[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 155 (Saturday, September 27, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H10274-H10276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           COMMENDING HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1429) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that the employees of the Department of Homeland 
Security, their partners at all levels of government, and the millions 
of emergency response providers and law enforcement agents nationwide 
should be commended for their dedicated service on the Nation's front 
lines in the war against acts of terrorism.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1429

       Whereas it has been 7 years since the horrific terrorist 
     attacks against the United States and its people on September 
     11, 2001;
       Whereas terrorists around the world continue to plot and 
     plan attacks against the United States and its interests and 
     foreign allies;
       Whereas, as evidenced by a suicide bomb attack in Jerusalem 
     that killed 22 people and wounded 140 on March 27, 2002, a 
     car bomb that exploded outside a Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, 
     Indonesia, on August 5, 2003, killing 10 people and wounding 
     150, 10 bombs that exploded on 4 commuter trains in Madrid on 
     March 11, 2004, killing 191 people, a major anti-terrorist 
     operation by British Police disrupts an alleged bomb plot 
     targeting multiple airplanes bound for the United States 
     flying through Heathrow Airport, near London on August 10, 
     2006, citizens across the country and in the world should 
     remain vigilant, prepared, and informed;
       Whereas during the month of September, the Nation observes 
     National Preparedness Month which is sponsored by the 
     Department of Homeland Security, and encourages all citizens 
     to prepare themselves and their families for possible 
     emergencies by getting an emergency supply kit that will last 
     72 hours, making a family emergency plan, being informed, and 
     getting involved in the community in organizations such as 
     Citizen Corps, which actively involves citizens in making our 
     communities and our Nation safer, stronger, and better 
     prepared;
       Whereas acts of terrorism can exact a tragic human toll, 
     resulting in significant numbers of casualties and disrupting 
     hundreds of thousands of lives, causing serious damage to our 
     Nation's critical infrastructure, and inflicting billions of 
     dollars of costs on both our public and private sectors;
       Whereas in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, 
     and the continuing grave threat of terrorism, Congress 
     established the Department of Homeland Security in March 
     2003, bringing together 22 disparate Federal entities, 
     enhancing their capabilities with major new divisions 
     emphasizing terrorism-related information analysis, 
     infrastructure protection, and science and technology, and 
     focusing their employees on the critical mission of defending 
     our Nation against acts of terrorism;
       Whereas since its creation, the employees of the Department 
     of Homeland Security have endeavored to carry out this 
     mission with commendable dedication, working with other 
     Federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies and 
     partners at all levels of Government to help secure our 
     Nation's borders, airports, seaports, critical 
     infrastructure, and communities against terrorist attacks;
       Whereas our Nation's firefighters, law enforcement 
     officers, emergency medical personnel, and other first 
     responders selflessly and repeatedly risk their lives to 
     fulfill their new mission of helping to prevent, protect 
     against, and prepare to respond to acts of terrorism, major 
     disasters, and other emergencies;
       Whereas State, local, territorial, and tribal government 
     officials, the private sector, and ordinary citizens across 
     the country have been working in cooperation with the 
     Department of Homeland Security and other Federal Government 
     agencies to enhance our ability to prevent, deter, protect 
     against, and prepare to respond to acts of terrorism;
       Whereas all people of the United States can assist in 
     promoting our Nation's overall terrorism and emergency 
     preparedness by remaining vigilant and alert, reporting 
     suspicious activity to proper authorities, and preparing 
     themselves and their families for potential terrorist 
     attacks; and
       Whereas all people of the United States should take the 
     opportunity during National Preparedness Month in September 
     2008 to take steps at home, work, and school to enhance their 
     ability to assist in preventing, protecting against, and 
     preparing to respond to acts of terrorism: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends the public servants of the Department of 
     Homeland Security and other Federal agencies for their 
     outstanding contributions to our Nation's homeland security;
       (2) salutes the dedication of State, local, territorial, 
     and tribal government officials, the private sector, and 
     citizens across the country for their efforts to enhance the 
     Nation's ability to prevent, deter, protect against, and 
     prepare to respond to potential acts of terrorism;
       (3) expresses the Nation's appreciation for the sacrifices 
     and commitment of our law enforcement and emergency response 
     personnel in preventing and preparing to respond to acts of 
     terrorism;
       (4) supports the goals and ideals of National Preparedness 
     Month as they relate to the threat of terrorism; and
       (5) urges the Federal Government, States, localities, 
     schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, other entities, 
     and the people of the United States to observe National 
     Preparedness Month with appropriate events and activities 
     that promote citizen and community preparedness to respond to 
     acts of terrorism.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Daniel E. Lungren) each will control 20 minutes.

[[Page H10275]]

  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1429 was introduced by 
Congresswoman Clarke of New York to recognize September as National 
Preparedness Month.
  Just a couple of weeks ago, the Nation observed the somber 
anniversary of the September 11 attacks, and we watched Hurricane 
Gustav and Ike batter the gulf coast. Therefore, September is an 
appropriate month to commend the men and women of the Department of 
Homeland Security and the State and local first responders who form the 
first line of defense against these and other threats. I have always 
said that you can't have homeland security unless you are prepared to 
have hometown security, and that preparedness starts a community at a 
time.
  This month is a good opportunity for every American to learn about 
how they can prepare for all types of emergencies, whether it be a 
terrorist attack or a natural disaster. We can start by taking four 
little steps: Get an emergency kit; two, develop and communicate with 
your family a plan for evacuation and shelter; three, be informed about 
the types of emergencies that you are likely to face; and four; get 
yourself and your community involved to be better prepared. Better 
knowledge is power. We must all do our part to ensure that we learn 
what to do before an emergency occurs.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this House Resolution because I 
know firsthand that it is best to be prepared, and not scared.
  Let us be clear that the dedicated employees of the Department of 
Homeland Security and other Federal agencies, together with State and 
local officials and first responders, will do all they can to prepare 
for, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism, natural disaster, 
and other emergencies. But the American people can play a significant 
role by understanding the simple steps they can take to provide for 
themselves and their family.
  Together, a prepared public and a resourceful and dedicated 
Department of Homeland Security can truly anticipate how to respond to 
different types of emergencies. In doing so, we will become a more 
resilient Nation.
  Before I close my remarks, though, I would like to thank 
Congresswoman Clarke for introducing the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1429, the resolution 
commemorating the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11; 
also promoting the month of September as National Preparedness Month, 
and commending the employees of the Department of Homeland Security and 
our Nation's emergency response providers and law enforcement agents.
  This September, as we know, marks the fifth annual National 
Preparedness Month and the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks 
on September 11. H. Res. 1429 is a bipartisan resolution commemorating 
this important anniversary in our Nation's history and reminding all 
Americans of the importance of emergency preparedness.
  While there has not been a terrorist attack on our U.S. soil since 
September 11, 2001, it is important to remember that terrorists 
continue to plan attacks against this Nation, its interests, and its 
allies abroad. It is not by accident that we have not had such a 
tragedy. It is, in fact, the result of tremendous work by men and women 
in uniform, in our agencies, first responders, the coordination that's 
taken place since then, the cooperation we've had with our allies in 
many, many other countries.
  But we must remain vigilant and ensure that all levels of government, 
nonprofit organizations, the private sector, individuals, and 
communities continue to prepare for terrorist attacks, natural 
disasters, or other emergencies.
  Each September, various Department of Homeland Security components, 
along with other Federal, State and local agencies, nonprofit 
organizations and the private sector take part in events to increase 
public awareness and encourage individuals to prepare themselves, their 
families, their businesses and their communities for emergencies.
  The Ready Campaign, which is within the Office of Public Affairs at 
the Department, along with the Citizen Corps Program within the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, helps educate individuals, families 
and communities on the steps that they can take to protect their loves 
ones in an emergency. For instance, individuals are encouraged to get 
an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan, and be informed 
about different types of emergencies and the appropriate responses 
thereto.
  Since the Ready Campaign and National Preparedness Month were 
initiated in 2004, the effort has received over $703 million in donated 
media support. The www.ready.gov Web site has received over 2 billion 
hits, with almost 30 million unique visitors to the site. And the 
national 1-800 number has received 345,000 calls.
  In addition, Ready has partnered with Scholastic to provide emergency 
preparedness materials for the classroom to 400,000 teachers, and 
recently launched a partnership with Sesame Street to help educate 
preschool-age children and their parents on the need to prepare for 
emergencies.
  This resolution also commends the hard work and dedication of the 
Federal, State and local government employees, first responders, the 
private sector, and citizens across the country for their efforts to 
enhance the Nation's ability to prepare for, protect against, and 
respond to acts of terrorism and other emergencies.
  Working together, we can continue to protect this country from 
terrorists wishing us harm. I urge all Members to join in supporting 
this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1945


                             General Leave

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, with that, I would like to yield 5 
minutes to the gentlelady who is a sponsor of this resolution, Ms. 
Clarke from New York.
  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of House Resolution 
1429, which recognizes September as National Emergency Preparedness 
Month. I would like to thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Etheridge) for managing this very important resolution.
  This resolution applauds the public servants at the Department of 
Homeland Security for their outstanding dedication to securing our 
Nation. More importantly, the resolution also encourages citizens to 
prepare themselves and their families to respond to emergencies, 
whether it's an act of terrorism, a natural disaster or another crisis.
  As the sole member of the Committee on Homeland Security who resides 
in the City of New York, I am keenly aware that one of the most 
important lessons from the tragic attacks on September 11, 2001 and 
from Hurricane Katrina is that each and every American must be vigilant 
about their preparedness for an emergency.
  As we all know, with the recent bombing of the Marriott Hotel in 
Pakistan, terrorism is alive and well and continues to be a very real 
threat in this world. Likewise, this country has experienced widespread 
wildfires in the West, numerous tornadoes in the Southeast, 
overwhelming floods in the Midwest, and late this summer the Gulf 
States were wracked by Hurricanes Fay, Gustav, Hannah and most recently 
Ike.
  The dedicated workers of the Department of Homeland Security and 
other Federal agencies successfully coordinated with State and local 
officials and the private sector to assist with the pre-positioning of 
lifesaving equipment, evacuation efforts and search-and-rescue methods. 
Similarly, we saw Members helping their fellow brothers and sisters in 
their time of need.
  This marks the fifth year that DHS has observed September as the 
National Emergency Preparedness Month. In promoting this, DHS has 
partnered with over 1,700 organizations, including the American Red 
Cross, in its efforts

[[Page H10276]]

to reach out to the public. Since this is National Emergency 
Preparedness Month, this is an ideal time for all of us to collectively 
prepare for all types emergencies. Among the department's 
recommendations to help Americans prepare for emergencies are: Number 
one, get a kit. Build a disaster supply kit that includes enough 
supplies for each family member for 3 days and remember to check the 
kit every 6 months. Number two, make a plan. Every family should 
develop, communicate and practice their evacuation or other sheltering. 
Number 3, be informed about the type of disasters or emergencies that 
may occur where you live, work and/or play and how they can affect you, 
your family and community. Number 4, get involved. After preparing 
yourself and your family for possible emergencies by getting a kit, 
making a plan and being informed, take the next step in getting 
involved in preparing your community.
  I ask my fellow colleagues to encourage their constituents to visit 
the Federal government's Citizen Corps website at www.citizencorps.gov 
to learn how we can bring key community figures together to plan for, 
mitigate, respond to or recover from an emergency.
  I am also happy to note that more than 2,200 State, local, tribal and 
territorial governments in all States and U.S. territories have formed 
Citizen Corps Councils, and that every day, new councils are formed in 
communities around the country.
  Before I close my remarks, I would like to thank and express my 
gratitude to Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson and Ranking 
Member Peter King for their support for this resolution and their 
leadership on preparedness issues.
  Further, I want to thank the subcommittee chairman, Henry Cuellar of 
the Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response 
for sponsoring H.R. 5890, the Citizen and Community Preparedness Act. 
Mr. Cuellar has championed the authorization of Citizen Corps, and he, 
too, encourages every citizen to get involved to improve their 
individual and community's preparedness. Mr. Speaker, I also want to 
thank my Republican colleagues for cosponsoring this resolution. After 
all, preparedness is not a partisan matter.
  In closing, I want to honor all of the sheroes and heroes who 
dedicate their lives to keeping Americans safe. I urge the citizens of 
this great Nation to visit the website, www.ready.gov so we can all 
learn how to be vigilant, alert and prepared for an emergency.
  I urge all my colleagues to adopt this resolution.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I would urge 
support for this bill.
  With that, I would yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as you have heard, H.R. 1429 encourages citizens to 
prepare themselves and their families on how to respond to emergencies, 
whether it be an act of terror, a natural disaster or other crisis. 
This is the fifth year the Department of Homeland Security has 
partnered with over 1,700 organizations, including the American Red 
Cross, to promote September as National Preparedness Month. With 
continuing threats of terrorism and increased frequency and intensity 
of natural disasters, Americans should prepare themselves, their 
families and their communities.
  Everyone should do the four things we talked about. Get an emergency 
kit. Prepare and communicate to family and friends their evacuation and 
shelter plans. Be informed about the type of emergencies, and get the 
family and community involved.
  Constituents should be encouraged to visit the following website. You 
have heard it twice already, www.ready.gov or www.redcross.org.
 In closing, H.R. 1429 enjoys broad bipartisan support. I encourage 
the adoption of this resolution.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House 
Resolution 1429 which applauds the public servants at Department of 
Homeland Security for their outstanding dedication to securing our 
Nation.
  More importantly, House Resolution 1429 encourages citizens to 
prepare themselves and their families to respond to emergencies--
whether it is an act of terror, natural disaster and other crisis.
  The Department of Homeland Security has partnered with over 1,700 
organizations, including the American Red Cross, to promote September 
as the National Preparedness Month.
  In fact, this is the 5th year that the Department of Homeland 
Security has observed September as the National Emergency Preparedness 
Month.
  As a former volunteer firefighter, I know that lives are saved when 
the public takes steps to prepare for the worst.
  Likewise, as the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, I want 
the people of this Nation to take the necessary steps to prepare 
themselves in the event of an emergency.
  Constituents should be encouraged to visit the following websites to 
get information on how to be prepared for different types of 
emergencies: www.ready.gov and www.redcross.org.
 Among the Department's recommendations to help Americans prepare for 
emergencies are:
  1. Get a Kit--Build a disaster supplies kit that includes enough 
supplies for each family member for three days and remember to check 
the kit every six months. Be sure that the kit includes water, food, 
medicine, batteries, flashlights, hygiene materials, blankets, etc.
  2. Make a Plan--Every family should develop and communicate with each 
other their evacuation or sheltering plan. The plan should correspond 
to the school, work and community of every member of the family. All 
families are encouraged to practice this plan to ensure familiarity 
with evacuation or meeting routes, have cell phones charged and have a 
charger in the car.
  It should be known that at times it may be easier to make a long-
distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact 
may be in a better position to communicate among separated family 
members.
  Also every family should have a secure location of important 
documents such as, insurance papers, etc.
  3. Be informed about the type of disasters or emergencies that may 
occur where you live, work and play and how they can affect you, your 
family and community. In other words do you live in a place prone to 
hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc? Every citizen should also 
learn about what to do in the event of a biological, chemical, 
explosive, nuclear or radiological attack.
  It is important to identify how authorities will notify you and how 
you will get important information.
  You should learn what you can do to prepare for that emergency as 
well as first aid, CPR and disaster training.
  Consider sharing what you have learned with your family, neighbors 
and friends.
  4. Get Involved--After preparing yourself and your family for 
possible emergencies by getting a kit, making a plan and being 
informed, take the next step and get involved in preparing your 
community. The American public should visit the www.citizencorps.com 
website to learn about how Citizen Corps brings together community, 
emergency and government leaders to involve community members in 
emergency preparedness, planning, mitigation, response and recovery.
  More than 2,200 state, local, tribal and territorial governments in 
all 56 states and U.S. territories have formed Citizen Corps Councils, 
and every day new Councils are formed in communities around the 
country.
  These Councils assist with outreach and educational efforts to the 
public; training and exercises that effectively integrate emergency 
responders, volunteers with a response role, and the general public; 
and volunteer programs that support emergency response services.
  I conclude by asking my colleagues to adopt this resolution.
  Mr. Etheridge. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge) that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1429.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________