[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 20981-20984]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 20981]]

  PRESENTATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER MEDAL OF VALOR IN RESPONSE TO 
                TERRORIST ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the concurrent resolution (H.


Con. Res. 243) expressing the sense of the Congress that the Public 
Safety Officer Medal of Valor should be presented to the public safety 
officers who have perished and select other public safety officers who 
deserve special recognition for outstanding valor above and beyond the 
call of duty in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the United 
States on September 11, 2001.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 243

       Whereas on September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked and 
     destroyed 4 civilian aircraft, crashing 2 of them into the 
     towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third 
     into the Pentagon, and a fourth in rural southwest 
     Pennsylvania;
       Whereas thousands of innocent Americans and many foreign 
     nationals were killed and injured as a result of these 
     surprise terrorist attacks, including the passengers and 
     crews of the 4 aircraft, workers in the World Trade Center 
     and the Pentagon, firefighters, law enforcement officers, 
     emergency assistance personnel, and bystanders;
       Whereas hundreds of public safety officers were killed and 
     injured as a result of these terrorist attacks because they 
     immediately rushed to the aid of innocent civilians who were 
     imperiled when the terrorists first launched their attacks, 
     many of whom would perish when the twin towers of the World 
     Trade Center collapsed upon them;
       Whereas thousands more public safety officers are risking 
     their own lives and long-term health in sifting through the 
     aftermath and rubble of these terrorist attacks to recover 
     the dead;
       Whereas the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act of 
     2001 (Public Law 107-12; 115 Stat. 20) authorizes the 
     President to award and present, in the name of Congress, a 
     Medal of Valor to public safety officers for extraordinary 
     valor above and beyond the call of duty;
       Whereas the Attorney General of the United States has 
     discretion to increase the number of recipients of the Medal 
     of Valor under that Act beyond that recommended by the Medal 
     of Valor Review Board in extraordinary cases in any given 
     year;
       Whereas the terrorist attacks in the United States of 
     September 11, 2001, and their aftermath constitute the single 
     most deadly assault on our American homeland in our Nation's 
     history; and
       Whereas those public safety officers who have perished and 
     those who lead the efforts to rescue innocent civilians from 
     the terrorist attacks, are the first casualties and veterans 
     of America's new war against terrorism, which was authorized 
     by the authorization for use of military force enacted 
     September 14, 2001: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the President should award and present, in the name of 
     Congress, a Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor to those 
     public safety officers who were killed in the terrorist 
     attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001; and
       (2) the President should award and present a Public Safety 
     Officer Medal of Valor to those public safety officers who 
     have earned special recognition for outstanding valor above 
     and beyond the call of duty as named--
       (A) in consultation with the Mayor of the City of New York 
     and Governor of the State of New York for the attacks on New 
     York--
       (i) Commissioner of the New York City Police Department;
       (ii) Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department; and
       (iii) Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York 
     and New Jersey;
       (B) in consultation with the Chair of the Washington 
     Metropolitan Council of Governments, including the sitting 
     Chairs of the Police and Fire Chief Committees; and the Fort 
     Myer Federal Fire Chief, and the Governor of the Commonwealth 
     of Virginia for the attack at the Pentagon--
       (i) Fire Chief of Arlington County, Virginia; and
        (ii) Police Chief of Arlington County, Virginia; and
       (C) in consultation with the Governor of the Commonwealth 
     of Pennsylvania for the plane crash in Pennsylvania--
       (i) Commandant of the Pennsylvania State Police; and
       (ii) Adjutant General of the Pennsylvania National Guard,

     or any of their designees, for their heroic actions on 
     September 11, 2001, and thereafter during the rescue and 
     recovery missions.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Nadler) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Sensenbrenner).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 243.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, of the thousands of people killed on September 11, over 
400 were public safety officers. These brave men and women dedicated 
their lives to the protection of life and property, and in so doing 
made the ultimate sacrifice. Since that day, thousands of their fellow 
officers from around the country responded to the attacks and have 
worked tirelessly at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and western 
Pennsylvania, and, indeed, all around America and the rest of the 
world.
  I believe it fitting and proper that our Nation honor not only those 
public safety officers who gave their lives, but also the officers who 
have demonstrated the highest forms of heroism and valor in the wake of 
these tragic events.
  Mr. Speaker, the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act of 2001 was 
signed into law on May 30. This act established a national medal to be 
given by the President in the name of the United States Congress to a 
public safety officer who has displayed extraordinary valor above and 
beyond the call of duty. The Public Safety Officer Medal Of Valor is 
the highest national award for valor that can be given to a 
firefighter, law enforcement officer, or emergency services officer.
  Under this new law, the Attorney General of the United States is 
charged with selecting the recipients of the medal and is limited to 
selecting not more than five recipients in a given year. However, in 
extraordinary circumstances, the Attorney General may increase the 
number of medals to be awarded in a particular year. Mr. Speaker, no 
one can argue that the events that occurred on September 11, and the 
acts of bravery and valor that followed, were anything but 
extraordinary circumstances. House Con. Res. 243 expresses the sense of 
Congress that the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor should be 
presented to all the public safety officers who were killed in the 
terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
  Further, the concurrent resolution states that the Medal of Valor 
should be presented to those officers who have earned special 
recognition for outstanding valor for their actions in the hours, days, 
and weeks following the terrorist attacks.
  These officers will be selected in consultation with the Governor of 
New York, the Mayor of the City of New York, the Governor of Virginia, 
and the Governor of Pennsylvania, and other officials who have 
firsthand knowledge of the heroic efforts made by these men and women.
  On October 11, 2001, a day of violence, horror and great sadness, 
America's public safety officers gave their lives trying to save 
others. They also performed their duties heroically in the face of 
adversity and tragedy.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this concurrent 
resolution and to provide the many heroes around the country with 
appropriate recognition by urging the Attorney General to present them 
with the highest national public safety officer award for valor.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, expressing 
the sense of the Congress that the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor 
should be presented to the public safety officers who have perished and 
select other public safety officers who deserve special recognition for 
outstanding valor above and beyond the call of duty in the aftermath of 
the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001.

[[Page 20982]]



                              {time}  1430

  The ruthless attacks on the United States by an organized band of 
terrorists stands in stark contrast to tremendously heroic efforts of 
our public safety officers who gave their lives so that others may 
live. Our firefighters, police, and emergency rescue personnel rushed 
to the scene and rescued thousands of people in what was probably the 
greatest rescue operation in history. Many lives were lost, but many, 
many more were saved, thanks to the courage of those we seek to honor 
here today with this resolution. Their actions are not simply 
commendable, they should serve as the definition of bravery. These men 
and women ran into not just a burning building, but two of the tallest 
buildings in the world that had just been hit by jet airplanes full of 
jet fuel. The flames were so hot they actually melted steel. 
Tragically, many victims chose certain death by jumping from the towers 
to escape the blazing heat. Yet into this heat our firefighters 
charged. We have heard stories of firefighters who climbed 60, 70, even 
80 stories to rescue victims. As survivors came down the stairs, they 
told the stories of firefighters last seen headed up the stairs. 
Countless people have come forward to acknowledge that firefighters and 
police officers saved their lives on September 11. Tragically, many of 
them were on the scene when the towers came down all around them. They 
made the ultimate sacrifice, as they too became victims of the 
terrorist attacks.
  And even the collapse of these mammoth buildings was not enough to 
scare off our public safety officers. After the buildings came down, 
again police, firefighters and rescue personnel were on the scene, 
rescuing those whom they could reach, evacuating the area, tending to 
the injured, and dousing flames that threatened others. Thankfully, the 
media has done a wonderful job of telling their stories and making the 
public aware of the heroes amongst us. Sadly, there are too many 
stories to tell, because the magnitude of the tragedy was so great. It 
is for us here today to once again honor their sacrifice and bestow 
high honor upon these American heroes.
  This bill will express the sense of the Congress that the President 
should award and present, in the name of Congress, a Public Safety 
Officer Medal of Valor to those public safety officers who were killed 
in the terrorist attacks on September 11 or who have earned special 
recognition for outstanding valor above and beyond the call of duty. 
The bill urges the President to work with the State and local elected 
officials and the various police and fire commissions in New York, 
Pennsylvania and Virginia to select those individuals who should be 
awarded the Medal of Valor.
  I want to thank the majority for bringing this resolution to the 
floor in an expeditious manner, and I want to commend the sponsor of 
the resolution, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley).
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Crowley), the sponsor of this bill.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from New 
York for yielding me this time.
  I introduced this legislation, the Medal of Valor for America's 
Heroes Act, with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella) and the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) and well over 250 other Members of 
Congress as a way to thank those brave men and women and dedicated 
public safety officers who risked their lives and, in far too many 
cases, lost their lives to protect countless thousands of others, 
whether it be on September 11 or any of the other 364 days of the year. 
This bill will provide a Medal of Valor award, the highest national 
award for valor for a public safety officer, to the public safety 
officers who perished in the attacks of September 11 of this year, as 
well as allow other officers who served above and beyond the call of 
duty to also receive recognition.
  By honoring those who died, we also honor those who live on and 
embody the spirit of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the 
well-being of others. Over the coming years, we will hear tremendous 
stories of heroic measures. One such story I have heard already is that 
of Captain Patrick Brown of the 3 Truck on 13th Street in Manhattan. My 
cousin Michael, whose brother John was killed on that fateful day, 
works in 3 Truck on 13th Street and was a close friend to Pat and 11 of 
the members of that firefighter unit that were lost that day.
  He told me of a radio message that day from the 32nd floor of Tower 
One. Mike had told me that Pat and other members of 3 Truck were with 
about 40 injured people on their way down from the building. Pat Brown 
was one of the most decorated members of the FDNY and when he spoke, 
everyone listened. A few moments after giving his location in the 
tower, he radioed again, except this time it was a May Day call and 
that the walls of the building were buckling. This was a full 10 
minutes before the building actually collapsed. It gave firefighters 
and unknown numbers of rescue workers and victims time to evacuate the 
building.
  Pat Brown and the other men of 3 Truck were in impeccable condition 
and could have easily gotten out of the building, but Pat Brown called 
back on his radio that he would be staying behind, that he and the 
other members from Truck 3 would be staying behind with the injured 
victims, knowing that they too would meet the same fate. If that is not 
heroism, I do not know what is.
  While these people do not want our accolades, we the survivors and 
mourners feel the need to extend to them not only our gratitude but 
also something larger that states that they are not forgotten. This is 
the first time that this award will be bestowed, and I am encouraging 
the Attorney General to use the remains of the World Trade Center as 
the metal for this award, the metallic structure that is now a debris 
on Staten Island, an award that is an official recognition of the 
heroic works of the people who do not view their work as heroic. It is 
a way to say thank you to those who do not believe they deserve thanks 
for doing their job, and it is a way for us to recognize the heroic 
actions, not only for those who died but those who still work on 
protecting all of us each day. It is a way that someone like myself, 
who was affected by the tragedy on so many levels, can say thank you to 
my cousin John Moran, who did what he considered was his job and what I 
consider an act of bravery.
  For far too long, many of us have taken our fire, police and 
emergency medical personnel for granted. This bill acts as a public 
thank you, both to those that perished and those that still work on to 
protect our civil society. But let us not all support this resolution 
and think we have done all we need to do for our public safety 
officers. We need to not only salute them and respect them every day, 
but we need to advocate for them as well. Congress needs to pass 
legislation to create a new Fire Corps to bring up to 75,000 new 
firefighters into our communities. And every community and our Federal 
Government needs to remember the heroism seen in Virginia, Pennsylvania 
and especially in New York City when calculating their budgets. We can 
no longer shortchange these people with respect to their livelihoods, 
with respect to their pay and benefits.
  My friend and colleague the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner) 
successfully led the charge to increase the Public Safety Officers 
Benefit. I salute him for that. And our New York delegation has worked 
to ensure that emergency medical personnel are covered under the PSOB 
program as well in this case. But they should be completely covered 
under this valuable program in all circumstances.
  The work of the police, fire and EMT professionals, and they are 
professionals, is not very glamorous but it is critical and should be 
celebrated. While everyone in our Nation hopes and prays that we never 
have a tragedy like the one of September 11 again, let us hope that we 
all learn from it. Let us hope that we never take these people for 
granted, the people who run into burning buildings when everyone else 
is running out; the people that chase after criminals rather than hide 
and get out of their way; the people that

[[Page 20983]]

resuscitate and provide for our sick and dying rather than panic and 
overreact. And let this award serve as a beginning and not an end to 
the accolades that these heroes so rightly deserve.
  On that terrible day of September 11, 2001, Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda 
and all those responsible for these terrorist attacks only saw the twin 
towers of the World Trade Center. They failed to see the millions and 
millions of patriots behind them, and that will lead to their downfall. 
The men and women of the New York Fire Department, Police Department, 
Port Authority Police and EMS and EMT and volunteer workers were the 
first in line behind the twin towers.
  In conclusion, I want to thank Chairman Sensenbrenner, Ranking Member 
Conyers and my good friend and colleague the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Nadler) for the committee's expedited treatment of this bill, as 
well as the outpouring of support from my colleagues in Washington, my 
neighbors in New York and all the people of the country for their 
appreciation of America's everyday heroes.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Moran).
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. I thank my friend and colleague the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Nadler) for yielding time.
  Mr. Speaker, on September 11, the world watched in horror as the 
symbol of our Nation's wealth, the World Trade Center, and our Nation's 
military might, the Pentagon, were viciously attacked. There is an 
aching in our hearts as we mourn for the senseless loss of life and we 
share the grief of the victims' families, friends and coworkers.
  As the list of casualties from Pennsylvania, the World Trade Center 
and the Pentagon grows to over 5,000 people, it is frightening to 
imagine that the toll would have been higher were it not for the 
extraordinary courage and valor exhibited by our firefighters, police 
officers and emergency rescue workers. That is the reason that I so 
strongly support House Concurrent Resolution 243, which will allow us 
to honor the valor of the public safety officers who answered the call 
of duty on September 11. In my own congressional district, the brave 
and heroic men and women of the Arlington County, City of Alexandria 
and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Departments and Police Departments 
should be particularly honored.
  These, along with the Federal firefighters at Fort Myer and the 
Defense Protection Service, were the emergency personnel who first 
responded to the attack on the Pentagon. Every day these men and women 
face risks and challenges that few of us can relate to. It is our 
natural reaction when there is a fire to run away from it. Their 
professional responsibility is to run into it. On September 11, with 
little regard for their own safety and well-being, they responded 
within minutes after the attack on the Pentagon. The Arlington County 
Fire and Police Departments, which have primary responsibility for 
first response at the Pentagon, were right there on the scene along 
with the firefighters and Emergency Medical Service personnel from 
Alexandria and Fairfax Counties who were assisted by any number of 
other response teams from around the area and really around the 
country. They courageously fought the flames, rescued victims trapped 
inside the building, and treated and transported the injured.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my wholehearted gratitude 
towards these men and women on behalf of the families whose loved ones 
were saved because of their heroic efforts. Together with the Fire and 
Police Departments of New York City, they do deserve our admiration and 
our pride. I trust that this resolution will pass unanimously. I 
commend the gentleman from New York for offering it, and I appreciate 
the opportunity to support it.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this 
resolution to provide the Public Safety Office Medal of Valor to some 
of the greatest heroes our Nation has ever known. I want to thank my 
colleague from New York for introducing and shepherding this through 
the House so quickly. I also want to take this opportunity to extend my 
heartfelt condolences to him for the personal loss he has suffered as a 
result of September 11th.
  The men and women who responded to the World Trade Center, Pentagon, 
and Pennsylvania crash site put themselves in harm's way in order to 
save the lives of countless others. In the case of New York, we all 
know that there were tragic results. As I watched from my apartment in 
the Bronx, not only did the World Trade Center Towers come crashing 
down, but hundreds of firefighters lost their lives. I must admit at 
that moment I was full of despair.
  But then, like a light shining through the dark storm clouds, I saw 
even more emergency personnel going into Ground Zero. Through the 
horror of the events, my spirits rose as I saw time and time again, 
firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel pull 
people out.
  It is very fitting that we honor these men and women with this medal. 
I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this resolution.
  Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of H. Con. Res. 243.
  Earlier this year we had the opportunity to create the Public Safety 
Officer Medal of Valor.
  Today we have the obligation to use this medal to honor those who 
have served the public safety of our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill does more than urge the president to award the 
Medal of Valor--the highest honor for public safety officers--to those 
who were killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11.
  It also honors those who displayed valor above and beyond the call of 
duty through their heroic actions on that fateful day, and during the 
rescue and recovery missions that followed.
  These brave souls, although not public safety officers, still acted 
in line with and gave their lives for the highest ideals of that fine 
profession.
  Mr. Speaker, I think of the courageous men and women of the Port 
Authority who, because of where they worked, felt empowered and 
compelled to risk and, in some cases, sacrifice their lives to help 
their fellow workers in the World Trade Center. By going above and far 
beyond the call of duty, these real heroes gave us something to be 
proud of and someone to look up to.
  These valiant individuals are also public safety officers, employed 
by a situation out of their control and paid by an opportunity to serve 
their fellow man.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to offer my thanks and praise to New 
Jersey Port Authority Chairman Lew Eisenberg. I struggle to imagine 
what these past weeks would have been like without his leadership and 
caring attention to the technical and human concerns we have all 
shared.
  I can think of no more fitting tribute to these men and women than 
the awarding of the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor.
  I ask my colleagues to remember their support for the creation of 
this medal, and ask them to recall why we did it.
  I believe it was for such an occasion of bravery as September 11 
inspired that we voted Yes on that day, and why we must also vote Yes 
today.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, last May this body established 
the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor to honor those firemen, police 
officers, EMTs, and other who demonstrate ``extraordinary valor above 
and beyond the call of duty.''
  That action was prescient because we are now faced with a situation 
that warrants the distribution of this highest honor to a number of 
heroes within the public safety sector that exemplify its standards. H. 
Con. Res. 243 rightly expresses the sense of this body that those 
public safety officers that lost their lives in the September 11 
attacks on American soil should be conferred this high honor. This body 
is also right to declare that there are other public safety officers 
who deserve special recognition for their actions in the aftermath of 
these attacks.
  As we continue to fight this new war, Americans are constantly 
reminded that the nature of a public safety officer's job involves the 
potential for the ultimate sacrifice. As the representatives of the 
American people, our actions today reflect the gratitude of our 
constituents to those who work to ensure a stable, safe, and just 
society.
  In his famous 1838 address before the Young Man's Lyceum of 
Springfield, Illinois, Abraham Lincoln spoke the following words 
regarding danger within our nation's borders:

       ``At what point then is the approach of danger to be 
     expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up 
     amongst us. It

[[Page 20984]]

     cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must 
     ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, 
     we must live through all time . . .''

  Though Lincoln's words did not portend the blending of home and 
abroad in the manner that it has presented itself, his sentiment is as 
relevant now as it was then. Our public safety officers allow us the 
best hope of destroying the dangers we now see before us. Finding a 
fitting testament to their bravery is the obligation of this great 
Nation.
  Mr. GILMAN, Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res 243, 
respectfully calling on the President to award and present, in the name 
of Congress, a public safety officer Medal of Valor to those public 
safety officers who were killed in the terrorist attacks in the United 
States on September 11, 2001. This resolution also requests that the 
President honor other select public safety officers who displayed valor 
and courage above and beyond the call of duty on September 11th and in 
the subsequent rescue and recovery efforts that followed the terrorist 
attacks on our Nation.
  On that horrible day in September, a day of infamy, our Nation 
witnessed the best and the worst of humanity. The despicable and 
cowardly terrorist acts were valiantly countered with the incredible 
heroism and courage of our firefighters, law enforcement officers, 
emergency personnel, and our fellow citizens.
  It is incumbent upon our Nation to honor these heroes, be they here 
or departed. Bestowing the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor on 
these deserving men and women. It is a fitting tribute to their memory 
and their contribution to our Nation's freedom. Accordingly, I urge my 
colleagues to fully support this important measure.
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. 
Res. 243.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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