[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10563]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 229--RECOGNIZING THE HEROIC EFFORTS OF FIREFIGHTERS 
 TO CONTAIN NUMEROUS WILDFIRES THAT HAVE AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE 
                      THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado (for himself, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Bennet, Mr. 
Begich, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Udall of New 
Mexico, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Tester, Mrs. Boxer, and Mrs. 
Feinstein) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 229

       Whereas every State in the United States has been affected 
     by wildfire in 2011;
       Whereas firefighters and residents have had to contend with 
     extreme and erratic fire behavior and rapid rates of fire 
     spread;
       Whereas, as of June 12, 2011, more than 32,189 wildfires 
     have burned more than 4,700,000 acres of land, which 
     represents more acres burned than in all of 2010 and 
     approximately 600,000 more acres than the 50-year average of 
     total acres burned in the United States in an entire year;
       Whereas, as of June 12, 2011--
       (1) the Southwestern States have reported more than 1,600 
     fires that have burned more than 1,700,000 acres;
       (2) the Southern States have reported more than 27,000 
     fires that have burned more than 2,400,000 acres;
       (3) the Northern and Central Rocky Mountain States have 
     reported 818 fires that have burned more than 250,000 acres;
       (4) the State of California and Great Basin Region have 
     reported more than 7,200 fires that have burned more than 
     21,000 acres;
       (5) the Northwestern States and Alaska have reported more 
     than 400 fires that have burned more than 260,000 acres; and
       (6) the Eastern States have reported more than 3,500 fires 
     that have burned more than 41,000 acres;
       Whereas, as of June 29, 2011, firefighters and personnel 
     from the Federal, State, and county levels have responded 
     overwhelmingly to battle wildfires throughout the United 
     States, filling more than 95,600 requests for firefighter 
     crew members; and
       Whereas the brave men and women who answered the calls for 
     assistance have worked to minimize the displacement of 
     thousands of residents and to protect against loss of life 
     and property: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the heroic efforts of firefighters to 
     contain wildfires and protect lives, homes, natural 
     resources, and rural economies throughout the United States;
       (2) encourages the people and government officials of the 
     United States to express their appreciation to the brave men 
     and women serving in the firefighting services throughout the 
     United States;
       (3) encourages the people and communities of the United 
     States to be diligent in preventing and preparing for 
     wildfires; and
       (4) encourages the people of the United States to keep in 
     their thoughts those who have experienced loss as a result of 
     wildfire.

                          ____________________