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... (Introduced in the Senate)

SCON 73 IS

107th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. CON. RES. 73

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.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 21, 2001

Mr. NICKLES (for himself, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. SCHUMER, Mrs. CLINTON, Mr. ALLEN, Mr. MCCONNELL, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. WARNER, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. BIDEN, Mr. BAYH, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. FITZGERALD, Mr. CLELAND, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. NELSON of Florida, Mr. KOHL, Mr. KERRY, Mr. FEINGOLD, Mr. BREAUX, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Ms. COLLINS, and Mr. HUTCHINSON) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

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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.

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.