[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 22, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7357-H7359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH

  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 489) supporting the goals and 
ideals of National Preparedness Month.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 489

       Whereas devastating acts, such as the terrorist attacks on 
     the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, have left many 
     Americans concerned about the possibility of future terrorist 
     incidents and their potential impact;
       Whereas terrorists are attempting to acquire or develop 
     weapons of mass destruction, such as biological, chemical, 
     nuclear, and radiological weapons;
       Whereas terrorist attacks and other emergencies have, and 
     can again, disrupt hundreds of thousands of lives, resulting 
     in significant numbers of casualties, causing serious damage 
     to buildings and our Nation's infrastructure, and costing 
     billions of dollars;
       Whereas the Department of Homeland Security and other 
     Federal, State, and local entities have been working 
     diligently to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover 
     from terrorist attacks and other emergencies;
       Whereas all Americans can assist in promoting the Nation's 
     overall emergency preparedness by preparing themselves and 
     their families for terrorist attacks and other emergencies;
       Whereas Americans can prepare for the unexpected by, among 
     other things, assembling an emergency supply kit, developing 
     a family emergency communications plan, and keeping informed 
     about possible emergencies;
       Whereas additional information about citizen preparedness 
     can be obtained through the Department of Homeland Security's 
     Ready campaign, by telephone at 1-800-BE-

[[Page H7358]]

     READY, and on the Internet at www.Ready.gov;
       Whereas the Department of Homeland Security, the Department 
     of Education, the America Prepared Campaign, the American Red 
     Cross, and a coalition of more than 50 national organizations 
     will launch National Preparedness Month on September 9, 2004;
       Whereas all 56 State and territorial governors have pledged 
     to mark National Preparedness Month with local events; and
       Whereas the designation of National Preparedness Month will 
     promote public awareness about the numerous ways that 
     Americans can better prepare themselves and our Nation for 
     terrorist attacks and other emergencies: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That the Congress--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Preparedness 
     Month;
       (2) supports the designation of National Preparedness 
     Month; and
       (3) urges the Federal Government, States, localities, 
     schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, other entities, 
     and the people of the United States to observe National 
     Preparedness Month with appropriate events and activities 
     that promote citizen and community preparedness for terrorist 
     attacks and other emergencies.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 489.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As Election Day nears, many Americans are understandably nervous 
about terrorism. Each day brings news of terror warnings at home, 
terror attacks or other developments abroad and ways the entire world 
has changed since the international war on terror began. Literally, we 
can be overwhelmed by the constant bombardment of these frightening 
updates.
  Indeed, since September 11, our Nation has profoundly changed. 
Homeland security immediately became America's greatest priority. First 
responders, military personnel and law enforcement officials have 
vigilantly defended our homeland against further terrorist attacks. 
Meanwhile, many Americans want to help shoulder some of the burden in 
protecting the United States. They may, unfortunately, believe that 
they can do little more than worry. This resolution intends to increase 
awareness about how Americans can better prepare themselves and our 
Nation for terrorist attacks and other emergencies.
  Mr. Speaker, this is September, the month in which our Nation was 
brutally attacked. Consequently, the Departments of Homeland Security 
and Education, the American Red Cross and dozens of national 
organizations have joined together to appropriately designate this 
month as National Preparedness Month. I join with the distinguished 
chairman of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) to support the critical goals of 
National Preparedness Month.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Cox) for introducing House Concurrent Resolution 489, and I look 
forward to his words on the 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, a year after the Department of Homeland Security began 
its ad campaign to educate the American people on how to prepare for a 
terrorist attack, a USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll published in March found 
that most Americans have not heeded the government's advice by stocking 
up on food and water, formulating a plan to contact family members and 
identifying a ``safe room'' in their homes.
  This statistic is very troubling, because it demonstrates that the 
government has not done an adequate job in communicating how important 
it is to be prepared in the event of an emergency or terrorist attack. 
Being prepared could mean the difference between life and death.
  Establishing a National Preparedness Month will focus the public's 
attention on emergency preparedness and help to resolve issues people 
may have, such as where to go and how to contact family members during 
an emergency.
  As elected officials, we have a responsibility to help protect and to 
educate our constituents about the threats facing our Nation. H. Con. 
Res. 489 would help us to do exactly that.
  There is no such thing as a perfect plan to protect the American 
people from an attack, but we can work to make our plan as perfect as 
possible. While the poll suggests that Americans are not as prepared as 
we should be, it does serve as a wake-up call.
  So I urge my colleagues to take advantage of this opportunity to vote 
in favor of H. Con. Res. 489 and to help make sure that we are as 
prepared as a nation as we can possibly be.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox), the chairman of the 
Select Committee on Homeland Security and the sponsor of House 
Concurrent Resolution 489.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 489, which supports the 
objectives of National Preparedness Month and commends the Department 
of Homeland Security for initiating this bold and timely program.
  I recently introduced this bill, along with my distinguished 
colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman). Her strong 
leadership on the Select Committee on Homeland Security on behalf of 
this measure has contributed significantly to keeping our citizens 
prepared, informed and protected from the continued threat of 
terrorism. Since September 11, this Congress has worked tirelessly to 
improve the security of every town and city across America.
  This month, September 2004, more than 80 organizations across the 
United States in every one of the 56 United States and territories are 
joining with the Department of Homeland Security to encourage Americans 
to be prepared in our homes, in our businesses and in our schools.
  As recent tragic events in Beslan have made it clear, even our 
children, even our schools are not immune from terrorism.
  As we continue to secure our transportation systems and other 
critical infrastructure, we must also make it a priority to educate our 
citizens. Moms, dads, students, teachers, businesses and professional 
men and women, every American at his and her place of work can 
contribute to the counterterrorism mission. In order to work, this 
critical mission has to be a partnership, a broad partnership involving 
not just Federal, State and local governments but each and every 
citizen.
  That is why National Preparedness Month is so important and so 
relevant to President Bush's strategy for homeland security. It is a 
creative but practical program that emphasizes clear, commonsense steps 
that we can all take to secure our communities, to safeguard our 
neighborhoods and to protect our children.
  Every one of us has an important role to play in this effort. We can 
make emergency communications plans. We should have emergency kits. We 
can work with our neighbors to promote public awareness and public 
preparedness.
  As Secretary Ridge has reminded us, national preparedness is not just 
a 30-day exercise. It is not going to be finished and forgotten. It 
should be for all of our citizens the renewal of a 365-day, 24-7 
effort, a commitment to defeat international terrorism in our own 
homes. National preparedness must be a way of life in defense of our 
home.
  The unthinkable happened on September 11, and we are making sure that 
it never happens again. The Department of Homeland Security is working 
to ensure that our capable and courageous police, firefighters and 
emergency medical personnel are properly trained and equipped. These 
first responders must be prepared to respond to terrorist attacks and 
other emergencies, especially if they involve biological weapons or 
WMDs.
  We have come a long way since 9/11, but as the President tells us 
time and

[[Page H7359]]

again, there is still much more to do to keep America safe. Each and 
every one of us, as I said, has an important role to play in this 
effort. By staying informed and active in our communities, we can all 
help accomplish this.
  I commend Secretary Ridge and the Department of Homeland Security for 
inaugurating National Preparedness Month, which is keeping us all 
focused on this important goal.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the adoption of 
House Concurrent Resolution 489, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Ose) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 489.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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