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[DOCID: f:sc73es.txt]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. CON. RES. 73
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel
are collectively known as first responders;
Whereas following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon on September 11, 2001, first responders reacted immediately in
evacuating and rescuing innocent people from the buildings;
Whereas first responders also arrived quickly at the crash site of United
Airlines flight 93 in southwestern Pennsylvania;
Whereas if it were not for the heroic efforts of first responders immediately
after the terrorist attacks, numerous additional casualties would have
resulted from the attacks;
Whereas as the first emergency personnel to arrive at the scenes of the
terrorist attacks, first responders risked their lives in their efforts
to save others;
Whereas while first responders were bravely conducting the evacuation and rescue
after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the 2 towers of
that complex collapsed, and many first responders themselves became
victims of the attacks;
Whereas the everyday well-being, security, and safety of Americans depend upon
the official duties of first responders;
Whereas in addition to their official duties, first responders around the Nation
participate in planning, training, and exercises to respond to terrorist
attacks;
Whereas emergency managers, public health officials, and medical care providers
also invest significant time in planning, training, and exercises to
better respond to terrorist attacks in the United States;
Whereas the Nation has not forgotten the heroic efforts of first responders
after the bombing of the World Trade Center on February 26, 1993, and
the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma, on April 19, 1995;
Whereas there are numerous Federal programs that help prepare first responders
from across the Nation, including the Domestic Preparedness Program and
other training and exercise programs administered by the Department of
Justice;
Whereas there are also domestic preparedness programs administered by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, which together with the programs of
the Department of Justice support State and local first responders with
funding, training, equipment acquisition, technical assistance, exercise
planning, and execution;
Whereas many of the first responders who participate in such programs do so on
their own time;
Whereas an effective response of local first responders to a terrorist attack
saves lives; and
Whereas in response to a terrorist attack, first responders are exposed to a
high risk of bodily harm and death as the first line of defense of the
United States in managing the aftermath of the attack: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring),
That Congress--
(1) expresses its profound sorrow for the deaths and
injuries suffered by first responders as they endeavored to
save innocent people in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks
on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11,
2001;
(2) expresses its deepest sympathies to the families and
loved ones of the fallen first responders;
(3) honors and commends the first responders who
participated in evacuating and rescuing the innocent people in
the World Trade Center and the Pentagon after the terrorist
attacks;
(4) encourages the President to issue a proclamation
calling upon the people of the United States to pay respect to
the first responder community for their service in the
aftermath of the terrorist attacks and their continuing efforts
to save lives; and
(5) encourages all levels of government to continue to work
together to effectively coordinate emergency preparedness by
providing the infrastructure, funding, and interagency
communication and cooperation necessary to ensure that if an
attack occurs, first responders will be as prepared as possible
to respond effectively.
Passed the Senate December 10, 2001.
Attest:
Secretary.
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. CON. RES. 73
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the profound sorrow of Congress for the deaths and injuries
suffered by first responders as they endeavored to save innocent people
in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
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