[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 22, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7360-H7361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD DESIGNATE 
   SEPTEMBER 11 AS A NATIONAL DAY OF VOLUNTARY SERVICE, CHARITY, AND 
                               COMPASSION

  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res 473) expressing the sense of 
Congress that the President should designate September 11 as a national 
day of voluntary service, charity, and compassion, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 473

       Whereas, across the Nation 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 Americans 
     arose from the collective shock, unifying the Nation 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 Americans;
       Whereas the creation of memorials and monuments honoring 
     the lives lost on September 11, as well as the efforts of 
     those who participated in rescue, recovery, and voluntary 
     service efforts, are necessary, proper, and fitting, but 
     alone cannot fully capture the Nation's desire 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;
       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 House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That--
       (1) it is the sense of Congress that it is appropriate to 
     annually observe Patriot Day, September 11, with voluntary 
     acts of service and compassion in honor of the lives lost on 
     that day and in the spirit of selflessness and unity 
     demonstrated by those who participated in the rescue, 
     recovery, and voluntary service activities that day; and
       (2) Congress urges the President to issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to annually 
     observe Patriot Day, September 11, with appropriate and 
     personal expressions of voluntary service, charity, and 
     compassion toward others.

  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. 473.
  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.
  Mr. Speaker, in September 2002 President Bush declared the 
anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks as Patriot Day. The 
President said September 11 should be a national time for prayer and 
remembrance for the heroes America lost on that fateful, Earth-
shattering day. Accordingly, House Concurrent Resolution 473 states 
that it is appropriate to annually observe Patriot Day on September 11. 
I join with my colleagues in urging strong support of this meaningful 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us takes the call for remembrance 
a step forward. It urges people to commemorate the day with voluntary 
acts of compassion towards loved ones, neighbors and others. These 
actions can have great effects on our communities all year long.
  With little question, September 11, 2001, ushered in a new era in 
American history. This is a period in which we need to be vigilant, 
aware, unafraid, and appreciative of our freedoms. But because 
countless Americans have embraced the sentiment of this resolution

[[Page H7361]]

in the past 3 years, this new era can be one of not just security and 
freedom but compassion and charity as well.
  I congratulate the gentleman from New York (Mr. King), my 
distinguished colleague, who will speak in a minute, for his work to 
move forward House Concurrent Resolution 473.
  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, since the tragedy of September 11, volunteerism has 
experienced a renewed popularity in our country. Government officials, 
religious leaders, political activists, health professionals and others 
all have noted the importance of volunteerism and the positive impact 
it has on families and communities.
  It is fitting, therefore, that we designate September 11 as a 
national day of voluntary service, charity, and compassion.
  After September 11, many Americans channeled their fear, anger, 
sadness, and frustration into volunteerism. Americans joined the 
military, volunteered with local charities, and contributed to good 
causes. Our citizens have shown tremendous resolve by using the tragedy 
of September 11 to help the less fortunate and those in need.
  There are many battles won and lost every day in America. These 
battles are not exclusive to fighting terrorism. They include fights to 
eradicate poverty, to improve education, and to reduce crime. By 
creating a national day of service, we will be giving the American 
people another vehicle for channeling their grief into progress along 
their own streets, within their own communities, and around the world.
  By working together on a day dedicated to volunteerism, we Americans 
can create the next defining moment in our history, one marked by 
generosity, understanding, and compassion. I urge the President to 
designate officially September 11 as a day of service through which the 
American people can continue this movement of good will towards others.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge unanimous passage of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. King), the sponsor of this resolution.
  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Ose) for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 473, and I thank the 
gentleman from California for his efforts on having this on the floor 
today. And I thank the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Davis) for the bipartisan support which he has given to this 
resolution. I also wanted to commend Senator Schumer in the other body 
for introducing a similar piece of legislation, because this is truly a 
bipartisan measure.
  Mr. Speaker, the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, 
were obviously the worst national tragedy to ever affect this country. 
The deaths, the suffering which so many people went through certainly 
in my district and adjoining districts, there were many hundreds of 
people killed that day, certainly down here at the Pentagon there were 
many more killed, almost 3,000 people killed all together. And, again, 
it was a time of excruciating agony, torment, and suffering.
  But as tragic and as terrible as those days were, we also saw 
something arise in this country, a sense of unity, a sense of people 
coming together, a sense of the country standing as one.
  Obviously in a democratic society, a mood of total unity is never 
going to prevail for very long; and it is probably just as well that we 
do have our partisan differences, we have our ideological differences. 
That is what makes a democracy what it is. But on the other hand, I do 
wish we could bring back some of that sense of unity that we had in 
those days immediately following September 11, when people donated 
blood, when people raised funds, when people actually went to the site 
of the World Trade Center to assist the rescue workers who were there. 
It was just a tremendous sense of national unity.
  What I have attempted to do with this resolution is to have the 
President establish a day which would commemorate September 11. It 
would call upon people to give of themselves. This is not going to be a 
holiday. We are not talking about giving people time off. We are asking 
people to go back to that sense of giving and donate their time and 
their efforts.
  People could donate blood. People could take part in food drives. 
People could go to distribute food to the poor and to the needy. They 
can go to veterans hospitals. They could work with senior citizens. 
They could help Alzheimer's patients. They could just find a way to 
show a sense of giving which so prevailed in our country after 
September 11.
  There are many ways we can honor the legacy of those who died on 
September 11. We can certainly do it by winning the war on terrorism. 
We can do that by establishing as much of a bipartisan policy as we can 
in combating terrorism. But we can also do it in a way which really 
crosses all ideological and partisan divides. That is by working 
together, by helping our fellow man, by helping our neighbor, by coming 
together. That is what this resolution attempts to do.
  We call upon the President to designate September 11 as a national 
day of voluntary service, charity, and compassion. I strongly urge this 
House to adopt this resolution.
  I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose), the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis), and all those who co-sponsored it with me.
  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote as the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Davis) did, unanimously in favor of this resolution.
  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my statement be included in the 
Record in its entirety and request permission to revise and extend my 
remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, the bill before us would express the sense of Congress 
that September 11 be designated a national day of voluntary service, 
charity and compassion in recognition of the nearly 3,000 Americans who 
lost their lives in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, 
the Pentagon, and the hijacked plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. 
Clearly, all those who tragically lost their lives that day will 
forever be memorialized by New Yorkers and the Nation at large. 
Likewise, it is important that we all continue to pay tribute to the 
countless rescue and recovery workers and volunteers who toiled 
heroically to locate survivors as well as the deceased and to clean up 
the Pentagon and Ground Zero.
  Yet it is imperative that we do far more than pay symbolic tribute to 
these front-line heroes. For many on the front lines at Ground Zero in 
particular, 9/11 can never be a distant memory. Many of these dedicated 
workers, from the search and rescue teams to the clean-up and 
construction crews, have significant and lingering health problems as a 
direct result of exposure to a wide range of toxins. A number have had 
to retire from active duty due to serious breathing and respiratory 
symptoms. Far too many can no longer work at their chosen occupations. 
Others will never be able to work again.
  On Workers Memorial Day in 2003, I held a forum in New York City to 
examine the health status of the 9/11 workers, including a large 
contingent of immigrant workers entrusted with decontaminating Ground 
Zero. We must ensure that these brave 9/11 workers, including the group 
of day laborers; receive all appropriate health care and monitoring as 
long as necessary. We must also ensure that the health and safety 
blunders made in this case, and the failure to protect our workers, are 
never repeated again.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope and expect that in the very near future, we will 
act upon legislation providing the critical health and compensation 
these brave 9/11 workers merit and require.
  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, 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. 473, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  The title of the concurrent resolution was amended so as to read: ``A 
concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that it is 
appropriate to annually observe Patriot Day, September 11, with 
voluntary acts of service and compassion.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.




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