H. Res. 424
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
May 22, 2002.
Whereas on September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four ci-
vilian 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 at-
tacks 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, elec-
tricians, 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;
•HRES 424 EH
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, daugh-
ter, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, husband, wife, mother,
father, lifelong friend, or co-worker; each of these work-
ers 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, sur-
mounted 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 with-
out regard for food, water, or sleep, simply to save and
recover anyone and everyone possible; and
•HRES 424 EH
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 col-
lect all victims’ remains, thereby allowing more than
1,000 families to lay their loved ones to rest: Now, there-
fore, 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.