[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 189 (Tuesday, December 11, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H15247-H15248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NATIONAL FIRE FIGHTER APPRECIATION DAY

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 695) expressing the support for 
designation of a ``National Fire Fighter Appreciation Day'' to honor 
and celebrate the firefighters of the United States, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 695

       Whereas there are more than 1,100,000 fire fighters in the 
     United States;
       Whereas approximately 75 percent of all fire fighters in 
     the United States are volunteers who receive little or no 
     compensation for their heroic work;
       Whereas there are more than 30,000 fire departments in the 
     United States;
       Whereas thousands of fire fighters have died in the line of 
     duty since the date that Benjamin Franklin founded the first 
     volunteer fire department in 1735;
       Whereas 346 fire fighters and emergency personnel died 
     while responding to the terrorist attacks that occurred on 
     September 11, 2001;
       Whereas fire fighters respond to more than 20,000,000 calls 
     during a typical year;
       Whereas fire fighters also provide emergency medical 
     services, hazardous materials response, special rescue 
     response, terrorism response, and life safety education;
       Whereas, in 1922, President Harding first declared a Fire 
     Prevention Week, and it is appropriate to continue this 
     tradition by supporting the designation of a National Fire 
     Fighter Appreciation Day: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the 
     designation of a ``National Fire Fighter Appreciation Day'' 
     to honor and celebrate the fire fighters of the United 
     States.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I 
am pleased to join my colleagues in support of this resolution to 
support the goals of National Fire Fighter Appreciation Day. H. Res. 
695, as amended, was introduced on October 1, 2007, by Representative 
John Campbell. On November 8, 2007, the committee reported the bill 
amended by voice vote.
  H. Res. 695 ensures that a day of recognition is granted to the 
courageous firefighters of the United States, who put their lives at 
risk in order to guarantee the safety of our citizens. Over the last 
few months as emergencies across this country have been declared and 
millions have been evacuated from their homes, our Nation's 
firefighters have rushed to serve and protect those whose lives and 
livelihoods were in jeopardy. It is important to commemorate their 
great efforts and service with a day of honor.
  So I commend my colleague for sponsoring this measure and urge its 
swift passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I join with my colleagues in supporting National Fire Fighter 
Appreciation Day. This year, particularly as a Californian, it is 
appropriate that this was authored by a Californian and that I have the 
opportunity to personally thank the men and women who saved lives and 
property in California just a month and a half ago. But, of course, 
firefighters do that every day throughout the country, not just in 
wildfires that consume hundreds of thousands of acres.
  Interestingly enough, firefighters also carry automatic external 
defibrillators and save lives every day. Firefighters are not just 
people who put out fires. They are people who train in the prevention 
of fire. They are people who train in emergency procedures that save 
lives. They are people who answer to so many calls in our community.
  The fact is on 9/11 we understood that firefighters go in the 
direction where anyone, anyone, should be running from and they do so 
with no regard for their own safety. They do so because that is what a 
firefighter's job is. Firefighters do not shy away from riots. They do 
not shy away from the worst inferno, and they do not shy away from 
earthquakes in my home State and other disasters. In fact, the term 
``American hero'' is best attributed to the men and women who every day 
train to go into fires to find and retrieve people and, in fact, not to 
leave the site until all life has been preserved and all property, to 
the best of their ability, has also been maintained.
  Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues in recognizing the heroism not 
just in California 2 months ago but, in fact, throughout the country of 
our firefighters and urge support and passage of National Fire Fighter 
Appreciation Day.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1415

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I yield 10 
minutes to the gentlelady from Michigan, Mrs. Candice Miller.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I certainly rise in very strong support of this 
resolution to honor and to celebrate America's firefighters.
  Wherever and whatever the danger, every American knows that America's 
firefighters are just moments away from coming to their rescue, putting 
their lives on the line to save and protect others in their 
communities. And no one will ever forget the very vivid example of the 
bravery of our firefighters that was exhibited on September 11, 2001.
  On that horrific day, as thousands were fleeing for their lives and 
running from buildings, we witnessed firefighters actually running 
towards the danger. As others were running away from the danger, which 
is a natural human instinct, the firefighters and first responders were 
running towards the danger and running into these buildings. And they 
did this knowing that many would most likely not come out. But these 
brave men and women are professionals who understood that it was their 
duty to protect their fellow citizens, and they did so. Their

[[Page H15248]]

brave actions on that day no doubt saved countless lives, and through 
those actions they earned the gratitude of those who were saved and the 
respect of the entire world.
  Throughout this country, firefighters perform similar acts of heroism 
every day. And although we can never properly repay them for their 
dedicated service to our communities, we should take action to honor 
them for their hard work, their bravery and their dedication. 
Firefighters should never doubt that they have the eternal gratitude 
and respect of the American people that they serve so faithfully.
  The establishment of a National Firefighter Appreciation Day will 
help remind everyone of the tremendous work that our firefighters do 
each and every day, and we should take the time to recognize those 
efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, they prevent tragedies from happening, they respond 
instantly when tragedies occur, and they help pick up the pieces in 
tragedy's aftermath. They are there to help in some of the worst times 
in people's lives, guiding them through with their brave helping hands.
  I certainly appreciate the work of the sponsors of this bill in 
bringing it to the floor. And I urge all of my colleagues to support 
the adoption of this important resolution so that we, the assembled 
Representatives of the American citizens, can show America's 
firefighters the support of a grateful Nation.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this 
legislation and yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 695, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``Resolution expressing the 
support of the House of Representatives for the designation of a 
National Fire Fighter Appreciation Day to honor and celebrate the fire 
fighters of the United States.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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