[South Florida DX Association] [pr:6046] Feb 8 Congressional Record

[wa4aw at juno.com]

February 8, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-Extensions of Remarks E105 
A SALUTE TO HAM RADIO 
OPERATORS 
HON. MIKE ROSS 
OF ARKANSAS 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Wednesday, February 8, 2006 
Mr. ROSS. 

 Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the contributions of American citizens 
who are members of the Amateur Radio Relay 
League, known as HAM radio operators. Citizens 
throughout America dedicated to this 
hobby-a hobby that some people consider 
old fashioned or obsolete-were true heroes 
in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as they 
were often the only line of communication 
available into the storm ravaged areas. 
Amateur radio operators are often overlooked 
in favor of flashier means of communication. 
As communities across the gulf coast 
and America learned this year, technology can 
be highly vulnerable. HAM radios, entirely selfcontained 
transmitters, require no cell towers 
or satellites, simply a battery and a strip of 
wire as an antenna. 
Just as after major earthquakes, tornadoes, 
and the terrorist attacks of 9/11, HAM operators 
around the country received an alert to 
stand by their radios to listen for calls for assistance. 
Following Hurricane Katrina, when 
cell phones and e-mail were useless, a HAM 
operator located in Connecticut alerted authorities 
about a woman trapped for 4 days 
without food or water and a Coast Guard Auxiliary 
in Cleveland arranged for a medevac for 
a woman in labor in New Orleans. These are 
just a few examples of the many lives that 
were saved with the critical intervention of 
HAM operators throughout the country. 
Now more than ever, I am proud to be a licensed 
amateur radio operator. It is important 
to realize that every HAM radio operator in the 
Amateur Radio Emergency Service is a volunteer. 
This year, when disaster struck, hundreds 
of HAMs moved to the gulf coast to help 
in every way they could. Every one of which 
did so on a volunteer basis and their only goal 
was to assist in what became one of the worst 
natural disasters in America. 
The dedication displayed by HAM radio operators 
in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina 
sets a tremendous example for us all. The 
people whose lives were rescued as a result 
of the tireless dedication of HAM radio operators 
will forever be grateful to these selfless 
public servants. 



Allen Pitts, W1AGP

Media and Public Relations Manager

ARRL 

-the national association for Amateur Radio-

(860) 594-0328