Senate resolution honors Surfside victims, first responders

Image via AP.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution honoring the lives lost during the Surfside condo collapse and honoring the first responders from near and far who fought for life.

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott took to the floor of the Senate on behalf of Senate Resolution 300, sponsored by Scott and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a measure the Senate agreed to with unanimous consent.

“Our hearts are broken, but we stand together. Florida is Surfside Strong,” Scott said in his close, capping off remarks that spoke to the heroic rescue efforts in the wake of the unprecedented collapse of the condo tower.

Scott reflected on the lives lost, up to 96 and counting as of Wednesday, and what the survivors are experiencing.

“The pain these families are experiencing is unimaginable,” Scott said. “I can’t imagine losing any member of my family like this, but to lose my grandchildren would be unimaginable.”

First responders “ran toward the danger,” Scott said. “They worked tirelessly.”

“Your heart goes out to them as they went from rescue to recovery,” Scott asserted. “Some first responders lost family in the collapse, but they still answered the call.”

The Senator lauded the efforts of rescue workers from near and far.

“I was on the ground in Surfside following the collapse talking to families, first responders and members of the community. We continue to pray for the Surfside community, our Jewish community, the families and loved ones of the lost and all of those working tirelessly to serve the Surfside community. The pain these families and all affected by this tragedy are experiencing is heartbreaking and unimaginable. In the face of tremendous loss, our first responders ran into the danger. They are heroes that came from across Florida, the United States, and from Israel and Mexico,” Scott asserted.

“We can never thank these brave men and women enough for their bravery and determination in the face of this terrible tragedy. In the weeks and months ahead, I will be relentless in the search for answers to make sure this never happens again.”

“I know right now we have a lot of unanswered questions and while we can’t bring back the lives lost, we can search for answers, to make sure a tragedy like this never happens again,” Scott added.

“Nothing we can say or do will rebuild the families decimated by the Surfside tragedy. As we honor the victims and pay tribute to our heroic first responders, we must continue to support them and our community. It is a long road ahead, but the outpouring of support from around the world is comforting. It reaffirms that with faith and unity we will overcome this tragedy one day at a time,” Rubio asserted in a statement.