[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 145 (Tuesday, August 10, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S6268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING FLORIDA'S FIRST RESPONDERS

  Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the 
bravery and selfless service of the individuals who responded to the 
building collapse in Surfside, FL, on June 24, 2021.
  I want thank all of Florida's first responders who responded when the 
Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside, FL, suddenly 
collapsed in the middle of the night. They immediately answered the 
call to serve, and firefighters, law enforcement officers, search and 
rescue crews, emergency medical technicians, physicians, nurses, and 
others from across the State of Florida came rushing in to try to save 
lives. In the face of tremendous tragedy, they ran into danger. They 
are heroes.
  Some of these responders lost family in the collapse; yet they still 
answered the call. Rescue crews worked tirelessly, even when smoke and 
heat from a fire inside the building's standing portion hampered their 
efforts. They persisted when the temperatures escalated so much that 
some needed IVs to replenish fluids. They continued on when Tropical 
Storm Elsa passed nearby and dumped torrential rain. They conducted 
their searches with enormous care and diligence and closely worked with 
faith leaders to make sure that rescue and recovery efforts were done 
with the respect. They left their families and faced dangerous and 
life-threatening conditions, and they never gave up hope. Their work to 
recover victims gave closure to so many families, and I am so proud of 
these Florida heroes.
  We can never thank them and their families enough for their bravery, 
self-sacrifice, and determination in the face of this terrible tragedy. 
Ann and I are praying for the Surfside community, our Jewish community, 
the families and loved ones of the lost, and all of those who worked 
tirelessly to serve the Surfside community.

                          ____________________