
comfort to those affected by the fire. This is a further example of the 
amazing courage and perseverance required on a daily basis by fire and 
rescue personnel across the country. These citizens don the uniforms of 
service to protect and provide for our communities and for our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution honors the firefighters, police, public 
servants and private businesses who responded to this emergency with 
swiftness and courage, working together to protect the citizens of the 
Commonwealth of Virginia. I urge all of my colleagues to support this 
important resolution.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of H. Res. 612, 
as amended; and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Upton). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 612, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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