[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 19039-19040]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   HONORING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, EMERGENCY RESCUE 
                PERSONNEL AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary 
Committee be discharged from consideration of S. Con. Res. 76, and that 
the Senate then proceed to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 76) honoring law 
     enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency personnel and 
     health care professionals who have worked tirelessly to 
     search for and rescue the victims of the horrific attacks on 
     the United States on September 11, 2001.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Madam President, I rise today in support of this 
resolution honoring the efforts and sacrifices of

[[Page 19040]]

law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency rescue personnel, and 
health care professionals in responding to the horrific attacks on the 
United States on September 11, 2001.
  In New York and Washington, D.C., emergency calls went out on the 
morning of September 11 just after those attacks occurred. Those alarms 
were heard by first-responders throughout the country. Law enforcement, 
firefighters, emergency rescue personnel, and health care professionals 
answered the call with the same selfless courage and determination that 
has long distinguished our emergency response community. While the 
world looked on in stunned disbelief, these workers, always prepared 
and ever vigilant, instinctively donned their uniforms and raced to the 
scene.
  At ground zero, as many as 400 of these brave men and women 
sacrificed their very lives in service to their communities that 
morning. Since that time hundreds more have labored tirelessly in 
efforts to save and recover their fellow rescuers and other victims. 
Although we react with awe and commend them for working above and 
beyond the call of duty, these courageous souls expect no less from 
themselves and carry on despite the heavy emotional and physical 
burdens of their mission.
  This instinct to respond has shown in the efforts of emergency 
response personnel nationwide. On seeing the events of September 11 
unfold, volunteers from all parts of the country, including 
firefighters and other workers from the State of Wisconsin, travelled 
across the country to the impact zones to assist in whatever means 
necessary. From home, firefighters and other rescue workers have 
organized fund-raising and supply drives to support rescue and recovery 
efforts and the families of their fallen brethren. In Madison, WI, 
local firefighters have raised over $200,000 for families of their New 
York counterparts who died at the World Trade Center. Other community 
fire departments throughout Wisconsin have responded in kind.
  I am proud to recognize the contribution of our Wisconsin emergency 
response community. More than three-quarters of our fire and rescue 
workers in Wisconsin are volunteers, individuals who balance this 
substantial public service commitment while working full-time jobs 
throughout our communities. These workers know, like no other, the 
sacrifices that were made at the World Trade Center on September 11, 
and our prayers go out to them as they grieve for their comrades-in-
arms.
  As we prepare to respond to this vicious attack on our Nation, we 
must not forget the integral part that emergency response workers will 
play in this campaign. The threat of terrorism knows no boundaries, as 
we were so painfully reminded, and these first-responders will be on 
the front lines of our defense. These workers have been quietly 
preparing for years for this mission, but they will need our continued 
support to remain at-the-ready. It will be these workers who will 
ensure that America ``gets back to work,'' because their efforts give 
us security in our streets, our public facilities, and our homes. I 
would like to say to all of our emergency response workers thank you 
for your service to our communities. Your work has never been so 
needed, never so appreciated.
  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
concurrent resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, and that any statements 
relating thereto be printed in the Record with no intervening action.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 76) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 76

       Whereas on September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked and 
     destroyed 4 civilian aircraft, crashing 2 of the planes into 
     the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and a 
     third plane into the Pentagon in northern Virginia, and 
     resulting in the crash of a fourth plane in Somerset County, 
     Pennsylvania;
       Whereas these attacks destroyed both towers of the World 
     Trade Center, as well as adjacent buildings, and seriously 
     damaged the Pentagon;
       Whereas thousands of innocent Americans and foreign 
     nationals were killed or injured as a result of these 
     attacks;
       Whereas police officers, firefighters, public safety 
     officers, and medical response crews were thrown into 
     extraordinarily dangerous situations, responding to these 
     horrendous events, acting heroically, and trying to help and 
     to save as many of the lives of others as possible in the 
     impact zones, in spite of the clear danger to their own 
     lives;
       Whereas some of these rescue workers, police officers, and 
     firefighters have died or are missing at the site of the 
     World Trade Center;
       Whereas firefighters, rescue personnel, and police officers 
     have been working above and beyond the call of duty, putting 
     their lives at risk, working overtime, going without proper 
     sleep, and spending time away from their families and loved 
     ones;
       Whereas the United States Capitol Police, United States 
     Secret Service, the Police Department of Metropolitan 
     Washington, D.C., the Arlington County Police Department, and 
     other law enforcement agencies have put in extra hours to 
     ensure the safety of all Americans, particularly the 
     President, members of Congress, and other United States 
     Government officials; and
       Whereas since the morning of September 11, 2001, police 
     officers and public safety officers throughout the United 
     States have been called upon to put in extra time to ensure 
     the safe and security of Americans: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress commends--
       (1) the firefighters, police officers, rescue personnel, 
     and health care professionals who have selflessly dedicated 
     themselves to the search, rescue, and recovery efforts in New 
     York City, northern Virginia, and Pennsylvania; and
       (2) the efforts of law enforcement and public safety 
     personnel throughout the nation for their service at a time 
     when their call to serve and protect their nation is even 
     more essential than ever before.

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