[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 148 (Thursday, September 6, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6061-S6062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 45--RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 11, 2018, AS A 
              ``NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE''

  Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Schumer, Mrs. Gillibrand, 
Mr. Booker, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Toomey, Mr. Jones, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. 
Markey, Ms. Harris, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Reed, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. Warren,

[[Page S6062]]

Mr. Murphy, Mr. Kaine, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Brown, Mr. Van Hollen, Mrs. 
Shaheen, and Mr. Donnelly) submitted the following concurrent 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                             S. Con Res. 45

       Whereas, on September 11, 2001, the United States of 
     America endured a violent terrorist attack leading to the 
     tragic deaths and injuries of thousands of innocent United 
     States citizens and other citizens from more than 90 
     different nations and territories;
       Whereas, in response to the attacks in New York City, 
     Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, 
     firefighters, uniformed officers, emergency medical 
     technicians, physicians, nurses, military personnel, and 
     other first responders immediately rose to service in the 
     heroic attempt to save the lives of those in danger;
       Whereas, in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, 
     thousands of recovery workers, including trades personnel, 
     iron workers, equipment operators, and many others, joined 
     with uniformed officers and military personnel to help search 
     for and recover victims lost in the 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, 
     volunteers, and survivors of the attacks continue to suffer 
     from serious medical illnesses and emotional distress related 
     to the physical and mental trauma of the 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 Armed Forces of the United States, with 
     some having given their lives or suffered injury to defend 
     our Nation's security and prevent further terrorist attacks;
       Whereas the entire Nation witnessed and endured 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 the Nation;
       Whereas, in the years immediately following the attacks of 
     September 11, 2001, the Bureau of Labor Statistics documented 
     a marked increase in volunteerism among citizens in the 
     United States;
       Whereas, on March 31, 2009, Congress adopted the bipartisan 
     Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which, signed into law 
     on April 21, 2009, by President Barack Obama authorized, at 
     the request of the 9/11 community, for the first time Federal 
     recognition of September 11 as a ``National Day of Service 
     and Remembrance''; and
       Whereas, since Congress and the President provided for 
     Federal recognition of September 11 as a ``National Day of 
     Service and Remembrance'', commonly referred to today as ``9/
     11 Day'', more than 30,000,000 people in the United States 
     now observe the anniversary by engaging in a wide range of 
     charitable service activities and private forms of prayer and 
     remembrance: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) calls upon its Members and all people of the United 
     States to observe September 11, 2018, as a ``National Day of 
     Service and Remembrance'', with appropriate and personal 
     expressions of reflection, which can include performing good 
     deeds, displaying the United States flag, 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, and in tribute 
     to those who rose to service to come to the aid of those in 
     need, and in defense of our Nation; and
       (2) urges all people of 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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