[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 67 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E336]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATOR WEEK AND HONORING AMERICA'S 
                            911 DISPATCHERS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 16, 2026

  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Public Safety 
Telecommunicator Week and to honor the men and women who serve as 911 
emergency dispatchers across our Nation.
  America's 911 dispatchers are true first responders. Before a police 
officer arrives on scene, before an ambulance turns the corner, before 
a firefighter enters a burning building, there is a dispatcher on the 
line, gathering critical information, coordinating a response, and 
providing support. Without these workers, other public safety personnel 
would be unable to reach people in need and calls for help would go 
unanswered.
  These dedicated professionals answer the call no matter the 
circumstances, through blackouts, mass casualty events, natural 
disasters, and public health emergencies. They work in high-stress, 
fast-paced environments that demand steady composure and an unwavering 
commitment to the public they serve every day.
  Yet for too long, 911 dispatchers have gone unrecognized for the work 
they perform. Despite being the critical link in our public safety 
infrastructure, they remain classified as administrative and clerical 
workers. This misclassification has fueled persistent underinvestment: 
insufficient pay, inadequate mental health resources, and staffing. Too 
many of these public servants experience burnout and emotional 
exhaustion from years of exposure to traumatic calls without adequate 
support. In some facilities, staffing shortages are so acute that 
dispatchers sleep at their posts rather than returning home.
  At the same time, new technologies. including text-to-911, live 
video-to-911, and Next Generation 911 systems, are fundamentally 
changing the nature of this work. Congress has invested in these 
technologies, but those investments will fall short if we do not invest 
equally in those who operate them. Training, mental health resources, 
and fair compensation must keep pace with the demands we place on this 
workforce.
  I am proud to stand with AFSCME and the nearly 100,000 public safety 
workers they represent in calling for the reclassification of 911 
dispatchers as protective service workers. Reclassification is the 
foundation for the investment, resources, and dignity this workforce 
has long deserved.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring America's 911 
dispatchers during Public Safety Telecommunicator Week, and to commit 
to ensuring these vital public servants receive the recognition, 
support, and respect they are owed.

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