[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 86 (Thursday, May 24, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6897-S6898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 215--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 25, 2007, AS ``NATIONAL 
                   FIRST RESPONDER APPRECIATION DAY''

  Mr. ALLARD (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mr. Casey, Mr. Cochran, Mr. 
Enzi, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Graham, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Craig, and Mr. 
Inhofe) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 215

       Whereas millions of Americans have benefited from the 
     courageous service of first responders across the Nation;
       Whereas the police, fire, emergency medical service, and 
     public health personnel (commonly known as ``first 
     responders'') work devotedly and selflessly on behalf of the 
     people of this Nation, regardless of the peril or hazard to 
     themselves;
       Whereas in emergency situations, first responders carry out 
     the critical role of protecting and ensuring public safety;
       Whereas the men and women who bravely serve as first 
     responders have found themselves on the front lines of 
     homeland defense in the war against terrorism;
       Whereas first responders are called upon in the event of a 
     natural disaster, such as the tornadoes in Florida and the 
     blizzard in Colorado in December 2006, the wildfires in the 
     West in 2007, and the flooding in the Northeast in April 
     2007;
       Whereas the critical role of first responders was witnessed 
     in the aftermath of the mass shooting at the Virginia 
     Polytechnic Institute and State University, when the 
     collaborative effort of police officers, firefighters, and 
     emergency medical technicians to secure the campus, rescue 
     students from danger, treat the injured, and transport 
     victims to local hospitals undoubtedly saved the lives of 
     many students and faculty;
       Whereas 670,000 police officers, 1,100,000 firefighters, 
     and 891,000 emergency medical technicians risk their lives 
     every day to make our communities safe;
       Whereas these 670,000 sworn police officers from Federal, 
     State, tribal, city, and county law enforcement agencies 
     protect lives and property, detect and prevent crimes, uphold 
     the law, and ensure justice;
       Whereas these 1,100,000 firefighters, both volunteer and 
     career, provide fire suppression, emergency medical services, 
     search and rescue, hazardous materials response, response to 
     terrorism, and critical fire prevention and safety education;
       Whereas the 891,000 emergency medical professionals in the 
     United States respond to and treat a variety of life-
     threatening emergencies, from cardiac and respiratory arrest 
     to traumatic injuries;
       Whereas these 2,661,000 ``first responders'' make personal 
     sacrifices to protect our communities, as was witnessed on 
     September 11, 2001, and in the aftermath of Hurricane 
     Katrina, and as is witnessed every day in cities and towns 
     across America;
       Whereas according to the National Law Enforcement Officers 
     Memorial Fund, a total of 1,649 law enforcement officers died 
     in the line of duty during the past 10 years, an average of 1 
     death every 53 hours or 165 per year, and 145 law enforcement 
     officers were killed in 2006;
       Whereas, according to the United States Fire 
     Administration, from 1996 through 2005 over 1500 firefighters 
     were killed in the line of duty, and tens of thousands were 
     injured;
       Whereas 4 in 5 medics are injured on the job, more than 1 
     in 2 (52 percent) have been assaulted by a patient and 1 in 2 
     (50 percent) have been exposed to an infectious disease, and 
     emergency medical service personnel in the United States have 
     an estimated fatality rate of 12.7 per 100,000 workers, more 
     than twice the national average;
       Whereas most emergency medical service personnel deaths in 
     the line of duty occur in ambulance accidents;
       Whereas thousands of first responders have made the 
     ultimate sacrifice;
       Whereas, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 
     September 11, 2001, America's firefighters, law enforcement 
     officers, and emergency medical workers were universally 
     recognized for the sacrifices they made on that tragic day, 
     and should be honored each year as these tragic events are 
     remembered;
       Whereas there currently exists no national day to honor the 
     brave men and women of the first responder community, who 
     give so much of themselves for the sake of others; and
       Whereas these men and women by their patriotic service and 
     their dedicated efforts

[[Page S6898]]

     have earned the gratitude of Congress: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate designates September 25, 2007, as 
     ``National First Responder Appreciation Day'' to honor and 
     celebrate the contributions and sacrifices made by all first 
     responders in the United States.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise to introduce a resolution today 
that will designate September 25 as National First Responder 
Appreciation Day. I am pleased to be joined by my good friends and 
colleagues, Senators McCain, Casey, Cochran, Enzi, Stevens, Lindsey 
Graham, Craig and Chambliss.
  The contributions that our Nation's 1.1 million firefighters, 670,000 
police officers and over 890,000 emergency medical professionals make 
in our communities are familiar to us all. We see the results of their 
efforts every night on our TV screens and read about them everyday in 
the paper. From recent tornados in the Southeast and wildfires in the 
West, the tragic events at Virginia Tech, and the wrath of Hurricane 
Katrina, our ``first responders'' regularly risk their lives to protect 
property, uphold the law and save the lives of others.
  While performing their jobs many first responders have made the 
ultimate sacrifice. Over 100 firefighters are killed in the line of 
duty every year. Tragically in 2006, 145 law enforcement officers were 
killed in the line of duty as well. And though many might not think a 
career in the emergency medical services, EMS, is dangerous, EMS 
workers actually have an occupational fatality rate that is comparable 
with that of firefighters and police officers.
  Yet to recognize our first responders only for their sacrifices would 
be to ignore the everyday contributions that they make in communities 
throughout America. In addition to battling fires, firefighters perform 
important fire prevention and public education duties, like teaching 
our children how to be ``fire safe.'' Police officers don't simply 
arrest criminals, they actively prevent crime and make our 
neighborhoods safer and more livable. And if we or our loved ones 
experience a medical emergency, EMTs are there at a moment's notice to 
provide life-saving care.
  In many ways, our first responders embody the very best of the 
American spirit. With charity and compassion, these brave men and women 
regularly put the well-being of others before their own, oftentimes at 
great personal risk. Through their actions they have become heroes to 
many. Through their example they are role models to all of us.
  While various cities and towns have recognized the contributions made 
by their local first responders by declaring a ``first responder day,'' 
there exists no national day to honor and thank these courageous men 
and women. The time has come to give our first responders the national 
day of appreciation that they deserve.
  Designating September 25th as National First Responder Appreciation 
day provides an opportunity for this institution, and the people of the 
United States, to honor first responders for their contributions, 
sacrifices and dedication to public service.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting passage of this 
worthwhile resolution.

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