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April 16, 2026
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Extensions of Remarks
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextRECOGNIZING PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATOR WEEK AND HONORING AMERICA'S
911 DISPATCHERS
HON. BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK
of pennsylvania
in the house of representatives
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Public Safety Telecommunicator Week and to honor the men and women who serve as 911 emergency dispatchers across our Nation.
America's 911 dispatchers are true first responders. Before a police officer arrives on scene, before an ambulance turns the corner, before a firefighter enters a burning building, there is a dispatcher on the line, gathering critical information, coordinating a response, and providing support. Without these workers, other public safety personnel would be unable to reach people in need and calls for help would go unanswered.
circumstances, through blackouts, mass casualty events, natural disasters, and public health emergencies. They work in high-stress, fast-paced environments that demand steady composure and an unwavering commitment to the public they serve every day.
they perform. Despite being the critical link in our public safety infrastructure, they remain classified as administrative and clerical workers. This misclassification has fueled persistent underinvestment: insufficient pay, inadequate mental health resources, and staffing. Too many of these public servants experience burnout and emotional exhaustion from years of exposure to traumatic calls without adequate support. In some facilities, staffing shortages are so acute that dispatchers sleep at their posts rather than returning home.
At the same time, new technologies. including text-to-911, live video-to-911, and Next Generation 911 systems, are fundamentally changing the nature of this work. Congress has invested in these technologies, but those investments will fall short if we do not invest equally in those who operate them. Training, mental health resources, and fair compensation must keep pace with the demands we place on this workforce.
workers they represent in calling for the reclassification of 911 dispatchers as protective service workers. Reclassification is the foundation for the investment, resources, and dignity this workforce has long deserved.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring America's 911 dispatchers during Public Safety Telecommunicator Week, and to commit to ensuring these vital public servants receive the recognition, support, and respect they are owed.