SJ0056 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0056 LRB097 20577 GRL 66207 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Municipalities continually struggle to maintain necessary funds for the compensation of full-time emergency responders; as such, municipalities turn to the aid of volunteers to supplement necessary services; and

WHEREAS, Volunteer emergency responders often go unappreciated for all of their long hours and incomprehensible skill sets; and

WHEREAS, Volunteer emergency responders endure hours of training in preparation of disasters and emergencies; and

WHEREAS, Emergency responders are required to become proficient in emergency medical training and numerous other skills; and

WHEREAS, These volunteer firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), divers, rescue squads, and response teams risk their lives daily to help the needs of their community; and

WHEREAS, These individuals respond to emergency calls at any moment, at any time of the day, often leaving their families and full-time jobs on a moment's notice; and

WHEREAS, Volunteer firefighters, EMTs, divers, rescue squads, and response teams risk their lives on emergency calls and are compensated by either small stipends or no pay at all; and

WHEREAS, The contributions and sacrifices of volunteer firefighters, EMTs, divers, rescue squads, and response teams and their families often go unrecognized; and

WHEREAS, There are over 30,000 people serving throughout the State of Illinois as volunteer firefighters and EMTs; and

WHEREAS, According the United States Fire Administration, 60% of firefighter deaths in the United States in 2011 have been volunteer servicers; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we honor these volunteer emergency responders, who serve without compensation, and constantly risk their lives on a daily basis to retain the safety of their communities, by proclaiming the third Thursday in May of 2012 as Volunteer Emergency Responder Appreciation Day in the State of Illinois.