H. Res. 424

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

May 22, 2002.

Whereas on September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four civilian aircraft, crashing two of them into the towers of

the World Trade Center in New York City;

Whereas these attacks were by far the deadliest terrorist attacks ever launched against the United States, claiming

the lives of more than 3,000 innocent people;

Whereas in the aftermath of the attacks, without showing

any hesitation, public safety officers, steel workers, electricians, construction workers, and thousands of skilled

workers and volunteers spent endless days and nights,

many without sleep for over 36 hours, risking their own

lives to assist in the search for and rescue of anyone that

might have survived the devastation at the site of the

World Trade Center, which has come to be known as

‘‘Ground Zero’’;

Whereas the resolve of our nation was strengthened by the

courage of the thousands of brave rescue and recovery

workers who used their own hands in the hours and days

after September 11th to this day to remove rubble from

the site to locate those trapped and buried beneath the

debris of the World Trade Center;
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Whereas these workers inspired the American people with

their extraordinary bravery and heroism, often risking

their own life and limb to help find the remains of those

who perished on September 11th;

Whereas many rescue and recovery workers were not just

searching for a stranger but rather their lost son, daughter, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, husband, wife, mother,

father, lifelong friend, or co-worker; each of these workers were helping to clear the debris just hoping to come

across any one of their loved ones;

Whereas people, not only in New York but across the nation,

worked to supply Ground Zero workers with such things

as food and water, clothing, and medical supplies, surmounted numerous challenges and difficulties in securing

and distributing these goods, and made it happen within

hours and continuing still today, never once looked at

how difficult it might be to get supplies, but rather went

out and did whatever it took to ensure that the needs for

those supplies were met;

Whereas local businesses, churches, and citizens opened their

doors to police, fire, and other workers with places to

sleep, eat, or even simply pray;

Whereas the selflessness displayed by the rescue and recovery

workers helped unify our nation, bringing together good

people to demonstrate to the forces of terror that good

would triumph over evil;

Whereas all involved in the efforts at Ground Zero were

working unselfishly beyond the point of exhaustion without regard for food, water, or sleep, simply to save and

recover anyone and everyone possible; and
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Whereas the recovery effort will conclude after more than

nine months of hard work, removing over 1.6 million tons

of debris while at the same time taking great care to collect all victims’ remains, thereby allowing more than

1,000 families to lay their loved ones to rest: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives pays tribute

to the workers in New York City for their rescue, recovery,

and clean-up efforts at the site of the World Trade Center,

which was destroyed by the terrorist attack of September 11,

2001.

Attest:

Clerk.