[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 100 (Thursday, July 7, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S4455]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  SENATE RESOLUTION 228--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING 
COMING TOGETHER AS A NATION AND CEASING ALL WORK OR OTHER ACTIVITY FOR 
 A MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE BEGINNING AT 1:00 PM EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME ON 
 SEPTEMBER 11, 2011, IN HONOR OF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TERRORIST 
   ATTACKS COMMITTED AGAINST THE UNITED STATES ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

  Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Casey, 
Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Toomey, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Webb, 
and Mr. Warner) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 228

       Whereas at 8:46 AM, on September 11, 2001, hijacked 
     American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the upper portion of 
     the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City, 
     New York;
       Whereas 17 minutes later, at 9:03 AM, hijacked United 
     Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower of the World 
     Trade Center;
       Whereas at 9:37 AM, the west wall of the Pentagon was hit 
     by hijacked American Airlines Flight 77, the impact of which 
     caused immediate and catastrophic damage to the headquarters 
     of the Department of Defense;
       Whereas at approximately 10:00 AM, the passengers and crew 
     of hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 acted heroically to 
     retake control of the airplane and thwart the taking of 
     additional American lives by crashing the airliner in 
     Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and, in doing so, gave their lives 
     to save countless others;
       Whereas nearly 3,000 innocent civilians were killed in the 
     heinous attacks of September 11, 2001;
       Whereas tens of thousands of individuals narrowly escaped 
     the attacks at the Pentagon and World Trade Center and, as 
     witnesses to this tragedy, are forever changed;
       Whereas countless fire departments, police departments, 
     first responders, governmental officials, workers, emergency 
     medical personnel, and volunteers responded immediately and 
     heroically to those horrific events;
       Whereas the Fire Department of New York suffered 343 
     fatalities on September 11, 2001, the largest loss of life of 
     any emergency response agency in United States history;
       Whereas the Port Authority Police Department suffered 37 
     fatalities in the attacks, the largest loss of life of any 
     police force in United States history in a single day;
       Whereas the New York Police Department suffered 23 
     fatalities as a result of the terrorist attacks;
       Whereas the impact of that day on public health continues 
     through 2011, as nearly 90,000 people are at risk of or 
     suffering from negative health effects as a result of the 
     events of September 11, 2001, including 14,000 workers and 
     2,400 community residents who are sick, and tens of thousands 
     of others whose health is being monitored;
       Whereas 10 years later, the people of the United States and 
     people around the world continue to mourn the tremendous loss 
     of innocent life on that fateful day;
       Whereas 10 years later, thousands of men and women in the 
     United States Armed Forces remain in harm's way defending the 
     United States against those who seek to threaten the United 
     States;
       Whereas on the 10th anniversary of this tragic day, the 
     thoughts of the people of the United States are with all of 
     the victims of the events of September 11, 2001 and their 
     families;
       Whereas the lives of Americans were changed forever on 
     September 11, 2001, when events threatened the American way 
     of life;
       Whereas in 2009, Congress and the President joined together 
     to designate September 11 as a National Day of Service and 
     Remembrance under the Serve America Act (Public Law 111-13; 
     123 Stat. 1460);
       Whereas in September 2009 and 2010, President Obama issued 
     Proclamation 8413 (74 Fed. Reg. 47045) and Proclamation 8559 
     (75 Fed. Reg. 56463) proclaiming September 11, 2009, and 
     September 11, 2010, respectively, as Patriot Day and National 
     Day of Service and Remembrance; and
       Whereas September 11 will never, and should never, be just 
     another day in the hearts and minds of all people of the 
     United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes September 11, 2011, as a day of solemn 
     commemoration of the events of September 11, 2001, and a day 
     to come together as a Nation;
       (2) offers its deepest and most sincere condolences to the 
     families, friends, and loved ones of the innocent victims of 
     the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks;
       (3) honors the heroic service, actions, and sacrifices of 
     first responders, law enforcement personnel, State and local 
     officials, volunteers, and countless others who aided the 
     innocent victims of those attacks and, in doing so, bravely 
     risked and often gave their own lives;
       (4) recognizes the valiant service, actions, and sacrifices 
     of United States personnel, including members of the United 
     States Armed Forces, the United States intelligence agencies, 
     the United States diplomatic service, homeland security and 
     law enforcement personnel, and their families, who have given 
     so much, including their lives and well-being, to support the 
     cause of freedom and defend the security of the United 
     States;
       (5) reaffirms that the people of the United States will 
     never forget the challenges our country endured on and since 
     September 11, 2001, and will work tirelessly to defeat those 
     who attacked the United States; and
       (6) on the 10th anniversary of this tragic day in United 
     States history--
       (A) calls upon all of the people and institutions of the 
     United States to observe a moment of remembrance on September 
     11, 2011, including--
       (i) media outlets;
       (ii) houses of worship;
       (iii) military organizations;
       (iv) veterans organizations;
       (v) airlines;
       (vi) airports;
       (vii) railroads;
       (viii) sports teams;
       (ix) the Federal Government;
       (x) State and local governments;
       (xi) police, fire, and other public institutions;
       (xii) educational institutions;
       (xiii) businesses; and
       (xiv) other public and private institutions; and
       (B) encourages the observance of the moment of remembrance 
     to last for 1 minute beginning at 1:00 PM Eastern Daylight 
     Time by, to the maximum extent practicable--
       (i) ceasing all work or other activity; and
       (ii) marking the moment in an appropriate manner, including 
     by ringing bells, blowing whistles, or sounding sirens.

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