Bill Text: PA SR362 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Designating September 27, 2012, as "First Responder Appreciation Day" in Pennsylvania.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2012-09-25 - Introduced and adopted [SR362 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-SR362-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2425
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 362 Session of2012
INTRODUCED BY WAUGH, BAKER, SOLOBAY, ALLOWAY, ARGALL, BOSCOLA, BREWSTER, BROWNE, BRUBAKER, COSTA, DINNIMAN, EARLL, ERICKSON, FARNESE, FERLO, FONTANA, GORDNER, GREENLEAF, HUGHES, KASUNIC, KITCHEN, PILEGGI, RAFFERTY, ROBBINS, SCARNATI, SCHWANK, STACK, TARTAGLIONE, TOMLINSON, VOGEL, WARD, D. WHITE, YAW, YUDICHAK AND VULAKOVICH, SEPTEMBER 25, 2012
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, SEPTEMBER 25, 2012
A RESOLUTION
Designating September 27, 2012, as "First Responder Appreciation
Day" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians have
benefited from the courageous service of first responders across
this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Our first responders, police, fire, emergency
medical service and public health personnel, work selflessly on
behalf of the people of this Commonwealth, regardless of the
risk or hazard; and
WHEREAS, First responders carry out the critical role of
protecting and ensuring public safety in emergency situations;
and
WHEREAS, The men and women who bravely serve as first
responders have found themselves on the front lines of homeland
defense in the war against terrorism; and
WHEREAS, First responders are called upon in the event of
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natural disasters, such as last year's Hurricane Irene and
Tropical Storm Lee, which prompted Federal disaster declarations
in 42 of 67 counties in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, There are approximately 150,000 first responders
performing these crucial services in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 30,000 sworn police officers from
State, city and county law enforcement agencies protect lives
and property, detect and prevent crimes, uphold the law and
ensure justice; and
WHEREAS, Tens of thousands of firefighters, including
approximately 70,000 volunteers and 10,000 career firefighters,
provide fire suppression, emergency medical services, search and
rescue, hazardous materials response, terrorism response and
critical fire prevention and safety education; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 50,000 emergency service professionals
in this Commonwealth respond to and treat a variety of life-
threatening emergencies, from cardiac and respiratory arrest to
traumatic injuries; and
WHEREAS, First responders make personal sacrifices to protect
our communities, as widely witnessed in the aftermath of the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, eleven years ago and
the natural destruction of Hurricanes Katrina and Irene and
Tropical Storm Lee, and as called for every day in cities and
towns across this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Many law enforcement officers die in the line of
duty in the United States each year, including four killed in
2011 in Pennsylvania alone; and
WHEREAS, Many firefighters are killed in the line of duty
across the United States each year and thousands more are
injured; and
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WHEREAS, Many medics are injured on the job, have been
assaulted by a patient or have been exposed to infectious
diseases; and
WHEREAS, Emergency medical service personnel in the United
States have a fatality rate of more than twice the national
average for all other workers; and
WHEREAS, Thousands of first responders have made the ultimate
sacrifice; and
WHEREAS, Following the terrorist attacks of September 11,
2001, firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency
medical service personnel were universally recognized for their
sacrifices, and we remember them especially this year on the
11th anniversary of this national tragedy; and
WHEREAS, First responders should be honored each year as the
tragic events of that day are remembered; and
WHEREAS, These men and women, by their dedicated
professionalism, have earned our gratitude and respect;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate September 27, 2012, as
"First Responder Appreciation Day" in Pennsylvania to celebrate
the contributions and sacrifices made by all of this
Commonwealth's first responders.
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