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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 828 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 828

 Honoring the firefighters and other public servants who responded to 
       the wildfires in south Georgia during the spring of 2007.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 15, 2007

 Mr. Barrow (for himself, Mr. Kingston, Mr. Gingrey, Mr. Marshall, Mr. 
 Scott of Georgia, Mr. Price of Georgia, Mr. Westmoreland, Mr. Johnson 
  of Georgia, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Broun of Georgia, Mr. Deal of 
Georgia, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, and Mr. Linder) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
                           Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Honoring the firefighters and other public servants who responded to 
       the wildfires in south Georgia during the spring of 2007.

Whereas there are more than 1,100,000 firefighters in over 30,000 fire 
        departments in the United States;
Whereas American firefighters respond to the call of duty more than 20,000,000 
        times during a typical year;
Whereas the number of wildfires in the United States has escalated in recent 
        years with over 8,500,000 acres burned in 2005;
Whereas in the spring of 2007, the State of Georgia lost more forestland and 
        timberland, and incurred more financial losses, due to wildfires than 
        ever before in Georgia history;
Whereas the fire at the Georgia Bay Complex, the largest wildfire in southeast 
        history, burned over 440,000 acres in Georgia and destroyed 9 homes;
Whereas over 21,000 additional acres burned in the 21 county emergency 
        declaration area;
Whereas over $60,000,000 worth of private and State-owned timber was lost in the 
        wildfires;
Whereas over $60,000,000 was spent to control the wildfires, and it is expected 
        to cost approximately $30,000,000 to replant the timber on these lands;
Whereas over 3,300 brave firefighters from 44 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico 
        fought alongside Georgia firefighters to contain the wildfires that 
        burned in southern Georgia;
Whereas the time actually spent fighting fires is but a fraction of the immense 
        amount of time spent in training and practicing how to fight fires, and 
        such training and practice is essential not only to prevent the loss of 
        life and property from fires but also to prevent the loss of life of 
        those engaged in fighting fires;
Whereas such training and practice represents a tremendous amount of time away 
        from family, and, in the case of volunteer firefighters, time away from 
        family and businesses;
Whereas it is a testament to the training and skill of the 3,300 full-time and 
        volunteer firefighters who fought the wildfires in Georgia that such an 
        enormous disaster was contained and beaten back without the loss of a 
        single life; and
Whereas the unselfish bravery, immense courage, and outstanding success of those 
        firefighters should be recognized by a grateful Nation: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors the firefighters of the State of Georgia and all 
        of those who fought to suppress and contain the destructive 
        wildfires in south Georgia during the spring of 2007;
            (2) expresses its deepest sympathy to those who lost their 
        homes and businesses to the wildfires;
            (3) pledges its continued support for efforts to prevent, 
        fight, and contain wildfires in the United States; and
            (4) pledges its continued support for the firefighters of 
        Georgia and the United States in their efforts to prevent fire 
        related disasters.
                                 <all>
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