[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 100 (Thursday, July 7, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4458-S4459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING HEROIC EFFORTS OF FIREFIGHTERS

  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to consideration 
of S. Res. 229.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 229) recognizing the heroic efforts 
     of firefighters to contain numerous wildfires that have 
     affected thousands of people throughout the United States.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be 
agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be 
laid on the table, with no intervening action or debate on this matter, 
and any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 229) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 229

       Whereas every State in the United States has been affected 
     by wildfire in 2011;
       Whereas firefighters and residents have had to contend with 
     extreme and erratic fire behavior and rapid rates of fire 
     spread;
       Whereas, as of June 12, 2011, more than 32,189 wildfires 
     have burned more than 4,700,000 acres of land, which 
     represents more acres burned than in all of 2010 and 
     approximately 600,000 more acres than the 50-year average of 
     total acres burned in the United States in an entire year;
       Whereas, as of June 12, 2011--
       (1) the Southwestern States have reported more than 1,600 
     fires that have burned more than 1,700,000 acres;
       (2) the Southern States have reported more than 27,000 
     fires that have burned more than 2,400,000 acres;
       (3) the Northern and Central Rocky Mountain States have 
     reported 818 fires that have burned more than 250,000 acres;
       (4) the State of California and Great Basin Region have 
     reported more than 7,200 fires that have burned more than 
     21,000 acres;
       (5) the Northwestern States and Alaska have reported more 
     than 400 fires that have burned more than 260,000 acres; and
       (6) the Eastern States have reported more than 3,500 fires 
     that have burned more than 41,000 acres;
       Whereas, as of June 29, 2011, firefighters and personnel 
     from the Federal, State, and county levels have responded 
     overwhelmingly to battle wildfires throughout the United 
     States, filling more than 95,600 requests for firefighter 
     crew members; and
       Whereas the brave men and women who answered the calls for 
     assistance have worked to minimize the displacement of 
     thousands of residents and to protect against loss of life 
     and property: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the heroic efforts of firefighters to 
     contain wildfires and protect lives, homes, natural 
     resources, and rural economies throughout the United States;

[[Page S4459]]

       (2) encourages the people and government officials of the 
     United States to express their appreciation to the brave men 
     and women serving in the firefighting services throughout the 
     United States;
       (3) encourages the people and communities of the United 
     States to be diligent in preventing and preparing for 
     wildfires; and
       (4) encourages the people of the United States to keep in 
     their thoughts those who have experienced loss as a result of 
     wildfire.

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