[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 145 (Tuesday, August 10, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6271-S6272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            RECOGNIZING ZAKA

  Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the 
bravery and selfless service of the first responders who responded to 
the horrific tragedy on June 24, 2021, when the Champlain Towers South 
condo building in Surfside, FL, suddenly collapsed in the middle of the 
night.
  Our Jewish Community, particularly Orthodox Jews, have been 
especially affected by this tragedy. We are incredibly grateful to ZAKA 
for immediately rushing in to respond following the building collapse. 
They swiftly heeded the call of duty to aid in rescue and recovery 
efforts. In the face of tremendous tragedy, they ran into danger. They 
are heroes.
  International rescue crews and emergency support organizations from 
Israel responded to the site to aid in the search, rescue, and recovery 
efforts. ZAKA Search and Rescue, a nonprofit based in Israel, 
specializes in search and rescue and recovering remains for proper 
burial under Jewish law. ZAKA sent rescue workers to Surfside to 
provide critical support and assist with identifications and burial 
preparation. They worked tirelessly and relentlessly to make sure that 
the needs of the community were met.
  ZAKA offered resources, support, and comfort to the survivors and 
community in Surfside. In the face of tremendous loss, ZAKA heeded the 
call to action, and for that, we will be eternally grateful. We can 
never thank them enough for their bravery and determination in the face 
of this terrible tragedy. Ann and I continue to pray for the Surfside 
community, our Jewish community, the families and loved

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ones of the lost, and all of those who worked tirelessly to serve the 
Surfside community.

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