[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 17551-17552]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 73--EXPRESSING THE PROFOUND SORROW OF 
 CONGRESS FOR THE DEATHS AND INJURIES SUFFERED BY FIRST RESPONDERS AS 
    THEY ENDEAVORED TO SAVE INNOCENT PEOPLE IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE 
    TERRORIST ATTACKS ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND THE PENTAGON ON 
                           SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

  Mr. NICKLES (for himself, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Schumer, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. 
Allen Mr. McConnell, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Warner, Mr. Roberts, Mr. 
McCain, Mr. Levin, Mr. Biden, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. 
Fitzgerald, Mr. Cleland, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Nelson, of Florida, Mr. 
Kohl, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Lieberman, Ms. Collins, 
and Mr. Hutchinson) submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 73

       Whereas law enforcement officers, firefighters, and 
     emergency medical personnel are collectively known as first 
     responders;
       Whereas following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade 
     Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, first 
     responders reacted immediately in evacuating and rescuing 
     innocent people from the buildings;
       Whereas first responders also arrived quickly at the crash 
     site of United Airlines flight 93 in southwestern 
     Pennsylvania;
       Whereas if it were not for the heroic efforts of first 
     responders immediately after the terrorist attacks, numerous 
     additional casualties would have resulted from the attacks;
       Whereas as the first emergency personnel to arrive at the 
     scenes of the terrorist attacks, first responders risked 
     their lives in their efforts to save others;
       Whereas while first responders were bravely conducting the 
     evacuation and rescue after the terrorist attacks on the 
     World Trade Center, the 2 towers of that complex collapsed, 
     and many first responders themselves became victims of the 
     attacks;
       Whereas the everyday well-being, security, and safety of 
     Americans depend upon the official duties of first 
     responders;
       Whereas in addition to their official duties, first 
     responders around the Nation participate in planning, 
     training, and exercises to respond to terrorist attacks;
       Whereas emergency managers, public health officials, and 
     medical care providers also invest significant time in 
     planning, training, and exercises to better respond to 
     terrorist attacks in the United States;
       Whereas the Nation has not forgotten the heroic efforts of 
     first responders after the bombing of the World Trade Center 
     on February 26, 1993, and the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah 
     Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on April 19, 
     1995;
       Whereas there are numerous Federal programs that help 
     prepare first responders from across the Nation, including 
     the Domestic Preparedness Program and other training and 
     exercise programs administered by the Department of Justice;
       Whereas there are also domestic preparedness programs 
     administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
     which together with the programs of the Department of Justice 
     support State and local first responders with funding, 
     training, equipment acquisition, technical assistance, 
     exercise planning, and execution;
       Whereas many of the first responders who participate in 
     such programs do so on their own time;
       Whereas an effective response of local first responders to 
     a terrorist attack saves lives; and
       Whereas in response to a terrorist attack, first responders 
     are exposed to a high risk of bodily harm and death as the 
     first line of defense of the United States in managing the 
     aftermath of the attack: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--

[[Page 17552]]

       (1) expresses its profound sorrow for the deaths and 
     injuries suffered by first responders as they endeavored to 
     save innocent people in the aftermath of the terrorist 
     attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 
     September 11, 2001;
       (2) expresses its deepest sympathies to the families and 
     loved ones of the fallen first responders;
       (3) honors and commends the first responders who 
     participated in evacuating and rescuing the innocent people 
     in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon after the 
     terrorist attacks;
       (4) encourages the President to issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to pay respect 
     to the first responder community for their service in the 
     aftermath of the terrorist attacks and their continuing 
     efforts to save lives; and
       (5) encourages all levels of government to continue to work 
     together to effectively coordinate emergency preparedness by 
     providing the infrastructure, funding, and interagency 
     communication and cooperation necessary to ensure that if an 
     attack occurs, first responders will be as prepared as 
     possible to respond effectively.

  Mr. NICKLES. Madam President, it is with great honor that I introduce 
this concurrent resolution on behalf of Senator Inhofe, Senator 
Schumer, Senator Clinton, and myself, as well as many other original 
co-sponsors.
  The resolution expresses Congress' profound sorrow for the loss of 
life and injuries suffered by ``first responders'' as a result of their 
efforts to save innocent Americans in the aftermath of the World Trade 
Center, Pentagon and Pennsylvania disasters on September 11, 2001. It 
also expresses our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones 
of the first responders who will never again return home.
  Last Tuesday, in New York City and at the Pentagon, law enforcement, 
firefighters, and emergency medical personnel (first responders) were 
the first public-service personnel on the scene. If it were not for 
their heroic efforts immediately after these attacks, the death toll 
would be much higher.
  We also believe that it is important for America to better understand 
the daily activities and responsibilities of first responders. Our 
everyday well-being, security and safety depend upon first responders' 
official duties. In preparation for these tragedies, first responders 
around the country plan, train and exercise for mass-casualty events. 
Our resolution recognizes the hard work and dedication of ``first 
responder'' personnel and thanks them for the long hours of training 
that many participate in on their own time.
  In addition, this resolution recognizes the hard work and dedication 
of first responders after the 1993 World Trade Center and the 1995 
Oklahoma City bombings.
  First Responders exemplify great courage and patriotism in the 
darkest of hours and for this we are most grateful.

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