[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 150 (Monday, September 22, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9212-S9213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 670--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 25, 2008, AS ``NATIONAL 
                   FIRST RESPONDER APPRECIATION DAY''

  Mr. ALLARD (for himself, Mr. Casey, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Bennett, Mr. 
Brown, Mr. Chambliss, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Crapo, Mr. 
Domenici, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Enzi, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. 
Inhofe, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, 
Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Sanders, Mr. 
Schumer, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. 
Wicker, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Barrasso, and Mr. Menendez) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 670

       Whereas millions of Americans have benefitted from the 
     courageous service of first responders across the United 
     States;
       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 the United States, 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;

[[Page S9213]]

       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 tornados in Florida and the 
     blizzard in Colorado in December 2006, the flooding in the 
     Northeast in April 2007, the flooding in the Midwest in June 
     2008, and the wildfires in the West in July 2008;
       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 900,000 police officers, 1,100,000 firefighters, 
     and 891,000 emergency medical technicians risk their lives 
     every day to make our communities safe;
       Whereas these 900,000 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 the United States;
       Whereas, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers 
     Memorial Fund, a total of 1,671 law enforcement officers died 
     in the line of duty during the past 10 years, an average of 1 
     death every 53 hours or 167 per year, and 181 law enforcement 
     officers were killed in 2007;
       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, firefighters, law enforcement officers, 
     and emergency medical workers in the United States 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 have earned the gratitude of 
     Congress: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate designates September 25, 2008, 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 submit a resolution today that 
will designate September 25 as National First Responder Appreciation 
Day. Last year I introduced this resolution with my good friend and 
colleague Senator Robert Casey and I am pleased Senator Casey has 
joined me again in honoring our first responders. I am also pleased to 
be joined by Senators Akaka, Bennett, Brown, Chambliss, Clinton, 
Coleman, Crapo, Domenici, Durbin, Enzi, Hutchison, Inhofe, Kennedy, 
Landrieu, Leahy, Lieberman, Mikulski, Murray, Pryor, Rockefeller, 
Sanders, Stabenow, Stevens, Voinovich, Whitehouse and Wicker in this 
important recognition of our men and women who keep us safe.
  The contributions that our Nation's 1.1 million firefighters, 900,000 
police officers, and 890,000 emergency medical professionals make in 
our communities are familiar to us all. Their heroics can be seen every 
night on our TV screens, read about in our papers, and heralded by the 
survivors of every modern disaster. From the wildfires in Colorado and 
California, the tragic events at Virginia Tech, and the horrific damage 
of Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav, and Ike, our first responders regularly 
risk their lives to protect property, uphold the law, and save the 
lives of others.
  The duty of a first responder is never without risk and requires the 
courage to place the safety of others ahead of one's own. It is courage 
that compels a firefighter to rush into a burning building, a police 
officer to charge into an active shooter, and an emergency medical 
professional to perform precision lifesaving procedures in the most 
hazardous conditions imaginable. While all of these brave Americans 
know the risks involved, some make that ultimate sacrifice to save 
another, at the cost of their own life.
  Every year over 100 firefighters and nearly 200 police officers are 
killed in the line of duty. And while some may not consider a career in 
the emergency medical services dangerous, EMS workers actually have an 
occupational fatality rate comparable to that of firefighters and 
police officers. I know I speak on behalf of all Americans when I 
express my sincerest appreciation for their service and sacrifice.
  While we recognize our first responders for their sacrifices, we also 
acknowledge their everyday contributions that make our communities 
throughout America a safer place. In addition to battling fires, 
firefighters reach out through fire prevention and public education, 
like teaching our children about fire safety and proper emergency 
response. In addition to arresting criminals, police officers encourage 
communities to stay involved in crime prevention and cooperate with law 
enforcement to help make our neighborhoods safer and more livable. If 
we or our loved ones experience a medical emergency, EMTs are there at 
a moment's notice to provide lifesaving care.
  In many ways, our first responders embody the very best of the 
American spirit. With charity and compassion, these brave men and women 
commit themselves to preserving the highest standard of life we all 
enjoy in this great Nation. Through their actions they have become 
heroes to many, through their examples they have become role models to 
us all.
  While various cities and towns have recognized the contributions made 
by their local first responders, 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 25 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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