[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 25, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S5112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 171--MEMORIALIZING FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS BY LOWERING 
THE UNITED STATES FLAG TO HALF-STAFF ON THE DAY OF THE NATIONAL FALLEN 
          FIREFIGHTER MEMORIAL SERVICE IN EMMITSBURG, MARYLAND

  Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mr. Biden, Mr. McCain, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. 
Carper, and Mr. Dodd) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 171

       Whereas 1,100,000 men and women comprise the fire service 
     in the United States;
       Whereas the fire service is considered one of the most 
     dangerous professions in the United States;
       Whereas fire service personnel selflessly respond to over 
     22,500,000 emergency calls annually, without reservation and 
     with an unwavering commitment to the safety of their fellow 
     citizens;
       Whereas fire service personnel are the first to respond to 
     an emergency, whether it involves a fire, medical emergency, 
     spill of hazardous materials, natural disaster, act of 
     terrorism, or transportation accident; and
       Whereas approximately 100 fire service personnel die 
     annually in the line of duty: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That this year, the United States flags on all 
     Federal facilities should be lowered to half-staff on the day 
     of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in 
     Emmitsburg, Maryland.

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President. I rise to submit Senate Resolution 171 to 
memorialize our country's fallen firefighters by lowering U.S. flags to 
half-staff each year on the day of National Fallen Firefighters 
Memorial Service.
  As a co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, it is my 
honor to sponsor the tribute to some of America's bravest and most 
dedicated public servants. I am pleased that Senators Biden, McCain, 
Mikulski, Carper, and Dodd have joined me in sponsoring this 
resolution.
  More than a million men and women work in the fire service in the 
United States. They respond to more than 22 million emergencies every 
year, including not only fires, but accidents, medical emergencies, 
hazardous spills, and terror attacks.
  And each year, about 100 of these brave firefighters die in the line 
of duty, often in circumstances too terrifying and agonizing for us to 
imagine. The sad toll in 2006 was 105 firefighters.
  Recognizing the many dangers of our firefighters' profession and the 
essential public service that they selflessly provide, Congress has 
taken practical steps to ensure that firefighters possess the equipment 
and other resources needed to safely fulfill their many missions. For 
example, in 2001, Congress created the Assistance to Firefighters Grant 
Program, otherwise known as the Fire Act Grants, which fire 
departments--including many in Maine--have used to buy much-needed 
equipment and to fund training, health, and fitness programs.

  Congress has also taken symbolic steps to honor the brave 
firefighters who have died in the line of duty. Under the leadership of 
our retired colleague senator Paul Sarbanes, Congress established the 
non-profit National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to honor America's 
fallen firefighters and to support their families.
  The Foundation maintains the official national memorial to fallen 
firefighters in Emmitsburg, MD, and conducts an annual memorial weekend 
that draws thousands of firefighters and the families from around the 
country.
  The memorial weekend, begun in 1982, will be held this year October 5 
through 7, including a memorial service on Sunday, October 7.
  The resolution I submit today would provide another demonstration of 
our respect and appreciation for our fallen firefighters. It would 
direct that flags on all Federal facilities would be lowered to half-
staff each year on the day of the memorial service.
  Our firefighters risk their lives every day for their fellow 
citizens. It is fitting that we offer this simple but richly symbolic 
tribute to all those firefighters who have given their lives in our 
defense.

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