III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 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. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 4, 2008 

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 

RESOLUTION 

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. 

Whereas it has been almost 7 years since the horrific terrorist attacks against the United States and its people on 

September 11, 2001; 


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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 largescale 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 


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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 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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


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1 (1) on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of 

2 the establishment of the Department of Homeland 

3 Security, commends the public servants of the De4 partment for their outstanding contributions to the 

5 Nation’s security and safety; 

6 (2) salutes the dedication of State, local, terri7 torial, and tribal government officials, the private 

8 sector, and individuals across the country for their 

9 efforts to enhance the Nation’s ability to prevent, 

10 protect against, prepare for, and respond to acts of 

11 terrorism, natural disasters, and other large-scale 

12 emergencies; 

13 (3) expresses the Nation’s appreciation for the 

14 sacrifices and commitment of law enforcement, fire 

15 service, and emergency medical services personnel, 

16 emergency managers, and other emergency response 

17 providers in preventing, protecting against, pre18 paring for, and responding to acts of terrorism, nat19 ural disasters, and other large-scale emergencies; 

20 (4) urges the Federal Government, States, local 

21 governments, Indian tribes, schools, nonprofit orga22 nizations, businesses, other entities, and the people 

23 of the United States to take steps that promote indi24 vidual and community preparedness for any emer25 gency, regardless of its cause; and 


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1 (5) encourages continued efforts by every indi2 vidual in the United States to enhance the ability of 

3 the Nation to address the full range of potential cat4 astrophic incidents at all levels of government. 

Æ 


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