[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 127 (Thursday, September 10, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9272-S9273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 
245 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Begich). Without objection, it is so 
ordered. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 245) recognizing September 11 as a 
     ``National Day of Service and Remembrance.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. I ask unanimous consent that an amendment to the 
resolution, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the resolution, as 
amended, be agreed to; the preamble be agreed to;

[[Page S9273]]

that an amendment to the title, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the 
motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening 
action or debate, and any statements related to the resolution be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2326) was agreed to as follows:

       On page 3, line 3, strike ``annually observe a `National 
     Day of Service and Remembrance' '' and insert ``observe a 
     `National Day of Service and Remembrance' on September 11, 
     2009''.

  The resolution (S. Res. 245), as amended, was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The title amendment (No. 2327) was agreed to, as follows:

       Amend the title so as to read: ``Recognizing September 11, 
     2009, as a `National Day of Service and Remembrance'.''.

  The resolution, as amended, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 245

       Whereas, on September 11, 2001, terrorists ruthlessly 
     attacked the United States, leading to the tragic deaths and 
     injuries of thousands of innocent United States citizens and 
     other citizens from more than 90 different countries and 
     territories;
       Whereas in response to the attacks in New York City, 
     Washington, DC, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, firefighters, 
     police officers, emergency medical technicians, physicians, 
     nurses, military personnel, and other first responders 
     immediately and without concern for their own well-being rose 
     to service, in a heroic attempt to protect the lives of those 
     still at risk, consequently saving thousands of men and 
     women;
       Whereas in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, 
     thousands of recovery workers, including trades personnel, 
     iron workers, equipment operators, and many others, joined 
     with firemen, police officers, and military personnel to help 
     to search for and recover victims lost in the terrorist 
     attacks;
       Whereas in the days, weeks, and months following the 
     attacks, thousands of people in the United States and others 
     spontaneously volunteered to help support the rescue and 
     recovery efforts, braving both physical and emotional 
     hardship;
       Whereas many first responders, rescue and recovery workers, 
     and volunteers, as well as survivors of the 9/11 terrorist 
     attacks, continue to suffer from serious medical illnesses 
     and emotional distress related to the physical and mental 
     trauma of the 9/11 tragedy;
       Whereas hundreds of thousands of brave men and women 
     continue to serve every day, having answered the call to duty 
     as members of the United States Armed Forces, with thousands 
     having given their lives or suffered injury to defend our 
     Nation's security and prevent future terrorist attacks;
       Whereas the entire Nation witnessed and shared in the 
     tragedy of September 11, 2001, and in the immediate aftermath 
     of the attacks became unified under a remarkable spirit of 
     service and compassion that inspired and helped heal the 
     Nation;
       Whereas in the years immediately following the attacks of 
     September 11, 2001, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 
     documented a marked increase in volunteerism among the people 
     of the United States;
       Whereas families of 9/11 victims, survivors, first 
     responders, rescue and recovery workers, and volunteers 
     called for Congress to pass legislation to formally authorize 
     the establishment of September 11 as an annually recognized 
     ``National Day of Service and Remembrance'', and for the 
     President of the United States to proclaim the day as such;
       Whereas, in 2004, Congress unanimously passed H. Con. Res. 
     473, expressing the sense of Congress that it is appropriate 
     to observe the anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 
     2001, with voluntary acts of service and compassion;
       Whereas hundreds of thousands of people in the United 
     States from all 50 States, as well as others who live in 170 
     different countries, annually observe the anniversary of the 
     attacks of September 11, 2001, by personally engaging in 
     service, good deeds, and other charitable acts; and
       Whereas, on March 31, 2009, Congress passed the Edward M. 
     Kennedy Serve America Act, which included for the first time 
     authorization and Federal recognition of September 11 as a 
     ``National Day of Service and Remembrance'', a bill signed 
     into law on April 21, 2009, by President Barack Obama: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) calls upon all people in the United States to observe a 
     ``National Day of Service and Remembrance'' on September 11, 
     2009, with appropriate and personal expressions of 
     reflection, including performing good deeds, attending 
     memorial and remembrance services, and voluntarily engaging 
     in community service or other charitable activities of their 
     own choosing in honor of those who lost their lives or were 
     injured in the attacks of September 11, 2001, in tribute to 
     those who rose to come to the aid of those in need, and in 
     defense of our Nation; and
       (2) urges all people in the United States to continue to 
     live their lives throughout the year with the same spirit of 
     unity, service, and compassion that was exhibited throughout 
     the Nation following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 
     2001.

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