[SIERA] Fw: Congress salute to hams

[Dick Young]

Thought you would all like to see this. What a sense of pride with this. The congressman who wrote this is a ham, although I do not have a listing on his call sign. Enjoy and be proud of who and what you all are .. radio amateurs!! 73

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


Don Carlson - KQ6FM
Nevada Section Emergency Coordinator /
Public Information coordinator