[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 17559]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE FIRST RESPONDERS OF THE ELEVENTH DISTRICT OF GEORGIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, in the short time that I have been a Member 
of this Congress, of this body, the House of Representatives, I have 
come to expect a good measure of partisanship and partisan rhetoric 
that occurs on the floor of the House, especially during this, a 
Presidential election year. I have come to expect that, but not to 
enjoy it.
  But I want to say, Mr. Speaker, to my colleagues, that the past hour 
I have sat here in this Chamber and seen a great measure of 
bipartisanship as our chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), and the ranking member, the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), came together to bring us this 
emergency supplemental appropriation to help the people in Florida who 
have been devastated by Hurricanes Charlie and Frances with this $2 
billion stopgap measure to get money to FEMA, the Federal Emergency 
Management Administration, to help the people of Florida in a 
bipartisan way, and to have us have this discussion led by the 
delegation from Florida, both Republicans and Democrats.
  This is the kind of bipartisanship that the people of this country 
and the great State of Florida deserve to see more of. In fact, it 
reminded me that we are coming up pretty soon, this Saturday, in fact, 
on the third anniversary of a tragic event in this country. Of course, 
I am speaking of 9/11, when this body again was at its finest moment 
when they came together and there was not that level of partisanship, 
and we pulled together for the benefit of all Americans.
  So, Mr. Speaker, tonight I want to rise and pay tribute to the first 
responders whose selfless service and hard work keep the citizens of 
the Nation, but particularly Georgia and my eleventh district, safe and 
secure each and every day.
  Just as the moniker suggests, our Nation's first responders are the 
first to arrive at the scene and usually the last to leave. They are 
the brave souls risking their lives to prevent catastrophe and healing 
the wounded and broken when disaster strikes, just as they are doing in 
Florida today. They are always vigilant and ever ready, and they 
deserve our heartfelt thanks.
  Since the tragic events of September 11, we have all learned that 
terrorists are not just looking at New York City and Washington, D.C. 
Rather, they have undertaken a vast effort to survey potential targets 
across this country. Should Metro Atlanta, the capital of the South, 
suffer an attack, you and I know that the brave first responders from 
West Georgia's Eleventh Congressional District will be among the many 
who will answer the call to duty.
  I also know how much new equipment and technology means to the first 
responders of the Eleventh Congressional District of Georgia, and we in 
Congress are working hard to continue to provide it.
  Mr. Speaker, I recently had the privilege of visiting with the 
volunteer fire department in Woodland, Georgia, in Talbot County, to 
inspect their new fire truck; and I left very impressed with their 
operation. I was also struck by how much of a difference a piece of 
equipment like a new fire truck can have on a great community like 
Woodland.
  So whether it is a fire truck, HAZMAT equipment for biological 
threats, or a communications network upgrade in northwest Georgia, I 
remain committed to doing everything I can to ensure that Georgia's 
first responders receive the necessary funding to ensure the safety and 
security of our communities in Georgia.
  We must never take for granted the bravery and commitment of our true 
first responders. We in Congress must provide them with the tools 
necessary to conduct their vital service.
  Mr. Speaker, the eleventh district's first responders are on the 
front line every day, and they deserve our support and appreciation. I 
want to take this opportunity tonight to thank each of them as we 
approach the third anniversary of 9/11 for their work to protect and 
serve the citizens of Georgia and the Southeast.

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