[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-
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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
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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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