[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 177 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S10775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY WORKERS IN CALIFORNIA IN 2008

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 714, which was 
submitted earlier today by Senator Boxer.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 714) honoring the firefighters and 
     emergency workers who courageously fought fires in California 
     in 2008.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate, and that any statements related to the resolution be printed in 
the Record at the appropriate place as if read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 714) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 714

       Whereas, in 2008, there have been more than 10,000 
     wildfires in California started by natural causes and human 
     activity;
       Whereas more than 1,440,000 acres of Federal, State, and 
     local land in California burned in 2008;
       Whereas, in June 2008, fires started by lightning strikes 
     burned approximately 1,200,000 acres of Federal, State, and 
     local land in California, making the June fires the largest 
     single wildfire event in California's recorded history;
       Whereas 41 counties across California were impacted by 
     wildfires in 2008;
       Whereas more than 1,400 homes were destroyed by fires in 
     California in 2008;
       Whereas State and local firefighters have been called to 
     duty for increasingly long fire seasons, working on the front 
     lines of these fires for weeks;
       Whereas firefighters have risked their lives and endured 
     great hardship to protect lives, property, and the 
     environment in California;
       Whereas many firefighters were injured and 14 firefighters 
     tragically lost their lives in California in 2008;
       Whereas 25,000 firefighters and emergency response 
     personnel from California, 41 other States, and other nations 
     worked side-by-side to fight the wildfires;
       Whereas members of the National Guard from California and 
     other States provided essential support to the firefighting 
     effort; and
       Whereas the people of California and the United States 
     recognize the steadfast dedication of the firefighters 
     throughout the ongoing fire suppression and subsequent repair 
     and rebuilding efforts: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends the firefighters and emergency workers from 
     California, 41 other States, and other nations for their 
     courageous actions and sacrifices in fighting wildfires in 
     California;
       (2) supports the continued work of firefighters to protect 
     National Forest System land, other public lands, and private 
     property from further damage;
       (3) praises the people of California for their great 
     courage in the face of the fires; and
       (4) extends heartfelt sympathy to the people who have lost 
     loved ones, homes, and businesses in the wildfires.

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