[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7578]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, on behalf of the majority leader, I ask 
unanimous consent that the Governmental Affairs Committee be discharged 
from further consideration of S. Res. 336, and the Senate proceed to 
its immediate 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 resolution (S. Res. 336) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate that public servants should be commended for their 
     dedication and continued service to the Nation during Public 
     Service Recognition Week, May 3 through May 9, 2004.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, and that any statements 
relating to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 336) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 336

       Whereas Public Service Recognition Week provides an 
     opportunity to honor and celebrate the commitment of men and 
     women who meet the needs of the Nation through work at all 
     levels of government;
       Whereas over 18,000,000 individuals work in government 
     service in every city, county, and State across America and 
     in hundreds of cities abroad;
       Whereas Federal, State, and local officials perform 
     essential services the Nation relies upon every day;
       Whereas the United States of America is a great and 
     prosperous nation, and public service employees contribute 
     significantly to that greatness and prosperity;
       Whereas the Nation benefits daily from the knowledge and 
     skills of these highly trained individuals;
       Whereas public servants--
       (1) help the Nation recover from natural disasters and 
     terrorist attacks;
       (2) provide vital strategic support functions to our 
     military and serve in the National Guard and Reserves;
       (3) fight crime and fire;
       (4) deliver the United States mail;
       (5) deliver social security and medicare benefits;
       (6) fight disease and promote better health;
       (7) protect the environment and the Nation's parks;
       (8) defend and secure critical infrastructure;
       (9) teach and work in our schools and libraries;
       (10) improve and secure our transportation systems;
       (11) keep the Nation's economy stable; and
       (12) defend our freedom and advance United States interests 
     around the world;
       Whereas public servants at every level of government are 
     hard-working men and women, committed to doing their jobs 
     regardless of the circumstances;
       Whereas members of the uniformed services and civilian 
     employees at all levels of government make significant 
     contributions to the general welfare of the United States, 
     and are on the front lines in the fight against terrorism and 
     in maintaining homeland security;
       Whereas public servants work in a professional manner to 
     build relationships with other countries and cultures in 
     order to better represent America's interests and promote 
     American ideals;
       Whereas Federal, State, and local government employees have 
     risen to the occasion and demonstrated professionalism, 
     dedication, and courage while fighting the war against 
     terrorism;
       Whereas public servants alert Congress and the public to 
     government waste, fraud, abuse, and dangers to public health;
       Whereas the men and women serving in the Armed Forces of 
     the United States, as well as those skilled trade and craft 
     Federal employees who provide support to their efforts, 
     contribute greatly to the security of the Nation and the 
     world;
       Whereas government workers have much to offer, as 
     demonstrated by their expertise, and serve as examples by 
     passing on institutional knowledge to train the next 
     generation of public servants;
       Whereas May 3 through 9, 2004, has been designated Public 
     Service Recognition Week to honor America's Federal, State, 
     and local government employees;
       Whereas the theme for Public Service Recognition Week 2004 
     is Celebrating Government Workers Nationwide to highlight the 
     important work civil servants perform throughout the Nation; 
     and
       Whereas Public Service Recognition Week is celebrating its 
     20th anniversary through job fairs, student activities, and 
     agency exhibits: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends public servants for their outstanding 
     contributions to this great Nation;
       (2) salutes their unyielding dedication and spirit for 
     public service;
       (3) honors those government employees who have given their 
     lives in service to their country;
       (4) calls upon a new generation of workers to consider a 
     career in public service as an honorable profession; and
       (5) encourages efforts to promote public service careers at 
     all levels of government.

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