[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Pages 3064-3065]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 472--COMMENDING THE EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
HOMELAND SECURITY, THEIR PARTNERS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, AND THE 
   MILLIONS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE SERVICE, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL 
 SERVICES PERSONNEL, EMERGENCY MANAGERS, AND OTHER EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
  PROVIDERS NATIONWIDE FOR THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE IN PROTECTING THE 
  PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE NATION FROM ACTS OF TERRORISM, 
          NATURAL DISASTERS, AND OTHER LARGE-SCALE EMERGENCIES

  Mr. LIEBERMAN (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Voinovich, 
Mr. Carper, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Sununu) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 472

       Whereas it has been almost 7 years since the horrific 
     terrorist attacks against the United States and its people on 
     September 11, 2001;
       Whereas al-Qaeda and affiliated or inspired terrorist 
     groups remain committed to plotting attacks against the 
     United States, its interests, and its foreign allies, as 
     evidenced by recent terrorist attacks in Great Britain, 
     Algeria, and Pakistan, and disrupted plots in Germany, 
     Denmark, Canada, and the United States;
       Whereas the Nation remains vulnerable to catastrophic 
     natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, which 
     devastated the Gulf Coast in August 2005;
       Whereas the President has declared more than 400 major 
     disasters and emergencies under the Robert T. Stafford 
     Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act since 2000, in 
     response to a host of natural disasters, including tornadoes, 
     floods, winter storms, and wildfires that have overwhelmed 
     the capabilities of State and local governments;
       Whereas acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other 
     large-scale emergencies can exact a tragic human toll, 
     resulting in significant numbers of casualties and disrupting 
     hundreds of thousands of lives, causing serious damage to the 
     Nation's critical infrastructure, and inflicting billions of 
     dollars of costs on both the public and private sectors;
       Whereas in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, 
     and the continuing risk to the Nation from a full range of 
     potential catastrophic incidents, Congress established the 
     Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003, bringing 
     together 22 disparate Federal entities, enhancing their 
     capabilities with major new divisions emphasizing information 
     analysis, infrastructure protection, and science and 
     technology, and focusing its more than 200,000 employees on 
     the critical mission of defending the Nation against acts of 
     terrorism, natural disasters, and other large-scale 
     emergencies;
       Whereas since its creation, the employees of the Department 
     of Homeland Security have endeavored to carry out this 
     mission with commendable dedication, working with other 
     Federal departments and agencies and partners at all levels 
     of government to help secure the Nation's borders, airports, 
     sea and

[[Page 3065]]

     inland ports, critical infrastructure, and people against 
     acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other large-scale 
     emergencies;
       Whereas the Nation's firefighters, law enforcement 
     officers, emergency medical services personnel, and other 
     emergency response providers selflessly and repeatedly risk 
     their lives to fulfill their mission to help prevent, protect 
     against, prepare for, and respond to acts of terrorism, 
     natural disasters, and other large-scale emergencies;
       Whereas State, local, territorial, and tribal government 
     officials, the private sector, and ordinary individuals 
     across the country have been working in cooperation with the 
     Department of Homeland Security and other Federal departments 
     and agencies to enhance the Nation's ability to prevent, 
     protect against, prepare for, and respond to natural 
     disasters, acts of terrorism, and other large-scale 
     emergencies; and
       Whereas the people of the United States can assist in 
     promoting the Nation's overall preparedness by remaining 
     vigilant, reporting suspicious activity to proper 
     authorities, and preparing themselves and their families for 
     all emergencies, regardless of their cause: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the 
     establishment of the Department of Homeland Security, 
     commends the public servants of the Department for their 
     outstanding contributions to the Nation's security and 
     safety;
       (2) salutes the dedication of State, local, territorial, 
     and tribal government officials, the private sector, and 
     individuals across the country for their efforts to enhance 
     the Nation's ability to prevent, protect against, prepare 
     for, and respond to acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and 
     other large-scale emergencies;
       (3) expresses the Nation's appreciation for the sacrifices 
     and commitment of law enforcement, fire service, and 
     emergency medical services personnel, emergency managers, and 
     other emergency response providers in preventing, protecting 
     against, preparing for, and responding to acts of terrorism, 
     natural disasters, and other large-scale emergencies;
       (4) urges the Federal Government, States, local 
     governments, Indian tribes, schools, nonprofit organizations, 
     businesses, other entities, and the people of the United 
     States to take steps that promote individual and community 
     preparedness for any emergency, regardless of its cause; and
       (5) encourages continued efforts by every individual in the 
     United States to enhance the ability of the Nation to address 
     the full range of potential catastrophic incidents at all 
     levels of government.

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