Floor SpeechUrgent2026-04-16

RECOGNIZING PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATOR WEEK AND HONORING AMERICA'S 911 DISPATCHERS

TaxesEnvironmentInfrastructure

Context

On 2026-04-16, Representative Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1) delivered a floor speech titled "RECOGNIZING PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATOR WEEK AND HONORING AMERICA'S 911 DISPATCHERS" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered the environment, infrastructure. It referenced legislation: S911.

Full Text

RECOGNIZING PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATOR WEEK AND HONORING AMERICA'S 911 DISPATCHERS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 67 (Thursday, April 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 67 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E336] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATOR WEEK AND HONORING AMERICA'S 911 DISPATCHERS ______ HON. BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK of pennsylvania in the house of representatives Thursday, April 16, 2026 Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Public Safety Telecommunicator Week and to honor the men and women who serve as 911 emergency dispatchers across our Nation. America's 911 dispatchers are true first responders. Before a police officer arrives on scene, before an ambulance turns the corner, before a firefighter enters a burning building, there is a dispatcher on the line, gathering critical information, coordinating a response, and providing support. Without these workers, other public safety personnel would be unable to reach people in need and calls for help would go unanswered. These dedicated professionals answer the call no matter the circumstances, through blackouts, mass casualty events, natural disasters, and public health emergencies. They work in high-stress, fast-paced environments that demand steady composure and an unwavering commitment to the public they serve every day. Yet for too long, 911 dispatchers have gone unrecognized for the work they perform. Despite being the critical link in our public safety infrastructure, they remain classified as administrative and clerical workers. This misclassification has fueled persistent underinvestment: insufficient pay, inadequate mental health resources, and staffing. Too many of these public servants experience burnout and emotional exhaustion from years of exposure to traumatic calls without adequate support. In some facilities, staffing shortages are so acute that dispatchers sleep at their posts rather than returning home. At the same time, new technologies. including text-to-911, live video-to-911, and Next Generation 911 systems, are fundamentally changing the nature of this work. Congress has invested in these technologies, but those investments will fall short if we do not invest equally in those who operate them. Training, mental health resources, and fair compensation must keep pace with the demands we place on this workforce. I am proud to stand with AFSCME and the nearly 100,000 public safety workers they represent in calling for the reclassification of 911 dispatchers as protective service workers. Reclassification is the foundation for the investment, resources, and dignity this workforce has long deserved. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring America's 911 dispatchers during Public Safety Telecommunicator Week, and to commit to ensuring these vital public servants receive the recognition, support, and respect they are owed. ____________________

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RECOGNIZING PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATOR WEEK AND HONORING AMERICA'S 911 DISPATCHERS Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 67 (Thursday, April 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 67 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E336] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATOR WEEK AND HONORING AMERICA'S 911 DISPATCHERS ______ HON. BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK of pennsylvania in the house of representatives Thursday, April 16, 2026 Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Public Safety Telecommunicator Week and to honor the men and women who serve as 911 emergency dispatchers across our Nation. America's 911 dispatchers are true first responders. Before a police officer arrives on scene, before an ambulance turns the corner, before a firefighter enters a burning building, there is a dispatcher on the line, gathering critical information, coordinating a response, and providing support. Without these workers, other public safety personnel would be unable to reach people in need and calls for help would go unanswered. These dedicated professionals answer the call no matter the circumstances, through blackouts, mass casualty events, natural disasters, and public health emergencies. They work in high-stress, fast-paced environments that demand steady composure and an unwavering commitment to the public they serve every day. Yet for too long, 911 dispatchers have gone unrecognized for the work they perform. Despite being the critical link in our public safety infrastructure, they remain classified as administrative and clerical workers. This misclassification has fueled persistent underinvestment: insufficient pay, inadequate mental health resources, and staffing. Too many of these public servants experience burnout and emotional exhaustion from years of exposure to traumatic calls without adequate support. In some facilities, staffing shortages are so acute that dispatchers sleep at their posts rather than returning home. At the same time, new technologies. including text-to-911, live video-to-911, and Next Generation 911 systems, are fundamentally changing the nature of this work. Congress has invested in these technologies, but those investments will fall short if we do not invest equally in those who operate them. Training, mental health resources, and fair compensation must keep pace with the demands we place on this workforce. I am proud to stand with AFSCME and the nearly 100,000 public safety workers they represent in calling for the reclassification of 911 dispatchers as protective service workers. Reclassification is the foundation for the investment, resources, and dignity this workforce has long deserved. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring America's 911 dispatchers during Public Safety Telecommunicator Week, and to commit to ensuring these vital public servants receive the recognition, support, and respect they are owed. ____________________