[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 65 (Thursday, May 12, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2970-S2971]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TODAY
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration en bloc of the following
resolutions which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 181, S. Res.
182, and S. Res. 183.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The
Senate will proceed to the consideration of the resolutions en bloc.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions
be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be
laid upon the table en bloc, with no interviewing action or debate, and
any statements be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolutions were agreed to.
The preambles were agreed to.
The resolutions, with their preambles, read as follows:
S. Res. 181
(National MPS Awareness Day)
Whereas mucopolysaccharidosis (referred to in this
resolution as ``MPS'') are a group of genetically determined
lysosomal storage diseases that render the human body
incapable of producing certain enzymes needed to break down
complex carbohydrates;
Whereas MPS diseases cause complex carbohydrates to be
stored in almost every cell in the body and progressively
cause cellular damage;
Whereas the cellular damage caused by MPS--
(1) adversely affects the human body by damaging the heart,
respiratory system, bones, internal organs, and central
nervous system; and
(2) often results in intellectual disabilities, short
stature, corneal damage, joint stiffness, loss of mobility,
speech and hearing impairment, heart disease, hyperactivity,
chronic respiratory problems, and, most importantly, a
drastically shortened life span;
Whereas symptoms of MPS are usually not apparent at birth;
Whereas, without treatment, the life expectancy of an
individual afflicted with MPS begins to decrease at a very
early stage in the life of the individual;
Whereas research has resulted in the development of limited
treatments for some MPS diseases;
Whereas promising advancements in the pursuit of treatments
for additional MPS diseases are underway as of the date of
agreement to this resolution;
Whereas, despite the creation of new remedies, the blood-
brain barrier continues to be a significant impediment to
effectively treating the brain, which prevents the treatment
of many of the symptoms of MPS;
Whereas the quality of life of the individuals afflicted
with MPS, and the treatments available to those individuals,
will be enhanced through the development of early detection
techniques and early intervention;
Whereas treatments and research advancements for MPS are
limited by a lack of awareness about MPS diseases; and
Whereas the lack of awareness about MPS diseases extends to
individuals within the medical community;
Whereas the cellular damage that is caused by MPS makes MPS
a model for the study of many other degenerative genetic
diseases; and
Whereas the development of effective therapies and a
potential cure for MPS diseases can be accomplished by
increased awareness, research, data collection, and
information distribution: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates May 15, 2011, as ``National MPS Awareness
Day''; and
(2) supports the goals and ideals of ``National MPS
Awareness Day''.
S. Res. 182
(Expressing the condolences of the United States to the victims of the
devastating tornadoes that touched down in the South)
Whereas during the month of April 2011, a historic series
of powerful storms and tornadoes tracked across the South;
Whereas preliminary estimates of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration indicate that more than 600
tornadoes were produced by storms that occurred across the
United States in April 2011;
Whereas preliminary estimates of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration indicate that 305 tornadoes were
produced by storms that occurred across the South during the
period of April 25 through 28, 2011;
Whereas the previous record number of tornadoes occurring
during the month of April was 267 tornadoes, which was set in
April 1974, and the previous record number of tornadoes
during any month was 542 tornadoes, which was set in May
2003;
Whereas the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
estimates that there were at least 358 fatalities as a result
of the storms and tornadoes in April 2011;
Whereas as of the date of approval of this resolution, the
number of fatalities resulting from the devastating storms
and tornadoes in the State of Alabama is approaching 250;
Whereas there were 38 fatalities resulting from the
devastating storms and tornadoes in the State of Tennessee;
Whereas tornadoes in the State of Mississippi resulted in
at least 35 fatalities, at least 163 injuries, and at least
2,500 damaged homes, of which approximately 1,000 were
severely damaged or destroyed;
Whereas as of the date of approval of this resolution, the
total number of fatalities in the State of Georgia is at
least 15;
Whereas tornadoes and massive storms in the Commonwealth of
Virginia resulted in at least 6 fatalities, destroyed more
than 160 homes, and caused damage to more than 800 homes and
businesses;
Whereas a number of tornadoes touched down in the Virginia
counties of Gloucester, Goochland, Halifax, Middlesex,
Pulaski, Shenandoah, and Washington;
Whereas in April 2011, devastating storms and at least 30
tornadoes resulted in 24 fatalities in the State of North
Carolina;
Whereas the Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado of April 27,
2011, which caused at least 65 fatalities and more than 1,000
injuries, had a maximum width of 1.5 miles and a track length
of 80 miles;
Whereas Smithville, Mississippi, a town of fewer than 900,
lost 15 of its citizens, as well as its post office, school,
city hall, most of its churches, and almost every home;
[[Page S2971]]
Whereas an Enhanced Fujita category 5 (referred to in this
preamble as an ``EF5'') tornado is defined by the National
Weather Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration as the rarest and most severe type of tornado,
with sustained winds of greater than 200 miles per hour and
that results in total destruction of well-built,
structurally-sound buildings;
Whereas 3 of the 5 EF5 rated tornadoes recorded in the
United states since 2000 occurred as part of the April 25
through 28, 2011 tornado outbreak in the States of
Mississippi and Alabama;
Whereas the Washington County, Virginia tornado traveled
approximately 14 miles and had a maximum path width of 2
miles;
Whereas the National Weather Service estimates that 40
tornadoes hit the State of Tennessee from April 27 through
28, 2011;
Whereas the National Weather Service has confirmed that a
total of 15 tornadoes hit the State of Georgia throughout the
period of April 25 through 28, 2011, including a powerful EF4
tornado which devastated the city of Ringgold, Georgia;
Whereas dozens of rural communities throughout the South,
including in the States of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia,
Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina, have been decimated
by the devastating storms and tornadoes of April 2011;
Whereas more than 500 homes were damaged or destroyed in
the State of Tennessee as a result of the devastating storms
and tornadoes;
Whereas the massive storms impacted cities and towns in the
State of Alabama, including Arab, Berry, Birmingham, Concord,
Eclectic, Forkland, Fultondale, Hackleburg, Phil Campbell,
Pleasant Grove, Rainsville, and Tuscaloosa;
Whereas President Obama declared 10 counties in the State
of Tennessee to be in a state of major disaster and approved
the request made by Governor Haslam for Federal disaster
assistance;
Whereas the tornado that swept from Monroe County,
Mississippi into Marion County, Alabama and destroyed
Smithville, Mississippi was--
(1) the sixth deadliest tornado ever recorded in the State
of Mississippi;
(2) the first EF5 tornado recorded in the State of
Mississippi since 1966; and
(3) the first EF5 tornado recorded in the United States
since May 2008.
Whereas the massive storms and tornadoes caused widespread
damage in the Georgian counties of Bartow, Catoosa, Cherokee,
Coweta, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Greene, Habersham, Harris,
Heard, Lamar, Lumpkin, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton,
Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Spalding, Troup, Upson, Walker, and
White;
Whereas the massive storms and tornadoes caused widespread
damage in the North Carolina counties of Bertie, Bladen,
Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Greene, Halifax, Harnett,
Hertford, Hoke, Johnston, Lee Onslow, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson,
Tyrell, Wake, and Wilson;
Whereas the tornado that swept from Neshoba County,
Mississippi to Noxubee County, Mississippi was just the
second EF5 tornado recorded in the State of Mississippi since
1966;
Whereas April 27, 2011, marks the third highest number of
tornado-related fatalities occurring in a single day since
March 18, 1925, when a series of tornadoes caused 747
fatalities across 7 States;
Whereas as of the date of approval of this resolution, the
total number of fatalities resulting from the devastating
storms and tornadoes remains unknown;
Whereas the suffering and distress of thousands of people
affected by the storms and tornadoes is ongoing, particularly
for those who lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods;
Whereas immediate humanitarian aid is critically needed in
many of the devastated regions;
Whereas the local emergency responders, National Guard, and
many ordinary citizens of the affected regions have risked
their lives to save others;
Whereas throughout the crisis, doctors, nurses, and medical
personnel in the affected regions worked expeditiously to
ensure that hospitals, medical centers, and triage units
provided needed care;
Whereas many faith-based organizations and other volunteer
organizations and charities are supplying the victims of the
storms and tornadoes with food, water, and shelter;
Whereas the Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia,
Virginia, and North Carolina Emergency Management Agencies,
the first responders in the affected communities, and
countless volunteers immediately came to the aid of those
affected by the storms;
Whereas the Governor of Alabama, Robert Bentley, the
Governor of Tennessee, Bill Haslam, the Governor of
Mississippi, Haley Barbour, the Governor of Georgia, Nathan
Deal, the Governor of Virginia, Robert McDonnell, and the
Governor of North Carolina, Beverly Perdue, reacted swiftly
and with great leadership in the immediate aftermath of the
destructive storms and tornadoes;
Whereas President Obama responded quickly and efficiently
to approve the requests made by Governors Bentley, Haslam,
Barbour, Deal, and Perdue for Federal disaster assistance;
Whereas in response to the declaration by the President of
a major disaster, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency has made federal disaster assistance
available for the State of Alabama and elsewhere in the South
to assist in local recovery efforts; and
Whereas thousands of volunteers and government employees
from across the United States have committed time and
resources to help with recovery efforts: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) expresses the heartfelt condolences of the Senate to
the families and friends of those who lost their lives,
homes, and livelihoods in the tragic storms and tornadoes of
April 2011;
(2) commends the resiliency and courage of the people of
the affected States, including the people of the States of
Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia, and North
Carolina;
(3) extends the wishes of the Senate for a full recovery
for all those who were injured in the storms and tornadoes;
(4) extends the thanks of the Senate to the forecasters,
first responders, firefighters, law enforcement personnel,
volunteers, and medical personnel who took quick action to
provide warnings, aid, and comfort to the victims of the
storms and tornadoes;
(5) commits to provide the necessary resources and to stand
by the people of the affected States, including the people of
the States of Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia,
Virginia, and North Carolina, in the relief, recovery, and
rebuilding efforts; and
(6) stands with the people affected by the storms and
tornadoes, including the people of the States of Alabama,
Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia, and North
Carolina, as those people begin the healing process following
this terrible event.
S. Res. 183
(National Police Survivors Day)
Whereas the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in
Judiciary Square in Washington, D.C. lists on a Wall of
Remembrance the names of more than 19,000 law enforcement
officers who have died in the line of duty;
Whereas in the United States, 1 law enforcement officer is
killed every 53 hours;
Whereas in 2010, 152 law enforcement officers lost their
lives in the line of duty;
Whereas on May 14, 1983, on the eve of the 2nd annual
National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, 10 widows of
fallen law enforcement officers came together to discuss the
lack of support for law enforcement survivors;
Whereas 1 year later, that discussion led to the formation
of Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. at the 1st annual
National Police Survivors' Seminar, which drew 110 law
enforcement survivors from throughout the United States;
Whereas Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. has grown to
serve more than 15,000 surviving families of fallen law
enforcement officers by providing healing, love, and the
opportunity for a renewed life;
Whereas Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. and its 52
chapters throughout the United States provide a program of
peer support and counseling to law enforcement survivors,
help survivors obtain the death benefits to which they are
entitled, and sponsor scholarships to enable children and
surviving spouses to pursue postsecondary education;
Whereas Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. sponsors a year-
round series of seminars, meetings, and youth activities,
including the National Police Survivors' Seminar during
National Police Week, retreats for parents, spouses, and
siblings, and programs and summer activities for children;
Whereas Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. helps law
enforcement agencies cope with the loss of an officer by
promoting the adoption of standardized policies and
procedures for line-of-duty deaths; and
Whereas Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. inspires the
public to recognize the sacrifices made by law enforcement
families by encouraging all citizens of the United States to
tie a blue ribbon to their car antenna during National Police
Week: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates May 14, 2011, as ``National Police Survivors
Day''; and
(2) calls on the people of the United States to observe
``National Police Survivors Day'' with appropriate ceremonies
to pay respect to--
(A) the survivors of the fallen heroes of law enforcement;
and
(B) the fallen law enforcement officers who, through their
courageous deeds, have made the ultimate sacrifice in service
to the community.
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