[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 107 (Friday, September 10, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S9086]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 11 AS A NATIONAL DAY OF VOLUNTARY SERVICE, 
                        CHARITY, AND COMPASSION

  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, there are two unanimous consent requests 
that have been cleared.
  I ask unanimous consent that the HELP Committee be discharged from 
further consideration of S. Con. Res. 127, and that the Senate proceed 
to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the concurrent resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 127) expressing the 
     sense of Congress that the President should designate 
     September 11 as a national day of voluntary service, charity, 
     and compassion.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
concurrent 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 further intervening action or 
debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is 
so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Con. Res. 127) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 127

       Whereas across the United States and around the world, 
     people of all ages and walks of life collectively witnessed 
     an event of immense tragedy on September 11, 2001;
       Whereas the events of that day instantly transformed many 
     lives, some through personal loss and many others through an 
     unfamiliar sense of individual and national vulnerability;
       Whereas an unprecedented, historic bonding of the people of 
     the United States arose from the collective shock, unifying 
     the United States in a sustained outpouring of national 
     spirit, pride, selflessness, generosity, courage, and 
     service;
       Whereas on that day and the immediate days that followed, 
     many brave people heroically, tirelessly, and courageously 
     participated in an extraordinarily difficult and dangerous 
     rescue and recovery effort, in many cases voluntarily putting 
     their own well-being at risk;
       Whereas September 11 will never and should never be just 
     another day in the hearts and minds of all people of the 
     United States;
       Whereas the creation of memorials and monuments honoring 
     the lives lost on September 11, 2001, as well as the efforts 
     of those who participated in rescue and recovery and 
     voluntary service efforts, are necessary, proper, and 
     fitting, but alone cannot fully capture the desire of the 
     United States to pay tribute in a meaningful way;
       Whereas it is fitting and essential to establish a lasting, 
     meaningful, and positive legacy of service for future 
     generations as a tribute to those heroes of September 11, 
     2001;
       Whereas many citizens wish to memorialize September 11 by 
     engaging in personal and individual acts of community service 
     or other giving activities as part of a national day of 
     recognition and tribute; and
       Whereas to lose this opportunity to bring people together 
     for such an important endeavor would be a tragedy unto 
     itself: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That--
       (1) it is the sense of Congress that the President should 
     designate September 11 as an annually recognized day of 
     voluntary service, charity, and compassion; and
       (2) Congress urges the President to issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe this 
     day with appropriate and personal expressions of service, 
     charity, and compassion toward others.

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