IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 259

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the establishment of a National Day of Appreciation for Emergency Response and

Rescue Workers.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 10, 2001

Mr. CRANE (for himself, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. MCKINNEY, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr.

KING, Mr. WALSH, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. SCHAFFER, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr.

THUNE, Mr. FRANK, Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. HEFLEY, Ms. WATSON of California, Mr. FROST, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. SWEENEY, Mr.

PASCRELL, and Mr. BONIOR) submitted the following resolution; which

was referred to the Committee on Government Reform

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the establishment of a National Day of Appreciation

for Emergency Response and Rescue Workers.

Whereas firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency services personnel perform vital public services;

Whereas firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency services personnel are ready to provide life saving

care to people in need 24 hours a day and 7 days a week;

Whereas more than 1,940,000 men and women serve as firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency services

personnel in the United States;
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•HRES 259 IH

Whereas firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency services personnel respond to more than

16,000,000 emergency calls each year, without reservation and with little regard for their personal safety;

Whereas firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency services personnel are the first to respond to an

emergency, whether the emergency involves a fire, medical emergency, spill of hazardous materials, natural disaster, act of terrorism, or transportation accident;

Whereas firefighting, law enforcement, and emergency services are among the most dangerous professions in the

United States;

Whereas approximately 100 firefighters and emergency services personnel die in the line of duty each year;

Whereas 78 emergency response and rescue workers lost their

lives while responding to the terrorist attacks against the

United States that occurred on September 11, 2001;

Whereas an additional 343 firefighters, 63 law enforcement

officers, and 2 emergency services personnel are still

missing in the aftermath of such attacks;

Whereas the people of the United States benefit each day

from the knowledge, skills, and service of firefighters, law

enforcement officers, and emergency services personnel;

Whereas a National Day of Appreciation for Emergency Response and Rescue Workers would provide the people of

the United States with an opportunity to express their

appreciation and gratitude to firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency services personnel for their

vital service; and

Whereas September 11 of each year would be an appropriate

day to establish as a National Day of Appreciation for
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•HRES 259 IH

Emergency Response and Rescue Workers: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that—

3 (1) a National Day of Appreciation for Emer4 gency Response and Rescue Workers should be es5 tablished; and

6 (2) the President should issue a proclamation

7 calling on the people of the United States to observe

8 such a day with appropriate programs and activities.

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