Sunshine Sentinel

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On June 23, 2023, ahead of the two-year anniversary of the partial collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, on June 24, 2021, Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio introduced a resolution in commemoration and honor of the Surfside community and the lives of 98 people lost in the tragedy. This resolution was unanimously passed by the Senate this week. 

Senator Rick Scott said, “It’s been nearly two years since the Surfside community experienced an unimaginable and sudden tragedy with the collapse of Champlain Towers South. We lost 98 innocent lives that day, and countless others woke up to the heartbreaking news that they will never again see their children, friends, parents, grandparents or loved ones. I remember so clearly the days after the tragedy how the entire community and organizations from around the world came together in mourning and to support those affected, especially in our Jewish community, working tirelessly to aid in search and recovery with the utmost respect. We will be forever grateful for those who answered the call to help the Surfside community. Today, Senator Rubio and I join together with our colleagues to honor the community and the 98 lives lost that solemn day.” 

Senator Marco Rubio said, “No words can accurately capture the pain and suffering endured by the countless families following the Surfside tragedy two years ago. Today, we pay a posthumous tribute to the fallen victims and express our sincere gratitude to our nation’s heroic first responders who selflessly risked their lives in search, rescue and recovery efforts. The memory of those who were lost will forever be in our hearts.” 

Read the full resolution HERE or below.

Commemorating the passage of 2 years since the tragic building collapse in Surfside, Florida, on June 24, 2021. 

Whereas June 24, 2023, marks 2 years since portions of the Champlain Towers South condominium building in Surfside, Florida, catastrophically collapsed; and 

Whereas, in the aftermath of the devastating collapse— 

(1) one of the largest rescue and recovery operations in the history of the United States commenced to locate scores of residents who were unaccounted for and believed to be in the collapsed building; 

(2) first responders from across Florida immediately answered the call of duty, including firefighters, uniformed police officers, rescue and recovery crews, emergency medical technicians, physicians, nurses, and others rushing to save the lives of individuals trapped in the building; 

(3) international rescue crews and emergency support organizations from Israel and Mexico responded to the site to aid in the search and recovery efforts; 

(4) National Urban Search and Rescue Response System task forces from Florida, Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and emergency specialists from California, deployed to Surfside, Florida, to provide critical support; 

(5) teams worked tirelessly around the clock to rescue survivors and recover the remains of individuals killed in the tragic collapse; and 

(6) on June 30, 2021, the National Institute of Standards and Technology announced it would launch a formal investigation into the cause of the collapse: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the Senate— 

(1) commemorates the passage of 2 years since the tragic building collapse in Surfside, Florida, on June 24, 2021; 

(2) honors the survivors and the 98 lives lost in the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium building and offers heartfelt condolences to the families, loved ones, and friends of the victims;

(3) commends the bravery and selfless service demonstrated by the local, State, national, and international teams of first responders deployed in the aftermath of the collapse; and 

(4) expresses support for the survivors and community of Surfside, Florida.

Original source can be found here.