National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

Floor Speech

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Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

After working 18 years as a 911 dispatcher, I know firsthand the challenges our public safety dispatchers face, the stress that they are put under, and the critical importance of their work. This is why, last week, I was proud to introduce a resolution commemorating National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

I remember working the graveyard shift four floors below ground and taking calls from people from all walks of life, often during their most vulnerable moments. 911 dispatchers hear it all. They are the first point of contact for public safety, and no matter the crisis, losing control is simply not an option.

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week also provides us with the opportunity to remind our constituents of the importance of keeping emergency lines open for just that--emergencies. 911 isn't an information line, and local governments have limited resources.

They can't afford to have 911 lines tied up with non-life-threatening emergencies. Simply put, there is no excuse for 911 abuse.

I encourage people to familiarize themselves with their local police and fire departments' nonemergency phone numbers, have them readily available or refer to 311 or their local info line where available. Keeping 911 lines clear is crucial to ensuring dispatchers are readily available during an emergency.

Every day public safety dispatchers help save lives. They provide comfort and reassurance, and they are an integral part of our law enforcement teams. Yet, too often, their work goes unrecognized.

When you need a calming voice to guide you through a crisis, when law enforcement, fire safety, and rescue personnel are in need of seamless coordination at a moment's notice, when every second counts, 911 dispatchers are on the other end of the line. They are the unsung heroes of the first responder community.

This National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, let's recognize and honor the hundreds of thousands of public safety telecommunicators working round the clock to keep our communities safe.

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