May 13, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 90 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Page S2425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 576--RECOGNIZING THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF PUBLIC SAFETY 
    TELECOMMUNICATORS IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND THE IMPORTANT WORK 
PERFORMED BY PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND 
POLICE, FIRE, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL OFFICIALS DURING EMERGENCIES, SUCH 
          AS THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) PANDEMIC

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Mr. Burr) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs:

                              S. Res. 576

       Whereas public safety telecommunicators play a critical 
     role in emergency response;
       Whereas the work performed by public safety 
     telecommunicators goes far beyond merely relaying information 
     between the public and first responders;
       Whereas, when responding to reports of missing, abducted, 
     and sexually exploited children, the information obtained and 
     actions taken by public safety telecommunicators form the 
     foundation for an effective response;
       Whereas the first contact that a hostage taker or a 
     suicidal person makes when that person calls 9-1-1 is with a 
     public safety telecommunicator, whose negotiation skills can 
     prevent the situation from getting worse;
       Whereas, during active shooter incidents, public safety 
     telecommunicators coach callers through first aid and give 
     advice to prevent further harm, all while collecting vital 
     information to provide situational awareness for responding 
     officers;
       Whereas the work of public safety telecommunicators comes 
     with an extreme emotional and physical impact that is 
     compounded by long hours and the around-the-clock nature of 
     the job;
       Whereas public safety telecommunicators should be 
     recognized by all levels of government for the lifesaving and 
     protective nature of the work that public safety 
     telecommunicators perform; and
       Whereas major emergencies, such as the Coronavirus Disease 
     2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, highlight the dedication of public 
     safety telecommunicators and the important work performed by 
     public safety telecommunicators to protect the public and 
     police, fire, and emergency medical officials: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors and recognizes the important and lifesaving 
     contributions of public safety telecommunicators and other 
     public safety communications professionals across the United 
     States; and
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to remember 
     the value of the work performed by public safety 
     telecommunicators and other public safety communications 
     professionals.

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