[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 145 (Tuesday, August 10, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6270-S6271]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE MIAMI-DADE POLICE DEPARTMENT

  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 to thank the Miami-Dade Police Department--MDPD--for 
responding when the Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside, 
FL, suddenly collapsed in the middle of the night. In the face of 
tremendous tragedy, they ran into danger. They are heroes.
  The MDPD responded within minutes of the collapse and their rapid 
response saved lives. These brave men and women worked around the clock 
to support search and rescue efforts and provide protection and comfort 
to the entire Surfside community. They worked tirelessly, and they 
never gave up hope.
  We are grateful for the MDPD's efforts to lead the investigation into 
the collapse and the challenging work of sifting through millions of 
pounds of

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debris, searching for remains and personal items to bring closure to 
families. They worked closely with faith leaders to ensure search and 
rescue efforts were done with respect.
  I also would like to personally thank MDPD Director Alfredo Ramirez 
III, Chief Rosanna Cordero-Stutz, Officer Deborah Valdes, as well as 
every law enforcement officer, victim advocate, and individual at the 
MDPD for heeding the tremendous call of duty to assist with missing 
persons reports and identification and notification processing for the 
victims and their families. This was an extremely difficult task, and 
they worked around the clock to bring order, comfort, and often closure 
to the families. Our hearts go out to all of those that lost loved 
ones.
  I would also like to thank the MDPD chaplains who did everything they 
could to support the needs of those responding to the collapse and to 
all of the families that were impacted by this tragedy. The chaplains 
were a source of comfort and ensured that the emotional and religious 
needs of the families and first responders were met.
  The MDPD also offered countless resources to the community, ensuring 
that short-term and long-term needs were met, including counseling and 
comfort, shelter, and assistance to all who needed it. They were 
instrumental in making sure that families were constantly updated and 
that all of their questions were answered in a timely and efficient 
manner, to the greatest extent possible. They provided as much 
transparency and kindness as they could during this unimaginable 
tragedy.
  The MDPD teams worked to recover personal property and religious 
artifacts and followed careful collection protocols. They worked around 
the clock to ensure all recovered personal property and family 
heirlooms were treated with the utmost respect and with great 
consideration for faith traditions when recovering items of religious 
significance. So many came together, as one, in the relentless pursuit 
to save lives. We honor the precious lives lost and pay homage to loved 
ones and all those that have suffered immensely.
  Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to 
keep Floridians safe, and this was no exception. We can never thank 
them 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.

                          ____________________