WASHINGTON – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., and Ranking Member Susan Collins R-Me., are saluting the work of the 208,000 employees of the Department of Homeland Security during this fifth anniversary week of the establishment of the Department. Late Tuesday, the Senate passed by unanimous consent a resolution introduced by the two senators that expresses “the nation’s appreciation for the sacrifices and commitment” DHS employees and first responders bring to their jobs.
The resolution states that the U.S. Senate, “salutes the dedication of State, local, territorial, and tribal government officials, the private sector, and individuals across the country for their efforts to enhance the Nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, prepare for, and respond to acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other large-scale emergencies” and “expresses the Nation’s appreciation for the sacrifices and commitment of law enforcement, fire service, and emergency medical services personnel, emergency managers, and other emergency response providers in preventing, protecting against, preparing for, and responding to acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other large-scale emergencies.”
Lieberman and Collins have long advocated for DHS employees and the hundreds of thousands of local and state first preventers and responders who complement the Department’s work. Lieberman spearheaded Senate passage of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 which established the Department by bringing together 22 agencies under unified leadership. As Committee Chairman from 2003 through 2006, Senator Collins provided the Department with important new authority to regulate the security of our nation’s ports and chemical facilities and strengthened the Department’s disaster response capabilities after an extensive Committee investigation into the failed response to Hurricane Katrina.
The fifth anniversary of DHS, established after Sept 11, 2001 to coordinate federal, state, and local efforts to protect the country from the threat of man-made and natural disasters – is being celebrated in Washington D.C. this week.
Following is a copy of the 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;
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 large-scale 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 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
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security, commends the public servants of the Department for their outstanding contributions to the Nation’s security and safety;
(2) salutes the dedication of State, local, territorial, and tribal government officials, the private sector, and individuals across the country for their efforts to enhance the Nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, prepare for, and respond to acts of terrorism, natural
disasters, and other large-scale emergencies;
(3) expresses the Nation’s appreciation for the sacrifices and commitment of law enforcement, fire service, and emergency medical services personnel, emergency managers, and other emergency response providers in preventing, protecting against, preparing for, and responding to acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other large-scale emergencies;
(4) urges the Federal Government, States, local governments, Indian tribes, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, other entities, and the people of the United States to take steps that promote individual and community preparedness for any emergency, regardless of its cause; and
(5) encourages continued efforts by every individual in the United States to enhance the ability of the Nation to address the full range of potential catastrophic incidents at all levels of government.
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