[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 11, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H5503-H5590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING SENSE OF SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING 
            TERRORIST ATTACKS LAUNCHED AGAINST UNITED STATES

  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I offer a joint resolution (H. J. Res. 61), 
expressing the sense of the Senate and House of Representatives 
regarding the terrorist attacks launched against the United States on 
September 11, 2001, and I ask unanimous consent for its immediate 
consideration pursuant to the following order:
  Debate on the joint resolution shall be limited to 3 hours equally 
divided and controlled by the majority leader and the minority leader;
  After opening speeches, the majority leader and the minority leader 
each may yield the remainder of his time to the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on International Relations, 
respectively, who may control that time;
  The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the joint 
resolution to final passage without intervening motion; and
  Following passage of the joint resolution and upon receipt of a 
message that the Senate has passed an identical joint resolution, the 
House shall be considered to have passed the Senate joint resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the joint resolution.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H.J. Res. 61

       Whereas on September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked and 
     destroyed four civilian aircraft, crashing two of them into 
     the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, and a 
     third into the Pentagon outside Washington, D.C.;
       Whereas thousands of innocent Americans were killed and 
     injured as a result of these attacks, including the 
     passengers and crew of the four aircraft, workers in the 
     World Trade Center and in the Pentagon, rescue workers, and 
     bystanders;
       Whereas these attacks destroyed both towers of the World 
     Trade Center, as well as adjacent buildings, and seriously 
     damaged the Pentagon; and
       Whereas these attacks were by far the deadliest terrorist 
     attacks ever launched against the United States, and, by 
     targeting symbols of American strength and success, clearly 
     were intended to intimidate our Nation and weaken its 
     resolve: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That 
     Congress--
       (1) condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorists 
     who planned and carried out the September 11, 2001, attacks 
     against the United States, as well as their sponsors;
       (2) extends its deepest condolences to the victims of these 
     heinous and cowardly attacks, as well as to their families, 
     friends, and loved ones;
       (3) is certain that the people of the United States will 
     stand united as our Nation begins the process of recovering 
     and rebuilding in the aftermath of these tragic acts;
       (4) commends the heroic actions of the rescue workers, 
     volunteers, and State and local officials who responded to 
     these tragic events with courage, determination, and skill;
       (5) declares that these premeditated attacks struck not 
     only at the people of America, but also at the symbols and 
     structures of our economic and military strength, and that 
     the United States is entitled to respond under international 
     law;
       (6) thanks those foreign leaders and individuals who have 
     expressed solidarity with the United States in the aftermath 
     of the attacks, and asks them to continue to stand with the 
     United States in the war against international terrorism;
       (7) commits to support increased resources in the war to 
     eradicate terrorism;
       (8) supports the determination of the President, in close 
     consultation with Congress, to bring to justice and punish 
     the perpetrators of these attacks as well as their sponsors; 
     and
       (9) declares that September 12, 2001, shall be a National 
     Day of Unity and Mourning, and that when Congress adjourns 
     today, it stands adjourned out of respect to the victims of 
     the terrorist attacks.

                              {time}  1500

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey) and the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt) each will control 90 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey).
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a time when we should choose our words carefully 
and deliver them deliberately.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution is a resolution that shows our utter 
contempt and our total resolve after the acts of yesterday. America was 
attacked yesterday, Mr. Speaker, an evil, cowardly act of war against 
the American people and against the lovers of freedom across this 
globe.
  It is, Mr. Speaker, because of the goodness of the American people 
that they find it so impossible to understand such acts of barbarism. 
It is, Mr. Speaker, because of our commitment to peace and freedom and 
love that we do not understand how people can do these things.
  But, Mr. Speaker, there are things the American people do understand. 
We understand the heartbreak of the families of those victims of this 
atrocity who lost their lives. We as a Nation come together with 
empathy. Our hearts cry out for the loss, the injustice, the 
mindlessness of it, the cruelty and the waste; and we come together as 
a Nation to console one another.
  Mr. Speaker, we Americans understand the heroism that is demonstrated 
by our citizens, the quiet heroism of those ordinary working men and 
women in America who went to work

[[Page H5504]]

yesterday, to do their duty to themselves, their family, their jobs, to 
one another, quietly and ordinarily.
  We understand especially in such dramatic terms the heroism of the 
firemen and the policemen that rushed to the danger to be of service 
and help and relief and perhaps to actually save people they did not 
even know.
  We understand the heroism of the servicemen and women, quietly going 
about their job, working for the security of America, for the 
preservation of freedom, who were assaulted at their desks yesterday; 
who picked up the pieces, ran to each other's aid, putting their 
Pentagon back together the best they can, and who will continue to be 
vigilant for freedom and democracy across this globe.
  We understand that heroism. And the reason we understand that, Mr. 
Speaker, is that is who we are. We are a heroic nation. We would prefer 
to be a quietly heroic nation, doing the mundane things in the ordinary 
business of life; but, if we are called upon, we will be a heroic 
nation that will run to the distressed to lend our hand. And we have 
proven that.
  Mr. Speaker, we are also a nation of people who understand justice, 
freedom, democracy, and, Mr. Speaker, security; and that understanding 
of these values that we hold so deep, Mr. Speaker, should not be 
underestimated. It is that understanding that allows me to say now, you 
will be found, those of you who perpetrated this horrible act; you will 
be found, and you will be made to pay.
  Mr. Speaker, we also understand what is required of great nations in 
the service of civilization in this world; and that understanding runs 
deep in America. It, too, is who we are. And we understand that that 
commitment to civilized nations, respecting one another and treating 
our citizens with decency, is why this great nation will not be 
compelled, not even tempted, in the face of this catastrophe to change 
its course.
  No, Mr. Speaker. We will stand together with the great nations of 
this world who love civilization, democracy, freedom, and decency; and 
we know they will stand with us at this time.
  Mr. Speaker, we will stand against tyranny, as we have done. Do not 
underestimate us in our resolve. This great nation of heroes, who 
throughout its entire history loved freedom so much that it risked its 
peace even to defend the freedoms of others, will defend its own 
freedom.
  And for you nations in this globe who would harbor the terrorists, 
who would condone terrorism, who might even support the terrorists, 
make no mistake about it; you will be held responsible by this great 
nation, and by all the great nations of this world that love freedom, 
peace and decency.
  Mr. Speaker, there is another thing that we Americans understand. We 
understand faith. We understand the faith of our fathers, we understand 
that in America we have the wonderful opportunity to have faith in 
things that are good; and, Mr. Speaker, we understand that by the 
commitment of our understandings of the goodness of the people, the 
goodness of our way of life, the goodness of people across the world 
who love freedom, in the end that faith tells us that good will defeat 
evil. And all the victims of yesterday will be vindicated by a world 
that will live free and decent in respect for one another, citizens of 
all nations and creeds and for our own citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the majority leader for bringing this resolution 
with me and all of our Members. I appreciate his cooperation, the 
cooperation of the Speaker, and all the leaders of Congress, all the 
Members.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a moment for all of us as a people to rise to 
the occasion, to rise to the challenge. We bring this resolution 
forward with a heavy heart, but with an unbowed spirit to condemn with 
one voice the senseless acts of heinous violence that were committed 
against thousands of our people, to send a signal that we are 
determined to begin the healing process, and to serve notice that we 
will take immediate decisive steps in the days ahead to make sure that 
this never, ever happens again on American soil.
  Today we gather in sorrow for the military heroes who have lost their 
lives at the Pentagon, for the thousands of Americans in New York who 
lost their lives in the horrible explosions at the World Trade Center, 
and for the countless brave Americans who perished on airplanes 
hijacked by ruthless terrorists and made into instruments of mass 
destruction.
  We salute the incredible, wonderful, heroic rescue workers, medical 
personnel, firemen and firewomen, policemen and policewomen, who 
literally ran back in the buildings that crashed around their heads in 
order to save the lives of others. At this very moment as we meet on 
the House floor, countless rescue workers are still fighting tirelessly 
to find people who might be alive in the rubble and trying to bring 
life back to them, and hundreds of individual unnamed Americans are 
stepping forward to volunteer, to give blood, to give money, to give 
time, to volunteer to participate to save lives and to bring people 
back.
  We have been so moved by the pictures on the television of rescue 
workers trying to bring people back to life. I have been moved by their 
patriotism, by their bravery, their resolve, their willpower, their 
love for other people at a time of great danger for themselves.
  This generation of Americans is rising to the occasion, as Americans 
have always done. I have watched these rescue workers, their bodies 
covered in soot and dirt and blood, sitting on sidewalks, trying to get 
their breath, trying to find their surroundings, operating without 
sleep and help, doing everything in their power as human beings to help 
others, and giving their lives in order to do it.
  In the days ahead, we are going to hear more stories of more heroes, 
true-to-life heroes, who sacrificed in all kind of ways; and, 
unfortunately, we are going to hear more stories about more victims who 
succumbed to the violence of these terrorists.
  In the days to come we as a Congress will be taking the steps to 
restore American national security and to punish those responsible for 
this act of war against the United States of America. We will not rest 
until we find the perpetrators of this highest, most heinous act of 
crime against our people and against the United States and against 
civilization and against humanity. This is war; and we will do 
everything in our power together to make sure that terrorists never, 
ever again can create this mayhem, this chaos, this violence against 
our people and our country.
  This resolution makes clear terrorism is a different, sinister kind 
of threat that faces all Americans and all people of this world. It 
demands the strongest possible response from our Congress and from our 
country.
  We must review our priorities for spending on national defense and 
put necessary resources into programs to combat this threat, to ensure 
that what happened yesterday never, ever happens again.
  This Congress is united, Democrats, Independents, Republicans. There 
is no light or air between us. We stand shoulder to shoulder. We will 
trust one another in the days ahead. We will trust the White House, and 
we will ask to be trusted in the highest sense of that word, to find 
the answers that we can agree on to solve this problem, once and for 
all.

                              {time}  1515

  Freedom, freedom in America has burned for everyone in this world for 
over 200 years. Freedom was founded by our founding ancestors. What 
happened yesterday changes the nature of freedom in this country and 
every country forever. We live in a new world, and we will never go 
back. As leaders, we must find a new balance with our people between 
freedom and security. We must summon among ourselves our highest and 
best thought, our highest and best action, so that we can help lead our 
citizens to a new understanding in a new world of what it means to be 
free and also secure.
  Freedom will not be defeated because of the power of our ideas, the 
values of our democracy and humanity, and because of the wonderful, 
heroic American people who each day breathe life into the ideas of 
freedom and democracy.
  I ask my colleagues to vote for this resolution to condemn this 
attack, the

[[Page H5505]]

worst attack in the beloved history of America; and let us move forward 
as one Nation, one people, for the sake of every single person on this 
entire planet who believes in freedom and believes in civilization and 
believes in humanity.
  Let me end with the words of an old hymn that I love so much. We ask 
today for God's help. When we face the unexplainable, when we face 
evil, we must turn to God. As the hymn said, ``And he will raise you up 
on eagles' wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you shine like 
the sun, and hold you in the palm of his hand.''
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Missouri 
(Mr. Gephardt), the minority leader, for his comments and for his 
cosponsorship of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the chairman of the Committee on International 
Relations.
  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos).


                             General Leave

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous matter on the legislation under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Six decades ago, Sir Winston Churchill wrote words that are just as 
salient today as they were then: ``Civilization will not last,'' he 
wrote, ``freedom will not survive, peace will not be kept, unless a 
very large majority of mankind unite together to defend them.''
  Mounting that defense requires leadership. Freedom will not be 
defended without leadership. Human decency will not be defended without 
leadership. America was attacked yesterday because of what she is and 
because of what she stands for. America must now take the lead in 
rallying the forces necessary to defeat terrorism throughout the world.
  It is a standard plot in science fiction. Humanity: fractious, 
divided, conflicted humanity, unites at last to face together the 
threat of an invasion from aliens. What happened yesterday was not the 
doing of aliens. It was not something that came from ``out there.'' It 
was something that came from below, from that corner of hell where the 
most wicked sentiments in the human heart fester. Is it possible to 
imagine that, confronted with evil of this magnitude humanity, or at 
least Churchill's very large majority of humanity, will unite to defeat 
the common enemy? We must hope so. But we must also act, for American 
leadership is essential in gathering the friends of civilization to the 
common defense.
  Let us be very clear, let the American people be very clear and, 
indeed, let the world be clear about what happened yesterday. This was 
not a ``tragedy'' in the strict sense of the word. A ``tragedy,'' as we 
remember from Greek drama, is something inevitable, a fate from which 
there is no escape. What happened on September 11, 2001, was no more a 
tragedy than what happened on December 7, 1941.
  And here is the full meaning of the analogy that so many have drawn 
to Pearl Harbor: what happened yesterday was a willful, deliberate act 
of aggression. Its purpose was destruction: to kill Americans in order 
to demoralize the American people, destabilize American democracy, and 
wreak havoc with the American economy. While we extend our love and 
sympathy to the thousands who did indeed experience wrenching personal 
tragedies yesterday, we must be clear about the meaning of these acts. 
These were acts of war against the United States of America, against 
the American people, and against the rights and freedoms for which 
America stands in the world. These were acts of demonic evil whose 
perpetrators have disqualified themselves from membership in the human 
race.
  Wars have been fought for many reasons in 5,000 years of recorded 
human history. Wars have been fought for territory, for ideology, for 
plunder, for conquest. This war in which we are now engaged, and this 
is war, not ``crime'' in the ordinary sense of the term, is a war for 
civilization itself. It is a war that pits the defenders of human 
rights, the defenders of democracy against those who hate America 
precisely because she is the preeminent symbol, the greatest 
contemporary embodiment of human rights and democracy. We were a target 
yesterday because of what we stand for, because of who we are. In 
defending ourselves, we are defending everyone in the world who 
believes in the rights of man, everyone who believes that democratic 
politics, not mass violence, is the way to conduct public affairs.
  Expressions of resolve are important today, as are expressions of 
sympathy and solidarity; but there must be more. It is imperative that 
we understand that we are in a war. It is imperative we take the steps 
necessary, in both terms of policy and funding, to make sure we win 
that war. In doing so, we defend ourselves and we defend the hope which 
touches hearts around the world that this new century will see the 
triumph of freedom and the vindication of the democratic idea in human 
affairs.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I first would like to identify myself with 
the powerful statements of the Republican leader, the Democratic 
leader, and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), my good friend, the 
chairman of the Committee on International Relations.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I urge 
all of my colleagues to approve it without delay and without dissent.
  Yesterday, the world's greatest democracy suffered one of the most 
monstrous acts of terror in human history. This terrorist attack was 
not only an attack on the American people, it was an attack on the very 
essence of our free and democratic society. It was orchestrated for the 
purpose of murdering American citizens and of undermining the American 
way of life. We cannot and we shall not permit the perpetrators of this 
terror to prevail.
  Yesterday, Mr. Speaker, represents the opening salvo in this new 
millennium in America's global struggle against international 
terrorism. It is a struggle like no other our Nation has ever faced. 
During the century just ended, Americans rose to the challenge to 
defeat international Fascism and international communism. Meeting the 
challenge of international terrorism again demands all that we as 
Americans are capable of mustering.
  First, Mr. Speaker, we must close the wounds. As we speak, rescue 
teams are risking their lives to save those still buried in the 
smoldering rubble. Now is the time for all Americans to extend their 
hands, their hearts, and their prayers to the victims and to their 
families. We are a people of great compassion, Mr. Speaker; and we must 
come together as one Nation to help our fellow Americans in this hour 
of need.
  Second, we must strengthen our defenses. We must take urgent steps to 
prevent such vicious acts of terror from ever being repeated. 
Yesterday's dastardly acts exposed our Nation's vulnerabilities. To 
ensure that the victims of this terror did not die in vain, we must 
prove to the perpetrators and to the world at large that America will 
emerge from this tragedy a much stronger nation.
  Third, Mr. Speaker, justice must be done. We must marshal all of our 
strength and all our intelligence to find and apprehend those who dare 
to perpetrate such an act of evil against the United States. We must 
punish the guilty, but we must not end there. We must strike back 
against terror, destroy the guilty, and shatter their network and those 
dictatorships which support and harbor them.
  We are not alone in this struggle. In this time of need, we turn to 
our friends and allies for assistance and for cooperation. Americans 
will not forget those who support us now, and we will not forget those 
who do not.

                              {time}  1530

  It has long been the policy of the United States to hold accountable 
those who harbor terrorists as sponsors of terrorism. We must now 
implement this policy with new vigor.
  I call on the Taliban in Afghanistan to turn over Osama bin Laden and 
his gang for their proper punishment.

[[Page H5506]]

  I call on Yasser Arafat to put back in prison the terrorists he 
liberated so unjustly.
  I call on Iran to stop supporting the terrorists of Hezbollah who 
have brought death and destruction in their wake.
  I call on Syria to close the headquarters of the various terrorist 
organizations in Damascus.
  We must also demand, and I call on Russia, China, and North Korea to 
stop selling weapons of mass destruction to countries that harbor 
terrorists.
  Let us begin here and now by finding a common voice and expressing 
our Nation's sense of indignation, sorrow, and firm resolve. Let us 
demonstrate here and now the power of democracy.
  As a survivor of the Holocaust, Mr. Speaker, I have vowed never to 
forget that dark chapter in human history. Yesterday's act of terror 
again reminds us of man's unlimited capacity for evil against his 
fellow man. This, too, we must never forget.
  Yesterday, the United States of America lost its innocence, but 
history will show that America found a new unity and a new will to wage 
war against international terrorism. Let us begin to write that new 
history today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), the distinguished former chairman 
of the Committee on International Relations.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, September 11, is another day of 
infamy in our Nation's history as our Nation was viciously attacked in 
the most devastating act of terrorism in our books of record.
  The distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) and our 
bipartisan leaders are commended for crafting this resolution. 
President Bush and the leadership of the House and Senate are commended 
for their bipartisan solidarity at this time of our national crisis.
  This barbaric attack was a targeted, coordinated act of terrorism 
committed against innocent Americans, an attack on our leading economic 
and military institutions, and an assault on our efforts to promote 
peace and freedom throughout the world.
  To the victims and families of this tragedy, to the courageous rescue 
workers, and New York's finest and bravest firemen and police who have 
paid the ultimate price, to the people of New York and Washington and 
elsewhere around the world, we extend our heartfelt prayers and 
condolences.
  Our Nation is grateful to the international community, who have 
expressed their concerns and who stand by us today against 
international terrorism. It is important that the international 
community condemns all those nations which provide any safe haven for 
terrorists, holding them equally responsible and accountable.
  In the Congress, we stand behind our President, our Armed Forces, and 
our law enforcement agencies in our efforts to bring these vicious 
criminals to justice. America's war against terrorists has only just 
begun.
  In light of yesterday's attack, we must now fully review all of our 
policies toward international terrorism, our airport security, and our 
intelligence capability. We must take all the necessary steps to make 
certain that this kind of a massacre is never repeated.
  We must make certain, too, that upon anyone who attacks the freedom 
of our country will be brought to bear the full resolve of our great 
Nation. America is no fallen tower, America stands strong and united, 
and we must use all of our means to pursue these perpetrators of crimes 
against our humanity.
  God bless our Nation.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 4 minutes to my good 
friend, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bonior), the distinguished 
Democratic whip.
  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding time to 
me. I congratulate him on a very important and eloquent statement.
  Mr. Speaker, today we grieve together as a Nation. We grieve for the 
sons and the daughters, the mothers and the fathers, the friends and 
the colleagues who were murdered in yesterday's savage attack. We shed 
tears with thousands of families whose lives have been shattered, and 
we mourn those courageous fallen heroes who sacrificed their own lives 
amid choking stairwells and roaring flames and falling concrete so that 
others might live.
  It is hard for us to fathom the bitter hatred that could inspire our 
attackers to such acts of horror. They drink from a dark and poisoned 
well. Hatred is a thirst that can never be quenched, Mr. Speaker. Amid 
our own fury, we must strike that cup down.
  The United States will act decisively and forcefully to pursue those 
guilty of this slaughter wherever they may be hiding, and mete out 
justice that is swift and severe. As the dust settles today, we find 
ourselves confronting an enemy that is both evil and elusive, but the 
world must know that America now stands stronger than ever, a Nation 
sworn to defend freedom, tolerance, diversity, and democracy. Those 
terrorists who attempt to extinguish our spirit must know that these 
are ideals we Americans will never surrender.
  Mr. Speaker, I come from Michigan. It is the home of hundreds of 
thousands of Arab Americans and American Muslims. Already, leaders in 
their community, patriotic Americans who give so much to this country, 
who have condemned these attacks and who are as sickened by the carnage 
as everyone else, have been receiving death threats, and their families 
live in fear.
  Such hateful prejudice offends us all. I shared these sentiments just 
hours ago with the President at the White House. Even as we struggle to 
clear away the rubble and the charred wreckage, our wounds, as we mourn 
our dead and seek ultimate justice, America must also stand together 
against this type of bigotry.
  Mr. Speaker, we are all in this together, Americans who share a 
common grief and outrage. All Americans of all faiths, Christians, 
Muslims, Jews, we all condemn this cowardly act of terrorism.
  Over the past 24 hours, many people have said that America will never 
be the same, and in many ways that is true. We struggle to comprehend 
our sudden and terrible loss of countless loved ones, of national 
innocence, of a sense that America was somehow invulnerable to a chaos 
that always seemed so very far away.
  Each of us will be asked to do more, to give more, to join our fellow 
citizens to defend the freedoms and the values we cherish. As we have 
heard on this floor already, people are already answering the call. We 
have seen thousands of people lining up to donate blood, families 
offering shelter to victims they do not even know, neighbors embracing 
neighbors, congregations joining in prayer.
  We in this House pledge to do our part, to work together as never 
before, to join the President and our many allies around the world to 
defend our land and our liberty. From this conflagration, the world 
will see an America emerge that is stronger and more united than ever 
before, always and forever a beacon for the best in the human spirit.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the majority whip.
  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, I think all of us send our condolences and prayers out 
to every American family that was harmed by this cowardly act to our 
Nation. We want the victims to know that none of them is alone. Every 
American grieves with them.
  We are standing beside them, and we will never, ever forget the 
Americans who fell yesterday. We have all been unified by this tragedy, 
and we will get through it together. Just as it has in every crisis 
before this, the strength of our faith will strengthen our Nation.
  Faith endures as the great and abiding source of our fortitude. Every 
American is grateful for the countless acts of heroism from the men and 
women who fought through the chaos to aid these victims. Their actions 
make all of us so proud to be Americans, and we salute their courage.
  Today this Chamber has no divisions. We stand united behind President 
Bush. Our President should use any and all means necessary to avenge 
the lives of our fallen countrymen.

[[Page H5507]]

  Yesterday, agents of evil may have declared war against freedom, but 
they failed to bend the iron of American resolve. Tempered by tragedy, 
our commitment to America's founding principles and the service of 
freedom has only grown stronger this afternoon. We are at war with the 
forces of terrorism.
  We will draw no empty distinctions between those who physically carry 
out these acts and the people, organizations, and governments who aid, 
abet, and shelter the enemies of freedom.
  The United States is fully committed to sweeping this aggression from 
this Earth, and our enemies will eventually discover the most powerful 
force on Earth is the united will of the American people when we are 
behind a single objective. Today that mission is clear. Our duty as 
Americans requires unending hostility against the forces of terrorism.
  The architects of this calculated wickedness will find no safe harbor 
in this world. We will chase our enemies to the furthest corner of the 
Earth. It must be war without quarter, pursuit without rest, victory 
without qualification. We will not take a single step backward. We will 
not be dissuaded. We will not yield. Our retribution is certain, and 
America will never rest until we destroy this threat to liberty by 
defeating the agents and supporters of terrorism.
  With the strength of our convictions and the grace of God in a 
righteous cause, we will prevail. Mr. Speaker, I, too, ask for God to 
bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, let me thank the distinguished Democratic whip for 
reminding us that Americans of all religious beliefs are equally 
opposed to this horrendous practice of terrorism. Let me remind my 
colleagues that the last three military engagements we participated 
in--in Kuwait, in Bosnia, and in Kosovo--were on behalf of people of 
the Muslim faith.
  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), chairman of the Democratic Caucus.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday was an horrific day. On September 11, 2001, 
international outlaws committed a cowardly, barbaric assault against 
the United States of America, against innocent civilians, and against 
the brave, honorable men and women of our military.
  That makes today, Mr. Speaker, a very difficult but very important 
day for all of us: a day of grief, of outrage, of quiet resolve to 
bring to justice those responsible for this terrible assault on our 
great Nation, and to ensure that it never happens again.
  Today, Mr. Speaker, we grieve for the untold thousands of innocent 
Americans whose lives were shattered by a calculated, cold-blooded act 
of mass murder. We especially grieve for the passengers and crew of 
Flight 77, Flight 11, Flight 93, and Flight 175; for those serving 
their country at the Pentagon, both civilian and military, who have 
been killed; and for the thousands killed or injured at the World Trade 
Center.
  Today, Mr. Speaker, we also recognize all those Americans who 
responded to those terrorist acts with heroism, with courage, and with 
compassion: the firefighters, police officers, emergency officials and 
volunteers who risked their own lives, and some of whom sacrificed 
their own lives, to come to the aid of their countrymen and women. They 
are American heroes, and this Nation will honor them as such.

                              {time}  1545

  My own district in North Texas, for example, is already awash in 
American flags as Americans from all walks of life pay tribute to their 
brave countrymen and women. Mr. Speaker, that spirit of unity and of 
resolve will characterize America's response to this cowardly barbaric 
assault.
  Congress will stand united, Democrats and Republicans together, to do 
all we can to help the victims of this act of terror and to safeguard 
the liberty and security of the American people. And we will stand 
together as Americans, regardless of our political affiliation, to find 
those responsible for these despicable acts.
  We will fully support the President as he builds an international 
coalition against this cancer that threatens the entire world, and we 
will continue to be united when we respond to the evil of terrorism 
with the full force of the United States Government and of the American 
people. Make no mistake, the United States of America, supported by our 
friends and allies, will win this war.
  May God bless the souls of those who died yesterday, and may He 
comfort the spirits of their families.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the distinguished vice chairman 
of the House Committee on International Relations.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished 
chairman Mr. Hyde, and thank him for his very eloquent remarks just a 
few moments ago and for all the very moving statements being made on 
the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, words, however, are simply inadequate to convey the 
utter shock, horror, sorrow, dismay and anger over yesterday's supreme 
act of cowardice against innocent Americans. Our prayers and hearts go 
out to the victims--the dead and the wounded--and to those who at this 
very hour cling to life, horribly trapped under concrete, jagged glass, 
and steel.
  Our Nation's admiration and respect for the firefighters, police 
officers, and medics, many of whom lost their lives in the line of 
duty, is deep. Valor, courage, and selflessness were commonplace 
yesterday as many rescuers became themselves victims.
  Our hearts go out to the victims' families and close friends who 
today must cope with their excruciating loss. As shock abates, the 
numbing pain of yesterday's terror will leave indelible scars. May God 
supernaturally intervene with healing comfort and that peace that 
surpasses understanding.
  Mr. Speaker, the cowards who perpetrated these crimes against God and 
humanity must be brought to justice no matter how long it takes. And by 
the grace of God, and the crafting of wise policy initiatives, this 
must never be allowed to happen again. We must take all the requisite 
steps to win that war which the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) 
spoke of earlier, the war against terrorism.
  Those who wish us harm should know, Mr. Speaker, that Americans are 
strong, determined, and resilient. America is united; not to be 
underestimated. In like manner, President Bush is strong and 
determined; fully in charge and not to be underestimated, and will lead 
us with boldness as well as prudence.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, America's foundational strength is not to be 
found in its military might, significant as that is, or our relative 
prosperity, and we are indeed rich in the world's resources, but it is 
to be found in our individual and collective faith in and faithfulness 
to God. May this horrific act of mass violence compel us to turn anew 
to God, seeking healing, restoration, and justice, as well as divine 
guidance, so that His will will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the distinguished ranking member 
of the House Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, people touched with evil brought 
hate and darkness to a land of light and freedom. I need not recount 
the details of their crimes. Those will forever be too familiar. I saw 
some of the damage firsthand at the Pentagon last night.
  The lives that they took, structures that they damaged were not the 
true target. Here is what they attacked: the idealist Nation that 
guaranties all of its people equality in law and enforces it in deed; 
the determined Nation that time and again deploys its finest men and 
women to restore peace where it does not exist and maintain peace where 
it does; the generous Nation that gives more selfless support to other 
countries than any other in history; the steadfast Nation that is the 
first one called when disaster strikes, when tragedy erupts, when 
fortune's heart turns cold. That is what they attacked.
  They killed many Americans; but they did not kill, they could not 
kill our idealism, our determination, our generosity, our 
steadfastness. They

[[Page H5508]]

could not kill what makes America America.
  Shortly after Pearl Harbor, the commander of the Japanese forces, 
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, mused, ``I fear we have roused a sleeping 
giant and filled him with a terrible resolve.'' Those who assisted in 
perpetrating this deed should take those words to heart, because 
resolve, too, is in our national character, as Admiral Yamamoto learned 
to his eternal regret. We do not go weeping through the streets. We do 
not wail and beat our breasts. We just set about methodically and with 
great certainty to bring justice.
  To those who devised and plotted the attack, I say, you will not find 
haven in the world of decent men and women. And the hearts of many 
others will be turned against you. If you believe, as the attackers 
did, that your own life has no value, America will be glad to cash that 
check. And any country that dares harbor you will pay its due.
  At the same time, I hope that all Americans will remember another 
lesson of the Second World War; that not everyone who looks like our 
idea of the enemy actually is the enemy. Tragedy is no excuse to create 
new injustice.
  Let me extend my sympathies to those of the Congress and to all the 
families of the victims, and particularly those who were killed or 
wounded while responding to give aid to others. I ask prayers also for 
anyone with a loved one in uniform. Indeed, if there is a positive to 
be found in all of this, it is that Americans may rediscover their 
respect for our military forces.
  Toward that end, and as a sign to our attackers of their futility, I 
ask that every American who has an American flag to take it outside and 
fly it. And if you do not have one, I hope you will get one.
  We have been in a quiet war against terrorism for some time. The 
difference today is that now everyone knows it. As today's debate will 
show, anyone hoping to sow discord or profit from political division 
will be disappointed. There are no Republicans or Democrats today, 
there are only Americans, proud, somber, resolute and looking forward.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot).
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  The United States of America is a great nation with a compelling 
history. Over 200 years ago, we overcame long odds to create a new 
country and form a more perfect union. Since that time, we have 
withstood a depression, assassinations, natural disasters; we fought a 
Civil War, two world wars, and the Cold War. We have faced many trials 
and many enemies. And each time we have come together as one Nation, 
one people; and we have triumphed.
  Now we face a new challenge. September 11th, 2001, yesterday, will 
indelibly be etched in the minds of every American. It is another day 
that will live in infamy. Words alone cannot describe the enormity of 
yesterday's events. These vicious terrorist attacks represent nothing 
less than a declaration of war against our Nation. And as with any war, 
we must fight to win.
  We must use every investigative and military resource at our disposal 
to find and punish the individuals and governments responsible for 
these reprehensible crimes. The full power of the United States should 
be brought to bear against the cowards who carried out these attacks 
against innocent men, women, and children.
  As President Bush said last night, no distinction should be made 
between those who committed these atrocities and those who provide safe 
harbor and encouragement. The United States is a nation like no other. 
We are the world's greatest democracy, a nation that gives hope to the 
downtrodden and oppressed everywhere. We are a nation based on the 
principles of freedom and liberty. And while we have seen the light of 
freedom flicker and fade at times for many other people around the 
globe, it has always burned strong here in America.
  So, as in the past, we will rise above the confusion and despair of 
yesterday. We will prevail over those who seek to destroy our way of 
life. The future will bring new hope, and we will again join together 
as one Nation and show the world what being an American is all about.
  Our prayers go out to all the victims and their families. God bless 
them and God bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished ranking member 
of the Committee on House Administration.
  (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, the unspeakable barbarism perpetrated on 
American soil yesterday was directed at freedom-loving people on every 
continent on Earth. It will never be forgotten. Another day of infamy 
and perfidy is etched indelibly on the pages of the history of the 
world.
  Our thoughts and our prayers go out to all those who perished or were 
injured by these mindless murderous acts; acts of war. Our hearts go 
out to their loved ones as well.
  Our thoughts, our prayers, and our heartfelt thanks go out to all of 
those who put their own lives in harm's way to help others: the law 
enforcement officers, the military personnel, the firefighters and 
paramedics, the doctors and nurses, and the countless civilians who 
came to the aid of their fellow citizens. They are the true American 
heroes, and their selfless courage fortifies this Nation. Yesterday, 
today, and tomorrow we fear that many of these brave souls too have 
become victims of this contemptible criminal conspiracy.
  Today, every American, every civilized human speaks with one voice in 
saying to those who planned, participated, aided and abetted, or gave 
sanctuary to the perpetrators of this unmitigated evil, we will not 
rest until you are rooted out, rooted out like a cancer, and destroyed.
  As President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said in his address to 
Congress the day following the attack on Pearl Harbor, and I quote, 
``Always we will remember the character of the onslaught against us.'' 
And in remembering, it will fashion our response.
  The United States of America will never, never, never rest until you 
and all of those who provide you with shelter and safe harbor are held 
accountable for this horrific and heinous crime.

                              {time}  1600

  Know, too, that no amount of fury, no amount of anger, no amount of 
revulsion at such senseless and cowardly acts on innocent men, women, 
children in the street, none of that will drive us to embrace your 
twisted law of the jungle. But we will see justice done.
  Our national character charged by the bravery and determination of 
generations who preceded us demands more. Our resolute commitment to 
democratic values and the rule of law and reason demands more.
  The depraved brutality of September 11, 2001, much like that of 
December 7, 1941, has left each of us shaken and sorrowful. But now, as 
then, the American will and the American resolve are unshaken and 
undeterred.
  Freedom, all of us know, has never meant freedom from risk, nor will 
it ever be. In fact, such risk is a component of that very freedom we 
cherish. But we must and we will confront those who criminally and 
viciously put freedom itself at risk.
  Mr. Speaker, the memory of all of those whose lives were lost, who 
were surely on the front lines of freedom, must lead us to renew our 
pledge of allegiance to our one Nation, under God, indivisible, and 
with liberty and justice for all.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
distinguished gentleman from Illinois, Speaker of the House (Mr. 
Hastert).
  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the American people were 
viciously and deliberately attacked by terrorists. My heart goes out to 
those victims and their families. But make no mistake, this was an act 
of war. The American people, as represented by the Members of this 
Congress, will take all appropriate action to protect its citizens and 
to win this war against these terrorists.
  We have entered into a new era of our history. As of yesterday, how 
we live, how we work, how we play have been changed for as long as we 
will be able to see, in our children and our grandchildren.
  Terrorists flout international law and standards of common decency.

[[Page H5509]]

 They target the American people because we are strong and because they 
are weak. These terrorists are cowards and they will be punished.
  Some say that we cannot be the world's policeman. Well, if we do not 
enforce the rules of common decency, if we do not take steps to protect 
our citizens from these lawless and evil bandits, no one else will. 
This is a new kind of war, and we must be prudent in how we prosecute 
it.
  All those nations who harbor, who train, who support, who fund these 
terrorist groups bear equal responsibility for the actions of these 
terrorists. We must dedicate the proper resources to deal with them in 
the appropriate way. Terrorists may be able to run, but they can not 
hide from America's steely determination and justice.
  Let me say a few words about the American people. Many of those who 
died were dedicated public servants, members of our armed services, 
firefighters, police officers, people dedicated to serving and 
protecting the American people. They have died in the line of service 
to their Nation. Others were citizens dedicated to living the American 
dream, people who had wives and husbands, children and parents who 
loved them and who will miss them dearly. These people were innocent 
victims in a war conducted against America by political extremists, 
people who live in the shadows and never come out except when they 
attack.
  The civilized world is with us. I was touched this morning by the 
visit of Mr. Howard, the Prime Minister of Australia, who sat in our 
Chamber to show his solidarity with the American people. The speaker of 
the Russian Duma, Mr. Seleznev, sent me a letter where he said the 
people who ordered and carried out this outrageous crime must be found 
and punished.
  Our allies across the world have expressed their horror at this 
unprecedented attack. My friends, the civilized and free world must 
stand together and stamp out this terrorist scourge.
  My deepest condolences go to the families of the victims. May God 
protect them in this time of trouble and may God bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), my good friend and the 
conscience of this body.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, what happened in New York at the 
World Trade Center and at the Pentagon yesterday is unreal. It is 
shocking. It is unbelievable. But it did happen.
  Mr. Speaker, we stand together, not as Democrats or Republicans, but 
as citizens of the world, as Americans, as brothers and sisters. We are 
a circle of trust that cannot be broken. We are one people. We are one 
family. We are one Nation.
  But we must send the strongest possible message to the terrorists and 
to all of those who participated in this unbelievable conspiracy, this 
madness. Terrorists may destroy our buildings, terrorists may harm and 
kill our people, but terrorists will never, ever destroy the spirit of 
freedom and our love for democracy.
  Our Nation is strong and determined. We will never turn back; no, we 
will never turn back from our commitment to a free and open society and 
our determination for a world community at peace with itself.
  Those who engage in this madness will be tracked down, and they will 
be brought to justice. And for those who are hurt and for the families 
who lost loved ones in this unspeakable tragedy, they are in our 
thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.
  Mr. Speaker, today on this day, we pray for our people and we pray 
for our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Rohrabacher).
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter into a colloquy 
with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), and I would like to ask 
about the eighth resolve clause in this resolution.
  In the gentleman's interpretation, does the intent of the phrase 
``sponsor'' in terms of sponsor of terrorists, include those states or 
governments which harbor terrorists?
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. I yield to the gentleman from Illinois.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, it most emphatically does.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.
  I think it is long overdue that the United States of America reaffirm 
a policy of supporting those moderate, responsible, and, yes, 
democratically inclined Muslims of Afghanistan and elsewhere who are in 
opposition to terrorism, and in opposition to the fanatical Taliban 
government which represses its own people and provides a safe haven for 
terrorists like bin Laden. This has not been the policy of our 
government over these last 5 years.
  Now it is necessary for us to act with strength and determination, to 
wipe out a terrorist enclave that has taken root in Afghanistan. I call 
on the people of goodwill, which includes the vast majority of Muslims 
in this world, to stand with us in this fight against terrorists like 
bin Laden and against fanatics and tyrants like the Taliban in 
Afghanistan.
  We need to ensure our government itself meets its responsibilities 
effectively and remains committed to free government and peace among 
the people of the world, and those people are of all races and of all 
nationalities and of all religions.
  Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, Americans are overwhelmed with sorrow at 
the loss of members of our families and friends, but we will act and we 
will do so with courage; and we will accomplish our mission, our sacred 
mission now of revenge against those who have taken American lives.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Menendez), the distinguished vice chair of the 
Democratic Caucus.
  (Mr. MENENDEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, September 11, 2001, is the second day of 
infamy in our history; and it was without a doubt an act of war. It was 
also a crime against humanity and the civilized world, an attack 
against innocent, unsuspecting, defenseless civilians, against women 
and children, many from my own State of New Jersey.
  Mr. Speaker, the terrorists may have appeared to strike the symbol of 
American capitalism; but what they really struck was mothers and 
fathers, sisters and brothers. The terrorists may have appeared to 
strike a symbol of American military might, but what they really struck 
were sons and daughters, friends and families.
  The terrorists have shown themselves as the cowards they are, as we 
are showing the world the great Nation that we are: strong, resilient, 
resourceful and freedom loving. The Congress is here, the President is 
at work, Americans are lining up waiting hours to donate blood or 
volunteer in the rescue. People from my district across the river from 
New York City are helping the wounded, our hospitals are filled with 
doctors, nurses and staff working around the clock. Brave fire 
fighters, police officers and rescue crews continue to risk their lives 
to save others; and we are pulling together, as Americans always do in 
times of tragedy, as we will pull together to hunt down and find those 
who committed these crimes against humanity.
  There is nowhere these terrorists can hide where we will not find 
them, and no Nation that should believe that they can aid, abet, or 
give shelter to these terrorists without feeling our wrath. If nations 
harbor our enemies, then they are our enemy. If nations help our 
enemies, then they are our enemy.
  Mr. Speaker, we will not stop until all those responsible are found 
and punished severely. Today America stands ready for the challenge 
ahead. We stand as one united against our enemies, united for the 
things we believe in as a people: liberty, freedom and justice. May God 
bless all those who perished in this tragedy, the rescue workers who 
sacrificed their lives and the children and families who today are 
missing a cherished love one, and may He bless this great country of 
ours.

                              {time}  1615

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the 
distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Crane).

[[Page H5510]]

  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solidarity with my fellow 
Americans to pledge my full support for this resolution.
  Yesterday, our Nation was stunned by the cowardly acts of terrorists. 
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and those whose lives 
were tragically ended by these barbaric acts; but today I have never 
said with more dignity, with more respect, and with more determination 
that I am proud to be an American.
  One of our Nation's greatest strengths is our commitment to freedom 
and opportunity. We are blessed with the greatest resources in the 
world, chief among them the heart, ingenuity, and resolve of our 
citizens.
  I know we will marshal these resources to the fullest extent as we 
find and punish the evil forces responsible for these dastardly deeds.
  May God bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), assistant 
Democratic leader.
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a profound sadness and 
deep remorse weighing heavily upon my heart. An unspeakable tragedy has 
struck our great Nation, one that makes finding the right words nearly 
impossible.
  September 11, 2001, is a day that will forever be etched in the 
memory of each and every American. Throughout the world our friends 
also mourn this inconceivable tragedy. Truly, it was a threat to 
democracy and freedom for all.
  The loss of life is staggering, and my thoughts and prayers are with 
the many families grieving for their loved ones and those who are still 
awaiting word. I pray that your loved ones come home.
  We have watched intently as the disaster and the aftermath have 
unfolded in New York, the Pentagon, and Pennsylvania. I commend the 
heroic effort of our public safety personnel from all over who have 
joined the rescue efforts, including those in my home State of 
Connecticut. Emergency workers have risked their lives. Many have lost 
their lives braving the horrors of the disaster.
  This atrocity has touched so many families. Each of us will know 
someone directly involved in this horror. Striking at the heart of our 
country, our people, our freedom, the symbols of our economic and 
military strength, this attack goes beyond anything we have ever 
experienced before, and it demands that we unite as a Nation. As the 
hardship continues to unfold, we must comfort our families and continue 
to provide them with the support that they need any way we can.
  Our government must also take action in response to these 
reprehensible acts. I strongly support the resolution condemning the 
attack against the United States; and, Mr. Speaker, in the strongest 
terms, this resolution makes it clear that we will not tolerate any 
terrorist act. We will hold those who undermine our Nation accountable.
  Let us stand here unanimous in passing this resolution to say that we 
stand by our fellow citizens, especially those grieving for a lost 
loved one, and that we will defend our Nation and punish those who have 
such utter disregard for human life.
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), chairman of the 
Committee on Rules.
  (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution.
  At the height of the civil war, John Stewart Mills said, war is an 
ugly thing but it is not the ugliest of things. The decayed and 
degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing is 
worth a war is worse.
  It is very clear now that we have a very strong bipartisan consensus 
in support of the effort to bring about a successful resolution to this 
horrible tragedy.
  Many have talked appropriately about the fact this has been an attack 
on the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, this really transcends 
the United States of America.
  Let us look at the first two targets, the World Trade Center. The 
World Trade Center. This is an attack, Mr. Speaker, not only at the 
United States of America, but this is an attack at the entire 
international community. Virtually the entire world supports the core 
values on which the United States of America was founded.
  People may ask why is it that we are victims of this attack. Why? 
Because the United States of America, this Capitol under which we 
serve, is, in fact, the beacon of hope and opportunity for the entire 
world.
  We are paying the price for it, but I will tell my colleagues, it is 
still a very important struggle. To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson, he 
said the condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal 
vigilance. We are remaining vigilant, Mr. Speaker, and I want to say 
that my thoughts and prayers go to all of the victims.
  All four of those aircraft were headed to my State of California. My 
heart goes out to those who are suffering, and I hope very much that we 
will be able to see strong bipartisan support for this important 
resolution which demonstrates our concern not only for the United 
States of America, but for those who love freedom throughout the entire 
world.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Ackerman), the ranking member of the 
Subcommittee on the Middle East, a member of the Committee on 
International Relations.
  (Mr. ACKERMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, those of us, your colleagues from New 
York, come to the floor wounded today because we count ourselves among 
the mourners. And the interesting thing is, when we have resolutions of 
this nature from time to time, we name those for whom we mourn. We 
regret that we cannot even supply you with that massive list as yet. 
There are so many of our constituents, our friends, our neighbors, our 
relatives, who do not yet know that they are among the mourners. This 
has not fully set in to our city and to our State. And yet we mourn. 
And let me assure you that while we mourn, we are not broken. The 
forces of evil have destroyed our skyline, but they have not destroyed 
our resolve. They have killed our people, but they have not killed our 
will.
  We come here as well to say thank you, to say thank you to each and 
every one of our colleagues in the House from all over America who have 
been so supportive to us and to the people that we represent.
  We express our special condolences, and ask you to do the same, to 
our colleague Joe Crowley who is not with us today because his cousin, 
a brave firefighter, is believed to have perished. Two hundred of our 
firefighters, over 200, only of our firefighters, are dead. Over 50 of 
our policemen, representing a great city, a diverse city, made up of so 
many people, rushing into this burning inferno, tumbling down, knowing 
that 200 colleagues have already died and yet continuing to go in to 
try to save their fellow citizens, paying no heed to their own safety.
  New Yorkers are tough. We are very tough. We are going to get over 
this. Yesterday was a day that we practiced our democracy in our State 
of New York. It was a primary day. We were in the middle of an election 
when this happened. That election has since been set aside. I was in 
one part of my district outside of the city of New York where there was 
a race going on for county executive, millions of dollars were being 
spent, the fight has raged for months and months with both sides at 
each other. And when the election was suspended, the campaign teams of 
both sides were seen on line together, side by side, at the blood bank.
  We bleed together as Americans. We cannot give you the names. The 
names would fill a book. We cannot give you the number, but the number 
is in the thousands; the mourners in the tens of thousands. But I can 
tell you that each and every one of them is a martyr, unknowingly; 
people who went to work, people who got on a plane, people who lost 
their lives doing things that average Americans do.
  We will not rest, not one of us, Democrats or Republicans, until the 
evil people who perpetrated this deed are found. We will not let any 
rock be unturned under which they have

[[Page H5511]]

crawled. We know their address and we know their landlords. And let 
them know that we will find them.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), a member of the 
Committee on International Relations.
  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a dark day that will be 
remembered for its unique horror and tragic loss of life. I ask for 
continued prayers for the families of the victims, President Bush, Vice 
President Cheney, and members of our armed services as they lead 
America in this time of crisis.
  The attacks yesterday are an act of war, and retribution must be 
swift, sure, and overwhelming. But retribution is not enough. Our 
ultimate goal must be to identify and destroy the state-sponsored 
international infrastructure supporting these terrorists who have 
attacked the U.S. and its citizens.
  On Ronald Reagan's first day in office, he told a relieved Nation, 
upon news that American hostages were released after 444 days of 
captivity, ``The price of freedom at times has been high, but we will 
never be unwilling to pay that price.''
  We must continue to rally behind President Bush. The price of freedom 
is high for Americans, but a price we pay as defenders of the brightest 
beacon of freedom and opportunity this world has ever known.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), the ranking member of 
the Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, at this time of profound sadness and 
tragedy in our Nation, I rise with my colleagues in strong support of 
the resolution before us to condemn the treacherous attacks against our 
Nation and upon the thousands of our fellow citizens.
  My heart and deepest condolences also go out to all the families 
whose members are missing loved ones as a result of these despicable 
acts. For those firemen and law enforcement officers, pilots and 
stewardess, who have made the ultimate sacrifice and those who continue 
to risk their lives in order to save others, our Nation stands forever 
grateful for their services and tremendous sacrifices.
  Mr. Speaker, our Nation mourns its sons and daughters who have died 
in this senseless tragedy, and our country must stand more united than 
ever before. We must support the President in using all means and 
resources to identify, to pursue, and to punish the persons and 
organizations responsible for these attacks.
  Mr. Speaker, a noted expert on counterterrorism, Professor Yonah 
Alexander of the Potomac Institute, has long advocated that the world's 
democracies must develop an effective strategy to face this terrible 
challenge against international terrorism. Professor Alexander notes, 
and I quote, ``The only light at the end of the tunnel is for a number 
of nation states and responsible governments to take concerted action 
against terrorism. Terrorism against one is terrorism against all, 
regardless of the blood spilled. It is the same red blood. To combat 
terrorism, no country can deal with this unilaterally without 
cooperation and support from others.''
  Unless a global antiterrorist strategy can be worked out, Professor 
Alexander concludes that the existence of civilization itself is 
seriously at risk.
  Mr. Speaker, in the wake of yesterday's disaster, I want to commend 
Secretary of State Colin Powell and President Bush in their efforts to 
call upon all the leaders of the world for a coordinated international 
response to terrorism. This is no longer a national or a regional 
issue. This matter should and must require the support of all freedom-
loving nations of the world.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

                              {time}  1630

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen).
  Mr. SKEEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution. 
Yesterday's tragic events in our Nation have deeply wounded our hearts. 
But at the same time, this tragedy has strengthened our resolve to 
prevent these terrorist acts from ever happening in the future.
  As proud Americans, we have united in times of difficulty; and, as in 
the past, our strength will allow us to prevail in winning the war 
against terrorism and evil acts against humanity.
  We support President Bush in actions that he has taken and will take 
to protect America and Americans. We also pray for the victims and for 
the families of those who lost loved ones in yesterday's tragic events 
and those first responders who have risked their lives so that others 
may live.
  We will not allow terrorists or their cowardly acts of violence to 
weaken the soul of our Nation. We will move forward to continue our 
quest worldwide for a peaceful and lawful society so that we can 
forever eliminate such terrible crimes as we have all witnessed 
yesterday.
  God bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), the distinguished ranking member 
of the Subcommittee on Africa.
  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, yesterday's tragic events touched the 
residents of my congressional district in a profound and personal way. 
United Flight 93, one of the fateful flights on that most horrifying of 
days, departed Newark International Airport, which I represent, 
carrying innocent passengers who would become pawns in the most 
senseless act of terrorism that you can imagine.
  In addition, thousands of New Jersey residents travel back and forth 
each day from Penn Station, in my home city of Newark, to New York, 
where many hold jobs at the World Trade Center. This morning, families 
in New Jersey communities continue the agonizing wait for word on the 
fate of their loved ones.
  As we struggle to comprehend and confront the magnitude of this 
shocking attack on the United States, let us, above all, remember the 
victims, the employees, the volunteers, the visitors, the firemen, the 
policemen, the EMTs, who put their lives on the line. Let us put a 
human face on this tragedy which claimed the lives of so many people, 
who shared the everyday dreams and hopes we all have, people who only 
wanted to live their lives in peace, to see their children grow up 
healthy and happy.
  My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families of the victims who are 
suffering such immense pain. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
expressing appreciation for the humanitarian efforts of all those who 
have stepped forward to offer assistance in this time of need. Please 
join me in praying for all of the families who have suffered the loss 
of loved ones or who still anxiously await news about survivors.
  This is the time to come together and to reaffirm that we will always 
remain one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for 
all.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul).
  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday Americans were awakened to find ourselves in a 
war, attacked by barbarians who targeted innocent civilians. This 
despicable act reveals how deep-seated is the hatred that has driven 
this war.
  Though many Americans have just become aware of how deeply we are 
involved in this war, it has been going on for decades. We are 
obviously seen by the terrorists as an enemy.
  In war there is no more reprehensible act than for combatants to 
slaughter innocent civilians who are bystanders. That is what happened 
yesterday.
  If there is such a thing, a moral war is one that is only pursued in 
self-defense. Those who initiate aggression against others for the 
purpose of occupation or merely to invoke death and destruction are 
unforgivable and serve only to spread wanton killing.
  In our grief, we must remember our responsibilities. The Congress' 
foremost obligation in a constitutional republic is to preserve freedom 
and provide for national security. Yesterday

[[Page H5512]]

our efforts to protect our homeland came up short. Our policies that 
led to that shortcoming must be reevaluated and changed if found to be 
deficient.
  When we retaliate for this horror we have suffered, we must be 
certain that only the guilty be punished. More killing of innocent 
civilians will only serve to flame the fires of war and further 
jeopardize our security.
  Congress should consider using its constitutional authority to grant 
letters of marque and reprisals to meet our responsibilities.
  Demanding domestic security in times of war invites carelessness in 
preserving civil liberties and the right of privacy. Frequently the 
people are only too anxious for their freedoms to be sacrificed on the 
alter of authoritarianism thought to be necessary to remain safe and 
secure. Nothing would please the terrorists more than if we willingly 
gave up some of our cherished liberties while defending ourselves from 
their threat.
  It is our job to wisely choose our policies and work hard to 
understand the root causes of war in which we find ourselves.
  We must all pray for peace and ask for God's guidance for our 
President, our congressional leaders, and all America, and for the 
wisdom and determination required to resolve this devastating crisis.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the distinguished dean of the 
House of Representatives.
  (Mr. DINGELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I support the legislation before us. I note that it 
expresses sympathy for the innocent victims and their families. I 
support it because it expresses support and sympathy for the 
firefighters, police officers, emergency personnel, and their families, 
who have served and who have lost their lives in their attempt to save 
others. It is to be supported because it supports our country and our 
American ideals, and I support the President's efforts in implementing 
this.
  We are dealing here with an act of war.
  You know, Mr. Speaker, I am probably the only Member of this body who 
remembers the Declaration of War during World War II. I would note that 
less Americans were killed at Pearl Harbor than were killed yesterday 
in Washington and New York.
  This is a declaration of war upon the United States, and while it is 
that we do not know exactly for sure yet who it is that has done this, 
this Nation has a serious responsibility. The first is to find out who 
did it, and then to address this matter with all force and vigor, 
because without this, we will never know peace again.
  In addition to this, Mr. Speaker, it will be necessary for us to 
protect the civil liberties of Americans. We have some mistakes in our 
background: what we did to German-Americans in World War I, what we did 
to Japanese-Americans in World War II, and German-Americans and 
Italian-Americans in World War II. Those things cannot be done in this 
instance, and we must indeed see to it that we protect the great 
constitutional and indeed religious principles with regard to treating 
our fellow Americans well and properly.
  This is a time for national unity. This resolution expresses that 
unity.
  Now, Mr. Speaker, I say this: let us get about the great and the 
terrible business at hand. Let us identify the wrongdoers, let us 
punish them in all proper way. There will be no peace until such time 
as we have done so.
  God bless the United States and the people of the United States.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Vitter).
  Mr. VITTER. Mr. Speaker, I join all of my colleagues, all of my 
fellow Americans, in prayer and condolences for the victims of 
yesterday's horrible tragedies. All of us know someone who was directly 
hurt by that senseless violence. I talked to a constituent, an older 
woman, whose son-in-law worked in the World Trade Center, and, as of 
mid-afternoon yesterday, still did not know his fate. We all keep those 
victims and families in our deepest prayers.
  Yesterday was the most horrific attack against our nation in history, 
period. Today, shock turns to anger, and our challenge is to turn that 
anger into true resolve.
  First, we must use all of our collective efforts in the rescue and 
rebuilding operations. There are heroes in New York and the Pentagon on 
the front line of that now; and we must give them all of the resources 
necessary and rebuild, including rebuilding the World Trade Center.
  Second, at the same time, we must resolve to use all of our efforts 
to defend against any similar attacks, and our government is doing 
that.
  Third, we must hunt down those responsible.
  History is littered with instances of nations preparing for the last 
war. Let us all learn that lesson, even if a day late. Let us be clear 
when we use the phrase ``war,'' it is not a turn-of phrase, it is not a 
war against drugs, we mean war. I mean identifying the persons and 
organizations and nation-states involved, formally declaring war on all 
of those persons and entities, and prosecuting that war to its full 
conclusion.
  God bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. McKinney), the ranking member of the 
Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights.
  Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, we stand here today mere miles away from a tragedy that 
shook our Nation and left many shocked and angered by an act of 
unprecedented brutality on America's shores.
  As we emerge from the incomprehensible darkness into the light of 
this day, let us concentrate first our prayer and mourning, our sadness 
and our sorrow, for the victims of this unimaginable horror, and then, 
second, send our prayers, support and heartfelt thanks to the 
courageous police, firefighters, and medical staff who have made great 
sacrifices, and, in some cases, given their lives, to care for the 
injured and take care of our dead.
  In our search for understanding and truth, we should remember that 
now, especially at this time of need, it is truly our reliance on a 
higher power that will see us through. So as we pray to our God, let us 
not forget that real security and real peace come through justice; that 
fear and prejudice divert us from our true and righteous cause; and 
that we are a country that stands for the rule of law.
  The perpetrators of this crime can and will be dealt with. We must be 
careful not to rush to judgment and must ensure that when we strike 
back, we deliver a blow against those truly responsible for these 
terrible crimes.
  President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell have steered us on 
a prudent course. Now is the time for us to trust their leadership.
  Father Coughlin reminded us this morning of the guidance that is 
available to us from God. He reminded us to build this and every day on 
a foundation of justice, and to mourn our dead with acts of compassion.
  My prayer for America today is that we heed Father Coughlin's call, 
that all of us Americans will soon join together and rededicate 
ourselves to the fight to defeat racism and to further justice at home 
and abroad with an unbounded commitment to freedom, justice, peace, and 
security for us all.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Issa).
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a broken heart, torn between 
great sorrow and great anger in support of this resolution.
  I have no words sufficient to express my total contempt for the 
cowards who perpetrated this horrific act of terrorism. In fact, I 
believe America has no words sufficient to express their contempt for 
the cowards who perpetrated this horrific act of terrorism against the 
people of America.
  I would cite the President's words of earlier today, when he said, 
``The deliberate and deadly attacks which were carried out yesterday 
against the country were more than acts of terror, they were acts of 
war.''

[[Page H5513]]

                              {time}  1645

  I, therefore, thank the majority leader and the minority leader and 
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) for putting together such a 
thoughtful and timely resolution condemning the terrible acts aimed 
directly at the freedoms and liberties of the American people.
  To Americans across the Nation who mourn and who are angry, I call on 
you to focus your anger on the perpetrators of this unlawful act and 
not to cast anger on neighbors, on coworkers, simply because of their 
certain religion, race, or nationality. It is our resolve to bring 
about justice, and we must remember that when fighting against 
terrorism and extremism which has twisted their hatred into a system of 
beliefs not consistent with the major religions of the world, that 
these acts are condemned by Christianity, that these acts are condemned 
by Judaism, and that these acts are condemned by Islam. I must ask all 
Americans to remember that as we seek the revenge that we as a people 
are entitled to. God bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman), a distinguished member of the 
committee.
  (Mr. SHERMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we suffered the greatest loss of 
American life on American soil since our Civil War. I fear that we are 
reacting as if a few hundred Americans died at the hands of a small 
band of terrorists. I fear that we will just launch a dozen cruise 
missiles and call it a day like we did after our embassies were bombed 
in East Africa.
  Let us wake up! There are probably 10,000 or more dead Americans. 
That is four times the number that died at Pearl Harbor.
  I do not know whether Osama bin Laden is responsible, but I join the 
distinguished gentleman from California in demanding that Afghanistan 
extradite bin Laden to the United States because we do know that bin 
Laden killed Americans on the U.S.S. Cole and bombed our embassies in 
East Africa.
  But let me go further. If the Taliban government refuses, we should 
go to war. It is a war we can win, as we won the war in Kosovo, chiefly 
with air power and with the support of local allies. The Northern 
Alliance of Afghanistan shelled Kabul last night. That alliance may 
have suffered the death or the severe wounding of its leader, General 
Masoud at the hands of bin Laden's assassins just 2 days ago. However, 
the Northern Alliance is intact, and if the Afghan Government does not 
surrender bin Laden by the end of this week, then the Northern Alliance 
should be the best armed rebel army in the world by the end of this 
month.
  We can, with permission or with impunity, fly over the territory 
necessary in order to bomb the Taliban and resupply the Northern 
Alliance. A war against the Taliban government of Afghanistan will 
involve American casualties, but how many thousands of casualties will 
we suffer if we allow a foreign government to harbor and support well-
organized, well-financed terrorist groups capable of mass murder.
  This will be a war against the Taliban, but it is not a war against 
Islam. I join the prior speaker in saying we must respect Americans of 
all faiths.
  September 11, 2001 is a day that will live in infamy. This may be the 
greatest loss of life on American soil since the Civil War.
  Today's loss of life may approach or exceed the loss of life at Pearl 
Harbor. After Pearl Harbor some suggested appeasement, and withdrawal 
from Asia and the Pacific. Instead the greatest generation made the 
greatest sacrifices to win our greatest victory.
  America must mobilize for a war against terrorism, not only against 
the criminals responsible for today's horrific events, but all 
terrorism.
  This is not a war against Islam, or against Muslims. Our last three 
wars were waged to protect people who happen to be Muslim. We restored 
independence to the people of Kuwait and then engaged in two further 
wars in which we had no economic stake. In the mid-1990s, we protected 
the Bosnian Muslims from genocide. In 1999, we went to war against 
Serbia, a Christian country, to protect its Albanian Muslim minority 
from ethnic cleansing.
  Today we suffered greater casualties than in all three of those wars 
combined.
  There are some dancing in the streets of certain foreign cities who 
believe that the terrorists who killed thousands of American civilians 
have proven their strength by killing thousands of civilians. America 
has the power to kill civilians by the tens of thousands or the tens of 
millions. However America's great strength is that we do everything 
possible to avoid killing civilians, even those who dance today in 
delight.
  For years, we have begged our friends to curtail investment and aid 
to countries which support terrorism. Now in this war for decency and 
civilization we must have the full support of our allies. Those who 
claim to be friends of America can no longer do business as usual with 
countries which harbor terrorists.
  We appreciate the statements of sympathy from the Taliban government 
in Afghanistan, but this is clearly insufficient. The Taliban 
government must turn over Osama bin Laden and his associates to the 
United States. If the Afghan government gives us excuses instead of 
giving us bin Laden, we must take harsh action. This would include 
providing arms and perhaps air cover to the forces in Northern 
Afghanistan and the legitimate government of that country. These forces 
have fought the Taliban to a standstill without our help. With very 
substantial American help these forces will march into Kabul.
  We appreciate the statements of sympathy from chairman Arafat, but we 
must demand that he arrest terrorists in areas he controls.
  We should not wait until we have identified the particular criminals 
responsible for today's tragedy, nor should we limit our response to 
one particular terrorist organization. Osama bin Laden may or may not 
be responsible for today's crimes, but he is responsible for the attack 
on the USS Cole and for the second worst terrorist attack against 
America, the bombing of our embassies in east Africa. We must demand 
bin Laden be turned over to the United States to be tried for those 
crimes.
  Even if we totally destroy the organization responsible for today's 
crimes, other organizations will try to surpass today's evil. We must 
root out all terrorist organizations. We must take harsh action against 
any country that harbors or supports terrorists.
  We should seek U.N. approval for our action; but we must act even if 
the U.N. does not.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from the North Carolina delegation (Mr. Jones), 
a member of the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, in December of 1941, 
following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese Admiral Yamamoto 
reportedly said, ``I fear that all we have done is awakened a sleeping 
giant.''
  Yesterday, nameless, faceless cowards took aim on the people of the 
United States of America. They struck without warning with the hope 
that they could destroy the spirit of our great Nation. Let me say the 
giant is awake.
  The deplorable act reached deep into the heart of America and touched 
not only the families and friends of those who were killed in 
Washington and New York, but the lives of every citizen of the world 
who values freedom and democracy. It was not only an act of war, it was 
a crime against humanity.
  All Americans are hurting over the cruel and senseless act of these 
criminals, but the history of America is that her people are strong; 
and like every national tragedy that has gone before, this one will be 
answered. The American people demand justice and justice they shall 
have, not through cowardly acts of terrorism, but by pulling together 
as a Nation to do what is required.
  The cowards who initiated this act of war have failed. Rather than 
bring our country to her knees, the American giant has new strength. 
The Book of Nehemiah tells us that the God of heaven will give us 
success as we, his servants, start rebuilding.
  Mr. Speaker, our faith in God and the strength of our democracy will 
help ease our Nation's sorrow, will help us rebuild and, importantly, 
will help us ensure that justice is carried out. We will rebuild; we 
will have justice. The people of America deserve no less.
  On behalf of the people of the third district that I have the 
privilege to serve, I pledge my support to our President as he moves to 
bring swift justice to these criminals and vote my full support for 
this resolution. God bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Davis), my colleague and 
friend.

[[Page H5514]]

  Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this balanced 
resolution expressing heartfelt condolences to the victims and their 
families throughout the United States, as a part of this horrific 
disaster that happened yesterday, and support for working with the 
President to take swift and certain action towards those who committed 
this horrific crime and those who choose to harbor them before or after 
the fact.
  Mr. Speaker, my community, the city of Tampa, Hillsborough County, 
the Tampa Bay area, has suffered some horrific tragedies in the past. 
We have had three law enforcement officers slain in the line of duty in 
the last year. We will never forget, I will never forget, the helping 
hand that was extended to us from across the country from other public 
safety officials.
  Today, I would like to say on behalf of my community that we are 
literally pouring our hearts out to Northern Virginia and New York 
City. More than 2,000 units of blood have been donated just as of 
yesterday and that blood is on its way to New York City and Northern 
Virginia, and we in Florida have a lot of people who have friends and 
family who have moved from Northern Virginia and New York down to 
Florida, and this is our family too.
  I also want to say that I will fully support the President and work 
closely with him and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to take swift and 
certain action against those who have perpetrated this indescribable 
act of inhumanity. We must get to the bottom of exactly who committed 
this act; we must send the message that we will not tolerate this kind 
of behavior ever again in a civilized society.
  We must further understand and have an open and honest debate as to 
the failures that occurred in our system of security that was designed 
to provide the peace of mind and freedom that we have taken for granted 
far too long in this country. We must make amends. We must do our best 
to restore the freedom and peace of mind that Americans have come to 
enjoy at the same time that we make it perfectly clear throughout the 
world that what happened yesterday must never happen again.
  I urge adoption of the resolution, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 
distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes), a member of the 
Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, on September 11, 2001, America was brutally 
attacked by cowards who intentionally ended the lives of innocent men, 
women and children. Many have said today that Americans will never be 
the same. How could we be?
  We will never again see the faces of those who were lost. We will 
never experience the promise their lives afforded us all. We will never 
forget the courage and strength of our police, fire and rescue teams 
who paid such a huge price to protect us during this national tragedy.
  Yet, for those around the world who celebrate these acts, believing 
they have weakened the cause of freedom, let the message go forth that 
the torch of freedom has been rekindled in every American heart and 
glows brighter today than ever before. Let them know that we shall 
build a living memorial to all of the victims which shall be the unity 
and resolve we bring to destroy terrorism and the systems that sustain 
terrorism around the world. Let the message be clear that you do not 
kill Americans and get away with it.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), my friend, a distinguished member 
of the Committee on International Relations.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am going to speak from the heart. I have had a very 
tough couple of days. I think America lost our innocence yesterday, and 
I just kept thinking that perhaps this was a bad dream and we would 
somehow wake up and it would not be true, but we all know it is.
  Mr. Speaker, I am a New Yorker, born and bred. I love our city. I was 
in New York when this tragedy occurred. I often say to my children when 
we come back to New York, look at the skyline, look at the World Trade 
Center. It is so invigorating. It makes me feel so wonderful just to be 
in this city, the city I love, the city in which I was born.
  Mr. Speaker, we New Yorkers are a tough breed; but I have to tell my 
colleagues, Mr. Speaker, this morning at 7 a.m. when I went over the 
George Washington Bridge to come back down here to Washington and I 
took a look at the New York skyline and saw the Twin Towers were not 
there and in its place I saw the smoke and the fire, I really lost it. 
I really lost it.
  Mr. Speaker, as much as I have lost it because I do not see the 
towers there, it pales by comparison when I think of the victims, the 
men, women and children who lost their lives; the firemen, the 
policemen who came there to save people's lives and lost their lives. 
People who go to work, like millions of people in this great country go 
to work to earn a living to support their families, they go to work and 
they are killed by lunatics.
  We have some questions to be asked, Mr. Speaker. We have to ask why 
our intelligence failed us, why our security failed us. Congress has to 
get to the bottom of this and ask these questions. Congress will find 
out.
  Let me say to the terrorists and those people in the streets that we 
saw, the Palestinians and others who were dancing in the streets with 
glee, let me say to them and Osama bin Laden and the Taliban and all 
the people that support terrorism, you have awakened a sleeping giant. 
The United States will not rest until we root out every one of you, 
until we root out the terror and the terrorist cells.
  We are going to rally around our President, as we always have, with 
bipartisanship. We are all one America. God bless this wonderful 
Nation. God bless America.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, this morning, Americans awoke to discover the nightmare 
of September 11, 2001, was a reality. It was a day of infamy. Never 
before have we as a Nation experienced such aggression on our own 
shores which targeted innocent civilians. And we as Americans lost our 
innocence.
  This is an act of war. We resolve to find the perpetrators and punish 
them harshly. As a Nation, we will not be intimidated. We stand strong 
with great determination.
  I want to express our heartfelt grief for the victims and their 
families. We mourn their tragic loss. We offer our prayers, our 
comfort, and our resolve.

                              {time}  1700

  I also want to thank the firefighters, the rescue personnel, and the 
police who have risked, and, in many cases, lost their lives to search 
for those impacted by this terrible attack. Personnel from my district 
and the districts of many others in Montgomery County, Maryland have 
joined forces with those from across the Nation. We join them in 
solidarity as they continue with their incredible efforts.
  Thanks also to all the volunteers, those who are giving blood and 
helping in every way possible. Without question, this attack on our 
liberty and freedom is a strike against all nations that value 
democracy. No attack as cowardly as the one we have just experienced 
will go unanswered. We will act swiftly and decisively, and our 
response must be as forceful as our military can muster.
  Our history has been defined by the resiliency of our people. Mr. 
Speaker, I stand here today to exclaim that we Americans will join 
together in a bipartisan fashion to solemnly pledge to defend freedom 
and liberty. As stated in the resolution before us, September 12, 2001, 
shall be a national day of unity and mourning.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt), a distinguished member of 
the Committee on International Relations.
  Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Across the Nation, the pain and the grief certainly runs deep. 
Yesterday's

[[Page H5515]]

events have saddened and seared the hearts of all Americans. But only, 
only as we put human faces on the thousands of casualties can we even 
begin to comprehend the magnitude and the impact of this unspeakable 
attack on our homeland.
  People from my district like Jeffrey Coombs of Abington, 
Massachusetts, aboard Flight 11; Brian Sweeney, a Barnstable resident, 
on Flight 175; and Stuart Meltzer, who worked on the 103rd floor of the 
World Trade Center, whose family on Cape Cod followed televised news 
reports with horror, and continue to hope that he is alive.
  In their names, and in those of all the other victims, we will find 
and punish those who committed these atrocities. This was an assault 
not only on America and her citizens, but on all that America 
represents, and on the hopes and dreams of a world that yearns for 
peace, freedom, and justice under law that is so special to America.
  In striking at us, the terrorists sought to exploit the openness of 
our society and to shake the foundations of the civilized order which 
America sustains. Well, they will fail. Our challenge now, and the test 
of our democracy, is to harness our anger and our passion to respond in 
a manner that is firm, clear, and just, that befits a great Nation and 
honors our own ideal and our history.
  We will heal these wounds and we will honor the memory of those that 
we so tragically lost. God bless America.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts).
  (Mr. PLATTS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me. I rise in support of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, passage of this joint resolution will make it clear to 
the world that the Members of the United States House of 
Representatives and the United States Senate, Republicans, Democrats, 
and Independents alike, are united in our prayers and concerns for the 
victims of these terrible and heinous attacks, and that we are united 
in our resolve to see justice done on their behalf.
  The divisions between us over other issues in past months pale in 
comparison and now seem very trivial. The horrific events of yesterday, 
September 11, 2001, have united us all.
  As we move forward, let us not forget the victims. Let us not forget 
their families. Let us not forget the heroes. Let us not forget our 
united resolve to see that justice prevails.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my friend 
and neighbor, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), a 
distinguished member of the Committee on International Relations.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank our ranking member for yielding time to 
me.
  Today I rise to condemn the horrific tragedy of September 11 and to 
acknowledge today, September 12, as a national day of unity and 
mourning.
  I mourn the deaths of men, women, and children on four airplanes, who 
boarded these planes to visit their relatives, conduct business, embark 
upon vacations. I mourn the deaths and injuries of thousands of people 
who went to work yesterday at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, 
thinking it was just another Tuesday. I mourn the deaths and injuries 
of the brave firefighters, EMTs, and police officers who rushed to the 
aid of the victims and who became victims themselves. Their heroism 
will never be forgotten.
  And to the brave emergency personnel and volunteers still working 
tirelessly to save lives, words cannot express our gratitude.
  This tragedy has shattered the lives of so many men, women, and 
children throughout our country and in my home district in California. 
My heart goes out to them, and my prayers and my thoughts.
  As an immediate response, we really must increase resources and 
efforts to fight terrorism and to provide support for emergency 
services, reconstruction, and recovery. The United States must remain 
strong and vigilant in its sense of national unity, and move forward to 
protect against further atrocities.
  This was an attack on our Nation, its people, our democracy, and the 
rule of law. As we respond to this unspeakable horror, we must uphold 
our democratic principles, our laws, and our cherished beliefs. We must 
resist impulses to cast blame on the basis of religion and ethnicity.
  The Congress and the administration must work together to achieve a 
full and thorough investigation into the source of this act of 
terrorism in order to ensure that those responsible are brought to 
justice. At a more fundamental level, we must work to create a peaceful 
world where those who would commit such desperate, despicable, and 
cold-hearted actions will not find support and protection.
  I urge adoption of this resolution.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson).
  (Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of our great Nation and 
against the dastardly acts of terrorism that we have seen. September 
11, 2001, will forever live in the hearts and minds of not just 
Americans, but every single person who values freedom, peace, and 
security.
  The loved ones of the victims and aid workers are in my thoughts and 
prayers, and the most important thing is that America remains strong, 
and we will certainly overcome this tragedy.
  I saw the pictures of that destruction, especially in New York and at 
the Pentagon, which is where I was just 5 minutes before that happened. 
I was in Vietnam as a POW. I saw B-52s bomb Hanoi day after day after 
day, and I am telling the Members, with over 100 bombs from each one of 
those bombers, the destruction was not as great as what I have seen in 
New York City and at the Pentagon yesterday. It is horrible. Members 
can bet we will hunt down and punish the cowards responsible for that 
act.
  This declaration, this resolution that we have in front of us today, 
declares that these premeditated attacks struck not only at the people 
of the United States, but also at the symbols and structures of our 
economic and military strength, and that the United States is entitled 
to respond under international law. The problem with that is it does 
not declare war. It is a war, Mr. Speaker.
  Let me read what the Canada National Post said today: ``When foreign 
governments are discovered to be giving aid and succor to terrorists, 
they, too, must be hit. They must be hit as hard as possible and as 
often as possible to deter them forever.''
  The Dallas Morning News said today, this morning: ``We must remind 
the world of how precious freedom is and how relentlessly we will 
defend it. The rest of the world must know that we will not rest until 
we capture and punish the terrorists responsible, and any nation who 
protects them.''
  May God bless and protect each and every one of us, and all America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Sawyer).
  (Mr. SAWYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SAWYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, our prayers of all faiths are with the families and the 
victims of yesterday's horrendous attack. Our hopes are with those 
rescue personnel who are, at this very moment, working with all their 
heart to find the survivors. And our sorrow is shared by all Americans, 
for we have all been touched by this heinous act.
  But the organizers of this violence will not ultimately succeed in 
their attack. For the object of terror is to instill fear to achieve a 
purpose. We may not yet know the purpose motivating the attack, but our 
collective sorrow should not be mistaken for fear. The terrorists only 
succeed if we give into fear. The terrorists may have destroyed 
thousands of lives and buildings that symbolize our strength and 
freedom, but their attacks cannot destroy the larger hopes and ideals 
of this country.
  While we act now to reach out a hand to help the victims of this act, 
we must also reach out another hand to punish those who perpetrated it 
and those who sheltered them. The wanton cowardice, the deliberate 
targeting of innocents, demand justice. Justice

[[Page H5516]]

will be served, but it will require perseverance. We do not yet know 
whom to blame, and our effort to strike back will not be easy--
terrorists groups are more easily defined by ideology than geography. 
But in the face of cynical evil, we are one Congress, one people, one 
Nation, and we shall prevail.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Hoeffel), a member of 
the Committee on International Relations.
  Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution and in support of 
my country. As I walked to work this morning across the Capitol 
grounds, I was struck, as I often am, as I always am, by the beauty of 
the Capitol Building.
  It occurred to me, as I saw the dome shining so whitely against that 
bright blue sky today, such a glorious symbol of stability and strength 
of this country, that it could have been a target yesterday of that 
fourth ill-fated hijacked plane.
  The simple truth is that if a terrorist act had destroyed the Capitol 
dome yesterday, or if a thousand terrorist acts had obliterated the 
Capitol, America would still be standing firm, as it is today. We stand 
shoulder to shoulder with the President as our government hunts down 
and punishes those who were responsible for yesterday's acts of war and 
for those who assisted in any way.
  The United States is the greatest country in the world, and we will 
prove that once again as we bury our dead and heal our wounded, rebuild 
our greatest city and the Pentagon, punish the perpetrators, and 
rekindle the light of liberty and freedom in all our citizens.
  My prayers and condolences go out to the victims of yesterday's 
cowardly and inhumane attacks. America will never forget the innocent 
lives that were lost yesterday, and will never be able to forget or 
repay the bravery of those who are working heroically to save lives in 
New York and at the Pentagon.
  Yesterday was a turning point for America, a galvanizing event that 
has unified Congress and the American people and the President to wage 
war against terrorism. I hope and I believe that our response to this 
attack is the beginning of the end of the threat of international 
terrorism.
  Let us act to make it so, and may God bless America.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ramstad), a member of the 
Committee on Ways and Means.
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, my fellow Minnesotans join me in expressing our total 
outrage and deep sadness at the hellacious acts of war committed 
against the United States of America.
  My friends from home and I are also praying today for a miracle, as 
Gordon Aamoth, Jr., from our community of Wayzata, Minnesota, who 
worked in the World Trade Center, is still unaccounted for.
  Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and their loved 
ones, and our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the many American heroes 
who are still out there with the rescue and recovery operations.
  Let us be clear: This Congress stands united and unanimous in our 
resolve to use every resource available to track down those dastardly 
terrorists and destroy them. We also stand united in supporting our 
President and Commander in Chief in taking quick and decisive action 
against these cowardly, despicable terrorists.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of America will prevail because we are 
Americans. As the President said last night, a great people have been 
moved to defend a great Nation. Mark my words, the United States will 
recover, and we will hold these heinous terrorists accountable for 
their brutal and barbaric acts of war.
  Mr. Speaker, today the healing begins. Through our tears, we pray for 
strength. Through our anger, we pray for resolve. Through our hurt, we 
pray for healing. Most of all, Mr. Speaker, we pray for our fellow 
Americans who were killed or injured yesterday, as well as their 
families and friends who grieve so deeply. Mere words are inadequate to 
express our sympathy and sorrow. May God bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), a valued member of the 
Committee on International Relations.
  (Mr. BLUMENAUER asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)

                              {time}  1715

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy.
  In our shock and anger and sorrow over this cowardly attack, it is 
important for us to seize this moment. We Americans learn to draw 
strength from adversity. In this terrible time, we are demonstrating 
that Americans have their priorities straight. Our first attention is 
to provide aid and comfort for the victims and their families. Our next 
priority is for the safety of our fellow citizens, now and in the 
future. Finally, America demands justice. We will seek out and hold 
responsible the cowards who inflicted such carnage on thousands of 
innocent people.
  In meeting these priorities, there is a role for every American. 
Citizens around the country are already stepping forward, giving blood 
and providing assistance to families of victims. The President has 
urged that we not allow the terrorist cowards to score a victory by 
preventing Americans from living life to the fullest. This suggests 
another important role for Americans, not just going about our business 
supporting our families and helping others, but refusing to give up our 
public spaces or our personal liberty.
  America will not surrender its freedom to fear nor will we fall 
victim to the baser instincts to perpetuate a downward spiral of 
violence we have seen in other parts of the world. We will not allow 
anyone in America to be targeted because of race, religion, or ethnic 
heritage. Americans believe in the rule of law. There are already 
pressures in some quarters to lash out. Revenge may be temporarily 
satisfying, but we Americans have a higher value than revenge. We want 
justice. Now is the time for all Americans to show that we are 
different, to demonstrate our strength, our resolve, our courage to be 
equal to the terrible circumstances that faith has given us.
  We will not allow the tragic loss of thousands of our fellow citizens 
to be in vain. This memory will be forever etched in our consciousness, 
but America will emerge stronger. As Pearl Harbor signaled a turning of 
the tide against the forces of tyranny and oppression, so too this 
tragic horror must mark the beginning of the end for the forces of 
terror and cowardice all around the world, wherever we find them.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick), a member 
of the Committee on Rules.
  Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a tragedy of just unspeakable 
proportions. It was an act of war against this country, no question. 
Our thoughts, our prayers are with all those people who are involved in 
this horrible situation.
  We need to be sure who did this despicable act, and we will find them 
and then we need to go after them and wipe them out. If there is a 
nation or another country that is harboring these terrorists, they also 
are an enemy of the United States; and we will wipe them out, too.
  Our Nation's greatness seems to come through adversity. We as a 
Nation will overcome this. We will triumph over our enemies. And I can 
assure you that we will remain a beacon for freedom for all mankind.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Nevada (Ms. Berkley), my friend and distinguished member of the 
Committee on International Relations.
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding me 
this time, and I rise today in the strongest possible support for this 
resolution.
  I condemn these horrendous acts of terrorism as I praise all the 
unnamed heroes who risked their own lives in order to save others. And 
I grieve with those who experienced the loss of loved ones. My heart 
goes out today to the family of Barbara Edwards, a high

[[Page H5517]]

school teacher from southern Nevada, who was a passenger on the 
hijacked jet that crashed into the Pentagon. She leaves three children.
  I support the President and our administration in the pursuit and 
punishment of those responsible for this heinous crime against 
humanity. Yesterday's attack was an attack on everything that we 
believe in as Americans, everything we hold sacred as a nation. It was 
an attack on freedom of speech. It was an attack on freedom of 
religion. It was a cowardly attack on innocent people: mothers, 
fathers, sons, and daughters simply going about their daily routines.
  Our hearts may be broken and our eyes full of tears, but we Americans 
have a message for those who carried out this cowardly attack and for 
those who gave them assistance and shelter: let this be a warning to 
any who wish to harm us. Americans will not back down. Americans will 
never live in fear.
  As Thomas Jefferson once said: ``I have sworn upon the alter of God 
eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.'' 
We will persevere over the tyranny of terror, and we will persevere 
over tyrants everywhere.
  God bless America. God bless our people.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary of the Committee 
on Appropriations, who has been a leader in human rights and anti-
terrorism efforts.
  (Mr. WOLF asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.J. Res. 61, which 
expresses the sense of the Senate and the House regarding the terrorist 
attacks launched against the United States.
  My heartfelt sympathy extends to all the families, many from our 
region, who lost loved ones in this terrible act of cowardice. The 
mothers, the fathers, the sons, the daughters, the friends and 
neighbors who perished in the World Trade Center in New York City, at 
the Pentagon, and on four commercial airlines will never be forgotten.
  I also want to extend my thanks and praise to the courageous 
firefighters, rescue workers, police officers, servicemen and women, 
and the scores of volunteers who have been working around the clock 
with regard to the rescue effort.
  As the words of the resolution state, these attacks were by far the 
deadliest terrorist attacks ever launched against the United States. 
And by targeting symbols of America's strength and success, they 
clearly were intended to intimidate our Nation and weaken its resolve. 
We will not be intimidated. We will do all we can and stand behind 
President Bush, our nation's commander in chief, as he works to respond 
to the evils of terrorism.
  We also stand behind the statement that there will be no distinction 
between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor 
them. I am committed to seeing that every resource possible be put 
together and put towards apprehending and punishing the people who 
planned and assisted in the implementation of these heinous actions 
against innocent victims. Our response must be swift and aggressive. 
The terrorists must be brought to justice and the countries which 
harbor them must be held responsible.
  We are a strong Nation, united in our determination to continue to be 
the beacon of freedom to all in the world. We should pray for our 
country. May God bless America and God bless all our people.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my good 
friend, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), a distinguished Member 
of Congress.
  Mr. BISHOP. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, so far, nothing our country has done to deter terrorism 
has worked on an enduring basis. In spite of our intelligence 
operations, retaliatory strikes, and a few arrests and trials, the 
murderous attacks have continued unabated and have escalated in 
severity culminating in yesterday's slaughter of thousands of our 
citizens. Unless our nation unites behind a more forceful and 
relentless cause of action, whatever the risk may be, we may never be 
free of this evil threat; and we will continue to pay a terrible price.
  Mr. Speaker, many of us have been touched personally by this tragedy. 
One of my former staff members, Brittley Wise Salinardi, is the wife of 
the property manager of the World Trade Center, Rich Salinardi. Rich is 
missing and Brittley is devastated with anxiety, having no word of his 
fate. Our prayers are with these extraordinary young people and their 
families and with all those who have been touched and who have suffered 
so grievously from yesterday's attack.
  Let us stand together to rid the world of the evil forces responsible 
for the war they are waging against humanity. I support this 
resolution. Let us rid the world of this scourge of terrorism and make 
those responsible pay the price.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Dunn), a member of the 
Committee on Ways and Means.
  Ms. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution not 
only as a Member of Congress but also as an American citizen who is 
deeply saddened by the heinous acts committed yesterday against the 
United States. These are acts of hatred. They are acts of violence. 
They are acts of war.
  Today, after hearing more accounts of what thousands of individuals 
endured yesterday, it is clear that yesterday's events will live 
forever in the memory of every American. One thing is certain, the 
President, Congress, and military leaders have launched the greatest 
manhunt this country has ever known. There will be serious consequences 
for these unconscionable acts of aggression.
  I can assure the people of my State of Washington, many who have lost 
friends and loved ones, that in their names I am fully committed to 
working with our President and our military and intelligence leaders in 
supporting them in any actions they believe are appropriate. As the 
President has said, we are a nation of spirit and strength. We will 
prevail.
  From blood banks that were overflowing with donors to the thousands 
of rescue workers who traveled to Manhattan and to the Pentagon to help 
with relief efforts, we have shown that we are one strong nation. We 
will be united as we deal with this tragedy.
  I have no doubt that those responsible for yesterday's actions do not 
understand the American people. They believe that they can destroy our 
values and our freedom by destroying our buildings. They forget that 
our heritage is the heritage of patriots, and freedom, democracy, and 
liberty are instilled deep in the hearts and the minds of every 
American.
  Mr. Speaker, this flame of patriotism will not be extinguished. In 
fact, today, it burns more brightly than ever before.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano), my friend and colleague 
and a valued member of the Committee on International Relations.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the ranking member 
from California, for yielding me this time; and I too rise in support 
of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, there are no words to describe the unbelievable horror 
and the traumatic shock that all Americans feel in the aftermath of 
yesterday's cowardly attack upon our great nation. These murderers, 
terrorists, and their sponsors clearly do not understand America. If 
they did, they would have known that American resolve and the spirit of 
democracy and freedom cannot be broken by these heinous actions of 
brutality and disregard for all human life.
  While they intended to weaken the very core of our national identity, 
all they did was strengthen our devotion to one another, to our 
government, to our great country and to our never ending support of 
liberty not only here, but around the globe.
  In the faces of the emergency personnel working to rescue innocent 
victims in New York and at the Pentagon, and in the faces of thousands 
of Americans waiting in line to donate blood can be seen the enduring 
strength of America and demonstrates the devotion that brings us all 
together for

[[Page H5518]]

healing. In these hard, dire times, when we are faced with the cold 
reality of terrorism, it is heartening to see that all Americans, 
regardless of party affiliation, regardless of religious beliefs, race, 
or ethnicity are coming together to show the world that the United 
States will not tolerate terrorism nor will we ever abandon our values 
of democracy and freedom.
  Let us also remember that at our very core we are and always will be 
a Nation of feeling, caring immigrants. That has been our enduring 
strength and it is the future of the Nation. But do not mistake that 
for weakness or for indecision. We stand united behind our President 
and our leaders in the sure and certain faith that we will indeed 
persevere and bring justice to all those responsible for these 
atrocities. We are committed.
  Thank you America. God bless us all.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle), chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Education Reform of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and 
the former governor of Delaware.

                              {time}  1730

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, like millions of my fellow American 
citizens, I am feeling a series of emotions ranging from tremendous 
sadness to shock and anger. The sadness is almost overwhelming when we 
see images of destruction in New York and the Pentagon and when we 
think of the families that have been torn apart by this unprecedented 
tragedy.
  We are shocked that a terrorist attack of this magnitude could happen 
in the United States and that public buildings in our largest cities 
were attacked.
  We are also angry, angry that these terrorist criminals have resorted 
to using civilian airlines as their weapons of destruction and that 
they targeted thousands of innocent people going about their daily 
lives.
  Yes, these terrorists have met their goal of causing us this sadness, 
shock and anger. But what they may not realize is that they have 
awakened the tremendous resolve and determination of American people. 
We are grieving in mourning for those who were lost, and we are 
reaching out to the families. At the same time, we are determined to 
respond to this attack.
  These horrific acts of violence are equal to any act of war we have 
ever faced. In many ways, they go beyond what we have experienced in 
the past because they have targeted innocent people who would never be 
the primary targets of violence in any past definition of war.
  This is a defining moment in our history. We must marshal all of our 
other emotions to strengthen our determination to respond to this 
attack in a comprehensive and ongoing manner.
  The terrorist criminals who committed this act have awakened the 
giant that is America. We will not rest until we have taken every step 
to bring these criminals to justice and to combat the terrorism that 
threatens the entire civilized world.
  We must change our view of terrorism. It is no longer an occasional 
threat that we respond to and then return to a sense of complacency. It 
will take a new approach, a comprehensive one that includes our 
military, our intelligence capability, and how we protect our citizens 
at home and abroad.
  We are sad and angry, but we are also determined. Let us use this 
determination to honor those who were lost and to protect all Americans 
for today and in the future.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr).
  (Mr. Farr of California asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Joint 
Resolution 61.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.J. Res. 61 which deplores 
yesterday's barbarous attack against our country and our people. I 
commend all of my colleagues for their heart-felt and inspiring words. 
I would like to add my voice to the resounding unanimity of this body 
in commending the heroic deeds of our fellow countrymen, and condemning 
the treacherous act of terrorism which struck at the heart of our 
nation.
  First, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies and condolences 
to families and fiends who have lost their love ones in this 
horrendous, tragic event. These innocent lives were ended without 
reason, without warning. They were not, however, ended without cause. 
We know that they died in defense of our country, of the American way 
of life. All of those grieving should know that these lives were not 
lost in vain.
  In this hour of loss and need, I have been astounded by the countless 
acts of solidarity and self-sacrifice exhibited by Americans toward 
their neighbors. These are, indeed, ``the times that try men's souls.'' 
America has been tried and it has been proven true. True to the ideals 
of courage, of honor, of love and friendship to our fellow man. We must 
give thanks to live in a land that inspires such loving and giving 
people. Sufficient praise cannot be given to the fire-fighters, relief 
workers, and ordinary citizens who, in the face of life-threatening 
adversity, turned and entered the jaws of death to save lives. Some of 
these brave heroes sacrificed themselves that others might live. In 
this day and age, when we are accused of being a selfish, self-centered 
and apathetic generation, we can look back to these acts and these 
people and they will give us strength and faith in ourselves and in our 
great nation.
  And as we look back, we must also look forward. For our task ahead is 
to continue the work of ``making the world safe for democracy.'' We are 
called upon now to renew and strengthen this great and noble mission. 
As many here have said so forcefully and eloquently, democracy itself 
has been threatened and we must respond. We must respond by steeling 
ourselves against our enemies, and fighting against the chaos that they 
sought to inflict upon us. We must continue to demonstrate our strength 
and our unity. We must continue to show the world that we are one 
country, with one heart and one will. We will find our enemies, we will 
meet them and we will defeat them. And just as the bombings of New York 
and Washington were moral as well as physical attacks, we must 
concentrate our efforts on defeating our moral as well as our physical 
enemies. Terrorism does not reside in one man, in one country. It is an 
idea which must be combated each day in the hearts and minds if it is 
to be defeated once and for all. And just as we must and will find and 
bring to justice those who are responsible for this atrocious and 
unpardonable act, we must not think that one attack will be sufficient. 
The war on terrorism will be a war to eradicate the seeds of terrorism, 
a war to eliminate the environment in which terrorism takes root. To 
make the world safe for democracy, we must make the world impossible 
for terrorism.
  I thank the Speaker for giving me the opportunity to express my 
sorrow, sympathy, admiration and indignation. As we move forward, we 
must move together and present a unified front to our allies and 
enemies--meeting the former with love, appreciation and solidarity, the 
latter with steadfast resolve and determination. God bless America and 
our righteous mission.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
New York (Ms. Velazquez).
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I join my colleagues, our fellow 
Americans, and people around the world to offer our prayers to the 
families of those lost or injured in yesterday's unspeakable crimes.
  We stand here in solidarity with the President, who represents this 
Nation and its resolve to hunt down those responsible and bring them to 
justice. No one should doubt our unity and our commitment to rebuild in 
the wake of this deliberate tragedy.
  To the thousands of Americans who have lost loved ones or still wait 
in vigil for the missing, we offer prayers and hope for you who were 
devastated by yesterday's events. You have suffered an incredible 
personal tragedy and receive our sympathy for bearing the brunt of this 
assault on our Nation.
  To the people of New York, you demonstrated the finest heroism and 
humanity during the direst hour. Thousands of you risked your lives to 
help others as smoke, ash and debris rained on you. Thousands more of 
you streamed into blood donation centers to meet an incredible demand, 
saving countless more lives. Your spirit and resilience make our city 
and our country great. Together we will rebuild our city even greater 
than it was before.
  To the American people, we feel the same pain and anger you feel as 
we stand witness together to these terrible events, and we support the 
effort to find those who aided or abetted these crimes. They will be 
found, and they will be brought to justice.
  So today, Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Americans to reach out to one 
another for support on this difficult day. For in our unity, we find 
our greatest

[[Page H5519]]

strength to steel ourselves for the challenges that face us.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Hulshof).
  Mr. HULSHOF. Mr. Speaker, words fail us. We dutifully attempt to 
muster as much eloquence as is humanly possible; and yet no one can 
adequately express the events that have so dominated us during these 
dark days.
  The most basic civil right of humankind is to be free from fear. 
Yesterday, every American had his or her civil rights forcibly 
violated. These unprovoked, yet provocative, attacks on the highest 
profile symbols of American culture have caused untold loss of life. 
Innocent victims perished for no other reason other than they were 
Americans.
  As a Nation we were knocked to our knees with the graphic pictures 
and sounds as we collectively experienced the horrific tragedies in New 
York, near Pittsburg, and here in Washington, D.C. We now remain on our 
knees and murmur a collective prayer to the God who has placed the 
dream of freedom in every human heart.
  Mr. Speaker, as Members of Congress, each one of us swore an oath to 
protect and preserve our liberty and freedom from all enemies, foreign 
and domestic. When a domestic terrorist selected Oklahoma City as his 
target, we extracted from him the fullest measure of punishment allowed 
by law. We must be as a body no less committed in this case.
  The conspiracy of foreign enemies have committed acts of war against 
the sovereignty and against the security of these United States. 
Therefore, be it highly resolved that these honored dead shall not have 
died in vain.
  You may have extinguished American lives, but you have not and never 
can extinguish our American spirit. We have and will continue to 
survive even this most difficult and painful assault on our Republic.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette).
  (Ms. DeGETTE asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution.
  Yesterday's act of war will go down in history as an act that forever 
changed America. Not since Pearl Harbor has our country faced such a 
horror. But this attack took aim at innocent people who when they 
kissed their families goodbye in the morning merely were going to work. 
And yesterday's attackers, rather than an identifiable enemy, were 
anonymous extremists, a faceless lot who don't even have the courage to 
come out of the dark to claim their despicable handiwork.
  What is the same today as it in 1941, is the will and the strength of 
America. We may be bloodied, but we are unbowed. We must respond, as we 
did at that critical juncture, with determination, courage and unity. 
We must understand that the war we must wage against barbarism is more 
complex than the wars we have fought in the past, but like those wars 
will not be won with a single military strike. It will take wisdom and 
patience. Our challenge is to strengthen our defenses so that we will 
never again have to see scenes like we witnessed yesterday and to 
increase our intelligence gathering capabilities while at the same time 
maintaining our core American values. It would serve only the ends of 
the extremists if we were to trample the Bill of Rights in response to 
this crisis.
  I have been heartened by the response of the American people. 
Ordinary citizens became extraordinary orators in responding to these 
barbarous attacks. I hope that the people responsible for yesterday's 
atrocities have been watching, because if they have been they now know 
that they have done nothing but firm our resolve. They are no closer to 
touching the foundations of the United States than they were before 
this heinous attack. We are stronger today that we were yesterday.
  We must ferret out these monsters and bring them to justice. We owe 
it to the children who lost their parents and the parents who lost 
their children yesterday. We must hold accountable those institutions 
and groups that have supported them in their madness. We must hold the 
line against hatred. We must stand up for humanity, for civilized 
society. We must stand against the tyranny of extremism.
  And I know we will. As President Franklin Roosevelt said in his 
speech following the attack on Pearl harbor: ``We will not only defend 
ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this 
form of treachery shall never again endanger us.''
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt).
  (Mr. WATT of North Carolina asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the 
resolution.
  In the aftermath of unprecedented attacks of the kind our country 
witnessed yesterday, no words can express the full range of emotions: 
horror, dismay, sadness, anger, etc. I join with all my colleagues in 
expressing condolences to the families of the people who were killed in 
these tragic incidents and in praying for the full recovery of the many 
people who were injured. I also join my colleagues in thanking so many 
people whose acts of bravery and heroism may receive little, if any, 
notice in the midst of this crisis. They reaffirm my confidence in our 
country's ability to withstand this crisis and our unity as Members of 
Congress should assure them of our commitment to determine who is 
responsible for these cowardly acts and bring them to justice.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to pay special tribute to the family of Sandy 
Bradshaw, a flight attendant on United Airlines flight 93 which crashed 
in Pennsylvania. Her husband, Phil and her children, Alexandria and 
Shenan, are still hoping against all odds that she is still alive. They 
are residents of my Congressional District in Greensboro, North 
Carolina, and I want them to know that all my constituents are praying 
for them in a special way.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Evans).
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  As the son of a firefighter, I was never so proud as I was of what 
firefighters did yesterday; but I believe all of our law enforcement 
officials, doctors and nurses, blood donors and volunteers, deserve to 
be saluted as well.
  Mr. Speaker, we will have a problem for survivors that I hope will be 
addressed head-on, and that is psychological problems referred to by 
Vietnam veterans called post-traumatic stress disorder. Many of the 
victims will have problems without any other additional assistance, and 
I was pleased to hear that the administration has called upon this 
country to provide the support that our fellow citizens who have 
survived and have post-traumatic stress disorder to come forward and 
help fund those programs.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the City of Washington in terms of what 
local people did. We had cooperation and openness. The citizens of this 
great city came together and worked together with us.
  Mr. Speaker, we need to be careful to be good to each other as 
colleagues in this body. The gentleman in the chair today, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood), has led us in the past to make 
sure that we are a user-friendly institution, and I salute the 
gentleman and call upon my colleagues to make sure that we keep 
together on these important issues that we are going to be facing in 
the next few days and in the next few years.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts), the distinguished chairman of the 
House Republican Conference.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, there are few words that can 
articulate what our Nation experienced yesterday.
  The tragedy that Americans experienced was a blemish on our Nation's 
history. It was a day that will be remembered by families in New York 
City and Washington, D.C., and every town throughout the country. 
Unlike momentous days of joy that we tell our children and 
grandchildren about, September 11, 2001, will be a day that we will 
recall for years to come with sadness and with sorrow.
  Like Pearl Harbor and the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, the surprise 
attack on the people and sites that run the country, our economy, our 
military and government will not be the final word. There can be no 
justice without peace, but there can be no peace without justice.
  Over 6 years ago I stood on this floor and condemned the bombing of 
the Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Today, like 1995, we should 
remain strong. We should not succumb to fear. If we succumb to fear and 
paranoia, the terrorists have won. In this time of emergency and 
mourning, let us open our hearts to those that need our help.

[[Page H5520]]

  Mr. Speaker, I urge my fellow Americans, if they can, give blood; if 
they can, give their time. Fly an American flag at half-mast. Take time 
to pray. Give thanks to those who are helping us through this crisis, 
and give thoughts to those who suffer because of the acts of faceless 
cowards.
  Our Nation will get through this upheaval. We will not let the 
pernicious intentions of an unidentified organization curtail the 
business or the strength of character of the United States of America.
  To the families and friends of those who lost their lives, know they 
are not alone in their sorrow. I pray for them. We pray for them. And 
to the medics, the doctors and nurses, the firefighters, the police 
officers, the rescue workers, Salvation Army, Red Cross, and to all of 
the other emergency personnel on the scene of the incidents, we thank 
them for their service to our Nation and our sister communities here in 
Washington, D.C. and in New York.
  Mr. Speaker, politics has taken a day off. Today Congress recognizes 
and remembers the afflicted and the sorrowing and those who came to the 
aid of their fellow man.
  Ralph Waldo Emerson in 1842 captured what I think we are all thinking 
today. He said, ``Sorrow makes us all children again, destroys all 
differences of intellect. The wisest knows nothing.''
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for 
their service and leadership during this national tragedy.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kleczka).
  (Mr. KLECZKA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in disgust of yesterday's terrorist 
acts, and in strong support of the resolution before us.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in disgust of yesterday's terrorists acts and in 
strong support of this resolution.
  The cowardly acts of terrorism carried out yesterday against fellow 
Americans are sickening and unparalleled since the surprise attack on 
Pearl Harbor nearly sixty years ago. Each of the commercial aircraft 
used as weapons were carrying innocent men, women, and children. And 
the timing of the assaults--around 9am on a weekday morning, seems to 
have been designed to maximize the loss of innocent life for those in 
all the buildings attacked. Know full well that we as a government will 
not rest until those responsible are found and severely punished.
  We salute those dedicated rescue workers, firefighters, and police 
who have been working around the clock to try to reach those that might 
still be trapped alive inside. My sympathies and condolences go out to 
those who lost their lives, the injured and the families who will 
forever bear the scars of this day from hell.
  But while these heinous acts were carefully planned, in the ultimate 
sense these terrorists have failed in their mission. They can shake the 
foundations of skyscrapers, but they cannot break our spirit. We are 
not broken. We are saddened, but stand firm in our resolve as a country 
and a people. At this time of national shock, we all stand together as 
a country in prayer, mourning, and resolve as we join in support of our 
President as he leads us in the days and weeks ahead. May God bless our 
nation.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hooley).
  (Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend her remarks.)
  Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, simply put, in the annals of our history, September 11, 
2001 will be forever remembered as a day of unprecedented barbarism.
  Perhaps most tragic, the Constitutional freedoms we enjoy on a daily 
basis--the same protections which allow us to serve in Congress and 
which millions of men and women fought and died to guarantee to every 
American--were cruelly exploited for a vile purpose: to simply 
slaughter thousands of innocents.
  Mr. Speaker, there's a good chance we'll never know how many 
Americans perished in these attacks.
  We'll certainly never comprehend the sheer terror they felt, nor the 
anguish their loved ones are facing today.
  But in our capacity as human beings we can certainly empathize with 
their plight.
  This was an act of war against the American people, as such, Congress 
must ensure our armed forces appropriately respond to this attack to 
quickly and decisively eliminate the individuals and their allies who 
would strike a blow against our liberty.
  We must set the same goals of previous generations of Americans, and 
seek an absolute and unconditional victory that ensures our sons and 
daughters wives and husbands, and friends and neighbors are never, ever 
again exposed to such an act of barbarism.
  We stand together as members of Congress and as Americans in our 
resolve to identify those responsible for conceiving and carrying out 
these acts of war, and to exact justice for this unforgivable assault.
  With that, I urge my colleagues to adopt this resolution.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Guam 
(Mr. Underwood).
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, today in the aftermath of the most 
devastating attack on American civilians in our Nation's history, we 
take up the task of rebuilding our spirits, reaffirming our commitment 
to our national values, and making the pledge that this will never 
happen again.
  As we console the families of the victims, as we remind ourselves 
about the core American values of freedom and democracy, and as we make 
plans to deal with the terrorists, we must remember who we are as a 
people. We are the participants of a great democratic undertaking, a 
national project which stands as an example for the rest of the world. 
We have a duty to perfect and protect our Nation, and we must never be 
swayed from the road towards freedom and democracy for ourselves and as 
a beacon for the planet.
  Mr. Speaker, there are many emotions that race through our bodies 
individually and collectively. We are saddened by the pictures of the 
attacks and elated with pride by the essential goodness of our people, 
and we are also filled with anger and thoughts of vengeance as we 
contemplate future action.
  We must be mindful of our responsibilities as leaders to deal with 
this crisis in an orderly manner which demonstrates calm, which 
reassures our people that we will be an even greater people in the 
future, and which provides evidence of our core values as people. We 
must first comfort the families and friends of the victims. We must 
remind ourselves of the democratic values which make us great and which 
make us a target.
  Mr. Speaker, then we must take action against the terrorists and 
ensure that this never happens again. We must conduct ourselves with 
dignity and resolve, confident in the inevitable success in our 
national purpose and democracy. The people of Guam stand ready to do 
our part in this national crusade at this time of crisis. As so often 
has happened in the past century, Guam is ready to do its part in 
national defense, in demonstrating resolve. We have made our 
contributions in the past. We will do our part again and again in this 
century.

                              {time}  1745

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen), my good 
friend and colleague.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey 
for yielding me the time.
  I rise in support of the resolution and I join with all Americans and 
so many New Jerseyans who are personally affected by this crisis in 
prayer for the victims of yesterday's unthinkable, horrible acts of 
terrorism against our people. Words cannot properly express our sorrow 
for the victims and their families.
  For those of us who come from New York and New Jersey, our friends 
and neighbors who work in lower Manhattan, who commute every day from 
our hometowns, their families and their lives have been changed forever 
by yesterday's unspeakable events, as well as for our military and 
civilian personnel at the Pentagon. We feel for their loved ones, their 
children, their spouses and family members whose lives have been 
irreversibly changed forever.
  We also salute the courage and professionalism and heroism and 
generosity of so many firefighters, police, emergency and medical 
personnel, and many volunteers of their own blood, food, shelter and 
comfort. These volunteers have and continue to offer themselves so 
unselfishly.

[[Page H5521]]

  The President and all Americans pledge our support to assist all the 
families and victims of these tragedies.
  We will hold accountable those responsible wherever they may be, that 
they may be brought to justice. We will do all that is called for and 
all that is needed in defense of our country and its citizens and to 
bring these criminals to justice.
  As Americans, we have always known, ``Freedom is not free.'' 
Countless Americans have fought and secured these freedoms, and now as 
our Nation is again tested, we will be as strong as a Nation, united as 
a people, and more committed than ever before to the defense of our 
freedoms, our citizens and our great Nation.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard), my friend and 
colleague.
  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in 
strong support of this resolution expressing heartfelt condolences to 
the victims and families directly impacted by yesterday's horrific acts 
of violence and in condemning the cowardly acts of terrorism against 
our country.
  These acts were intended to shatter the very foundation of American 
society, but instead this violence has highlighted the fact that we 
Americans are strongest and most united in the face of adversity.
  This is evident as we watch the heroic effort of the men and women 
who are valiantly responding to help the victims of these murderous 
acts, and it is evident in our Nation's resolve and unity to find and 
to punish those responsible for these unconscionable acts of violence 
against innocent Americans.
  Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of the 
victims, and I assure them that we as a Nation will not rest until the 
enemies responsible for this attack upon our country and, indeed, 
democracies everywhere have been brought to justice.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), my good friend and colleague.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for 
yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, Margaret Thatcher once said that the U.S. was unique 
because it was the only country whose very existence was based on an 
idea, the idea of freedom. Whether on a battlefield or in a factory, at 
home or abroad, in peace or confrontation, it is the American heart, an 
unbridled and unyielding spirit, that has pulled us through over 200 
years of freedom.
  On September 11, 2001, America's calm was shattered by a horrendous 
act of terrorism. There is no doubt that this day will long be 
remembered, and our thoughts and prayers are with those whose lives 
have been forever altered by this tragedy.
  America responded to this tragedy the way we have responded to past 
ones, by coming together and reaching out to one another. Yesterday, 
Americans rushed to the aid of their fellow Americans without thought 
of the possible consequences to themselves.
  Even as we pull together to recover from this tragedy, one thing is 
perfectly clear and has been made over and over again today and 
yesterday: America has never, nor will it now, yield to terrorism. Make 
no mistake, we will find and bring to justice the despicable 
individuals who in any manner helped carry out these heinous crimes. 
They have made a fatal miscalculation and should expect swift and 
severe retaliation by the United States of America.
  Those who perpetrated this heinous act have reawakened a sleeping 
giant, and they should know that their acts of cowardice will never 
break our spirit or lessen our love for freedom and democracy. Their 
evil has united us and will make us stronger and more resolved to fight 
for the ideals upon which this great Nation was founded. The attack on 
America may change our view of the world but it will not change our 
American spirit.
  God bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), my good friend and 
distinguished colleague.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, today I join my colleagues in support of 
this resolution before us.
  I come to the floor deeply distraught and outraged by the senseless, 
terrorist actions perpetrated yesterday against the American people. My 
thoughts and prayers are with the victims of these crimes and with 
their families, and I wish to pay special honor to those who call Rhode 
Island their home: Amy Jarret of North Smithfield; Carol Bouchard from 
my hometown in Warwick; Renee Newell of Cranston; Shawn Nassaney of 
Pawtucket; and David and Lynn Angell of Barrington. Sadly, in the 
coming days, I fear that the names on this list will grow, and I offer 
my deepest condolences to the loved ones of these innocent victims.
  For more than two centuries, Rhode Island, and indeed America, has 
been a bastion of democracy, freedom and tolerance, principles and 
ideals that were targets of yesterday's cowardly attacks. However, 
Rhode Islanders and all Americans are also known for their independence 
and strong spirit. Our resolve and love for freedom will not be broken 
by terrorism.
  As a member of the Committee on Armed Services, I vow to do all in my 
power to find those implicated in these attacks and bring them swiftly 
to justice.
  Mr. Speaker, make no mistake about it, all these terrorists have done 
is awakened a sleeping giant, and now this Nation stands united. It is 
our responsibility in Congress to protect the American people and our 
democratic ideals, and I stand by the President and our leadership in 
these endeavors.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Burr).
  (Mr. BURR of North Carolina asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BURR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, a new day has dawned in America. Yesterday morning, our 
Nation felt the full force of terrorism and saw the real face of evil 
in an attack designed to cripple this Nation by cowards who hold no 
regard for human life. In a carefully coordinated and well planned 
attack on symbols of our Nation's strength, they sought to destroy the 
very foundation of our democracy. In this new day, the entire world has 
learned they failed.
  Their cowardly attack has shaken our country and has taken from us 
some of our best and brightest, but they had not crippled our Nation. 
Their attempt to destroy our democracy has only served to make it 
stronger.
  Our Nation, united and with great resolve, will see its way through 
this ordeal. As Americans, we will comfort our grieving countrymen. As 
Americans, we will heal our wounded. As Americans, we will bury our 
dead. And then, as Americans, we will remember why they died and track 
down those who perpetrated this act. We shall not be deterred. and we 
shall not be defeated.
  Yesterday, an act of war was carried out against these United States. 
Today, a united American people are prepared to rebuild their lives and 
communities. Driven by the principles of democracy, this place that 
some call America and we call home has been strengthened because the 
American people have strengthened.
  America will remain a beacon for peace and freedom around the world. 
American history will document the devastation caused and the lives 
that were lost, but the new dawn highlights our greatest asset, the 
resolve of the American people.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry), a member of the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce.
  Mr. TERRY. Mr. Speaker, this is a simple measure but heartfelt. There 
is no way to express our feelings of grief and sorrow for the American 
citizens who are dead and injured from this horrible, gruesome, 
barbarism that struck our Nation yesterday and our cities of New York 
and Washington. My condolences go out to all of the innocent people who 
suffered from the brutality of these world terrorists who sought out 
the innocent to complete their cruel missions.
  Those who committed this atrocity are, simply put, the scum of the 
Earth and they must be punished. The acts of terrorism must not be the 
daily concerns of Americans. We must be able to feel secure in our 
homes. Acts of terrorism must be stopped. As a Member of Congress, I 
will work to make sure that the terrorist organizations that carried 
out this horrible act and those who helped them and protect them are 
destroyed. I am willing to commit all

[[Page H5522]]

the resources necessary to accomplish this goal.
  Our President stated yesterday, ``Our resolve has been tested, and we 
will show the world that we will pass that test.'' I agree. I can only 
add that our action must be swift and decisive.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz).
  (Mr. ORTIZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. We need 
to take proper action.
  Mr. Speaker, with a heavy heart, I rise today and offer my 
condolences and prayers to the families of the victims killed in New 
York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Our nation has faced an unspeakable 
evil that will forever color how we live our lives and conduct our 
policy. Our world has always been a dangerous place, and it will 
continue to be so. After leaving this historical building yesterday, I 
wasn't altogether sure we would see it again. This building, 
representative of our freedom and democracy, is a very large target for 
those who oppose our country. It will continue to be a target.
  Of course, if that fact can change how we work here, then the 
terrorists win. It is for us to set the example of getting back to 
work, condemning this act of war and horror, and hunt and return for 
justice the person or people who did this. If there is a nation 
involved, we will judge them as part of the effort and attack with the 
vengeance of the strongest nation on the face of the earth.
  Our sacrifices throughout the 20th Century meant that--largely--
Americans had no fear of attack on our nation. Pearl Harbor pierced 
that fearlessness for a moment, and September 11's Trade Towers-
Pentagon attack differs only in that Pearl Harbor was a military base 
and that it was attacked by a nation on which we could declare war. We 
knew who they were and where to find them.
  This situation teaches us that the price of freedom today will be 
borne by the everyday patriot who goes to work in a high-profile place 
as they stand on the front lines of danger. The front lines of danger 
today are banks, industry, borders, monuments and government buildings, 
in addition to our military bases. And it is our duty to stand bravely 
on those lines and put the possibility of danger in the back of our 
minds. If we are guided by the danger of where we are, the terrorists 
have succeeded in striking fear and terror in our hearts, and they can 
win in our minds what they could never win on a field of battle.
  Yesterday, our democracy was damaged, and today it evolves to remain 
supreme. We lost no freedoms for the moment, but this nation not only 
has a strong military, we have enormous resolve and the pioneer spirit 
that settled a continent, explored space and leads the world in the 
global economy. It is easy to see why there are those who despise us; 
but they despise us for the very thing that makes us great: our spirit 
and our fortitude for freedom.
  This is a call for this century and this generation. Nothing has 
really moved you to think about what this country means to you, how 
fragile our liberties are? Then let this moment in history move you. 
Let it move you to a greater understanding of our nation and our 
constitutionally-protected liberties, let it move you to appreciate 
those liberties, let it take us to a deeper understanding of who we are 
as a country. We are many people from many countries in a single 
nation. We are from every corner of the planet, yet we share the 
liberties of this nation.
  This tragic attack killed men women and children from nations 
throughout the world, and the response upon the criminals should be a 
world-wide response. We have many different ideas that divide us on 
policy, but that is the meaning of America, many people, many ideas, 
but one spirit. Let no enemy misunderstand when these many people speak 
with one loud, angry voice: we will find you and we will punish you. We 
are stronger than you and more powerful than you and we have more moral 
courage than you because we value life. Even when you attack innocents, 
Americans will always fight back, and we have evidence that this place 
could well have been spared for the heroic efforts of some of the 
victims on the plane in Pennsylvania.
  Let this moment move Americans to bear the burden of going to work on 
behalf of our nation with the fearlessness of our soldiers on a 
battlefield. Let it move each American to remember these immortal words 
from the foundations of our nation, ``Don't tread on me.''
  America is a powerful force with which to be reckoned. We will find 
the responsible party. We resolve to find who did this--we punish our 
enemies. We will do this in memory of every victim of this terrorist 
act, and we will do it on behalf of the liberties for which the victims 
of this attack died in a battle they did not anticipate.
  We should express a special appreciation of the firefighters and law 
enforcement officers who gave their lives in the effort to save 
civilians in the rubble of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Law 
enforcement officers and fire fighters have a tremendously painful job 
to do and they are ready exhausted.
  Please say a prayer tonight for the injured and unaccounted for here 
and in New York, pray for the victims' families involved in this 
murderous attack, pray for the people who are helping them find their 
loved ones, and pray for our nation, that we exercise good judgment in 
our quest to make someone take responsibility for this.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. LaFalce), the distinguished ranking member of the Committee 
on Financial Services.
  (Mr. LaFALCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. LaFALCE. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked, and 
Franklin Delano Roosevelt said that day shall go down as a day of 
infamy. On September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked, and I 
believe that day will go down as our day of greatest infamy. Over 2,000 
were killed at Pearl Harbor. I fear that the dead and injured in 
yesterday's sneak attack will be far, far greater than that.
  Tom Brokaw wrote a book entitled ``Our Greatest Generation.'' I 
enjoyed that book. I was proud of the men and women who made up, who 
make up, that greatest generation. We responded to the attack on Pearl 
Harbor with unity; decisively, forcefully. And I am supremely confident 
that we will match the American response of the forties, that we are 
unified, that we will act decisively and forcefully, as decisively and 
forcefully as we acted against Japan, and that perhaps one day our 
present generation might be known, because of our response, as the 
greatest generation.
  Many people believe in a supreme being. Some call the supreme being 
God, others refer to Yahweh and others refer to Allah. I only hope and 
pray that whatever one's faith, we will all come to realize that we can 
only serve the supreme being's will by acts of love, not by acts of 
killing. I hope that day will come soon.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), chairman of the 
Committee on Armed Services.
  (Mr. STUMP asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution.
  Yesterday, our Nation suffered an unimaginable tragedy. The separate 
attacks that took place in New York and Washington were deliberate acts 
of aggression against our country, our people, and our way of life. 
Together, they constituted the worst act of terrorism directed against 
the United States in our Nation's history. Yesterday was one of our 
Nation's darkest days.
  Those who planned and perpetrated these outrageous acts of terror 
deserve our unanimous condemnation. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to 
those injured in yesterday's attacks, and to the families, friends, and 
loved ones of those who lost their lives for no other reason than the 
fact that they were Americans. As Chairman of the Armed Services 
Committee, I also wish to express my sadness at the tragic loss of life 
of military and civilian personnel at the Department of Defense. This 
resolution also appropriately commends the efforts of the emergency 
service workers and other volunteers who have demonstrated through 
their courageous rescue efforts what it means to be an American.
  This is the time for Congress to unite in support of the President 
and his efforts to take all necessary action against those responsible 
for this tragedy. If we fail to do so, the terrorists have won. It is 
time to recognize that the United States can no longer fight terrorism 
according to the rules of civilized behavior. Terrorists know no rules. 
Their aim is to commit the mass murder of innocent civilians. 
Yesterday, they succeeded--right here, on our own shores. We must 
resolve not to let them succeed again.
  The scourge of terrorism is not new, and America is no stranger to 
terrorist attacks. But yesterday's events demonstrate that this threat 
has taken on a new and more deadly form. It also demonstrates that our 
Nation's geographic distance from areas of conflict and turmoil no 
longer provides a guarantee of security. For these reasons, we need to 
ensure that our military forces remain second-to-

[[Page H5523]]

none--sufficiently equipped and trained to defend against, and respond 
to, any act of aggression against our Nation, our people, or our 
interests.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution is an appropriate expression of our 
sympathy for the victims of yesterday's attacks and our support for the 
President's actions in response. I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Horn).
  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, September 11, our Nation was 
assaulted in a vicious, well-planned and cold-blooded act of mass 
murder. Many have compared these horrible acts with Pearl Harbor. 
Certainly our shock, horror and anger are similar, and both acts were 
planned with military precision. But Pearl Harbor was an open act of 
war against military targets by a clearly identified aggressor. 
Yesterday's attacks were an assassin's strike against innocent men, 
women and children, chosen as victims solely because they were 
Americans. We are deeply angered and properly outraged by these acts, 
as we were on December 7, 1941. But now is the time for calm and 
deliberate, thoughtful countersteps to protect our Nation and to end 
this deadly threat. We should take special care not to repeat the 
mistakes of 1941. Many Americans of Japanese ancestry were interned 
during the Second World War. Those interned never committed a sabotage 
of any sort. Finally, the Federal judiciary recognized that. In fact, 
many Japanese Americans joined the Army and served our Nation with 
great skill and courage.

                              {time}  1800

  Those who served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Italy and 
Europe were the most decorated unit in the United States Army.
  That should teach us to guard against unthinking stereotypes and 
prejudice. We should not think that those who may look like our enemies 
are in fact allied or even sympathetic to those who are behind these 
despicable actions.
  We should be working with NATO and the Arab world, our Gulf War 
allies. Those who believe in democracy must stand with us. Those who 
reject our call to arms against terrorism must not receive support from 
us. It is a time to act.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek).
  (Mrs. MEEK of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday's cowardly terrorist attacks on the United 
States leave us with images of horror that will remain etched in our 
hearts and minds forever: The innocent passengers of the four hijacked 
flights, all of whom died; the thousands of workers in the World Trade 
Center and at the Pentagon who simply happened to be in the wrong place 
at the wrong time; the brave firemen, policemen and emergency medical 
personnel, many of whom were lost as they worked to save those in need 
in New York and Washington; all of the families whose loved ones are 
unaccounted for or who remain in harm's way.
  Thousands of our fellow citizens have lost their lives and thousands 
more have suffered injuries, many of which will change their lives and 
those of their families permanently. My thoughts and prayers go out to 
all the victims of these attacks.
  Mr. Speaker, these tragic images are unimaginable. Yet we know that 
they are real and the perpetrators of this nightmare must be identified 
and brought to justice. Let the word go out to those responsible for 
this devastation and to all enemies of freedom: Have no doubt, we will 
do whatever is required to punish those responsible for these 
despicable acts of war and all who harbor these barbaric criminals.
  Mr. Speaker, Americans have always known that freedom is not free. It 
often comes with a tremendous cost and it often imposes tremendous 
responsibilities. Throughout our history, our citizens have always been 
willing to pay that price. Many have made the ultimate sacrifice of 
their lives and their fortunes so that all of us will continue to 
receive the blessings of liberty. My generation and my parent's 
generation faced Pearl Harbor. Yesterday's terrorist attacks are 
another day of infamy, a day that will be our children's and 
grandchildren's Pearl Harbor.
  Americans have always risen up as a nation and faced every challenge 
presented to us. Once again, in a moment of crisis, our citizens have 
gathered in unprecedented numbers to donate blood and offer other forms 
of support. The heart and spirit of the American people remain 
indomitable.
  America is at war with terrorists, but this war is different and will 
present different challenges. It will be a war without end, one that 
will require permanent vigilance. The challenge for all of us will be 
to assure that America remains the land of the free while we take the 
steps required to prevent this from ever occurring again. I know that, 
together, we will do whatever we need to do to face down and defeat the 
new challenges of terrorism.
  As President Lincoln reminded us at Gettysburg, while the world may 
not long remember what we say here, we will never forget what occurred 
here. So it is with yesterday's attacks. We will never forget the 
sacrifices of all of the victims of terror. We will honor their 
sacrifices by waging and winning the war against terrorism, holding 
true to our friends and our commitments, and preserving our way of 
life.
  Mr. Speaker, words are inadequate to convey our horror at what 
occurred. Yet as we intensify our fight against terrorism, deeds are 
far more important than words. We stand united as a country and as a 
Congress. We will not rest until every person responsible for these 
acts is brought to justice. We will hunt down the terrorists and make 
whatever sacrifices are required to preserve our freedom and liberty. 
No matter what the price, we will defeat evil. There will be no 
appeasement. Our cause is just. Our great country will prevail.
  May God grant his peace to the victims and to all who mourn. God 
Bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hill).
  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, we often see ourselves as Democrats and Republicans, 
Methodists or Presbyterians, black or white, Gentiles, Jews or Muslims, 
before we see ourselves as Americans.
  But today we are Americans first. We need to look no further than 
yesterday for evidence of this. Men and women, young and old, risking 
their lives, giving their lives, to come to the aid of those in need.
  As a Nation, we pray for those whose lives have been forever changed 
by these acts, and we give thanks for the blessings which remain: 
family, liberty, friendship, and home.
  Now we turn to the task ahead: finding the cowards who did this and 
making them pay. Then we shall repair our injured cities and restore 
our sense of security.
  The enemy has attacked our way of life. They want to make us less 
trusting, less safe, less free. Less American. They underestimate the 
resolve of the American people.
  So let us remain uniquely, proudly, and defiantly American.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I will leave it to others to ask why. Today 
I rise with my colleagues with firm resolve to send a message to our 
enemies that engage in terrorism that we are at war. America and her 
people will stand together today, as we have in the past, and defeat 
our enemies.
  Here in the great hall of democracy, in the well of the House of 
Representatives, I personally call for a declaration of war so that we 
may unleash the full might of our country's resources upon our enemies.
  We must give our institutions, the FBI, the CIA, the armed services, 
the full legal authority to act and protect the life and property of 
the United States of America. We must authorize reprisals against our 
enemies and those who harbor them.
  In closing, I say God bless America and God bless our President 
during these times.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Baldacci).
  (Mr. BALDACCI asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BALDACCI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution, for 
the tens of thousands of people who have mobilized to search for the 
victims and care for the injured and all the people around the country 
that are doing all they can.
  Mr. Speaker, I am outraged and saddened by the heinous atrocity that 
was committed against our nation yesterday.

[[Page H5524]]

  My thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the victims and 
their families. We have not yet begun to comprehend just how many 
people were murdered, injured and affected by this attack. I am also 
praying for all who are involved in the rescue efforts that continue. 
Tens of thousands have mobilized to search for victims and care for the 
injured. Maine medical professionals have contacted me to find out how 
they can help. I know that people around the country are doing all they 
can to contribute to this effort.
  Once the victims are fully accounted for, I expect there will be few 
of us who will not know someone who was killed or injured or someone 
who knew a person who was killed or injured. This is truly a national 
tragedy. I spoke this morning with a Maine man whose brother, a New 
York City firefighter, has been killed. I know that there are many 
others in Maine who are grieving or awaiting news.
  We as a nation, working with our allies, will expend all necessary 
resources to identify who is responsible for this attack, and take 
action to ensure that they are swiftly and severely punished. We will 
identify states that have harbored and supported terrorists, and ensure 
that they are swiftly and severely punished. This was an act of war, 
and we will respond as such.
  As a nation, we must begin the process of rebuilding. The rescue and 
clean-up efforts will continue for some time. New security precautions 
must be taken at our airports and other locations. Lives and buildings 
must be rebuilt.
  We must also begin to heal our national sense of safety which has 
been badly shaken. We will not allow terrorists to send us cowering, 
but we recognize that we will never again feel the same as we did 
before this unspeakable horror.
  My staff and I are back at work, and stand ready to assist any Mainer 
who is in need of help. We will be giving blood and doing all we can to 
contribute in a meaningful way to the rescue and rebuilding that are 
underway. As a Member of Congress, I will be working to provide the 
resources necessary to rebuild our nation, to enhance our counter-
terrorism efforts, and to ensure the safety of the American people.
  Although the scourge of terrorism is not new, the scope and 
destructiveness of the attacks yesterday were unprecedented in American 
History. We have been forced to acknowledge that the possibility of 
massive attacks on US soil is painfully real.
  Yesterday America was gravely wounded, but we will heal and grow 
stronger. Americans will rise to the occasion and fight this scourge 
just as we have risen to defeat past threats to civilization and 
democracy. Yesterday's actions were not mere acts of terrorism and not 
mere crimes. Rather they were savage acts of war on the American Nation 
which must be met with a proportional military response.
  Again, my thoughts and prayers are with all who have been affected by 
this tragedy. Let those who are responsible know clearly: this will not 
stand.
  May God bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel).
  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, yesterday many of the people of my district 
in New York were struck by tragedy. We lost family and friends, 
firefighters and police, loved ones and heroes.
  One of those heroes is Ray Downey of Deer Park, the New York City 
Fire Department's Chief of Special Operations Command. Ray responded to 
the attack on the World Trade Center and is still missing. His family 
still has hope, but they need our prayers.
  For all of our families, we offer prayers. For Mayor Giuliani and 
Governor Pataki we offer thanks. And for the cowards who committed this 
crime, we submit our resolve.
  Today is a day of mourning, a day of outrage. But it is also a day 
when we all come together. In this hallowed Congress, which we thought 
might be under attack just yesterday, we stand proudly today.
  Our nation has seen bloodshed, but we are not bowed. We have seen 
disaster, but not defeat. Our American democracy, built by Washington, 
Jefferson, Madison, and Lincoln will not be weakened by cowardly 
terrorists.
  Today the world sees the true greatness of America in the people 
giving blood, in the emergency workers clearing the rubble and saving 
lives, in the clergy fostering faith. And at the right time, at the 
right place, these terrorists will see the true strength of America as 
well.
  Mr. Speaker, many of my colleagues have quoted a great President, 
Frank Delano Roosevelt, who stood in this place summoning our nation 
into a great crusade. I would like to share other words that he used in 
that same speech on that same day of infamy. He said, ``With confidence 
in our Armed Forces, with unbounding determination of our people, we 
will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God.''
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sweeney). The Chair wishes to inform the 
Members that the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) has 18 minutes 
remaining and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) has 3 minutes 
remaining.


 Authorizing The Clerk to Make Corrections in Engrossment of H.J. Res. 
                                   61

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
the Clerk be authorized to make technical corrections in the 
engrossment of H.J. Res. 61, to include corrections in grammar, 
punctuation, and capitalization, and to make other such technical and 
conforming changes as may be necessary to comply with the order of the 
House.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo), the distinguished chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, I rise with so many of my colleagues today 
in strong support of this House Resolution to condemn the terrorist 
attacks on America. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to the 
thousands of Americans who lost friends and family during yesterday's 
terrorist attacks. We grieve today for our nation's loss, but we will 
never lose America's resolve to remain a beacon of justice and freedom 
in a world where these values are under constant threat.
  These attacks claimed victims from all across the Nation and killed 
many from my State of New Jersey. One victim was Victor Saracini, a 
United Airlines pilot and native of Atlantic City, New Jersey, who died 
when his hijacked plane hit the World Trade Center. Victor is 
remembered by his family and friends from South Jersey as a brave man 
who would have never submitted to the will of the hijackers, and I am 
sure he did everything possible to protect the passengers and the plane 
and to thwart the hijackers. I extend my deepest sympathies to his 
family, to his wife and to their two young daughters.
  There are, sadly, too many other names of victims that will come out 
in the days to come and will touch people in every corner of the 
Nation. I know that Congress joins with me today to mourn their loss 
and to send our condolences to their families.
  Even under these horrible circumstances, heroes arose. I want to 
commend the emergency personnel from New York and Washington D.C., who 
immediately mobilized to lend aid and assistance to the people of New 
York City and to those working in the Pentagon. I would also like to 
praise the local residents of southern New Jersey who, after hearing of 
the attacks, left their homes and workplaces and joined the emergency 
service personnel who traveled north to assist those in New York who 
needed the help.
  Finally, I would like to recognize the stalwart efforts of the Coast 
Guard personnel who have deployed up and down the East Coast to provide 
security for our bridges, tunnels, and ports and to render assistance 
in the finest tradition of the Coast Guard service.
  Mr. Speaker, terrorism has attacked America and declared war on our 
nation. We must now act to punish both the terrorists who planned and 
carried out these dastardly acts, as well as those organizations and 
states who harbor and encourage this. I urge all of my colleagues to 
strongly support this resolution.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
during consideration of H.J. Res. 61, pursuant to the order of the 
House of earlier today, debate on the joint resolution be extended 2 
hours, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on International Relations.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?

[[Page H5525]]

  There was no objection.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the 
distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), 2 minutes for 
herself and 2 minutes to give her an opportunity to read the statement 
of our colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).
  (Mrs. LOWEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today full of anger and 
outrage, heartbreak and hope.
  We are not Democrats or Republicans. We are Americans, united in our 
resolve and determination. Yesterday's terrorism was not just directed 
against national landmarks and individual Americans. These terrorist 
attacks were directed at the very idea of America itself.
  Our response to this attack tests the strength of our international 
alliances, the integrity of our friendships, and the endurance of all 
nations in the struggle to build a world in which peace and freedom are 
the highest ideals.
  We have a tremendous opportunity and an awesome responsibility to 
redouble our efforts to purge the evil of terrorism from our global 
community. Our allies are mourning with us and offering their prayers. 
But we must have their unqualified support and cooperation in this 
battle.
  Let me make the ground rules absolutely clear: no country that 
harbors terrorists or sponsors terrorism will benefit from our defense, 
our commerce, and our aid. No one who teaches children hatred instead 
of games will find comfort from us. No more glorifying violence. No 
more praise for martyrdom. Those who rejoice in our tragedy must be 
exiled from the community of nations. And we must demand the help of 
our friends in the world community in this crucial effort.
  My colleagues, like so many yesterday, I watched the TV in horror. My 
children called to share their shock and to tell of a friend whose 
husband, trapped on a high floor in one of the Towers, called only to 
say good-bye to the wife he knew he would never see again. All around 
him, his colleagues were on the phone to their loved ones for the last 
time.
  We hear these stories over and over again. To all those who have lost 
so much, we want you to know that our hearts and prayers are with you, 
that all of America stands with you.
  For the man who called to tell his wife just one last time that he 
loved her, for the hundreds of brave officers, firefighters, and rescue 
workers who sacrificed their lives so that others might live, for all, 
we will find those responsible; and we will bring them to justice. 
There will be no safe harbor for those who would visit such enormous 
devastation on our citizens.
  Our Mayor, our Governor and our neighbors faced catastrophe with calm 
and humanity. We are very proud of them. Americans should stand with 
our President. We will face this tragedy together. We will comfort and 
support each other, and we will prevail.
  Friends, our people and our landmarks have been attacked, but the 
essence of America is indestructible. Our core principles, justice, 
liberty, and democracy, will remain forever unscathed. Let us say a 
prayer for our country and our people.
  Mr. Speaker, my good colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Nadler), is in New York. It is in his district where this catastrophe 
occurred. He asked me to read his statement.
  ``Today, I am at home with my fellow New Yorkers in this terrible, 
dark hour, but did not want this tragedy to pass without expressing my 
words on this floor of the longest and greatest democracy in the world.
  ``Like all Americans, I watched with a heavy heart the details of 
this attack and its aftermath emerge on the news. And like so many 
people, I still wait to hear word of friends and colleagues that were 
in the lower Manhattan area yesterday and pray for a miracle. The 
feelings I have of great sorrow, disbelief, and anger towards those 
responsible are feelings that I hope and pray I will never have cause 
to feel again in my life.
  ``My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families 
who suffered needlessly at the hands of cowardly terrorists, to those 
police and firefighters who died, and who are risking their lives as 
this very House meets. I offer my sincerest gratitude to the many 
heroes who emerged yesterday, as well.
  ``Unfortunately, we all too often forget the great sacrifice that the 
men and women of New York's finest and bravest make every day, until 
tragedy hits. After yesterday, with 300 or more firefighters and police 
feared dead, I do not believe we will ever forget how they lay their 
lives on the line every single day so that they may save ours.

                              {time}  1815

  Just as they stand up for us, we must now stand up for them. 
Therefore, and this is the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler) 
speaking now, ``I will introduce legislation today which will allow for 
an expedited benefit payment process to the families of those police 
officers and firefighters who died in the line of duty yesterday in New 
York and at the Pentagon.
  ``I have spoken with the White House; which has assured me that 
whatever Federal assistance New York needs, it will get. I have been in 
constant contact with FEMA, which wanted me to stress just how 
important the need for blood is during this crisis. I urge all those 
who are able to donate blood, to call the Red Cross hotlines, at 1-800-
HELP NOW. If anyone has any information on either of yesterday's 
attacks, contact the FBI at 1-866-483-5137.
  ``Mr. Speaker, all New Yorkers understand and feel empathy for those 
who lost loved ones on hijacked flights. New Yorkers, and indeed all 
Americans, will remember those victims at the Pentagon, for putting 
their lives at risk and paying the ultimate price, so that we can live 
our lives in freedom.
  ``In the end, that is what this comes down to--our freedom. To the 
majority of the world, our Nation stands as a beacon of hope. To those 
who want to crush freedom, to have people live in fear, our Nation 
stands as a rebuke as well as a threat.
  ``However, what those enemies of freedom fail to understand is that 
no amount of physical damaged can kill the ideals for which this Nation 
stands. Just as Pearl Harbor roused the sleeping giant to crush those 
who attacked it, this Nation must crush those who have declared war on 
us now.
  ``Let there be no mistake: We are at war, and have been for some 
time. We must make it clear, we will find those terrorists responsible 
for yesterdays attacks and punish them. That we will find, and punish, 
all those who seek to murder innocent people through terrorism. To 
those nations harboring and protecting terrorists, all the while 
pretending to be America's friend, you are no friend of ours. If you 
encourage hatred of the United States, and proclaim these attacks some 
sort of heroic act, you are no friend of ours. If you pay tribute to 
terrorists, you are no friend of ours. If you do not fully cooperate 
with our efforts to find terrorists and bring them to justice, you are 
not friend of ours.
  ``Today, we stand united, to mourn our losses, but determined to show 
the resolve upon which our Nation has always prided itself, as we 
rebuild. We will show the strength that can only be found in a free 
people. In the words of Lincoln, today, `we here highly resolve that 
these dead shall not have died in vain, that this Nation under God 
shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, 
by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.'
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart), a member of the 
Committee on Rules.
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time.
  Yesterday, terrorists attempted to spread fear throughout this great 
land as they murdered innocent men, women and children. These cowards, 
in effect, declared war on the United States; and we will fight back. 
America is the light of freedom and opportunity around the world. Those 
cowards attempted to extinguish that light from the world, but we will 
never allow it to be dampened.
  The American people will now demonstrate their resilience. America 
will show the world that in the face of tragedy it becomes stronger, 
and the American people become more united. As the sun rose this 
morning, the light of American freedom burns stronger. Americans from 
all walks of life have come together in pursuit of the common mission 
supporting all necessary action to end the scourge of terrorism.
  Americans continue to search for survivors and comfort those who 
suffer. Our prayers go out to the victims,

[[Page H5526]]

their families and the valiant rescue efforts.
  The American people, Mr. Speaker, are a peaceful people. Americans do 
not seek to conquer other peoples or commit violence against others; 
but because of America's power and prosperity and freedom, America and 
Americans are hated and envied by resentful forces of evil in the 
world.
  The battle before us will be long and difficult, but the United 
States has overcome before, and it will do so again. Americans, united 
together, will send the cowardly terrorists shrieking in fear when they 
realize the resolve of the American people and the brilliance with 
which America's light of liberty shines.
  God bless this great Nation, a beacon of freedom.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm).
  (Mr. STENHOLM asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution condemning the terrorist attacks against the United States.
  Today, we in the House of Representatives feel the need to speak of 
the unspeakable: yesterday's evil, perpetrated by cowardly forces who 
cannot muster the courage even to reveal their faces. Evil is difficult 
to speak about and yet, as yesterday's events remind us, its horror 
calls forth responses which reveal even greater good, greater strength, 
greater wisdom than we knew possible.
  It has been said repeatedly in the past 24 hours that America has 
been changed forever. There is much truth in that statement. Just as 
the attack on Pearl Harbor altered the psyche of the American people 
nearly 60 years ago, we cannot deny the loss of innocence and carefree 
confidence created by yesterday's heinous deeds. Tragically, the 
horrendous loss of 2400 American lives in the Pacific may even be 
exceeded when the final toll is tallied in New York City, Washington, 
and Pennsylvania. How can we possibly comfort all those who grieve 
those deaths or thank those who died trying to make our Nation safer 
and stronger?
  But those dear losses are not the only changes which have been 
wrought in our Nation. Contrary to the terrorists' intentions, their 
acts have also borne a new unity among the American people, a renewed 
sense of solidarity and commitment to each other. Folks in Michigan 
waited hours in lines to donate vital blood for victims in New York 
City. School children in Texas dressed in red, white and blue to 
support the uniformed troops and civilians killed at the Pentagon in 
Washington.
  Here in Congress, we are changed. Each of us, regardless of party 
label or ideology, has set aside our differences to swear a unified 
commitment to supporting those most harmed, to relentlessly seeking the 
perpetrators of this act of war, and to bringing about a swift and just 
response. Both Democrat and Republican stand solidly behind our 
President as he leads us in all of those efforts.
  And around the world, there is also a change--a new understanding of 
the threat which exists to all civilized democracies. In expressions of 
support which could not have been imagined a few years ago, former 
enemies as well as long-time allies across the world have expressed 
their sympathy and their willingness to stand with the United States in 
fighting the perpetrators of this horror.
  Let us not forget, though, that while some things have changed, much 
remains the same. Our enemies stole American lives thinking that they 
could steal our American Spirit. They were wrong. Our hearts are indeed 
broken today but our spirits are not only intact, they are 
strengthened. Bricks and mortar may have been leveled but the American 
Spirit stands. The attempt to cut us down has only deepened our 
devotion to democracy, freedom and justice.
  The beloved Twenty-Third Psalm asserts, ``Yea, though I walk through 
the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.'' These sacred 
words do not deny the existence of evil or pretend that we can be 
spared from facing it. But they remind us that we need not fear that 
evil. Why? Because God is with us, preparing the safe and proper way if 
we will follow.
  Our enemies and those who harbor our enemies should understand what 
they have done. The tragedy which they have caused already is being 
transformed into unity and that unity will become strength. Perhaps the 
giant was sleeping. We became too accustomed to choosing convenience 
over security. We have tilted towards privacy over prudence. We became 
over-confident in our impenetrable shield. But make no mistake; the 
giant is now awake. Americans may need to make the sacrifices which a 
state of war requires but we are committed to making those sacrifices. 
This is war. It is not a war for territory or possessions but it is a 
war for democracy and freedom. It is a war for security and peace. It 
is a war which the united and civilized nations of the world will 
relentlessly pursue and win. September 11 will live in infamy but it 
will not die in impotence. Evil may be unspeakable but it will not be 
victorious.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), my friend and 
colleague.
  (Mr. RAHALL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution of the 
condemnation of this heinous attack on our country.
  Mr. Speaker. Southern West Virginians know loss. We hope and pray for 
the victims of these attacks and their families as other Americans have 
hoped and prayed for us in the past. Our nation's motto is E. Pluribus 
Unum: Out of many, one. Americans always display this unity best when 
disaster strikes our fellow citizens.
  Yesterday's attacks did not kill only Washingtonians and New Yorkers. 
The victims came from across this country. At least one family in my 
own District was torn apart. Dr. Paul Ambrose, a talented and public-
spirited young physician, was aboard one of the airplanes that the 
terrorists crashed. The sympathies of all America are with Ken Sharon 
Ambrose of Huntington, West Virginia, today. We will avenge their loss.
  America seeks peace, but it is not blind. The people who planned 
these attacks are out there, and we know that they still pursue their 
evilness. Their celebrations will be short, because America's resolve 
is sure. I support the President's vow to punish these murderers and 
those who give them shelter.
  As the death toll mounts in the aftermath of the most vicious 
terrorist attack ever perpetrated on Americans and America, I ask the 
good Lord to give us the courage, wisdom and conviction to bring those 
responsible to justice.
  Certainly, the horror of this attack has been etched into the minds 
and hearts of all Americans. It is time to mourn the dead. To care for 
the injured. But it is also time to plan for our future, and to take 
actions to insure that the lessons of this attack will not be lost. 
That those who perished will not have done so in vain.
  America will persevere. We are not weakened by this attack, but 
rather, will grow stronger. Out of these flames of death, an even 
stronger American spirit will be born. And the beacon of freedom, of 
our Democratic institutions, will burn even brighter upon the world.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes), my distinguished colleague.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday our Nation was attacked by cowards. I, like 
all of my colleagues, am equally outraged by this attack on the people 
of the United States. Today, our thoughts and prayers are with the 
victims and their families. As the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Hastert), the Speaker of the House, said yesterday, we as a Congress 
and as a government stand united.
  Mr. Speaker, there is no question that this was an act of war. We 
must find those responsible and bring them to justice. We must do so 
swiftly, with the full might and power of the United States. We will 
find those responsible for these mass murders, and they will be 
punished.
  We, likewise, must develop the response that will destroy the very 
system responsible for this attack on our freedom. The global terrorist 
organizations that take refuge in some nations across the world must be 
destroyed, and any nation who protects any terrorist network or who 
provides shelter or refuge to these terrorist networks are on notice 
that they will also be subjected to the justice and the might and power 
of the United States military if they continue to protect those 
responsible for these mass murders.
  This attack was intended to bring down the most powerful Nation in 
the world, to paralyze our government and to weaken our resolve. This 
has not happened and they have failed. Last night, our President spoke 
from the Oval Office of the White House, and Secretary of Defense 
Donald Rumsfeld never actually left the Pentagon while working with 
some of the rescue crews and consulting with the national security 
team. Last night, the world saw and heard representatives of the people

[[Page H5527]]

of this Nation speaking with one voice. Today, we are all here on the 
floor of the House ready to continue our work. We will not allow 
cowards to shut us down.
  No one will ever forget the images that we have all seen in the last 
2 days. We must never forget those who lost their lives. My thoughts 
and prayers are with those rescuers working around the clock to save 
those trapped in the rubble of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
  The events of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, have changed the face of 
America forever.
  I have no doubt that we will respond to this crisis in a very 
American way . . . we will unite, we will defend our freedoms, we will 
persevere.
  In closing let me commend all those first responders that worked so 
hard and have sacrificed so much, the police, the fire fighters, EMS 
and medical personnel and our own dedicated, committed and very 
professional Capitol Police.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds), a member of the 
Committee on Rules and a deputy whip.
  (Mr. REYNOLDS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, no words can adequately express this 
Nation's sense of loss and outrage over yesterday's vicious, cowardly 
attack on two of our country's most recognizable landmarks, one of 
which is in my home State of New York.
  This was an attack not only on America, but as British Prime Minister 
Tony Blair remarked, on the free and democratic world.
  The death toll of innocent Americans will certainly surpass that of 
Pearl Harbor, and as quickly and as assuredly as America came together 
to defeat fascism and imperialism at that time, we must quickly and 
decisively come together to defeat this enemy of a free and democratic 
world.
  Many have said that after yesterday, the face of America will be 
changed forever. That may be true, but what will not change is 
America's heart, America's character, and America's continued belief in 
the principles, ideals and values that have made this country the 
freest, most prosperous Nation the world has ever seen.
  Like many in this Chamber and across America, I await the names of 
the dead, the missing, and the injured of friends, in both public 
service and the private sector, who worked in New York's World Trade 
Center; and I pray for them and their families, all of the victims and 
families in New York, the Pentagon, the hijacked aircraft, and for 
those who have put themselves in harm's way, our police and our 
firefighters, medical and emergency crews, and countless volunteers, 
that they will carry out their mission safely and successfully.
  It is true that we have suffered tremendous loss of life and property 
at the hands of faceless cowards, but make no mistake. This is not a 
faceless enemy. The people of this country are united. The full 
resources of this government, and the courage, spirit and resolve of 
the American people will be brought to bear to find you in whatever 
corner of the world that you may hide. You have no safe harbor. We will 
see that justice is served.
  God bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns).
  (Mr. TOWNS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, 
and my prayers go out to the families.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Resolution 61, the Joint 
House-Senate resolution expressing the sense of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives regarding the attack on the United States. In 
addition, I would like to offer my thoughts and prayers to the people 
and families who have lost or are missing loved ones and to all 
Americans as we mourn this catastrophic attack on the American way of 
life.
  Mr. Speaker, our hearts are heavy. Our minds numbed by the terror and 
senseless tragedy of the attacks that we witnessed in person or in our 
living rooms in my city and our capital over 36 hours ago.
  The death toll has not been tallied. We will likely not know how many 
innocent lives were taken from us for some time. We have seen the iron 
clad character of my fellow New Yorkers and all emergency services 
workers who responded to these heinous acts of terror--giving up their 
own lives in the hopes of saving innocent civilians. In particular, I 
honor all of the police, fireman and emergency service technicians who 
continue to work to save lives. We must continue to stand together 
against this or any other attack on our freedom with untold heroism.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner), my distinguished colleague and good 
friend.
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, yesterday our Nation was a target of the 
most despicable and cowardly acts of terrorism in our history. We come 
here today, our hearts heavy, with prayers for healing and comfort for 
the many victims and their families.
  The forces of darkness have broken our hearts, but they have not 
broken our spirit. To the contrary, those who sought to advance their 
cause by shedding American blood have instead sown the seeds of their 
own destruction.
  The citizens of our Nation are a proud and resilient people. For over 
200 years, Americans have fought and died to protect freedom and 
liberty. We now face a new challenge from a faceless enemy who has 
absolutely no regard for the sanctity of human life.
  We cannot and we will not tolerate terrorism. We will find those who 
are responsible, and we must use the full strength of our military 
power against those forces of evil and those who give them aid and 
sanction.
  The spirit of America was best exemplified today by a brave New York 
firefighter searching through the rubble of the World Trade Center for 
one more survivor. He uncovered a tattered American flag, and he 
climbed to the top of the remains of a leaning north spire, raising the 
flag to express the spirit of patriotism shared by all Americans in 
this time of national travail.
  A new chapter in our history was opened yesterday. Its opening pages 
will forever be emblazoned in our memory, but the strength and 
character of our people will fill its pages with the same resolve we 
have shown in the defense of freedom throughout our history. Today we 
urge all freedom-loving people to join us in our shared commitment to 
peace and security around the world. May God's grace be with all of 
those who suffer today, and may God forever bless our great Nation.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), the chairman of the Subcommittee 
on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies.
  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for 
yielding me this time.
  I rise today in solidarity with the American people and my 
constituents in central New York to condemn this brutal act of mass 
murder committed against innocent and good American people.
  I will never be capable of understanding how anyone could hate so 
much that they could point a plane full of innocent travelers at a 
building full of innocent workers for any reason, political, 
philosophical, religious, or nationalist.
  Our Nation was injured yesterday, but I believe we will come out of 
this stronger. It forces us all to dig deep to recall who we are and 
what we stand for, to look back at the values America was founded upon, 
and to draw strength from the sacrifices of these most recent martyrs 
for democracy, and going forward to secure our future by fighting back 
against this invisible enemy and making decisions to ensure our safety 
and our freedom.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps), my dear friend and 
distinguished colleague.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, in his extraordinary book, ``Night,'' Professor Elie 
Wiesel observed that when events are unspeakable, it takes some time to 
find the right words.
  Yesterday's events are unspeakable. Try as we might, we cannot find 
the right words to fully express our grief, our sympathy, our pain, our 
outrage.
  Words may fail us, but the images of yesterday's attacks are forever 
indelible on our minds. We will never forget the scenes of planes 
striking buildings,

[[Page H5528]]

huge structures tumbling, our fellow Americans lying dead in New York 
and Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon.
  These are the images I will not forget, but they are not the ones I 
seek to remember. Instead, Mr. Speaker, today I dwell not on the images 
of yesterday's villains, but on its heroes; not on the acts of 
indescribable evil, but of incredible humanity. Because through 
yesterday's darkness and horror came the bright light of American 
courage, the compelling beacon of goodness and strength.
  We are uplifted by the heroism of firefighters, police, military 
personnel, and emergency workers who plunged into the carnage and saved 
many victims. We are inspired by the selfless way that strangers 
reached out and are reaching out still to open their arms and hearts to 
fellow citizens.

                              {time}  1830

  We are amazed by the long lines that have formed all over the country 
of people donating their blood.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday the terrorists destroyed our buildings and 
they killed many of our brothers and sisters, but they did not destroy 
the American spirit. They will never defeat our resolve. They cannot 
undermine the principles of freedom and democracy that undergird our 
society.
  Mr. Speaker, like so many Americans, I have turned to find strength 
today in scripture. Let me now read from Isaiah, Chapter 40, Verse 31: 
``They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall 
mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They 
shall walk and not faint.''
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw), distinguished chairman 
of the subcommittee.
  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday Americans were reminded in a very vivid and 
morbid way, and a pitiful way, of the cost of freedom. We were 
subjected to attack by faceless cowards who believe that our liberty is 
in some way dangerous. They could not be more wrong.
  But as we have seen in the past, adversity sometimes brings out the 
very best in Americans. Ordinary people turn into heroes. Some we will 
hear about, others we will never know about, but the truth is that 
there were more acts of heroism yesterday than there were acts of 
cowardice.
  We know the bravery of the hundreds of rescue workers, the 
firefighters, and the policemen who tragically died in New York. We can 
wonder at the courage of the pilot of the flight that crashed in 
Pennsylvania.
  Was this crash an act of self-sacrifice by the pilot, crew, or 
passengers which prevented a repeat of the tragedies at the Pentagon 
and the World Trade Center? Was this plane intended to destroy this 
magnificent Capitol of democracy that we are sitting in today? Do we 
who labor here owe countless passengers or crew our very lives?
  We will always be grateful for the efforts of these men and women who 
lost their lives in the line of duty who will not be going home to 
their families, and who paid the ultimate price just to help others. We 
pray for their families and we pray for their loved ones.
  As a Nation, we will mourn the loss of our neighbors, family members, 
and friends, and as a Nation, we will avenge their deaths. We will not 
let this despicable act go unchallenged. Those responsible will pay an 
awesome price.
  In many ways, our Nation will forever be changed by these disasters, 
but they will in no way diminish the spirit of the freest people who 
have ever walked the face of this Earth, the American people.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my friend 
and colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis).
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding time to me.
  I rise in strong support of the resolution. My heart goes out to 
everyone who experienced a loss, and to those still waiting for news 
about their loved ones. To the families of the 278 heroes, the 
firefighters and police who are missing and presumed dead, I offer my 
deepest condolences.
  I also offer my support and praise to the rescue workers and 
countless volunteers who are searching, as we speak, for survivors and 
victims. Like many of my colleagues and many Americans, my first 
reaction was to assess the safety of my family, especially my son, 
daughter-in-law, and my grandson Henry, who live in New York City.
  Though my news was reassuring, hundreds, even thousands of people did 
not enjoy that same fortune. Yesterday's tragic events tore at the 
heart of America's fabric, and I believe that every American's life was 
affected. It is from that very fabric of community that we derive our 
real strength, not just from our economic energy or from our military 
might.
  Mr. Speaker, we are strong and will remain strong. The attacks serve 
as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by a free country, and 
especially by those whose lives are devoted to protecting our country, 
whether at home or abroad. We must never forget the threats that exist.
  Anger and rage and evil roam the Earth, and at times these forces 
converge unexpectedly. Yesterday, millions of Americans started their 
morning routine. Americans went to their places of work. They boarded 
airplanes, just like every other day. Then these routines were 
violently interrupted.
  Yesterday showcased the worst and best of humanity. The precision 
strikes indicate a foe that cleverly calculated this move against the 
very heart of our community. Yet, Americans are able to rise above the 
grief and horror.
  To my colleagues and to all Americans, I say that now is not a time 
to abandon our priorities. As we work together to heal, we must 
continue to look forward and work to ensure a world safe for our 
children and grandchildren. We need to let our grief and our anger and 
our outrage work for us, not control us. Let us act with the careful 
and considered judgment that we as Americans possess.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis), the chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Defense of the Committee on Appropriations.
  (Mr. LEWIS of California asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today joining my 
colleagues, Democrats and Republicans alike, in support of this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, the American people need to know just how dangerous 
today's world is. Many have presumed that with the passing of the 
Soviet Union and the East-West confrontation that peace was at hand. 
That without these formidable enemies, America no longer had to worry 
about attacks.
  Tuesday's tragedy sends a message--loud and clear--that there are 
those who have no concern for innocent human life. They will kill with 
malice, with no other goal except to prove they can strike at the 
world's most powerful symbols of freedom. This was not a political 
statement or a military attack. It was murder, an act that is abhorred 
by all nations and faiths. We must do whatever is needed to protect our 
homeland from such unconscionable criminals.
  Our nation is in shock and mourning. Americans are too big-hearted to 
understand why a group of inhuman thugs would bring these attacks on 
thousands of innocent victims. We will spend this day rallying to 
support the families of those who perished and the brave rescuers who 
are desperately trying to find any who might have survived. We will 
show our resolve that America will rise to this challenge and overcome 
it to remain the beacon of liberty and optimism.
  In the days to come, we will dedicate ourselves to finding who 
planned and executed this despicable act, and prove to them that we 
will do everything in our power to bring them to justice and ensure it 
can never happen again. To those who shared the cowardice of the 
hijackers: We will not rest until justice is served. To those who have 
harbored these criminals in the past or consider sheltering them in the 
future: We will hold you accountable and make it clear that it is a 
terrible mistake to support attacks on America.
  For the future, all Americans must realize that our world can never 
be entirely safe, and accept that we must commit the resources 
necessary to meet the threat of those whose fanaticism blinds 
themselves to their humanity. I join all of my colleagues in pledging 
our support for the President in all of his efforts to protect our 
citizens. I have every confidence that we will work together--that all 
Americans will work together--to meet this challenge and overcome it.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend

[[Page H5529]]

and colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), chairman of 
the Committee on Science.
  (Mr. BOEHLERT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, this tragedy was unspeakable, 
unimaginable, unbearable, unbelievable. Suddenly, we have a sense of 
being overwhelmed by a reality that had been inconceivable just 
yesterday morning.
  All Americans, I think, have reacted with the same mix of emotions: 
fear, anger, loss, horror; perhaps most of all horror, a horror that 
keeps creeping back as one tries to return to daily life.
  But this tragedy has also evoked the best in people as we have united 
to reassure family and friends and neighbors and even strangers; as 
Americans have lined up to donate blood; as New Yorkers and 
Washingtonians and volunteers from across the country have rushed to 
offer their services and expertise; as police and firefighters and 
other rescue workers have made the ultimate sacrifice.
  We are going to need more of that in the days and weeks ahead as the 
full enormity of this horrific crime hits home, as we figure out how to 
deal with the future threats in this wholly unfamiliar and unexpected 
world in which we now find ourselves.
  But for now, we must concentrate on recovering emotionally and 
returning to daily life. We must, with clarity, as Lincoln said, bind 
up the Nation's wounds and care for him who hath borne the battle, and 
his widow, and his orphan. We must pray that some day we will live to 
see the biblical prophecy fulfilled, the prophecy that is the 
antithesis of care: ``Each shall sit under his vine and under his fig 
tree and none shall be made afraid.''
  They can destroy our buildings, but they cannot destroy our spirit. 
They can bring us to tears; they cannot bring us to our knees.
  Today, America is united and strong and determined as we stand tall 
and face the future.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my 
distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio).
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a bit unusual on this floor, which usually 
reverberates with debate, but I would like to begin by asking for a 
brief moment of silence for the victims, their families, those still 
risking their lives to attempt to rescue survivors.
  Our first responsibility is to the police, fire, and EMTs still 
risking their lives for rescue and recovery efforts. I have been 
assured by the administration that all necessary and available 
resources have been sent to their support.
  I further understand that all the resources of our combined law 
enforcement and intelligence agencies, along with those of our allies 
around the world, have been brought to bear to track down these 
terrorist mass murderers to their roots. I am confident that the United 
States of America will be obdurate in exacting justice from those 
responsible. We each need to do what we can in our own way and for our 
own part.
  For my part, I am determined that the improvements in aviation 
security, which I have advocated for more than a decade, will no longer 
be turned aside by cost concerns of the airlines. We can afford, and 
Americans are willing to pay, not only for an improved system of 
aviation security, but also to assure that our law enforcement, our 
intelligence agencies, and our military have the resources necessary to 
respond to this act and credibly deter future acts of mass terrorism 
against our people.
  We will be secure within our borders in the United States of America, 
and we will not cower within our borders, either.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp), a member of the 
Committee on Appropriations and a member of the Helsinki Commission.
  (Mr. WAMP asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, we know that fear is one of the most powerful 
forces in the world today. Yesterday, the lowest of the low, the dregs 
of our international community, used fear to carry out inhumane acts on 
all of humanity. Today, we claim the truth that one force is greater 
than fear. That is love.
  Throughout the ages, love has conquered fear over and over again. Our 
love for our fellow man will overcome fear of these outrageous 
criminals. Our love of freedom will overcome our fear of tyranny. Our 
love of country will overcome our fear of terrorism. Our love of God 
will overcome our fear of Satan himself. Our love of goodness will 
overcome our fear of evil. Our love of peace will overcome our fear of 
war.
  Mr. Speaker, today we stand together, our President, the United 
States Congress, and 270 million people, mourning those lost, 
comforting those left behind, praying for our Nation at this dark hour.
  Yesterday, our House Chaplain, Father Daniel Coughlin, prayed that 
``In God we trust,'' our Nation's motto, but that today, may it be our 
strength.
  Much of our character has been born from adversity. An even stronger 
America must rise from the ashes of these fiery crashes so that good 
does once again triumph over evil.
  May the peace of God that passeth all understanding be with us now 
and forevermore.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to my 
dear friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Pelosi), the distinguished ranking member of our Permanent Select 
Committee on Intelligence.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a day from hell, a day when terrorists who 
do not value human life engaged in a demonic act which has touched 
everyone in America; indeed, in the world.
  Today, over and over again, in contrast, we hear our colleagues 
express the exhortation ``God bless America.'' And indeed, in the 
spirit of the American people, God has blessed America. God blessed us 
with the courage of the public safety workers, including hundreds of 
firemen who plunged into a burning, crumbling building to help people 
escape, risking their own lives; indeed, sacrificing them.
  God blessed America with the compassion of the American people across 
our country, giving blood and offering to help in so many ways.
  God blessed America with the determination of our public servants in 
this building, our Capitol Police, the military, and so many others who 
are helping this government go forth, foiling, foiling the plot of 
these terrorists who want to create panic in our country and stop our 
government.
  The magnificent city of New York, which has led our country in so 
many ways, will rise from the ashes like the great Phoenix and will be 
stronger than ever. People across the country all have a special 
fondness for New York. It is the center of commerce and the arts, and 
its beautiful and magnificent diversity is a source of strength to our 
great country. The energy of New York will not be deterred.
  That will be our message: New York rising from the Phoenix, leading 
the recovery of our entire country from this terrible tragedy. That is 
the message to the cruel, cowardly terrorists: God has blessed America.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts), a member of the Committee on 
International Relations.

                              {time}  1845

  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.J. Res. 61.
  Terrorists have declared war on America. What happened yesterday was 
not merely a crime, it was an act of war. It was a massive attack by a 
foreign power, a terrorist organization on American soil.
  We are used to calling terrorist attacks the senseless acts of 
cowards. But this was a sophisticated, calculated and coordinated 
attack by deadly savages; trained terrorists. The perpetrators knew 
precisely what they were doing, why they were doing it, and how to do 
it.
  At Pearl Harbor, over 2,000 Americans were killed in the attack. Many 
more than that died on Tuesday. Innocent victims perished for no other 
reason than that they were Americans. We did not ask for this war. 
America has worked tirelessly for world peace since its founding; peace 
in Middle East, in

[[Page H5530]]

Europe, in Africa, in Asia, and in Latin America. But America stands 
for more than just peace. America stands for freedom and democracy.
  We have proved to the world that freedom and democracy work. But many 
haters of freedom remain in the world. Those who continue to espouse 
ideologies like radical Islam and Stalinism despise freedom because 
they do not like to be challenged. They cannot stand the light of day, 
and so they kill. And we are their target because America is the 
preeminent champion of freedom. They believe because we are free we are 
also weak. But they are wrong.
  We will find out who the terrorists are. We must seek them out and 
punish them severely. This is no time for a measured response. This is 
a time, without apology, to bring the full measure of military force to 
bear on these terrorist organizations.
  As thousands of bodies are pulled from the rubble in New York and 
Virginia, we are watching more than a tragedy; we are witnesses to a 
turning point in American policy. No longer will we coddle terrorists 
and seek merely to bring them into courtrooms. Instead, we will treat 
them as the military enemies they are. We will seek justice of the kind 
seen in war.
  On Tuesday, terrorists declared war on America. It is a war they will 
lose. America will make sure of it. Freedom will prevail.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman).
  (Mr. ROTHMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, today all Americans must pray with one 
voice; pray for those innocents killed in yesterday's cowardly attacks, 
for those families torn asunder by this evil, for those rescuers, 
police, fire, and health workers putting their lives at risk.
  Let us all raise our voices today in one American prayer, then we 
will bury our dead and we will care for our injured and all those 
affected by this tragedy. We will pick up the pieces as one great 
nation, and together we will have our justice with a sure and mighty 
sword.
  To the terrorists who conspired in this horrific crime and to those 
who harbor those terrorists, know this: you are America's mortal 
enemies. America is the strongest country in the world. We have the 
will, the resources, and the power; and we will defeat you. We will 
hunt you down like the evil murderers that you are.
  In doing so, we will be demanding the assistance of every government 
in the world. Those who help us, they will be our friends. Those who do 
not help us, we will consider our enemies.
  With one voice, America says to the cowardly terrorists and their 
supporters, we Americans are still here. You have not stopped America. 
You have not stopped freedom. You have not stopped what a great people 
have spent 225 years building, the light of hope and humanity and 
liberty for all the people of the world, the United States of America. 
Those who came before us had to fight and die for their Nation and her 
freedoms; from Lexington and Concord to Gettysburg, from the Alamo to 
Omaha Beach, from the World Trade Center to the Pentagon.
  Now, today, it is up to us, this generation of the greatest nation on 
Earth, to be ready to answer the call for freedom. We are ready to 
answer that call.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), the distinguished chairman of the 
full Committee on Appropriations.
  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding 
me this time, and I want to compliment him and the ranking member and 
the chairman of the committee for having introduced this resolution. It 
is important that the Congress, the House, the Senate, the President of 
the United States speak in one solid voice that we will not now or ever 
tolerate the type of terrorist activities that we saw brought upon our 
shores yesterday.
  Today, I have had numerous visits with those dealing with this 
tragedy. One of the visits I made today was to the Pentagon. I visited 
there last night. The Pentagon was still burning, and there are still 
some electrical fires today in the Pentagon. But standing there in the 
rubble and recognizing what happened there, recognizing how many bodies 
were still entombed somewhere in that building, I might tell my 
colleagues that it causes a great emotional effect on this Member, and 
I think anyone there.
  I would like to say that the firefighters, the rescue people who are 
out there, the Red Cross, just everybody involved have done a 
magnificent job in trying to deal with this terrible, terrible tragedy.
  It is going to be fairly expensive to rebuild that section of the 
Pentagon that is going to have to be rebuilt, and Congress has to 
realize that. As I listened today to all of our Members, Member after 
Member standing here in the well condemning terrorism and standing 
strong for our country, because our country was attacked, this Congress 
to a man and to a woman, Republican and Democrat, have made a 
declaration that we are not going to allow this to go by without some 
immediate reaction from us.
  The President has asked for some funding to deal with the immediate 
issues, the immediate damages that have been done here at our Pentagon 
and in New York, where the terrible tragedy was unbelievable. And I 
would announce to the Members that, after having worked with the 
President's budget office today, the President's office, and with the 
appropriation leaders of the House and the Senate in both parties, 
tomorrow I will introduce a supplemental appropriations bill that would 
give the President authority to move strongly, quickly, and swiftly. To 
not only begin to rebuild and recover from the damages that have been 
done to our people, our friends and our neighbors, but also to give him 
additional funding for airport security, which obviously was violated 
by these hijackers being able to take over four of our major airline 
aircraft. He would have additional funds for counterterrorism 
activities, and he would have the money to add additional assets to 
hunt down, to search out, to find, to discover and to punish those who 
were responsible for this dastardly act.
  It is my intention, Mr. Speaker, that on tomorrow morning we will 
introduce this bill, and I believe that we will be able to actually 
consider it on the floor tomorrow before we adjourn for the day. I 
would hope that, and as I listen to the Members who are speaking out so 
strongly today, that we will again speak out strongly as we pass this 
resolution to guarantee the world that we as the Congress, the 
President, all of our people, are together in this determination; that 
we are not going to take this sitting down, and we are going to protect 
our country and our people from terrorists acts.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spratt), the ranking 
member of our Committee on the Budget.
  (Mr. SPRATT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Yesterday, Mr. Speaker, was a dark day in the history of our country. 
Today, we are bloodied but not bowed. We are a country united. Here in 
Congress we are neither Democrats nor Republicans, we are Americans, 
and we have closed ranks behind our President.
  We come here in this hallowed hall of democracy to express the grief 
and profound sympathy of the whole country for the victims of 
yesterday's heinous attacks and their families, and we come together 
resolved to see that their loss will be avenged and never repeated.
  These attacks were not just vicious crimes committed against innocent 
people. As many have already said, they were acts of war against the 
United States of America, and we must respond accordingly. We should 
spare no effort in tracking down these culprits and their cohorts, 
wherever they take haven, and striking back swiftly and severely; so 
severely that even fanatics like these see that there is no gain from 
such violence, not when it is committed against the United States of 
America.

[[Page H5531]]

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), a member of the Committees on 
Agriculture; Education and the Workforce; and Judiciary.
  (Mr. GOODLATTE asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, as we adopt this resolution today 
condemning the attacks against the United States, words cannot 
adequately express the sorrow and anger we feel at this trying time. 
Our hearts grieve for the families of those who have been lost to these 
acts of terrorism, but the depth of that grief is difficult to fully 
comprehend.
  The sight of thousands of people spontaneously gathering at places of 
worship yesterday gives us just a glimpse of the compassion in the 
hearts of the folks around the country. But beneath that compassion 
burns a white hot anger. It burns with a fury that begs to be unleashed 
on the perpetrators of this act of war. Because we must make no mistake 
about it, September 11, 2001, was the clarion call to arms in a new war 
against terrorism. It will be unlike any war America has ever fought. 
The enemy is nameless, faceless, and operates without borders.
  We use words like barbaric and cowardly to describe this enemy, but 
we must also recognize that this evil operates with cunning and 
sophistication. They have the advantage of stealth, and we must 
recognize that this enemy will continue their efforts until they 
understand that America will never, ever cease to be a beacon of hope 
and freedom to the world.
  To those responsible for these acts of evil committed yesterday, look 
closely at the American faces you see on the screen. Look at the 
firefighters and police who risked and gave their lives yesterday. Look 
at the faces of the medical personnel who work through the danger and 
exhaustion to save lives. Look at the faces of the many Americans who 
are waiting in line for hours to give blood or donate their time and 
energies to defeating you. And look at the faces here in this House, 
united in our resolve. We are defenders of a Nation built on principles 
that can never be destroyed and never be extinguished.
  We will find you. We will defeat you. And at that point, you will 
know America's dedication to ensuring that freedom and democracy will 
ultimately prevail over evil and terror.
  God bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Boyd).
  (Mr. BOYD asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BOYD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.J.Res. 61.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday, our great nation suffered its greatest 
tragedy of a single day since the Civil War. I join all other Americans 
who are shocked and outraged by the terrorist hijackings and attacks on 
the World Trade Center and on the Pentagon.
  With this attack, the United States has entered a new era. We have 
been thrust into a new type of conflict and face an implacable enemy 
who will not hesitate to destroy innocent life.
  CIA Director George Tenet has said in testimony before Congress that 
terrorist attacks are imminent. It is impossible to predict with 
certainty where or when terrorists might strike again. But this 
incomprehensible tragedy is a terrible reminder that we must take the 
threat of terrorism seriously.
  Let there be no mistake--the U.S. Government will investigate, 
pursue, and seek convictions of the criminals who were behind this 
cowardly attack. These terrorist attacks were truly acts of war, and we 
will respond forcefully and appropriately. The United States will take 
action against the terrorists and punish the governments that support 
and harbor such criminals.
  We must pull together as a country to grieve for all those we have 
lost, to care for all those who were injured and support all those 
families who have been affected by this tragedy. We must pull together 
as one people to protect our nation and our way of life.
  America must lead the civilized world in a relentless campaign to 
root out and defeat terrorists and terrorist states. As we mourn the 
tragic loss of life, the United States must remain resolute. Our 
friends and our enemies alike must be made to understand that we will 
not be deterred from the defense of our interests nor shrink from our 
responsibilities.
  This tragedy calls for the certain and severe punishment of those 
responsible and requires a commitment by Americans to address our 
vulnerabilities. We must understand that the struggle now upon us may 
be long and difficult. Yet, America has always prevailed against her 
enemies and will do so again.
  Those of us who have the honor of serving our Nation in these 
hallowed halls of Congress have a very difficult job to carry out. We 
must always maintain the magnificence of our Constitution while moving 
forward with the legislative challenge of balancing the need for 
additional security versus our God given rights and the rule of law. I 
believe that our Government has never before been faced with a larger 
challenge than the preservation of the ideals of this Nation, while 
still addressing the future.
  But that is not enough. We must resolve to fight back against these 
insane acts by committing the country's full resources in an aggressive 
effort to determine who is responsible, to see that justice is done, 
and to do everything possible to deter such acts in the future. As 
former Navy Secretary Richard Danzig pointed out, our memory is long 
and our reach is longer.
  I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of the victims, while 
expressing my gratitude to all of the emergency and law enforcement 
personnel and other volunteers, many of whom have lost their lives to 
help with our emergency response efforts.
  I urge my colleagues strong support of this important resolution.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings).
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, Stewart Meltzer, the nephew of Harvey Meltzer, died at 
the World Trade Center yesterday. When Harvey called me, as is the case 
with so many of us here with our constituents, I was stunned and had 
little that I could say to him. America changed yesterday, and it is 
changed for all time to come.
  My overwhelming sense of horror, grief and, yes, vulnerability cannot 
adequately be put into words. Obviously, my thoughts and fervent 
prayers are with the friends and families that have been touched most 
personally by these cowardly, cunning attacks.

                              {time}  1900

  Like many Members, I have constituents, as I have said, who lost 
loved ones yesterday. My heart aches for them.
  My heart aches not only for them but for all America today. We were 
all victims yesterday. But we stand here today to say to the citizens 
of our Nation and the world at large, America is taller than the World 
Trade Center, bigger than the Pentagon, and mightier than any 
destructive device. America is an idea. This idea will never be 
extinguished by despicable acts of terrorism. Indeed, the resolve of 
every American to recommit ourselves to our ideals will be strengthened 
forever. This is the spirit of America, today, tomorrow and in 
perpetuity.
  Today, we say to the rest of the world, though the color of our skin 
and the religions that we preach may differ, Americans throughout this 
great country stand united as one against anything that seeks to 
destroy the liberty and freedom we enjoy. When American liberty and 
freedom is threatened, we do not recoil but we rise up. Make no 
mistake, the United States will not stand for these types of attacks on 
our soil or in other lands. This is our history, and it is our destiny.
  Mr. Speaker, it has been said before but bears repeating today, 
freedom is not free. Yes, the cost of our freedom can be steep. In the 
land of the free and the home of the brave, the pulse of America can be 
felt everywhere we go. It can be felt in the streets of New York where 
thousands of firefighters, police officers, doctors, paramedics, and 
volunteers are working to save the lives of those who have survived and 
recover the bodies of those who have perished. It can be felt right 
here in Washington where the government of this great land continues to 
work in this darkest of hours. It can be felt in the towns and cities 
throughout the country where Americans refuse to stop living their 
lives in the wake of yesterday's terror.
  Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, mere words are not enough to 
convey my feelings or the feelings of my colleagues today. However, 
like Abraham Lincoln said at Gettysburg, ``The United States will 
guarantee today that those who died yesterday will not have died in 
vain.''

[[Page H5532]]

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer), a decorated Persian Gulf War 
veteran and chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, the dynamic of our Nation has been reshaped 
by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This tragedy not only 
destroyed the lives of thousands of innocent American civilians but 
also violated each and every American's sense of safety and security.
  No longer can we deny the fact that there are people in this world 
who seek to violate our cherished ideals of liberty, wise tolerance and 
an enduring peace. But those that live under the security of this 
Republic are resilient. From the sorrow, confusion and fear will come 
resolve, focus and confidence.
  We are coming together in service, prayer and dedication to those in 
need and we will persevere.
  To those who committed this horrific and cowardly attack, your attack 
on America and freedom itself has failed.
  With the full force of the United States we will find those 
responsible. They will be punished severely.
  Nation-supported and subnational terrorism activities constitute an 
asymmetrical threat upon our Nation's security. These terrorists groups 
are not subject to the traditional calculus of deterrence.
  We are now at war with terrorism. We must strike these vipers before 
they strike again. We must also make a renewed commitment similar to 
our investments and policies which worked to defeat communism. We must 
work to strengthen our national security system by modernizing and 
sustaining the U.S. intelligence community so its capabilities and 
performance will be able to cope with the demands and challenges of 
international and domestic counter-terrorism.
  In our emptiness and in our grief and fear, we must turn to our faith 
in God and the faith of this great Nation. We will show the world that 
our ideals will not be compromised by those who believe they can scare 
us into submission. I truly believe that goodness will prevail. God 
bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the distinguished ranking member of the 
Committee on Transportation.
  (Mr. OBERSTAR asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, all of us in this body together with our 
constituents are attempting to comprehend and give voice to yesterday's 
cowardly, merciless, and vicious act of terrorism against America and 
against humanity.
  Both anger and prayer welled up in all of us, as the Duluth News 
Tribune headline put so succinctly. Pastor Randy Williamson opened the 
doors of First Assembly of God Church in Hibbing to a steady stream of 
his congregation. Most of them, he said, feel it is a wake-up call for 
our country. It reminds us that life is fragile and that we are not 
invincible. I think they are praying that God would have mercy on us as 
a country and that our leaders have wisdom and courage and that they 
would think through the situation and not just act on impulse.
  Mr. Speaker, beyond the anger and the prayer lie some deeper thoughts 
about aviation security. On December 21, 1988, the world of aviation 
security was changed forever as a terrorist bomb tore apart Pan-Am 
Flight 103 killing all 259 passengers and crew and 11 residents of the 
small town of Lockerbie, Scotland.
  That terrorist act propelled the families of those victims on a 
tireless mission, to prevent such future tragedies culminating in the 
creation of the President's Commission on Aviation Security and 
Terrorism, which I authored and on which I served.
  History, astonishingly, repeated itself with yesterday's tragic 
events. Once again, aviation security was changed forever. We are again 
challenged to reevaluate the state of security for domestic and 
international commercial air service.
  As we set about the task, I urge caution in making snap decisions on 
drastic changes to the aviation security laws before we have had the 
opportunity to fully assess what went wrong both in the aviation and 
intelligence communities.
  Mr. Speaker, the following is information on aviation security:
  Over the last ten years, we have made great strides in enhancing 
aviation security. In the Commission's 1990 Report, we found the 
nation's civilian aviation security system to be seriously flawed, and 
made 64 recommendations to correct those flaws, which culminated in the 
passage of the Aviation Security Improvement Act of 1990. Six years 
later, spurred by initial concerns that a terrorist act was responsible 
for the TWA 800 explosion, President Clinton organized another 
commission, the 1996 White House Commission on Aviation Safety and 
Security, which made 31 recommendations for enhancing aviation 
security. Again, Congress acted swiftly and, in the 1996 FAA 
Reauthorization Act, included measures to intensify security.
  The universe to be protected is enormous and growing--666 million 
passenger enplanements annually, expected to grow to over 1 billion by 
2010, with several hundred million pieces of luggage to screen.
  Likewise, the magnitude of the threat is growing and changing. 
Between 1961 and 1972, there were over 134 domestic hijackings. In 
1972, in response to this rash of hijackings, FAA ordered metal 
detector searches of passengers and x-rays of carry on bags. In 1974, 
the Congress imposed these requirements legislatively with the passage 
of the Anti-Hijacking Act of 1974.
  As we installed metal detectors to find guns, the threat changed to 
bombs aboard aircraft. Following Pan Am 103, and based on the 
Commission's recommendations, significant steps have been taken to 
invest and deploy new techniques and equipment to detect items that 
pose an aviation security threat.
  Since the passage of the 1996 FAA Reauthorization Act, Congress has 
provided more than $350 million for deployment of security equipment, 
and over $250 million in research funds. To date, the FAA has installed 
92 FAA-certified explosives detection machines at 35 airports, 553 
explosives trace detection devices at 84 U.S. and foreign airports, and 
18 advanced technology bulk explosives detection x-ray machines at 8 
airports. In addition, FAA has deployed 38 computer-based training 
device platforms at 37 airports. The airlines have also invested 
heavily in security equipment.
  We have made great strides in aviation security. However, I have long 
expressed my concern about reports that, although the FAA is deploying 
this much needed equipment, there is no long-term strategy for 
integrating that equipment into a seamless security system.
  It is also of paramount importance to maintain passenger-screening 
checkpoints and ensure that the screeners who operate them are 
qualified. Millions of passengers and pieces of baggage pass through 
our airports each day. However, high turnover, low wages, and lack of 
adequate training hinder security screener performance. Both the 
General Accounting Office and the Office of Inspector General have 
uniformly described security screener performance as the ``weak link'' 
in aviation system. I believe that the FAA and the airlines share the 
responsibility to ensure optimal performance of security screeners.
  We have also received reports from the Office of Inspector General 
regarding the ineffectiveness of FAA's background investigative 
procedures, and the vulnerabilities in airport access control.
  Congress responded to these concerns on two fronts: The Wendell H. 
Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act (AIR 21), P.L. 106-181, 
authorized $5 million annually for the DOT to carry out at least one 
project to test and evaluate innovative aviation security systems. The 
bill also authorizes such sums as may be necessary to develop and 
improve security screener training programs; and such sums as are 
necessary to hire additional inspectors to enhance air cargo security 
programs.
  Last year, Congress passed the Airport Security Improvement Act, P.L. 
106-528, which requires criminal history record checks for those 
individuals who apply for a security sensitive position as a screener 
or a screener supervisor and adds several crimes to the list of crimes 
that would disqualify an individual from holding such a position. In 
addition, the law requires the expansion of FAA's electronic 
fingerprint transmission pilot project into an aviation-industry-wide 
program to allow for quick turnaround on criminal background checks, 
and includes provisions to strengthen access control requirements.
  The FAA must take a holistic view toward its security 
responsibilities to ensure that all areas of vulnerability are 
addressed. However, the airlines and airports also share in that 
responsibility--and they should not put costs above passenger safety.
  We must also be more aggressive in our intelligence gathering, 
evaluation, and dissemination. This is the most challenging aspect of

[[Page H5533]]

our aviation security network. It is difficult to penetrate these 
highly secretive organizations that operate on a war-like footing. 
Counter-terrorism also requires renewed higher-level coordination 
through Interpol, with our allies, and with other nations like Russia 
and China, as the PanAm 103 commission recommended eleven years ago. 
The skills of terrorists have stepped up several levels since the 
Commission's 1990 report. We must ensure that our counter-intelligence 
rises to meet that threat.
  With the appropriate counter-intelligence efforts and security 
implemented to the fullest extent, our citizens can forever enjoy the 
freedom of travel that this great nation provides to the envy of the 
rest of us world.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert).
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House 
Joint Resolution 61. Like most Americans, the very first thing I did as 
the tragedy unfolded was to call my family to ensure that everyone was 
safe, and to assure them that I was safe.
  My heart and my prayers go out to all those families who did not get 
that reassuring phone call they hoped for. Today will be the hardest 
day for them as shock melts to grief, and grief makes way for the anger 
that is sure to come.
  Today is the hardest day for us as a Nation. As we stated in this 
resolution, this day stands as a national day of unity and mourning. It 
is not a day for anger; it is a day of resolve: cold, calculated, 
patient and unemotional and universal resolve.
  In passing this resolution today, what we as a body say to Americans, 
to the world community, and to those who perpetrated or aided these 
crimes is simple: never forget and never again. Never will we forget 
the terror and tragedy of this day. Just as our children and 
grandchildren ask, Where were you when Pearl Harbor was bombed by Japan 
or when President Kennedy was shot by Oswald, so too will they ask 
where were we when America was attacked by the stealth enemy of 
cowardice and terror, now vanquished.
  Never again will Americans face the horror and the loss that we feel 
today. Never will we be lulled into a false sense of complacency that 
the world is safe or that national security can ever take a back seat 
to other more popular priorities.
  Cynics say this is a resolution that is nonbinding, that it holds not 
the weight of law nor the power of resources. Cynics are wrong.
  Mr. Speaker, there is no more important statement this body has made 
or will make that holds the strength and meaning of our vote today. 
This measure is more than an expression of support for our people, our 
values, our President. This measure codifies our commitment and unites 
us in our pledge: never forget, never again.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Eshoo), my good neighbor, dear friend and distinguished 
colleague.
  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, we have all come onto the floor of the distinguished 
House and looked at whomever is in the chair, and then raised our eyes 
just a little higher and looked at the words that are above, ``In God 
we trust.''
  I think it is very important today for our Nation to look at those 
words again and repeat them, either out loud or silently, as a prayer 
for our Nation, for those whose lives have been taken, in God we trust 
that they are living in the face of God this evening; and to their 
families, in God we trust; and ourselves, that we will help to heal one 
another; and that in God we trust, have entrusted our lives in the 
noble Americans that we have seen on the face of television that have 
moved to take care of those that have fallen.
  So in God we trust today in the ingredients of our democracy, that 
are imprinted and engraved in the wood of the bench here that surrounds 
the place where the President comes to address the Nation, and where 
the Speaker, in our democracy in this House of Representatives, 
resides. It says ``Union,'' and we believe in our Union.
  Mr. Speaker, I recall the ingredients of our democracy. As I say 
this, the entire world should pay attention to what the ingredients of 
our democracy are: union, and make no mistake about it, we are unified; 
in justice, that is at the desk, and those who are less than animals 
who have done this to our people will be brought to justice; for 
tolerance, our tolerance as we debate and that we will bring tolerance 
to what these outcomes are; to liberty and understanding that there are 
those who have to pay a price for that; and for peace, peace of mind, 
peace in this land.
  Mr. Speaker, in God we trust that we will honor the ingredients, that 
we will honor those whose lives have been taken, that we honor the 
Capitol Police tonight, and our staffs, I would like to thank because 
they have worked very hard to take care of us, and to all of us we must 
say in God we trust that our deliberations will bring about the results 
that this magnificent Nation and our democracy deserves.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley), a member of the Committee on 
Armed Services.
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, yesterday's devastating terrorist attacks 
will forever be seared on our individual and national memories. It was 
an unreal and incomprehensible assault on our people and our Nation. 
When I awoke this morning, it was with the sad realization that the 
attacks of yesterday actually occurred and claimed so many innocent 
lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I passed the Pentagon on my way to work just a few 
minutes before the plane hit. This morning when I drove by the 
Pentagon, it was a very real and very different scene. The smoke was 
still pouring out, and the water was pouring in; but in a glimmer of 
hope, the American flag continued to wave on the grounds of the 
Pentagon. The American spirit will not be disabled.
  It is shameful that thousands of American civilians gave their lives 
for a cause they did not know, for an issue they were not concerned. An 
attack against civilian targets of women and children, mothers and 
fathers, peaceful and without prejudice is beyond comprehension in our 
modern day, civilized world.
  I mourn for the dead and extend my sympathy to the families of the 
afflicted. In this hour of bereavement, I extend my gratitude and 
praise for the men and women who risk their lives and continue to risk 
their lives to find the victims and rescue the injured. The men and 
women who serve to protect our society cannot pause to grieve, for 
their job is far from complete. To the families who grieve, the 
citizens who serve and a Nation that questions, I cannot underscore 
enough the desire of this Congress to find the perpetrators and inflict 
punishment.
  Mr. Speaker, there will be an enormous price to pay, both to the 
cowards behind these horrendous acts and to any nation that harbors 
them. Yesterday, the United States of America was the greatest Nation 
on the face of the Earth.

                              {time}  1915

  Today, the United States of America is the greatest Nation on the 
face of the Earth, and by the grace of God we will remain so.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey), my friend and colleague.
  (Ms. WOOLSEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for 
yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with profound sorrow and sympathy that I join my 
colleagues to condemn the horrific acts of terrorism yesterday in New 
York City and here in our own Nation's capital.
  On behalf of the people of Marin and Sonoma Counties, I extend 
condolences and prayers to those who lost family, friends, and co-
workers. To those in our Bay Area community who are grieving for their 
own losses in yesterday's terrorist attacks, we stand ready to offer 
our support and console. To those who selflessly and bravely offered 
themselves in our Nation's greatest time of need, we thank you.
  Mr. Speaker, we send a message to those guilty of those disastrous 
acts. Our message is that their acts of destroying the World Trade 
Center, damaging the Pentagon, and using U.S. airlines to carry out 
their brutal deeds of

[[Page H5534]]

death, those actions fully intending to destroy our democracy through 
terror, death, and disability will not succeed. This Nation's steadfast 
determination to support democracy will not bow to terrorism.
  We will instead reach out, reach out to the victims and their 
families. We will rebuild our cities and we will rebuild our 
confidence. We will not let the forces of evil prevail or go 
unpunished.
  Yet, as we try to make sense of yesterday's senseless activities, we 
will remember that our Nation's response to these acts will also leave 
an indelible mark on the American people. Determining an appropriate 
response and bringing those responsible for the attacks to justice 
means that we must temper our absolute resolve with wisdom, and Mr. 
Speaker, I have complete confidence that America will rise to the 
challenge.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne), a member of the 
Committee on Agriculture.
  Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution.
  When examined in the context of history, yesterday will prove to be 
the most tragic single day in the history of the United States.
  It has been my experience that true character is revealed most 
clearly in times of crisis. As we recover from this event, our 
character as a Congress and a Nation will be demonstrated. There will 
be several parameters that will be particularly revealing.
  First, we can be divided, cast blame, point fingers and dissolve into 
partisanship, or we can unify, pull together, and strive to be one 
Nation. The whole is always greater than the sum of its parts. Unity of 
purpose is critical.
  Second, we can become hesitant and fearful or we can show great 
courage. The President's declaration that those who harbor terrorists 
will be treated as terrorists is significant. Our pursuit of those 
responsible for the attack must be focused and relentless. Yet we must 
be certain that innocent people are not harmed in the process.
  Third, adversity is a great teacher. We can learn from this event and 
become a more vigilant and better prepared Nation. It is critical that 
we correct flaws in our national security. It is equally important that 
these corrections are made without acrimony and in a constructive 
atmosphere.
  Fourth, we can demonstrate the vitality of our faith or we can yield 
to cynicism and despair.
  It has often been said that America is great because America is good. 
We were founded as one Nation under God, and our faith in God has 
undergirded our Nation since its inception. Hopefully an event such as 
this will underscore our reliance upon a power beyond our own and will 
lead to a renewed dedication to serving and honoring God with all that 
we have been given.
  May God's favor rest upon this Congress and upon this people.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez), my friend and colleague.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for 
yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday Americans were both dumbfounded and outraged. 
The scenes which were played out over and over on television were 
something we are accustomed to seeing from Hollywood, not something 
that happens here in America. Surely these scenes could not occur in 
two of the most important cities we have, New York and Washington, 
D.C., the symbols of capitalism and freedom. But they did.
  Witnessing the horrific events of yesterday, I am proud to tell you 
that my faith in America is strong and that my belief in tomorrow is 
even stronger. The United States is mightier than any group of 
terrorists. We have resolve and reassurance that our unity is strong 
and our patriotism can never be doubted.
  I will not allow the spirit of democracy to be destroyed. We will 
stand tall as Americans together, black and white, rich and poor, 
Democrats and Republicans, to ensure that an event such as this never 
occurs again on our land.
  As a member of the Committee on Armed Services and its terrorism 
panel, I will stand with our President to locate the cowards who 
harbored and funded these suicide pilots. Just as importantly, I will 
continue to strongly support more funding for counterintelligence 
activities and fighting terrorism both domestically and abroad.
  It is really unfortunate that it took a terrible tragedy like the one 
yesterday to force policymakers to rethink our priorities, and yet I 
know I am safe in saying that none of my colleagues want to see a 
repeat of yesterday.
  So how can the mightiest, the wealthiest Nation in the world prevent 
such an attack in the future? The first step is to take a look at our 
priorities and make it an order that will reflect our desires to 
protect American citizens.
  I firmly believe that the biggest risk to our country, to all 
Americans, is not some missile from some rogue Nation but terrorism.
  Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, both are threats, but as a country we 
need to get our priorities right. We need to devote more funds to 
counterintelligence support and infrastructure and education of 
terrorist activities. Yesterday was an assault on the freedom of every 
American, and we must come together and offer our support.
  Today, we grieve those who have lost their lives. As we pray for 
their families, we speak in one voice to condemn these attacks. Today, 
the healing must begin.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sweeney). In order for the managers to 
better manage time, the Chair wishes to inform Members that the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) has 50 minutes remaining, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) has 31 minutes.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves), a member of the 
Committee on Agriculture.
  (Mr. GRAVES asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution. 
This is a solemn moment in our Nation's history. American men and 
women, civilians and soldiers, firefighters and police, mothers and 
fathers, were slain yesterday for a cause so terrible, so heinous, and 
so despicable that we find it completely unimaginable.
  Today, we struggle as a Nation to find meaning and hope in a 
seemingly hopeless and meaningless act. In the days to come, America 
will be united, shoulder to shoulder, in a struggle to meet the 
challenges of a world that is a little less safe, a little scarier and 
far less predictable. Nevertheless, we will unite to comfort our 
families, our neighbors and our friends who have lost their lives, 
their loved ones, and their friends through these acts of terrorism. We 
will unite, resolved to find the terrorists and those that harbor them 
so we can bring them to justice. We will unite in retaliation for a war 
that has been brought to our soil. And, Mr. Speaker, we will prevail.
  Our Nation will rebuild what these terrorists have torn down. We will 
renew our faith that has been tested. And we will renew our 
determination and our spirit that has been weakened but not broken. We 
will come together and renew our love for our country and for our 
fellow Americans. We will never forget those that we have lost, nor 
will we forget the commitment we have made to them and their loved ones 
to bring their attackers to justice.
  Mr. Speaker, God bless the families and children grieving across this 
great Nation today.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman).
  (Ms. HARMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me this 
time.
  My generation lost its innocence when President John F. Kennedy was 
assassinated. With yesterday's events, our children and our 
grandchildren lost their innocence. My 16-year-old daughter asked me 
last night how we could live in a country where planes crash into 
buildings. My response, until yesterday, we didn't. Now we do. How we 
respond to yesterday will measure us, Mr. Speaker. I want to applaud 
our colleague who urged us yesterday to pray

[[Page H5535]]

for the wisdom to make the right decisions. It matters what we do and 
how we do it.
  Let us start with how. We must be bipartisan, balanced, and calm. 
Panic and partisanship are our enemies. And as one colleague said this 
morning, the Constitution of the United States must not be our next 
casualty.
  What. We must take bold steps, including, first, restructuring our 
defense and intelligence budgets to meet the real threats of the 21st 
century, not the outdated threats of the 20th. Second, give first 
priority to counterterrorism, prevention being the most important goal. 
Our arsenal to prevent terrorism includes diplomacy, human intelligence 
and state-of-the-art technology. Third, strengthen efforts to train and 
equip responders at the local, State and Federal level. New York City 
did a magnificent job. So did the Capitol Police. And, fourth, respect 
the civil liberties and intelligence of Americans. We are a generous, 
courageous and resilient Nation. Given information, resources and 
leadership, the American people will rise to any challenge and fight 
down any assault to take from us our way of life.
  We will defeat terrorism. We will honor the memories of my 
constituents, Raytheon executives Peter Gay and Stanley Hall, and 
Boeing employees Chandler Keller and Rubin Ornedo, all passengers on 
American Flight 77.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg), a member of 
the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations of the Committee on 
Appropriations.
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer on behalf of the 
people of the 11th Congressional District of Michigan our thoughts and 
prayers for each and every one affected by the tragedy. Words alone 
cannot express the sorrow that America feels. Nor can words express the 
anger America feels. These attacks were a cowardly assault on innocent 
Americans, and this will not stand.
  Make no mistake, these attacks were an act of war. All of us stand 
firmly behind the President in his efforts to identify and punish the 
perpetrators of these evil deeds. No one will rest until justice is 
done on those who committed these heinous crimes and on those who 
provided aid and comfort to those criminals.
  Let me be clear. America's relationships with our allies and those 
who would be our allies will be defined by their reactions to these 
events and their support for our efforts to bring these terrorists and 
their accomplices to justice.
  Our Nation's capital has suffered as well. I have been in touch with 
the city's leadership to assess their needs. As chairman of the 
Subcommittee on the District of Columbia of the Committee on 
Appropriations, I will do what I can to ensure that it has the 
resources it needs to be as safe as possible.
  Yesterday, we saw the worst of humanity. But it is the better angels 
of our nature that will prevail. Terrorism tries to defeat us with 
fear. Judging by the response of all Americans, fear is not winning.

                              {time}  1930

  I returned to work today, as did all Americans, confident that the 
United States of America is as strong as ever. We are bloodied, but 
unbowed. Now is the time for us as a Nation to stand together and prove 
that the principles for which we stand are stronger than the forces 
that would destroy them.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, against this backdrop of an unfolding and 
unforgettable horror, we draw our loved ones a little closer. Let our 
prayers comfort those in pain and our gratitude sustain those who 
rescue and protect and heal. As our grief yields to anger, we unite in 
support of a swift response, commensurate to the evil, targeted against 
the guilty, sufficient to deter others who would visit terror on our 
shores.
  The words of President Bush have been well chosen; his response has 
been firm, but measured. All of us want to join our President with a 
bipartisan display of national unity, just as we did last evening on 
the steps of this Capitol. As President Bush well understands, nothing 
good would be accomplished by attacking the innocent based on mere 
suspicion.
  In today's world, there can be no absolute security, no impenetrable 
``Fortress America.'' For as long as tyrants exist, they will challenge 
and demonize the United States because of our ideas of freedom and 
liberty. We can only dedicate ourselves to determining how this 
terrible attack occurred, redouble our efforts to protect our families 
from the greatest dangers, and ensure that only the guilty bear our 
retribution.
  As we renew our declaration of war against terrorism, we know that if 
our enemies could be easily vanquished, they would already be gone; if 
we could buy our way out of such tragedies, the dollars would already 
have been spent. More money may be needed for some purposes, but a 
blank check is no substitute for policies that are sound, well 
coordinated and effectively implemented.
  Certainly the lessons we learn in this kind of situation and the 
memories we take away are very individual. As I passed the Tidal Basin 
yesterday and witnessed the smoke rising from behind the Jefferson 
Memorial coming from the still-burning Pentagon, I will concede to 
being moved by the juxtaposition, the gray smoke from the Pentagon 
against this classic white marble structure where the words of 
Jefferson are inscribed: ``I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal 
hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.''
  Today we join in subscribing to that same oath.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker), a member of the Committee on 
Appropriations and, of particular note, the Subcommittee on Foreign 
Operations.
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, a dark cloak 
of terrorism fell across the United States with the brutal and heinous 
attacks on our country. The Nation watched in horror as events unfolded 
and Americans faced the harsh reality of terror right on our own 
doorstep.
  In the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, thousands of people lie in 
the rubble. In the still smouldering center of our national defense 
headquarters, many are still unaccounted for.
  Our hearts and prayers go out to those victims and their families. 
The surest consolation for those left behind, and indeed for all of us, 
can be found in the confident knowledge that the blessings of this 
Nation, life, liberty, and freedom, will endure.
  One of our most treasured symbols of freedom is the Statue of 
Liberty. Inscribed in the pedestal are these words of hope, written in 
a different era, but which are appropriate today. They are taken from 
President Franklin Roosevelt's State of the Union message less than 1 
month after the bombing of Pearl Harbor: ``Liberty is the air America 
breathes. In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look 
forward to a world founded upon four essential freedoms: freedom of 
speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear.''
  Mr. Speaker, Americans today yearn to be free of fear, to believe 
these terrorist attacks were an isolated incident which will not happen 
again. Yet we have no such guarantee.
  Americans should know that the forces of evil which perpetrated these 
acts may make further attempts on our soil. These forces are not 
readily identifiable. As the President said this morning, ``The 
American people need to know that this is a different enemy than we 
have ever faced.''
  Mr. Speaker, that is why the United States must candidly acknowledge 
that more resources must be devoted to our intelligence and defense 
operations to defend against this new type of warfare. America will 
respond swiftly, decisively, and with force to these acts of war on our 
homeland; but we must also, to the best of our ability, make the 
necessary preparations to protect our country from the threat of this 
new warfare in the future.
  We stand united as a Congress and as a country to defeat our enemies 
and to preserve our freedom, now and forever. May God grant us the 
resolve, the courage, and the national determination to overcome this 
tragedy.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to my 
friend, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

[[Page H5536]]

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished 
gentleman for yielding me time, and I thank the chairman.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the constituents of the 18th Congressional 
District, I offer my deepest sympathy. Today, Mr. Speaker, I am as 
proud to be an American as ever, because we are not afraid. However, I 
do want to express my deep pain and sadness regarding the tragic events 
that took place on United States soil yesterday morning.
  The aggressive and unwarranted seizing of civilian airplanes 
originating at airports in Newark, Boston, and Washington, resulting in 
violent attacks and explosions at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon 
and rural Pennsylvania, have shocked the Nation and the world.
  I would also like to express my deepest sympathies to the families 
and friends of those involved in this horror of horrors. I hope that 
all Americans upset by this tragedy have and will find solace in 
churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, or any place where peaceful 
people might congregate to share their shock and sadness. This weekend, 
I call for Americans to worship in unity together, praying for the will 
of our Founding Fathers.
  At a time like this, individuals who think little about the tenets 
and principles that undergrid this government and this Nation are 
reminded of the values of freedom and democracy we citizens of the 
United States so often take for granted. We will also never forget our 
loyalty to the rule of law.
  It is important when the comfort of this Nation is shaken and we can 
see what we appear to have lost, we then realize how great a nation the 
United States is and how we must truly love our country. Thank you, 
warriors of charity, our firefighters and police, emergency workers and 
the U.S. military, in New York and Washington and the Nation, for your 
selflessness.
  As chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I am amazed and 
impressed by the efforts made by the American children to help each 
other cope with this horrible tragedy. A member of my staff's younger 
sister, a 14-year-old from New York City, recalled the dual shock of 
the events she experienced at a nearby school. She explained that one 
of her friends had lost his father who was traveling on the plane that 
was crashed in the first World Trade Center tower. Another of her 
friends lost both of her parents, who went to work in the World Trade 
Center yesterday morning, but will never return home.
  Despite the magnitude of this human tragedy, I am moved by this young 
girl's optimistic perspective of these events which she experienced 
firsthand. She explained that although her life and world have forever 
changed because of this great tragedy, she felt safe and proud when her 
classmates, children of all colors, creeds and national origins, came 
together as Americans and drew strength from their collective diversity 
and richness. We must not forget our children.
  As the people of this country and the nations of the world look upon 
this House, let me join my colleagues in stating unequivocally that 
this Nation is one of one mind and one voice in this time of tragedy. I 
will support the President and will work to ensure that all available 
resources are devoted toward finding and holding accountable those 
individuals responsible for this blow to world citizenship.
  Might I also say that we must act now. How will we act? Congress will 
act to provide the resources to stamp out terrorism. We will, however, 
adhere to the rule of law. I will ask for an immediate assessment of 
the security structure at our Canadian border. Finally, we should move 
to convene a meeting with all the adoption and foster care agencies to 
ensure that the children who have lost their parents will be taken care 
of.
  Finally, we may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but 
we will have no fear and we will fear no evil. God Bless America and 
the American people.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my deep pain and sadness 
regarding the tragic events that took place on United States soil 
yesterday morning. These aggressive and unwarranted attacks on civilian 
airplanes originating at airports in Newark, Boston, and Washington, 
and explosions at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and rural 
Pennsylvania have shocked the nation and the world.
  I would also like to express my deepest sympathies to the families 
and friends of those involved in this horror of horrors. I know that 
many Americans lost some of the most important people in their lives 
yesterday, and I know that mere words cannot express their pain. I hope 
that all Americans upset by this tragedy have found solace in Churches, 
Mosques, Synagogues, Temples, or any place where peaceful people might 
congregate to share their shock and sadness. All Americans are stunned 
at the magnitude of damage, the obvious and extreme loss of life, and 
the uncertainty of huge totals regarding loss of life that we face in 
the days and weeks to come.
  At a time like this, individuals who think little about the tenets 
and principles that under-gird this government and this nation are 
reminded of the values of freedom and democracy we citizens of the 
United States so often take for granted. When the comfort of this 
nation is shaken, and we can see what we appear to have lost, we then 
realize how great a nation the United States is and how much we truly 
love our country. Perhaps this is but a function of God's Grace toward 
our nation, because when faced with tragedies like those which unfolded 
yesterday, Americans are reminded not of kings and aristocrats, but of 
the constant struggle of American citizens of all races, colors, 
religions, and national origins fighting for freedom, equality, and 
justice for all.
  As America watched the events unfold on television, we saw countless 
examples of this collective American spirit animating individuals to 
acts of heroism. I would like to especially recognize the selfless 
heroism of the many thousands of New York City and National Police, 
Fire Department and emergency service workers throughout this tragedy. 
I thank the men and women of the U.S. military. They have worked and 
continue to work through the most dangerous and catastrophic event in 
American history. To those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while 
saving the lives of others, and to their families, I say to you ``Thank 
you, and God bless you. Your faith and commitment to democracy and to 
the sanctity of human life will make us all safer, healthier, and 
better able to serve those around the world who thirst, above all else, 
for freedom, democracy, and peace.''
  As Co-Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I am amazed and 
impressed by the efforts made by American children to help each other 
cope with this horrible tragedy. A member of my staff's younger sister, 
a 14 year old from New York City, recalled the dual shock of the events 
she experienced at a nearby school yesterday. She explained that one of 
her friends had lost his father who was travelling on the plane that 
was crashed into the first World Trade Center tower. Another of her 
friends lost both of her parents who went to work in the World Trade 
Center yesterday morning, but will never return home. Despite the 
magnitude of this human tragedy, I am moved by this young girl's 
optimistic perspective of these events which she experienced first-
hand. She explained that although her life and world have forever 
changed because of this great tragedy, she felt safe and proud when her 
classmates, children of all colors, creeds, and national origins 
came together as Americans and drew strength from their collective 
diversity and richness.

  In this darkest hour of our great Nation, perhaps our greatest pillar 
of strength derives from our children who have endured and will 
continue to endure for all of us here in America and around the world. 
We must make every effort to ensure that these young people receive the 
support and care they need to ensure that they never turn a hostile 
face toward the world that has taken so much from them.
  As the people of this country and the nations of the world look upon 
this House, let me join my colleagues in stating unequivocally that 
this nation is of one mind and one voice in this time of tragedy. I 
support the President and will work to ensure that all available 
resources are devoted toward funding and holding accountable those 
individuals responsible for this blow to world citizenship.
  The nations of this world should understand both our determination to 
find the patrons of these heinous acts, and our collective faith that 
we will pursue this goal with the integrity and conviction that the 
gravity of the situation--and that the principles and Constitution that 
have shaped this great Nation--require.
  In pursuing the criminals and their conspirators who carried out this 
attack on our nation, we will not, however, proceed with disregard of 
either international or U.S. Law. It is centrally important that this 
nation proceed hand in hand with the rule of law. The world must know 
that these are not the acts of a vengeful nation. Instead, we must act 
with the conviction and certainty the laws created under our 
Constitution allow.
  We are determined to proceed not with reckless abandon, mistrust, and 
xenophobia,

[[Page H5537]]

but rather with calm, focused energy directed at the culprits of this 
terrible crime against the United States. We understand that those 
responsible for this attack on United States' soil are zealots and 
extremists who have perverted a religion based on peace for their own 
twisted political ends.
  As we move forward in our pursuit of justice, we must also be mindful 
not to assign collective guilt on any one group among us. I know that 
at times such as these people have a tendency to generalize, 
stereotype, and single out individuals who have had no hand in these 
heinous acts. I have heard reports of Muslim schoolchildren being 
harassed by others who misunderstand the complexities involved in 
fighting religious terrorists. We must be sure to help Americans turn 
away from such hateful and hurtful behavior, lest they lead to even 
more violence and divert us from our purpose.
  The United States will act against the zealots that committed these 
crimes in a manner that eliminates their effectiveness and denies them 
martyrdom. We will also act against third party governments who give 
shelter and aid to these international criminals at the expense of 
their peaceful and law-abiding citizens. My fellow Americans, the 
United States will act to defend itself against all threats, foreign 
and domestic, because we believe to the utmost in the peace of nations 
and peace between all members of the human family.
  The people of the United States are peaceful, and above all else, we 
have faith in the freedom and justice that we no longer have the luxury 
of taking for granted. We will allow this faith to guide the 
instruments of the United States and the citizens of this nation who 
will respond to the calls for justice that echo from around the world. 
Like Psalm 23, this nation walked through the ``Valley of the Shadow of 
Death'' yesterday. This nation, however, ``fears no evil,'' for the 
strength of our convictions and the Grace of God comfort us, and we 
have emerged stronger and more determined than ever.
  The United States is faced with great challenges as we move forward 
from this day of national emergency. We shall continue to pray and 
heal, even as we pursue the authorities of darkness and zealotry to the 
ends of the earth. As we proceed, let us be forever reminded of the 
words of Isaiah 40:31; ``But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew 
their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall 
run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.''
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas), the distinguished chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims of the Committee on the 
Judiciary.
  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, we Members of Congress could not have been totally 
surprised by the swiftness with which the firefighters and ambulance 
drivers and police people and hospital people rushed to the scene, both 
in New York and at the Pentagon. We should not be surprised, because we 
have seen instances in our own districts, dozens of times, time and 
time again, of the valiant work of the firefighter and the policeman 
and the ambulance driver. But the sheer magnitude of what they did in 
New York and the Pentagon charges again our admiration for their 
service to mankind, service to their communities, and, yes, service to 
our country.
  So, with their efforts, we fulfilled and are still fulfilling the 
three charges that are made to the American people and to the American 
government: one, to take care of our wounded, our casualties; number 
two, to prepare for restructuring of the damage that was done by these 
terrorists; and, number three, as everyone agrees, to bring the 
culprits to justice.
  America has its priorities already set, and they were placed in order 
by the valiant work of the firefighters and those who went to the aid 
of others.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott).
  (Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday, for the first time in 187 years, we have been 
attacked in the continental United States. In 1814, during the War of 
1812, both the White House and the Capitol were set on fire and nearly 
totally destroyed.
  In the time between, buttressed by two enormous oceans, Americans 
felt an enormous sense of security. Today, that feeling is gone. It 
will be a very, very long time before we feel safe again, like before!
  We grieve--not only for the thousands who died yesterday--but for 
ourselves.
  Our natural human response is--first denial--then apathy--and then 
rage.
  The United States is the greatest, most powerful nation in the 
world--a nation that cannot allow itself to react irresponsibly, 
against innocent people, out of an act of rage.
  America must be careful in its response.
  Our prayers go out to the victims and families of the thousands who 
were senselessly killed and injured. Our nation is committed to 
eradicating terrorism and bringing those who orchestrated this atrocity 
to justice.
  We must not act in haste--by rushing to act out our vengeance against 
fellow Americans--because America is the world's greatest melting pot, 
and in today's society, we simply cannot guess at an individual's 
country of natural origin by their appearance. We have to make sure 
that we make war on terrorism--not on Arabs!
  We must make a further distinction between the war on terrorism and 
the war on Americans of Near or South Asian descent. There have been 
many references to a second Pearl Harbor, and while the shock and anger 
certainly are similar and warranted, that anger should not be directed 
towards our neighbors in ethnic communities across the country. We do 
not need the attitudes that will lead to a second wave of internment 
camps.
  We must set an example to the world. Americans will not lower 
themselves to the mentality of a lynch mob.
  We must not make a mistake in our response.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Lampson).
  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to express 
for the people of Southeast Texas and for myself our sympathy for those 
who have lost loved ones in the horrible tragedy our country suffered 
yesterday.
  I have received many messages of well wishes and sympathy from 
constituents and friends literally around the world. A member of the 
French parliament, for example, asked me to please transmit his 
profound sympathies to the U.S. Congress and the American people.
  We thank you all for your prayers and support. The United States of 
America is strong, and will not be shaken by such a cowardly act which 
killed so many of our countrymen.
  But, Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about a slightly different message 
than my colleagues have spoken of so far, a message about children. As 
adults, we have the ability to process this tragedy much differently 
than how our young children do.
  As Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Missing and Exploited 
Children, I wanted to ask the citizens of our country to be 
particularly sensitive to our children's needs and to give them an 
opportunity to discuss freely their feelings.
  As adults, we need to be calm and focused for the children. We need 
to receive support from other adults, so that we are able to 
effectively guide our children. We must talk with our kids and listen 
to them, find out what their fears are, what their concerns are, and 
then try to address them as directly and as calmly as possible. We must 
try to reassure them that there are adults there to help them and to 
protect them, and, after giving them time to talk and to share, to 
return them to their regular routine of school. Our children are worth 
the time that we take to do this, and it is indeed important.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the police, the firefighters, the 
emergency personnel and the magnificent citizens who sacrificed their 
lives or who are still helping in this disaster. My heart and the 
hearts of my constituents go out to the people of New York and of 
Washington, D.C. I urge my fellow citizens to support our President as 
we take swift and decisive action against the persons who perpetrated 
this tremendously horrendous act of cowardice.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this resolution, and I 
ask that God bless America.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), a member of the 
Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. 
My thoughts and sympathies go to those who have lost family members and 
loved ones to this dastardly deed.
  Yesterday morning, while I prepared to come to the hill, I watched in 
horror

[[Page H5538]]

on the television as the World Trade Center burned.

                              {time}  1945

  Then a second plane I saw fly deliberately into the second tower. And 
as I was watching that, I heard of the third plane crashing into the 
Pentagon.
  I, along with the rest of the Nation, was riveted to the news for the 
rest of the day. Words cannot describe the feelings I had as I saw 
those towers crumble. Through the immense devastation, I saw the 
efforts of many Americans to save and help those victims who were 
suffering so tremendously. Many of those heroes became victims 
themselves.
  Mr. Speaker, I have heard a lot of talk since then about what we are 
going to do; but in the last few years that I have been here in 
Congress, we have suffered other terrorist attacks and all we have done 
is talk. This has to stop. This time, we have to retaliate; and we have 
to do so so strongly that no one will dare attack us on our homeland 
again.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Pastor).
  (Mr. PASTOR asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my condolences to 
the victims and my support for all of the people who are rescuing, and 
I join my President in resolving to join him in finding those people 
who perpetrated this crime.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart and a deep resolve. I 
rise in support of this Resolution.
  Like all other Americans, and many from other countries around the 
world, I am saddened by the events of yesterday. Our hearts weep for 
the victims and families of this horrendous attack. Our hearts weep for 
our nation. And our hearts weep for our civilization.
  But, just as Americans of past generations have stared down the 
grisly realities of malicious and wanton aggressions upon our freedom, 
our livelihood, and our way of life, so we will rise up to denounce, 
withstand, and battle this atrocity.
  Let no one throughout the world misunderstand America's resolve to 
end the senseless carnage that we observed yesterday. Let no one 
throughout the world misunderstand America's spirit to defend democracy 
and freedom. Let no one throughout the world misunderstand America's 
will to prevail.
  It is a time of sadness and a time of challenge in our nation. We 
will continue to remember and revere those who perished. But we will 
also meet this challenge with the conviction and the courage that has 
made our nation the shining symbol of freedom throughout the world.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge), my good friend and 
colleague.
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time 
to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about yesterday's outrageous 
attack on America. First and foremost, I want to express my sympathy 
and condolences to the victims of these attacks and to their families. 
Their unimaginable suffering that they have been forced to endure will 
forever give them a unique place in America's collective hearts. We 
pray that the good Lord, in his mercy, will comfort the innocent and 
help them find a path to perseverance. We resolve that their loss will 
never be forgotten in this country where we share their deep grief.
  I commend the many acts of heroism performed by civilians, police, 
firefighters, and countless others. The response of the American people 
has been overwhelming, as people give their time, their prayers, and 
their blood to assist our fallen brothers and sisters. Americans of all 
walks of life have shown their true colors in this crisis, and those 
colors are unmistakably red, white and blue.
  Yesterday, we witnessed multiple acts of extreme cowardice, 
precipitated by individuals so twisted with hate as to slaughter 
innocent citizens, men, women and children who have done them no harm 
and posed them no threat. The people of this country feel these attacks 
deeply because we know that the target of those assaults were every 
man, woman and child in this country. Freedom itself and our way of 
life came under attack yesterday, and we must answer that call to 
protect our citizens.
  President Roosevelt correctly stated, ``We, born to freedom and 
believing in freedom, are willing to fight to maintain that freedom. 
We, and all others who believe as deeply as we do would rather die on 
our feet than live on our knees.''
  America stands today bruised and bloodied, but she stands 
nonetheless. America stands unbowed. We will recover from this assault. 
We will bury our dead. We will rebuild. And we will fight to maintain 
our freedom.
  Our enemy in this war may be elusive, but he is not invisible. Our 
enemy may be sophisticated, but he is not invincible. Our enemy is 
certainly ruthless, but he will know America's resolve. The people of 
America want an end to this threat; and by joining together, we can and 
will do it.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon), a member of the 
Committee on Science, Committee on Financial Services, and the 
Committee on Government Reform.
  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me this time.
  I rise in support of the resolution. Words can never be found to 
fully express the sorrow we share for the many, many innocent men, 
women, and children who lost their lives and for their families. The 
lives of thousands of innocent civilians were taken yesterday in acts 
of cowardly violence. I urge all Americans to continue to lift up 
prayers for the families and friends of those whose lives were 
viciously taken.
  These evil acts against the American people will strengthen the 
resolve of the United States in our commitment to freedom and liberty, 
the principles upon which our Nation was founded. The American people 
will not flinch, but will respond with all strength and unity against 
these cowards and their supporters. The resolve of the American people 
and our military might is united in hunting down everyone involved in 
this tragic act of war against the American people. Anyone who was 
connected in any way with these terrorists shall receive the full brunt 
of our justice. They will rue the day they conceived this act of 
violence.
  I call upon my colleagues and all Americans to join President Bush as 
we stand together in unity against those who senselessly took the lives 
of countless American men, women, and children. This terrorist action 
amounts to a declaration of war on innocent civilians and will not be 
allowed to stand. May God sustain us through our hour of need and give 
us wisdom to do what is right.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutsch), my distinguished colleague.
  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, this is my 10th year in this Chamber; and I 
will tell my colleagues that I still have goose bumps when I walk into 
this Chamber every day, even after 10 years, because we are part of not 
just the greatest Chamber in the history of the world, but the greatest 
country in the history of the world.
  Over 300 years ago, people left their homeland and some of them 
landed on the tip of Manhattan, not far from where the World Trade 
Center was destroyed; and those were early pioneers in the creation of 
America, the oldest democracy in the history of the world, a country 
unique in world history for many reasons. Yesterday was a day that is 
part of our history now. We have faced challenges as great as what we 
face at this point in our history, and we have met every one of those 
challenges. I have no doubt that we will meet this one as well.
  Mr. Speaker, there are many analogies about Pearl Harbor. I had the 
opportunity to visit Pearl Harbor for the first time this past July. I 
read a little bit about the history, both before and after Pearl 
Harbor. I think in time, people will read about the history of 
yesterday, as well, in the same context. The Japanese might have 
thought that they had the strategic advantage and made a policy-correct 
decision in that attack, but the history is clear. It was an incredible 
strategic failure. Just as the action of yesterday, I think for sure, 
history, in time, will show it an absolute colossal strategic failure.
  This Congress, I do not know if by our actions will, in fact, declare 
war on

[[Page H5539]]

the perpetrators of this action, but I believe we should. There is 
precedent to do such action. The Barbary pirates were not a country, 
they were terrorists in their day; and this Congress, the same body 
that we serve in today, declared war on the Barbary pirates and the 
implications of them. I believe that that is what we should do, whether 
by direct deeds or by other actions; and it is a war that we are 
committed to and that we will win.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Jenkins.)
  (Mr. JENKINS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. JENKINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Green), a member of the Committee on 
Armed Services as well as the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, throughout history, our foes have misunderstood and 
underestimated the American people. They have often mistaken our love 
of peace for a fear of using force. They have mistaken our adherence to 
the rule of law at home for an unwillingness to take decisive action 
abroad, and they have mistaken our vibrant democracy for an inability 
to stand together. But they are wrong. The foes responsible for 
yesterday's outrage will soon feel the depth of their miscalculation.
  In times like this, Mr. Speaker, I take great comfort from the halls 
of this old capitol herself. We are in crisis, I say to my colleagues, 
but as Americans, we have seen crises before: Civil War, world wars, 
calamity and catastrophe, but this capitol and this Nation have 
persevered and somehow grown stronger.
  Many of us, when we walked into these Chambers today, walked through 
what is known as Statuary Hall, where there are monuments to some of 
the great men and women who have gone before us and built this empire 
of liberty. Black and white, rich and poor, people from all walks of 
life, there is nothing like it, and nothing like them anywhere in the 
world. It is time to stand together to protect their legacy. It is time 
to reawaken this Nation and our spirit. It is time to show the world a 
force that is stronger and more potent than any weapon on Earth: the 
force of a free people, united in a single purpose.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Luther).
  (Mr. LUTHER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. LUTHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution.
  Yesterday, our Nation was met with an unspeakable tragedy as we were 
stripped of the peace and security that we have enjoyed for so long. 
This is a time of great national grief; and on behalf of myself, my 
staff, and the people of Minnesota who I represent, I join all 
Americans in praying for the victims, survivors, families, and loved 
ones.
  Unfortunately, yesterday's events are a stark reminder of the 
dangerous world in which we live and the serious risks to people who 
are firmly committed to democracy, freedom and opportunity for all, as 
we Americans are. Our law enforcement and military officials will work 
to promptly find those responsible, and we will prepare a strong and 
appropriate response. But today, today as a Nation, let us recognize 
the victims and the survivors, the response teams and all of the other 
heroes for their incredible contributions to our Nation and to the 
blessings we enjoy as Americans. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
  Mr. Speaker, if there is one thing for us to remember from this 
tragedy, let it simply be this: as our country has shown over and over 
in the past, and as difficult as these times are, we will become 
stronger as a Nation because of the contributions and sacrifices each 
of you has made.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) who is an Air Force 
pilot, former airline pilot, and a Vietnam as well as Persian Gulf vet, 
and a member of the Committee on Armed Services and the committee on 
Veterans' Affairs.
  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday America was changed forever. This despicable 
terrorist action waged against America, waged against innocent 
civilians, citizens, men and women, waged against symbols of strength 
and success in America, was clearly an act of war, an act of war waged 
against our citizens and military personnel, along with firemen and 
policemen; and we will never forget what they have done.
  Now, as we try to find the words, the correct words, to put it all 
into proper perspective, we must have the resolve to take all of the 
necessary action; and we must have the resolve to provide our 
warfighters and intelligence agencies the resources they need.

                              {time}  2000

  We must provide them the resolve they will need to remove this blight 
from our international society.
  As the rescue efforts continue, our hearts and prayers go out to the 
families, friends, and coworkers of those missing and lost yesterday 
and today. America was founded on freedoms, and we have always fought 
for our freedoms. We will never give in to terrorism. We will never 
give up until everyone responsible for this cowardly act has paid the 
price.
  We will prevail. America must prevail. May God bless the United 
States of America, and grant us the will and strength to see this 
through.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my 
distinguished colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price).
  (Mr. PRICE of North Carolina asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, the horrific images of 
yesterday will forever be etched in our memories: people leaping from 
the World Trade Center as the flames advanced; the terror of passengers 
aboard those hijacked planes as they attempted to warn us of what was 
to come; a gaping hole in the Pentagon, with workers killed at their 
desks.
  It is difficult to shake these images and these thoughts, and our 
first, human response must be to express our profound sympathy to the 
victims and their families; to pursue a vigorous rescue operation; to 
reach out, to give blood, to do whatever we can to alleviate the 
suffering of those directly targeted in yesterday's attack.
  I am confident that we will reach out and work together as a united 
community. We have proven before that we can and will pull together at 
times of danger and disaster, as we in North Carolina know from our 
experiences after Hurricanes Fran and Floyd.
  There were moving stories of heroism and sacrifice yesterday from 
police and firefighters and ordinary citizens. We have a tremendous 
capacity to sustain and support one another, and we must demonstrate 
that resolve and mutual commitment as never before in the days ahead.
  We must also move vigorously and swiftly to gain full and accurate 
information about how this disaster occurred and who was responsible. 
We must track down and punish the perpetrators and anyone who harbored 
them or gave them aid. Our retaliation must be severe and sure, leaving 
no doubt of our unwillingness to tolerate this kind of assault, and of 
our determination to make certain that nothing like this ever happens 
again.
  Part of our mission must be to rethink national security policy. 
Everything from airport security to intelligence activities must be 
examined to ensure that we are able to anticipate and control 
terrorism. And, as the House has demonstrated by reconvening today, we 
cannot and will not allow ourselves to be deterred from carrying on 
this Nation's vital work here and abroad.
  Yesterday, terrorists attempted to snuff out the beacon of hope our 
country has represented to this conflict-ridden world. On this 
occasion, we must resolve to brighten that beam and renew our 
commitment to alleviating the world's suffering and injustice, and to 
do so in defiance of the forces of evil

[[Page H5540]]

that have made September 11 another day that will ``live in infamy.''
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my good 
friend and colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton), the 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
  (Mr. BARTON of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARTON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, tragic Tuesday, which occurred 
yesterday, is one of those days that is going to go down in history as 
a ``Where were you?''
  I was not alive on December 7, 1941, but for those who were, it was 
one of those ``Where were you on December 7, 1941'' days when the 
Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
  I was alive in November of 1963. In fact, I was in the eighth grade 
in Innis Junior High School when President Kennedy was assassinated 
less than 50 miles away in Dallas outside the School Book Repository 
Building.
  I was alive in July, 1969 when the first man, a United States 
astronaut, landed on the Moon.
  Obviously, I was alive yesterday when the tragic plane attacks hit 
the Trade Center and the Pentagon, and then the plane crashed in 
Pennsylvania. So that is one of those ``Where were you'' days.
  The question before the Congress today, the Presidency, and to some 
extent the American people, is what are we going to do about it.
  There has been a lot of talk on the floor about the cowardly act. 
Well, it is cowardly in the sense that our attackers did not warn us 
and they did not declare war on us in the classic sense, they just 
hijacked the planes and attacked civilian targets in New York and the 
military target here in Washington.
  But it was not cowardly in the sense that the people that perpetrated 
it were cowards; just the opposite, they were probably very religiously 
committed, willing to die for a cause that they believe in. And however 
many there were that died yesterday, we have to assume that there are 
more who are willing to die in the future.
  So if we are really serious about a war against terrorism, we need to 
think about that. I am very committed to bringing the perpetrators, 
either eliminating them with military action or capturing them and 
taking them through whatever the legal system is, if that is 
appropriate.
  But if we are going to declare war, let us really think that through 
and be prepared to do what it takes.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my good 
friend, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), my distinguished 
colleague.
  (Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday was like a massive earthquake, 
except that it was not of active nature but of evil men. Like in a 
massive earthquake, the first pictures were mainly of huge, horrible, 
physical damage. The worst was yet to come, as we are now beginning to 
glimpse the full extent of the unspeakable loss of human life and the 
pain and suffering of the families who have lost their loved ones.
  The days ahead will be filled with unbearable grief. The entire 
Nation will be in deep mourning. Because this disaster was man-made, it 
also poses a special challenge to our Nation and to our spirit. It 
fills us with anger. It also poses a special responsibility. We must 
not let this disaster break our spirit or our resolve. We must take 
definitive steps against the persons who caused this horrendous tragedy 
and against any Nation that shelters agents of terror.
  Unlike acts of nature, our goal must be a singular one: that we not 
let it ever happen again.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my good 
friend, the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Rehberg), a member of the 
Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Transportation, and frankly, 
the entire delegation of Montana.
  Mr. REHBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this sense of Congress 
resolution. To me, this is simple: Yesterday's attack against America 
was not just a criminal act, it was an act of war.
  It is important to understand that these terrorists were specially 
trained soldiers and hit men in an army intent on destroying America 
and our way of life. They were willing to take their own lives in order 
to accomplish their military objectives.
  That is why America must not treat yesterday's tragedy as a criminal 
case, or simply seek justice. Rather, we must take it for what it is: 
an act of war that demands a swift, thorough, and decisive response 
from the United States Armed Forces. In short, we must strike back at 
those responsible. A military action, not subpoenas and courtrooms, is 
the only way to prevent this from happening again. We must bring these 
armies of terror and any country found to be aiding or abetting their 
actions to their knees. The time for talk is over.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my friend 
and colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca).
  (Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, and to 
condemn the barbaric, cowardly attack on the people and the soil of the 
United States. This is an act of war. We will not tolerate these 
terrible acts. We as a Nation will pull together and pick up the pieces 
and build our strength.
  We all need to rally as a country right now, and our strength will 
come from our courage and our belief in our faith. America stands 
united. We believe in the liberty of our country, the justice of our 
democratic institutions. Let freedom ring. The Liberty Bell should 
shine with our resolve. In all of our towns where people are gathering 
food, materials, and people are giving blood, chapels and churches 
should ring the bell for freedom.
  We are all filled with condolence for all of the victims. America 
will not give up on its dreams and hopes and freedoms.
  I ask that we take time in our daily lives to observe a moment of 
silence for those who are lost, for those families and friends and 
loved ones, and to be thankful for what we have. In times of a national 
tragedy, America always comes together. We are showing the world what 
it is to be an American.
  This was an act of war on our people. We will not be divided. The 
President and Congress will be united in dealing with this horrible 
act. This is not a time of politics or blame but a time of sorrow, 
mourning, and healing. We must hold fast. We will investigate and we 
will find the culprits, and we will release the full fury of rage.
  But if these terrorists turn out to be foreign, we will not lash out 
at others of the same nationality who have no connections to the 
attack. Americans are human people who respect the rule of the law. 
This is about families that will never again be reunited: the brave 
souls that gave their lives in the line of duty; the police, the 
firefighters; the men and women and children on the planes; the workers 
in the World Trade Center; the place in the mind that will not heal 
quickly.
  I ask for Members' prayers for those whose lives have been lost. May 
God grant us the wisdom to steer our great Nation through this 
difficult time. This is a resolution about our families, our freedoms, 
our future. God bless America. We are proud of this Nation.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw), the former 
President of the Florida State Senate and a member of the Committee on 
Armed Services, the Committee on the Budget, and the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. As I 
walked up the steps of the Capitol this morning alone, I was overcome 
by an eerie sense of silence, silence that said to me, it is finally 
hitting home what happened yesterday, because yesterday I was struck 
with disbelief as I watched the horrible pictures on television. Yet, 
today my stomach churns with a sudden sickening feeling of sorrow and 
sadness for the people who lost loved ones.
  Yesterday it was a feeling of horror as I watched those pictures of 
mass destruction. Yet today my eyes have been burned with tears as I 
watched real men and women talk about real sons and daughters who are 
lost in yesterday's tragedy; from disbelief to sadness, now to anger 
and revenge, and I

[[Page H5541]]

am sure that all Americans share these feelings with me.
  Yet we must now focus our feelings on a new sense of resolve, a 
resolve that says that we will no longer tolerate such actions; that 
the United States of America, the greatest country on the face of the 
Earth, will not be intimidated by terrorists, no matter how horrendous 
their acts.
  Yesterday, terrorism struck, and it struck as it always does, without 
warning, without reason. It struck by those who have no heart and have 
no conscience, have no soul, cold-blooded murderers.
  Yesterday, the terrorists succeeded. They succeeded in shaking the 
foundations of two great symbols of America. But make no mistake, 
history will record those terrorists failed miserably in shaking the 
very foundations of this great country. I urge adoption of this 
resolution.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my 
friend, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McIntyre).
  (Mr. McINTYRE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, the horrifying acts of terrorism which 
occurred yesterday were a cowardly act of attacking America.
  We in Congress must be dedicated and determined to take immediate 
action in three ways:
  First, to help the victims and their families, and to make sure that 
all Federal resources that are necessary are available;
  Second, to ensure that our liberties as American citizens are 
protected and that the American public is safe;
  Third, to make sure that the perpetrators are discovered and 
punished.
  Our focus must be on the injured and their families and those who are 
offering medical assistance, and others who are helping in so many 
different ways.
  It has taken, unfortunately, these horrifying acts of terrorism to 
draw attention to the resources and needs of our intelligence and 
defense agencies, and we must address those needs immediately so that 
our Nation's citizens know that their freedoms are not being 
compromised.
  We need prayer also for the injured and the suffering and their 
families, for our law enforcement, our EMS units, and our medical and 
health care providers, for our military, which stands ready to go 
whenever and wherever it is needed, and wisdom for our government in 
the decisions that we yet have to make.

                              {time}  2015

  Now, more than ever, we as a Nation must have the will to find the 
way to move forward with those essential qualities of courage and 
conviction that constitute the character of America. By God's grace, 
and with His strength and wisdom, I am confident that we will.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Schrock), a member of the Committee on 
Armed Services and the Committee on the Budget.
  Mr. SCHROCK. Mr. Speaker, never could I have imagined when I left 
Vietnam 34 years ago yesterday that the freedoms we fought for in that 
conflict would be challenged in such a heinous, hateful, cowardly, and 
despicable manner as we witnessed yesterday. I never dreamed that I 
would see the result of terrorism with my own eyes, but yesterday that 
nightmare became reality.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand to not only support this resolution but to offer 
my heartfelt sympathies to the victims and their families. We may never 
know the full effect of this horrific event on the thousands of 
families impacted, but the impact will live in our hearts forever.
  However, we must go forward with America, her business, her 
enterprise, her love of freedom and justice, her destiny to be the 
beacon of democracy in our world. Yesterday's events will never be 
forgotten, but they will not deter us.
  We have heard the word faith used many times today. Mr. Speaker, 
behind you are the words ``In God We Trust.'' As the psalmist has 
written, ``God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in 
trouble. Therefore I will not fear.''
  Mr. Speaker, I have full confidence that our President will hold 
accountable those who were responsible and ensure they pay the ultimate 
price for the evil they have wrought. We in Congress should provide all 
the means of support available to help in the search and the rescue 
efforts, the recovery efforts, and the rebuilding of the damaged and 
destroyed structures, as well as the investigation to find the 
criminals responsible.
  Mr. Speaker, this can never happen again.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sandlin).
  Mr. SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Today, we stand. Reflecting on the chill of yesterday with the 
silence of death and the stench of terrorism in the air, we stand. We 
stand united. We stand committed. We stand determined. We stand 
confident. We stand, and we shall overcome.
  Edmund Burke once said, ``All that is necessary for evil to triumph 
is for good men to do nothing.'' Mr. Terrorist, make no mistake about 
it, we will act. We will be patient but deliberate. We will be open but 
focused. We will not seek senseless revenge, but we will insist on 
justice.
  And justice will be decisive, swift, compelling, horrible, and 
justified. Woe be to those that call evil good. Woe be to the 
terrorists who claim some sort of victory today. Woe be to the 
murderers who celebrate the killing of innocent people. You will soon 
be dancing to a very different tune.
  You terrorists will find no hysteria here. You will find no fear. We 
are in no ways tired. In fact, we speak with a united voice and stand 
behind our President who said that those who took part in this horrible 
act and those who harbor these criminals will be held accountable.
  Today, as we seek solace from the icy pain of yesterday, do not seek 
God in the churches, temples, or mosques of this country; do not seek 
justice in the halls of Congress or in our courtrooms. For God is in 
the streets and homes of America. Justice is in the wings of the world 
theater, preparing to be released in a focused fury.
  Harriet Tubman, once complimented on her humanitarian efforts, 
responded, ``'Twasn't me. 'Twas the Lord. I always told him, `I trust 
to you. I don't know where to go or what to do, but I expect you to 
lead me,' and he always did.''
  We can expect that same leadership today. Thank God we live in 
America. May he bless this country and our efforts.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan), a member of the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  I rise in the strongest possible support of this resolution and to 
condemn the cowards who perpetrated these horrendous acts against the 
people of the United States; certainly what many people say is the 
darkest day in American history.
  I believe we must do everything humanly possible to find out who is 
responsible for these acts of terror and take the strongest possible 
action against them. We need to show the world in a very determined and 
dramatic way that we will not stand for this type of senseless 
violence.
  I will support the President in taking the strongest possible action 
against the cruel and cowardly terrorists who are responsible for 
yesterday's tragedies, as well as any country which offers safe harbor 
to these inhuman thugs.
  Most importantly, right now, Mr. Speaker, our sympathy should go out 
in the most heartfelt way to the families of those who have fallen 
victim to these unspeakable tragic events. The American public and the 
world should know that this Congress, working closely with the 
administration, will not rest until these mass murderers are brought to 
swift decisive justice and punishment.
  We must recognize that there are fundamental security problems in our 
country that allow such incomprehensible events to take place. We need 
to work with the FAA, the Department of

[[Page H5542]]

Transportation, as well as the airlines to secure our airports and our 
airplanes against people who would cause such destruction.
  I have spent the last 6 years as chairman of the House Subcommittee 
on Aviation. We need to immediately place U.S. marshals or other law 
enforcement officials on all commercial flights. We also need to focus 
more resources on and do more detailed background screens on the men 
and women who are the security screeners in the airports across our 
country. We need to make it impossible for terrorists to compromise the 
cockpits of our airliners by retrofitting all aircraft with an 
impenetrable barrier between the cockpits and passenger cabins. Most 
importantly, we must restore the confidence of the flying public in the 
security and integrity of our commercial aviation infrastructure.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this resolution. It is the least we 
can do, and we all need to join together in supporting those who have 
suffered so much in these horrible tragedies.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. John).
  (Mr. JOHN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. JOHN. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to 
offer my condolences to the families from across our great nation who 
are coping with the grief of yesterday's tragic events.
  Terrorists have broken our hearts, but they have not broken our 
resolve. Yesterday, we were a nation in shock. Today, we are a Nation 
in mourning. And while we are numb in disbelief, America is not 
paralyzed. Our brave rescue workers are still finding survivors and 
providing hope for all Americans. Our faith in God is providing 
Americans with solace. And, Mr. Speaker, this Congress will support and 
give the President all the resources he requires to provide Americans 
with justice.
  The diabolical sophistication of yesterday's attacks point to a well-
coordinated conspiracy of evil and it took considerable organization in 
plan and implementation. We stand here tonight united as a Congress and 
as a nation in telling the world that we will not leave one stone 
unturned until we find and punish these terrorists and their 
supporters.
  America is still a nation of heroes. The men and women who gave their 
lives yesterday in an attempt to rescue others is a statement to the 
courage and bravery of everyday people when faced with enormous 
challenges.
  Mr. Speaker, as I stand here tonight surrounded by my colleagues in 
Congress, I have never been more sure of myself that America is up to 
the challenges that lay beyond. America will forever be changed because 
of yesterday's attacks, but we will be a stronger, not a weaker Nation 
for them. God bless America.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire as to 
how much time remains.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Smith) has 27 minutes remaining, and the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Lantos) has 5 minutes remaining.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
during consideration of H.J. Res. 61, pursuant to the order of the 
House earlier today, debate on the joint resolution be extended 2 hours 
equally divided and controlled by the chairman or his designee and the 
ranking minority member of the Committee on International Relations.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), chairman of the 
Committee on Ways and Means.
  (Mr. THOMAS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, along with everyone else, I support this 
resolution. However, mentally, I want everyone to know that I will 
assume it is a declaration of war. I believe that from a mental set a 
declaration of war is what we need.
  First, it will allow us to use any and all means necessary to strike 
at any group or government when facts support it and do it in a wartime 
mentality. Secondly, believing this resolution is a declaration of war 
I think creates a mental framework which we need as a society. We need 
to reach out in meaningful ways, in sustaining ways, to aid those who 
have suffered personal tragedy. We need to strengthen our economy to 
sustain our people, and understand that property damage can be 
repaired, that economic strength will be the key not only to carrying 
out the fight against those who have perpetrated these deeds, but also 
to make sure that we have available all of our resources. This will not 
be a short fight. It will be a long and difficult one.
  We need all of the resources available to us, moral, religious, and 
economic; and I will be looking at short-term, medium-term, and long-
term responses to this. So that from a military point of view, from an 
economic point of view, and from a sustaining societal and nurturing 
point of view, we will not just use words against our enemies, we will 
have real arrows in our quiver.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson).
  (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to 
revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of 
this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to stand in solidarity with the people of America 
and to speak out against the senseless, horrendous tragedies of 
September 11, 2001. It is a day that will live in infamy. There are no 
words, no pictures, no sentiments that can express the magnitude of the 
evil that showed itself yesterday. My heart and my thoughts go out to 
the families of those who were murdered, and to all those affected. The 
love of the people of this great country embraces the spirit of those 
heroes who gave their lives trying to save others. Those glorious 
Americans, who worked at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, 
members of the Police and Fire Departments and EMS, represent the best 
of America. We should all the humbled by their sacrifices.
  I would like to pay a special tribute to the American Airlines 
family. They are unique contributors to Dallas-Fort Worth. They are 
unique contributors to America. They are a part of all of our lives. 
They are a part of our souls. We honor the lives they lived as 
Americans.
  Let it be known, that the United States Congress will stop at 
nothing, and at no time, to protect our citizens. Let it be known, that 
the United States of America will never, ever, cower to terrorists and 
never give up our way of life. Let it be known that Americans may 
disagree as Americans, but we are all one American family. Most 
importantly, let it be known that we will, we will, we will bring those 
responsible for the horrors of terrorism to complete justice. Our flags 
are at half-mast, but out heads are high as Americans. America is a 
great nation, and our freedom will ring loudly forever. May God Bless 
America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Brown).
  (Ms. BROWN of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend her remarks.)
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, God bless America.
  Yesterday, on September 11, for the first time in 175 years, the 
capital of the world's greatest military power was attacked by a 
cowardly and totally spineless enemy. We, the United States, the leader 
of the free world, the country that saved Europe from Nazi Germany, the 
country that had the courage to stand up to communism and dictatorships 
worldwide, the one Nation in the world looked to for leadership cannot 
submissively stand by while our Nation is attacked.
  This was a well-organized and thought-out attack and it demands a 
well-organized and powerful response. Members of these fanatical groups 
cannot go unpunished, nor will this nation support them. Those nations 
that give them shelter, weapons, support and training, we will deliver 
a swift and immediate response to this horrible act.
  Congress and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure must 
take steps to implement new safety standards for air travel and, in 
fact, all modes of transportation. I have received numerous calls today 
from pilots saying that we have to absolutely secure the cockpits on 
our airplanes and that we need to put U.S.

[[Page H5543]]

 marshals on each and every plane again just as we did in the 1990s.
  My heart and prayers go out to the families of the victims, and I 
want to commend the volunteers and emergency personnel on their great 
efforts. How can you help? I am donating blood tomorrow and asking my 
constituents to do the same. For all the people out there that are 
watching, if you have any information that could assist this ongoing 
investigation, please call the FBI hot line.
  In closing, I want to make it clear, whether we are a Democrat, a 
Republican, male or female, black or white, we stand behind the 
Commander in Chief. War has been declared against the American people, 
and you are either with us or against us. There is no in between.

                              {time}  2030

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin), the distinguished chairman of 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
  Mr. TAUZIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution.
  I, like all of my colleagues, suffer with the inconsolable grief of 
all our countrymen who watched the horrific death and destruction 
visited on our Nation yesterday. But we also watched with humility and 
admiration the amazing acts of courage and sacrifice and heroism of 
firemen and rescue workers and police, both here in this city and New 
York City; and we pray for all of them tonight.
  There are criminal acts and there are acts of war. Criminal acts are 
answered in court within the judicial system. Acts of war are answered 
militarily. Yesterday was an act of war; and there will be a military 
response. You know it. It is coming. Those who have visited that 
destruction upon America yesterday had better get themselves ready for 
it. But there were other criminal acts yesterday that I want to talk 
about tonight, and I want to talk to those criminals.
  There is no shortage of gasoline in this country. There is no 
shortage of crude oil. Every one of you who jacked the price up 
yesterday to $3 and $4 and $5 and took advantage of Americans who 
suffer with all us in this crisis are petty criminals, and you ought to 
be in the hoosegow and you will be.
  The Department of Energy, FTC, Attorney General, the Department of 
Justice have all issued warnings today that they are investigating. 
Crude oil stocks are up. Gasoline supplies are up. Production is up. 
Imports are up. OPEC has guaranteed their reserves to us if we need 
them. Every country in OPEC unanimously did. The major oil companies 
have frozen their prices, both at the wholesale and retail level.
  Any one of you out there price-gouging Americans in this crisis are 
not just criminals, you are aiding and abetting the terrorists who hit 
us yesterday; and you ought to spend a few days in the pokey.
  God bless this country. We will get through this; but we need to 
stand together as patriots, not as petty criminals.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin).
  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, each and every day I am humbled to serve as 
a Member of the United States Congress. I am humbled by the honor of 
representing my Wisconsin constituents. I am humbled by the privilege 
to serve this great Nation. I love this country. I cherish our 
freedoms.
  I have great regard for the leadership and courage that has been 
demonstrated in these very Chambers throughout our Nation's history 
from its birth onward. Time and time again our Nation has risen to the 
challenges posed by evil, violence, intolerance, and injustice. These 
were challenges of immense proportions, and we did not shrink from 
them. Of course, all of us hoped that these sorts of challenges, these 
attacks on our very own soil were part of our Nation's history, not our 
Nation's present or future.
  Most Americans yesterday and today saw television images that will be 
indelibly inscribed in their minds and consciences. In New York, 
Pennsylvania, and our Nation's capital, other Americans witnessed these 
tragedies firsthand. Our Nation and our Nation's families have suffered 
unimaginably from the unspeakable evil acts of yesterday. We will not 
shrink from facing this challenge either.
  I have been so deeply moved by the capacity of the American people to 
respond to this crisis. Words cannot express the gratitude that I feel 
and want to convey to our Nation's emergency workers, the paramedics, 
nurses, doctors, firefighters, police officers, members of National 
Guard and so many others.
  Words are also inadequate to express the depth of the sympathy that I 
want to share with the victims and their families. I join all my 
colleagues in condemning these despicable acts. We must bring the 
perpetrators to justice.
  The greatness of this country in our own eyes and the eyes of the 
world is the promise that we will act against the perpetrators only 
when we are certain of their culpability.
  I also know that it is the American people, our freedoms and our 
democracy that make this Nation great. Our constitutional liberties 
shall not be sacrificed in our search for greater security, for that is 
what our enemies and all enemies of freedom and democracy hope to 
achieve.
  I have never been more deeply moved to live in the land of the free 
and the home of the brave.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt).
  (Mr. NETHERCUTT asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. NETHERCUTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Joint 
Resolution 61.
  Mr. Speaker, in the course of human events, there are moments that so 
impact the progression of world history, that the character of all 
people becomes imbued with the solemn understanding that life will 
never be the same. The terrorist events that transpired on September 
11, 2001, collectively create a most infamous moment in the history of 
the United States of America.
  These cowardly acts of destruction were intended to strike fear in 
the American spirit with the hope that our Nation will retreat from its 
policies and obligations overseas. If these perpetrators chose to study 
American history rather than how to manifest hate and destruction, they 
would realize the futility of their actions and know that there is one 
choice we cannot and will not make. America will never choose the path 
of submission.
  Our hearts have been pierced by tragedy and weep for those lost souls 
and their families of America's worst disaster. Throughout American 
history, our lands and others have been turned red by the blood of 
those who defended America's character. Now, in modern times, the urban 
streets of two great cities share this unfortunate distinction.
  America's story is one of providence. Over the last 225 years, God 
and truth, combined with American courage and spirit, have allowed us 
to triumph in every honorable national struggle placed before us. There 
is a resilience in our country that transcends tragedy. Those who 
repudiate reason--and twist it to such ghastly ends as these--do not 
deserve the gift of life. Their actions cannot be allowed to triumph 
over freedom and democracy. We must pray to God that they will not.
  A war of terrorism has been declared against America, and more has 
been attacked than just our great land. I support President Bush's 
initiative to mobilize our national military forces, and forces around 
the world which love freedom, in order to push terrorism from the face 
of the world. Foreign states that facilitate, harbor, employ, or 
conveniently turn a blind eye to those who engage in missions of 
terror, should suffer the consequences of their misguided judgement. 
America's immigration policy, our governmental law enforcement 
resources, and our military capabilities must be bolstered to meet our 
national challenge.
  The sense of heightened patriotism being exhibited as a result of 
this tragedy will assist the efforts being called for from all corners 
of our nation to exact justice. It also gives us the chance to pay 
tribute to the firefighters, police, rescue crews, medical teams, 
survivors and supporters alike who are the true heroes of the day. The 
families of those who perished deserve our prayers and deep sympathies.
  As in all difficulties in life, our faith as a great nation and a 
spiritual people will lead us through the fog of sadness and death, 
into the light of freedom and peace. As Americans, we can accept 
nothing less.
  God bless our great nation.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. McCrery).
  (Mr. McCRERY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. McCRERY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Joint Resolution 
61.

[[Page H5544]]

  This resolution expresses clearly the sentiment not only of this 
Congress, but the sentiment of the American people. It condemns the 
despicable actions of terrorists who planned and carried out the 
attacks yesterday against the people of the United States. It extends 
the condolences of all our citizens to the victims and their families, 
commends the heroic actions of the fireman, police, and other rescue 
workers who responded to these tragic events, and underscores the 
resolve of all of us in America and many others around the world to 
fight and win this war against terrorism.
  Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that so many Members of Congress 
are speaking for their constituents in support of this resolution, and 
that they are speaking, not as Republican or Democrats, liberals of 
conservatives. Easterner or Westerner, but as Americans. It is this 
unity of spirit, singularity of purpose, and faith in our destiny as 
purveyors of freedom which will see us through this and lead us to 
victory.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Graham), a member of the Committee 
on the Judiciary and the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, from what I hear on television, we may have 
found our first example of how America will rise to the occasion. 
Apparently, the passengers on United Flight 93, the Pennsylvania 
flight, were talking to their relatives and the picture was becoming 
clear to them what their fate was about to be.
  The story goes, according to recent reports, that one of the 
passengers told his wife that we just voted among ourselves to take on 
the hijackers. I think that gives the best example of what awaits the 
terrorists.
  We will soon vote here, Republicans and Democrats. We will vote to 
take on the terrorists who tried to destroy freedom and our way of 
life. Our allies today in NATO voted to consider the attack on the 
United States as an attack on NATO.
  The message that was trying to be sent by the fanatics who 
orchestrated this I am not sure of, but the message we are going to 
send them will be very clear. Our forefathers defeated tyranny; so 
shall we.
  Mr. Speaker, the story goes when the staff of Admiral Yamamoto 
congratulated him on the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he replied, ``I am 
afraid all we have done is awoken a sleeping giant.''
  Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what happened yesterday. America sleeps 
no more.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Visclosky).
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, my thoughts and prayers go out to those 
who have lost loved ones and family members in this evil and barbaric 
act. We as a Nation cannot tolerate these kinds of attacks on American 
citizens.
  Today we must first pledge our unwavering support for those involved 
in the search and rescue missions underway in Washington, D.C. and New 
York City. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, doctors, nurses, 
rescue workers have committed thousands of selfless acts to help those 
injured.
  Secondly, we must persevere in the fight against the enemies of 
freedom and democracy, as we have in the past. It took the United 
States over 4 years to win the Second World War, and more than 40 years 
to win the Cold War. All Americans must now display the same patience 
and strong resolve in the war against terrorism. We have a moral 
obligation to seek out these craven individuals, wherever they may 
hide, to destroy them and their organizations so they may no longer 
kill, maim or injure innocent people in the future.
  America and its people are good and just. Our democracy is strong, 
and the good we do will prevail in the end. We live in a free and 
civilized society. Our resolve tonight and tomorrow and forever must be 
to permanently establish these values across the globe.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Fletcher), a member of the Committee on 
the Budget, the Committee on Agriculture, and the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce.
  Mr. FLETCHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address this honorable body. 
Words fail to fully express our grief and fall short of describing our 
resolve as we respond to this act of barbary and violence against the 
free and innocent.
  Throughout our Nation's history, we along with the world watch and 
witness that during the darkest hours, America unites with exemplary 
character, strength and bravery. We witness a diverse Nation pulling 
together with tireless compassion towards those fallen, wounded and 
grieving.
  We also feel the swelling strength of a government, united to ensure 
that evil is answered with the goodness of justice so that freedom's 
peace and security prevail.
  Our prayers and resources are with all those grieving, and our 
gratitude and full support is with all of the men and women engaged in 
this unrelenting endeavor against the evil terror of those who harbor 
hate and violence.
  We reaffirm our unwavering support of President Bush and his able 
staff. We also extend our gratitude to NATO and other free and friendly 
nations who join us in our resolve to destroy not only the branches but 
the very roots of these intolerable acts of terror.
  Across from the battered walls of the Pentagon lay the graves of 
those who have given their all for freedom. By our resolve, we honor 
them, as well as all the fallen we now grieve, that none of these shall 
have died in vain; and that from their loss, we will once again have 
successfully defended freedom and justice, not only for our Nation but 
for the world.
  Mr. Speaker, we have witnessed an act of war, and we must now respond 
accordingly.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Solis), my good friend and colleague.
  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to express my sorrow, my 
horror, my anger about yesterday's attacks on the United States 
democracy. I offer my most sincere condolences to the victims and their 
families. I offer my support to the President, and to the many Federal, 
State and local agencies that are taking part in the ongoing 
investigation and rescue efforts.
  Today I stand with the entire United States Congress, and perhaps 
most importantly, stand alongside every other American citizen in a 
united and indivisible defense of our freedom. We know that our 
democracy will not falter during this test. Our democratic foundations, 
our government, and our people are too strong.
  Finally, I want to acknowledge the outpouring of sympathy and 
assistance the American people have generously provided during this 
crisis. My thoughts, my prayers and encouragement, are with the missing 
fire fighters in New York and the many rescue teams, the military and 
medical personnel here and in New York.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the American public to continue donating blood and 
continue to fly our American flags. Continue to stand as one Nation, 
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Bryant), a former U.S. Attorney and a 
member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
  Mr. BRYANT. Mr. Speaker, it has been a long and difficult 36 hours 
since the first airplane crashed into the tower of the World Trade 
Center yesterday.
  I rise in support of this motion, as has practically every Member of 
this House today, to show the resolve of this body that we will finish 
what the terrorists began yesterday.
  Make no mistake about it, the surprise attack that we had yesterday 
was the product of cowards, outlaws within a civilized world. Hijacking 
airplanes containing innocent men, women and children and crashing them 
into an office building at a time when large numbers of workers were 
present were the pathetic acts of insane minds, illegitimate by any 
standard.
  Those responsible for this attack, especially those aiders and 
abettors, will feel the full power of the United States and her 
citizens. I join with the President, Congress, world leaders, and the 
American people in blanket condemnation of all involved in this 
ruthless conspiracy.
  And as more facts develop and become known, we must also recognize 
those in the airplanes, some known, such as Tom Burnett and others, 
some forever unknown, who tried to prevent yesterday's heinous crimes 
and mitigated those crimes and became heroes in doing such, as well as 
recognizing

[[Page H5545]]

the hundreds and hundreds of heroes now working to save lives both in 
New York and here at the Pentagon.

                              {time}  2045

  The United States will not stand for terrorism on its soil and we 
will join together to fight it. Terrorism's goal is to disrupt life and 
make people fearful. But fanatic acts of these extremists will fail as 
we continue on with our lives with even more resolve. Our great Nation 
will come together around this tragedy because our freedom, as said 
earlier by one of our leaders, our freedom is our strength, not our 
weakness.
  Let me just echo what the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Graham) 
said a few speakers ago about Pearl Harbor. When it was attacked, 
President Roosevelt said it was a day that would live in infamy. That 
generation of Americans, which can be argued was our greatest, rose to 
the occasion and a sleeping giant was awakened. Now we have yet another 
day that will forever be burned into the minds and hearts of Americans, 
and again a sleeping giant has been awakened.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders), my good friend and distinguished 
colleague.
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the State of Vermont, I rise 
and in the strongest possible terms condemn the unspeakable acts which 
were perpetrated yesterday by cowardly terrorists. I also wish to 
express my condolences for the thousands of families who are suffering 
tonight from their losses on the four planes that went down, the losses 
at the World Trade Center and at the Pentagon.
  Mr. Speaker, the goal of terrorism is to demoralize people and to 
create fear, uncertainty, and instability. Our Nation must not succumb 
to that and give terrorists that victory.
  Tonight we grieve for the incredible and horrendous loss of life that 
we suffered yesterday. It is unprecedented in the modern history of our 
country. But tonight we also pledge to capture and punish all of those 
who are responsible for this despicable deed.
  There is no difference of opinion on that issue in this Congress or 
in this country. Mr. Speaker, the world must know and will know that 
those who committed these unspeakable crimes will not get away with it.
  As we go forward in this effort, we must also be calm and focused and 
be thinking long term on how to defeat this terrible evil. We must also 
be thinking about how we can work better and more effectively with law-
abiding people throughout this world, because terrorism is an 
international crisis, and it will be solved by decent people from one 
end of this world to the other working together.
  Let me conclude by saying that we should also be extraordinarily 
proud and reassured by how people throughout our country and in my own 
State of Vermont are coming together, how they are giving blood, how 
they are raising funds and how they are doing everything that they can 
to support the victims and their families. Let us go together and we 
will defeat international terrorism.
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns), my good friend.
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, as the smoke clears from the skies over New 
York City, Arlington, Virginia, and western Pennsylvania, we in 
Congress should not forget that we are a free society. Sweet freedom. 
We cannot abandon our ideals or wrap ourselves in a cocoon or isolate 
ourself from a world because of this senseless destruction.
  The resolution this evening condemns in the strongest possible terms 
the terrorists who tried to disrupt our country and to kill our 
innocent citizens.
  Our government cannot permit its citizens to be attacked with 
impunity. We as elected officials have a responsibility to protect them 
just as we have protected them throughout the history of this grand 
Republic.
  All of us have watched in horror the amount of destruction that has 
occurred. We commend the heroic action of the rescue workers, 
volunteers, State and local officials who responded to these tragic 
events with courage, determination, and skill. Our prayers are made for 
those whose families who suffered and lost their loved ones.
  Mr. Speaker, we need to send a message to those engaged in terror 
that we will fight and not fold. We need to stand up to them. Our 
struggle will not be won in a day or a month or culminate with a single 
victory. Victory will require us to display courage, faith, unity and 
determination to carry on for an indefinite time in the face of this 
new gray war with faceless terrorists who are on a holy war to destroy 
the United States.
  Towards that end, Mr. Speaker, I fully support House Joint Resolution 
61 and look forward to supporting the President and other agencies of 
government as they seek to find the guilty parties.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton).
  (Mrs. CLAYTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time. I rise in strong support of this resolution.
  September 11th was a difficult day for America. It was the day that 
we lost our innocence. The terrorist attacks touched every American--
young and old, Democrat and Republican, urban and rural, and persons of 
every ethnic background. Beyond the death and destruction, we also are 
touched with despair.
  Our children and grandchildren are asking, ``Are we at war?'' and 
``Will we be bombed, too?'' From the ashes of our damaged symbols of 
military and economic strength, we must remember that we are a strong 
and great nation. With courage and determination, we will confront very 
difficult choices. For example, against whom do we strike back? How do 
we protect ourselves from unidentified terrorists? How many of our 
individual liberties do we relinquish in order to ensure our personal 
safety?
  The attacks struck a blow not only to our citizens and buildings, but 
also against our values, our freedoms, our way of life. To many people 
around the world, the United States represents the land of opportunity 
and freedom. The terrorists sought to instill in us fear and 
insecurity. To this, we must not submit. We refuse to be victims of 
fear.
  We must take the necessary precautions to safeguard our lives and 
American interests, but we must not relinquish our cherished freedoms.
  We must identify and bring to justice those persons and organizations 
responsible for these tragic deeds, but we must act responsibly, 
consistent with our values, in conjunction with our friends and allies, 
and in accordance with international laws.
  Let us draw closer together, as Americans, behind our President, and 
boldly face the challenges ahead. Let us honor those whose lives were 
tragically taken by these terrorist attacks, and those who lost their 
lives in rescue efforts to save lives. Let us also honor those many 
volunteers who have stepped forward in the midst of this crisis to 
offer their time and talents in rescue efforts, crisis counseling, 
blood drives and other activities.
  Because of our people, our values and beliefs, we are a strong and 
resilient nation. We will recover and rebuild our broken lives, our 
buildings and our way of life. Let us pray that God's grace and wisdom 
will guide us through the difficult days ahead.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson).
  Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
California for yielding me this time, an individual for whom I have the 
highest admiration and respect, and certainly, Mr. Speaker, with 
respect for those who are painfully and tragically affected by the 
terrorist assault on America the Beautiful.
  Let me simply say amen to the eloquent prose and profound statements 
of all of the colleagues that have preceded me in supporting this 
resolution. President Abraham Lincoln reminds us that the world will 
little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget 
what happened here.
  The date, September 11, or 9-1-1, a day that the 911 system was 
perhaps used more in the aggregate than at any time since its 
inception; September 11, or 9-1-1, summons the brave, the selfless, the 
life preservers, if they could they would. I have heard it said that 
perhaps airport security will include eliminating curbside baggage 
service. We are checking around now to see how we best enhance airport 
security. Does the idea of no baggage curbside check-

[[Page H5546]]

in really enhance our well-being? What happens to the well-being of the 
skycaps in an idea like that? They have long been a service and fixture 
at airports, as long as the airports have been there themselves.
  Mr. Speaker, from time to time down through our history, our Nation 
has been tested. Certainly today our peaceful way of life is being 
tested again in a most cowardly fashion. So in the face of this great 
tragedy, it is time that we renew our prayers for peace around the 
world, rededicate ourselves to the work of citizenship, and sustain the 
quality and integrity of those who seek to serve us in the capacity of 
public service.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Smith), a member of the 
Committee on Agriculture as well as the Committee on International 
Relations.
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, we have talked and dedicated 
ourselves to making sure that we identify and capture the perpetrators, 
that these atrocities cannot be tolerated in a free society, and that 
for the sake of not only America but for the rest of the world, we need 
to be very aggressive and dedicated in the effort that we are about to 
undertake.
  Also, as chairman of the committee that oversees the Federal Fire 
Administration, I would like to take a moment to speak about the 
Nation's first responders, the firefighters, the emergency medical 
personnel, the police who were first to arrive at the scene and 
certainly the last to leave such a scene in situations as happened at 
the Pentagon and in New York and also south of Pittsburgh.
  As the Nation mourns the deaths of hundreds and probably many 
thousands of our fellow citizens, as we take stock of the destruction 
caused by yesterday's terrorist attacks, we should also pause for a 
moment to reflect on the brave men and women who put their lives on the 
line every day in every small town and suburb and every big city across 
the country. We have all been deeply moved by the tragic scenes at the 
Pentagon, Pennsylvania, and especially New York. But we can be proud 
that in a time of great peril, the Nation's first responders answered 
the call, conducting themselves with bravery, with dedication that does 
credit to themselves, their city, and their country.
  It has been reported that over 202 New York firefighters and 57 
police officers may have perished at the World Trade Center, a tragic 
loss. Witnesses said that as they were running down the stairs to 
escape the burning building, they passed New York firefighters running 
up those stairs to put out fires and to assist other people stuck on 
higher floors. Just imagine that for a moment. With fire and smoke all 
around, with a 110-story building buckling from intense heat, these 
firefighters ignored their own safety to help people they did not know 
but who were in great need of help, their help. Under such horrible 
conditions, who could have blamed them for abandoning the burning 
building? But instead of turning their backs on people in need, they 
faced the danger head-on because that is their job. We may never know 
how many lives they saved, but we do know that many people would not be 
alive today but for the bravery and sacrifice of these dedicated men 
and women. Their deaths cannot be in vain. We have an obligation to 
ensure that they get the support they need, God forbid, should they be 
called on again to deal with a terrorist attack.
  They represent the very best of America, and our Nation owes them and 
their families a debt of profound gratitude. We in this House and 
across America mourn for these heroes and we pray for their families.
  We cannot bring them back but we can promise their loved-ones this: 
The terrorists who were responsible for these depraved acts will pay 
for them. They can run, but then cannot hide. And they will pay.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to my 
neighbor, good friend, and distinguished colleague, the gentlewoman 
from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink).
  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight overwhelmed by indescribable grief and 
sorrow. A taking of any innocent life is an atrocity. A taking of 
hundreds is a massacre of monumental proportions. Yesterday, a massacre 
of unthinkable numbers occurred. The World Trade Center and the 
Pentagon were deliberate targets of fanatics. These terrorists hijacked 
four commercial airliners. They slammed three of these planes into 
these buildings, knowing the mayhem and chaos that this destruction 
would cause.
  As a Nation, we are left emotionally speechless at the loss of so 
many innocent lives. We are numbed by the number of firefighters, 
police, and other volunteers who plunged into the burning buildings to 
save lives and who lost their lives in the process. We are stunned by 
the courage of those who called from the airplanes. A call from that 
ill-fated plane that crashed in the fields near Pittsburgh may have 
been the fourth suicide plane headed to the Capitol.

                              {time}  2100

  We may not have been in New York City or anywhere near the Pentagon, 
but all who witnessed these attacks on television knew then we were 
living in a terrible new world.
  Our resolve today is to root out the perpetrators of this heinous 
plot to destroy us. We must explore all avenues to make sure that this 
can never happen again. We must not surrender until the country is made 
safe again for our children and for their families.
  Every place in America has lost loved ones in this national tragedy. 
No community is immune to this loss. I am advised that four Hawaii 
residents may be among the casualty lists. One is listed missing in the 
rubble of the World Trade Center, the other three in airplanes in which 
they were passengers on the way to the West Coast. I cannot reveal 
their names, as I am advised that not all the families have yet been 
notified. My heart goes out to all the lost loved ones throughout the 
country in this national nightmare.
  The human toll will undoubtedly mount over the next few days, and our 
lives will be forever changed. Today we mourn those lives that were 
lost in this diabolical act of vengeance against our way of life. So 
long as we continue to stand for freedom and democracy, these enemies 
will not succeed.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble), the chairman 
of the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property 
of the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, ruthless, cowardly, insensitive, uncaring, evil, wicked, 
fanatical; words cannot describe the events of yesterday. I spoke to 
the Judicial Conference at the Supreme Court yesterday morning. Just 
prior to my speech, the Chief Justice handed me a note indicating that 
the Pentagon had been attacked and was then afire. I knew then that 
life in the United States had been drastically altered.
  Sandy Bradshaw, a 38-year-old flight attendant who resided in North 
Carolina's Sixth Congressional District, walked on the United Flight 93 
yesterday to work her shift. Thousands of other Americans reported to 
their respective jobs yesterday as well. Neither Sandy, Mr. Speaker, 
nor many of these other thousands will ever report for work again. 
Their lives were snuffed out yesterday. These losses will not have been 
in vain, however. These ruthless criminals will be identified and duly 
punished.
  Our thoughts and prayers are extended to all who suffered losses 
yesterday.
  Mr. Speaker, these thugs who yesterday inflicted this pain upon us, 
concluding that we would not respond to these acts, they counted on our 
not responding, I say to them tonight, do not count on it.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to my 
good friend, the distinguished gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).
  (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks, and include extraneous material.)
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank our able leaders, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lantos) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), 
and rise in strong support of this bipartisan resolution condemning 
yesterday's reprehensible acts of terrorism

[[Page H5547]]

perpetrated against the people of the United States and freedom-loving 
people everywhere.
  Americans stand united in our firm resolve to seek out those 
responsible for this carnage and to bring them to justice before the 
entire international community. Our citizenry's valor, their order, and 
their dignity in face of this overwhelming tragedy shines to the whole 
world. Across America, our people are helping one another, honoring the 
dead, healing the injured, donating blood, picking up the wreckage and 
building for a new day.
  Across our world, words of encouragement pour into our Capitol. 
Tonight I wish to read some of these words into the record.
  From Russia:

       Dear Congresswoman: All of us in Russia, just the same as 
     throughout the world, express our deepest condolences over 
     the terrible losses suffered in the United States. We believe 
     that this tragedy affects us all. We share the pain of the 
     lost lives and know that we must unite our efforts to do 
     everything in our power for this to never happen again. We 
     should forget about all our differences, and focus together 
     on the critical issues that need to be resolved in the world 
     today. Our prayers are with you.--Andrei and all your other 
     brothers and sisters in Russia.

  From Ukraine's Roman Catholic Vicar General, Bishop Stanislaw 
Szyrokoradiuk:

       Dear Congresswoman Kaptur: I would like to present to You 
     and through You--to all American people--our condolences 
     because of the terrible tragedy that has stricken the whole 
     world.
       We have been very shaken to know about a series of acts of 
     terrorism that happened in the United States of America 
     yesterday.
       It has been an awful blow by its cruelty and scale that 
     struck not only USA but all humanity. I received this notice 
     during spiritual retreats in our Higher Spiritual Seminary in 
     Vorzel, where all priests of our Diocese came. As a sign of 
     our unity and sympathy in your grief we celebrated Holy Mass 
     for the souls of the departed and prayed for all victims. May 
     the Lord strengthen them by His grace that they may outlive 
     this horrible disaster.
       In all our churches there are Divine Services and prayers 
     said for the souls of the departed victims and for all those 
     who have suffered.
       These days our hearts and our prayers are with your people.
           Sincerely yours,

                               Bishop Stanislaw Shyrokoradiuk,

                                          The Roman Catholic Vicar
                                               General of Ukraine.

  From Western Europe:

       I cannot find the words to describe our feelings about what 
     happened in NY and Washington! Our thoughts are with you and 
     all American people.
       While obviously it's difficult to go forward together, it's 
     the only way!
       Hope that nobody of your relatives/friends will be amongst 
     the victims.
       Warm regards,
                                                    Roos & Gerard.

  From Canada:

                       America: The Good Neighbor

       This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the 
     Americans as the most generous and possibly the least 
     appreciated people on all the earth. Germany, Japan and, to a 
     lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the 
     debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of 
     dollars and forgave other billions in debts.
       None of these countries is today paying even the interest 
     on its remaining debts to the United States. When France was 
     in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who 
     propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and 
     swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.
       When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United 
     States that hurries to help. This spring, 59 American 
     communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped. The 
     Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of 
     dollars into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those 
     countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering 
     Americans.
       I'd like to see just one of those countries that is 
     gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build 
     its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have a 
     plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, 
     or the Douglas DC10?
       If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the 
     International lines except Russia fly American Planes? Why 
     does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or 
     woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and 
     you get radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you 
     get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy, and you 
     find men on the moon--not once, but several times--and safely 
     home again.
       You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right 
     in the store window for everybody to look at. Even their 
     draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on 
     our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking 
     Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at 
     home to spend here.
       When the railways of France, Germany and India were 
     breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt 
     them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central 
     went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still 
     broke.
       I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the 
     help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one 
     time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I 
     don't think there was outside help even during the San 
     Francisco earthquake.
       Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who 
     is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will 
     come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they 
     do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that 
     are gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is 
     not one of those.
       Stand proud, America! Wear it proudly!!

  From an elderly and disabled constituent from our district:

       She can't give blood or send money, but has been trying to 
     think what she could do to help in this situation. It came to 
     her that everybody should fly their flag. It's a visible sign 
     of our support of our nation and the perseverance of the 
     citizens. Also all the tv and radio stations could be asked 
     to play the national anthem once all at the same time. She's 
     asking Marcy to ``get the word out'' so people could be asked 
     to do this. May we?

  From Arab-American Muslims in my community, the strong resolution of 
condemnation that no political cause could ever be assisted by such 
immoral acts:

   We Deplore the Attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon

       We strongly condemn this morning's plane attacks on the 
     World Trade Center and the Pentagon and express deep sorrow 
     for Americans that were injured and killed. We sends out our 
     condolence to all victims of this cowardly terrorist attack. 
     There is no cause that justifies this type of an immoral and 
     inhumane act that has affected so many innocent American 
     lives. We support all efforts of the investigation in order 
     to track down the people responsible for this tragic act of 
     terrorism.
       ``Arab And American Muslims utterly condemn what are 
     apparently vicious and cowardly acts of terrorism against 
     innocent civilians. We join with all Americans in calling for 
     the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators. No 
     Political cause could ever be assisted by such immoral 
     acts.''
                                              Hussein H. Shousher.

  From a Technical Sergeant at our Toledo Air National Guard, who 
suggests new safety technologies on airplanes using Internet video 
surveillance:

       In light of today's unfortunate events, I have formulated a 
     logical solution to help prevent future catastrophes 
     involving hijackings. An internet video surveillance system. 
     The equipment to record movement and post to the internet is 
     already available from http://www.x10.com/, and x10.com has 
     been delivering affordable internet tools since 1997.
       I'm sure with a few simple adjustments, and an FCC pipe to 
     the internet a plane could be equipped with the same 
     surveillance system as a house. The system could continually 
     post updates to the internet where the video could be 
     monitored for the safety of the passengers and people on the 
     ground. This would be a deterrent for future attacks. It 
     would give passengers some peace of mind. And it would give 
     us the opportunity to strike back and bring a commercial 
     plane down before it was close enough to crash into a 
     building that thousands of people were working in.
       I would be happy to help out with the development and 
     installation of such a life-saving device.
       Thank you.
                                                Joseph A. Poirier,
                                        Toledo Air National Guard.

  From a constituent who e-mailed us:

       Dear Marcy. Some thoughts about what may be some of the 
     gifts of this tragedy. I am grateful for the heart you have 
     always brought to your leadership.
       Please lead for us in a new way. Find the power in 
     collaboration. Power to create amazing solutions by bringing 
     your differences together and relinquishing outcomes based on 
     self-interest. Listen to each other and learn what the 
     listening will teach. Let debate and fear-based grasping for 
     power cease. Discover how to be powerful in coming together 
     in dialogue and collaboration. Your singing on the steps of a 
     sacred place of American government has far more substance 
     and potential in it than patriotism stoked by attack. Lead us 
     in learning what this tragedy can teach. Is it possible to 
     defend us and secure the world community without adding to 
     the fire of terror and violence? Just asking ourselves the 
     question and hearing what comes forth might yield vital new 
     methods to add to the old. This is a time when we can see who 
     we are. Help us reflect the best of ourselves back to each 
     other. The American people are responding to each other with 
     such generosity and full hearts. A new world order may be 
     able to emerge as we look at what generates order in the 
     middle of chaos. We are watching it as we look at our 
     television sets today.
       You are in my thoughts and prayers.
                                                   Nancy Harshman.


[[Page H5548]]


  The outpouring of good will over evil is evident in every act, every 
letter, every call, every encounter. America will surmount this new 
test of her will and her freedom.
  God bless America.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Whitfield), who has waited for hours to 
get to the floor to speak, a Member of the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce.
  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. Yesterday's 
treacherous acts of demented minds led to families shattered, dreams 
crushed, lives lost, unwritten futures tragically ended. Immediately 
though came America's reaction. Rescuers charged into doomed buildings, 
police braved falling debris to aid the wounded. Evil attacked 
yesterday; America withstood the assault.
  Those shocking images of smoke and dust came down to this: a father 
gone; a wife, a sister, gone. As sure as the famous towers in which 
they worked, gone, too, the passengers and airline crews en route to 
California and elsewhere. Nationwide, people rushed to blood banks, 
eager to have their own blood flow into the veins of those wounded by 
an unknown enemy.
  Let that enemy note that this nation of many people is often at odds, 
but under pressure is united. A blow against one is a blow against all. 
Let the enemy know, America will respond.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to my 
good friend and valued colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Andrews).
  (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, generations of American school children 
will read and study about September 11, 2001. In their history, they 
will see that Americans across our land are manifesting the spirit of 
their chosen God in millions of acts of compassion and mercy. In their 
history, they will hear of the heroic efforts of firefighters, EMTs and 
EMS personnel, police officers and medical personnel. They will read 
this history, but, in the next few days, we will write that history.
  Let that history show that we came together, we found the 
organizations that were responsible for the acts of terror against our 
people and our country yesterday, and we found any nations who 
participated or permitted that terror, and we acted swiftly and 
destroyed those organizations and destroyed the war-making capability 
of those nations.
  Let that history show that this was the day when America said it was 
no longer any good in the world to play both sides of the fence when it 
comes to terrorism; that it was the day we said to the so-called 
moderate states around the world that they cannot have it both ways 
when it comes to terrorism. They cannot condemn terrorism with their 
words, but support terrorism with their prosperity, their currency and 
their diplomacy.
  Let us join together and write a history that says to those countries 
who are ambiguous about their support for us, that there will be no 
more aid, there will be no more trade, and there will be no more arms 
from the American people.
  Mr. Speaker, let us unify tonight, so that when our descendants read 
this history, they read this history in an America that is more strong, 
more free, and more safe than the one we are privileged and blessed to 
live in tonight.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood), a member of the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce.
  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution to condemn these 
terrorists. Our hearts are broken for the loss of life. We must condemn 
this act. We have to treat our wounded. We pray for the mortal souls of 
the victims, for peace and grace of the family members, and we will 
mourn, and we will bury our dead.
  Then what?
  These attacks have likely cost more American lives than we lost at 
Pearl Harbor, and in a far more cowardly manner.
  War has been declared on America.
  Now what?
  Do we capitulate and wait for the next terrorist attack? Do we wait 
for another attack on our freedom and American lives? Do we really 
think we can deter these barbaric acts or really prevent them? Is 
preventing 9 out of 10 terrorist attacks going to be enough, or do we 
fight back and make the price they pay for evil so high they will never 
again wish to attack America?
  They have recognized that we have a justified reluctance in waging 
war while still having difficulty identifying specific nations or even 
groups of targets, or, for that matter, even determining who to name in 
a declaration of war.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge approval of a declaration of war, granting our 
commander in chief his constitutional ability to prosecute a total war, 
not unlike maybe the 7th Congress had to deal with with President 
Thomas Jefferson in his fight against the terrorism of the Barbary 
pirates.
  Mr. Speaker, we have been attacked. We are at war, and we just lost a 
battle. Let us move this debate to the level necessary to defend our 
country. I urge every Member to vote for this resolution and rapidly 
move to the real debate to protect America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to my 
good friend, the distinguished gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Tanner).
  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday this nation, our citizens and really the 
entire civilized world witnessed what is arguably the most barbaric 
action against humankind on this Earth since the dawn of civilization, 
save maybe the Holocaust.
  Mr. Speaker, I think if anyone who has been listening for the last 6 
hours or so has any doubt that this Congress, speaking on behalf of our 
constituents, has the total and complete resolve of them, our 
constituents, and this Nation, to take whatever action is necessary to 
revenge and to stamp out terrorism where it exists anywhere in the 
world, they must be reassured by what they have heard.
  I want to join in expressing my profound sorrow for those who lost 
their lives, their families, and all of the innocent people who were 
used as instruments of evil yesterday. I would just simply say that the 
resolve of this Congress and what the President said last night should 
send a clear and unmistakable signal all around the world that, yes, 
this country was changed yesterday, and, yes, the world was changed.

                              {time}  2115

  And the way it was changed, as one of the speakers before said, is 
that no longer will countries who harbor these terrorist organizations 
be able to say, we did not have anything to do with it; it was them. 
That will not work anymore. From now on, as far as this Member of 
Congress is concerned, governments are either willing to be with us in 
this fight, in this war against terrorism, wherever it exists in the 
world, or they are co-conspirators in it.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), a distinguished member of the 
Committee on Appropriations.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, as we think of the most important things tonight, we 
think of prayer and we think of the people of this Nation. Prayer is 
sometimes spoken of as a thing of last resort, but is actually our 
primary source of strength and power before, during, and after a crisis 
like this one. Above all, let us pray at this time for the endurance of 
survivors and rescue workers in New York and at the Pentagon so that 
those who are trapped can be rescued and returned to their loved ones. 
Let us pray for the President and all of those who offer him council 
and advice.
  Mr. Speaker, we are proud beyond words of the spirit of this Nation. 
The Red Cross is overwhelmed with volunteers wanting to give blood. We 
are proud of the orderly way in which this Nation handled a day of 
attack and uncertainty.
  We all take comfort that there are still those who will give up their 
time and effort to those in need; and we saw that demonstrated 
yesterday, and we continue to see that even now.

[[Page H5549]]

  Earlier this year, I had an opportunity to visit Pearl Harbor and to 
visit the place where the U.S.S. Arizona was attacked on December 7, 
1941. Along with the other Members of Congress who were there with me 
that day, we never thought that within 4 months, America would see even 
more loss of human life than that terrible day in 1941. My generation 
has actually seen very little of war. However, after yesterday, my 
generation knows what it is for these United States to be under direct 
attack.
  The legislation before us tonight clearly expresses how this House 
feels about these attacks. Furthermore, we must use our resources to 
make sure that as much as humanly possible, that what happened on 
September 11, 2001, does not happen again.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy), my dear friend and 
distinguished colleague.
  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
California, and I salute him for his leadership on this issue, as I do 
my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. I rise in strong support 
of this resolution and I thank our congressional leaders for bringing 
it to the floor today.
  The images that we have witnessed on television over the past 2 days 
defy comprehension. As we struggle to come to grips with the 
devastation we have seen, we must come together in support of those who 
have experienced this national tragedy on a personal level.
  Those who have lost their loved ones have my and all of our deepest 
sympathies. American life as we know it was tragically changed 
yesterday; and yet we will not find the cowardly perpetrators of this 
violence if we do not take the necessary steps to make sure of it.
  America is not a Nation that flinches when struck, that backs down 
when threatened, that blinks in the face of evil. As my uncle, 
President Kennedy, once said, ``We stand for freedom. That is our 
conviction for ourselves and that is our only commitment to others. No 
friend, no neutral, no adversary should think otherwise.''
  Our Nation will take every and all appropriate steps against those 
responsible for taking the lives of innocent Americans, and we will 
show America's enemies that they may damage our buildings and attack 
our citizens, but they cannot undermine our spirit. Our armed forces 
and our intelligence community will hunt down and root out this 
terrorism. The whole Federal Government is behind this, and we are 
united in our efforts. We will find these perpetrators, regardless of 
where they are and wherever they attempt to hide. America will not rest 
until we bring them to justice.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman), a member of the Committee on the 
Budget and the Committee on Ways and Means.
  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, in times of such a tragedy, it is very difficult to put 
our thoughts into words. While our minds are busy trying to comprehend 
just what happened in the tragic events of yesterday, our hearts are 
burdened with grief. We have seen the pictures of what happened, and we 
are beginning to hear the heart-wrenching stories of innocent lives cut 
short. As President Bush said so well last night, ``Our Nation saw 
evil.''
  But in the wake of this tragedy, we have also seen something else: 
the goodness of the American people and the strength of the American 
spirit. I think of the elderly man my wife saw yesterday afternoon 
placing small American flags carefully along the highway in front of 
the gas station where he worked. I think of a story I heard last night 
from a friend who said that she waited 4\1/2\ hours in line at a blood 
bank to be able to give blood. I think of the office worker I saw on 
television sometime yesterday on some TV show, one of the World Trade 
Center office workers, who got out of the building just before it 
collapsed. She said, as she was coming down the stairs, there were 
firefighters going up, firefighters who lost their lives, even as they 
fought to save the lives of others.
  Yes, Mr. Speaker, our Nation did see evil yesterday; but we also saw 
something else. In the proud display of our flag throughout this land, 
we saw patriotism. In the outpouring of support we saw at local blood 
banks, we saw compassion; and in the heroic actions of those very 
firefighters and rescue workers, we saw courage and sacrifice. In these 
noble actions around this country, some big and some small, we saw our 
Nation's character.
  Now we call on this character, both to help continue finding our 
fellow Americans and to track down the perpetrators of these 
unspeakable crimes. We must find those responsible; and when we do, 
they must suffer the consequences of their actions. We must always 
remember that though America may be attacked by terrorists, America 
will not be defeated. This attack may shock us, but it also unites and 
strengthens us.
  Today, our Nation stands tall, as it will continue to stand in the 
days and years to come, graced by God and as a beacon for freedom and 
justice for the entire world.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Before yielding to the gentleman from Illinois, I want to share with 
all of my colleagues a statement issued by our allies of the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization.
  ``On September 12, the North Atlantic Council met in response to the 
appalling attacks perpetrated yesterday against the United States.
  ``The Council agreed that if it is determined that this attack was 
directed from abroad against the United States, it shall be regarded as 
an action covered by Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, which states 
that an armed attack against one or more of the allies in Europe or 
North America shall be considered an attack against them all.
  ``The commitment to collective self-defense embodied in the 
Washington Treaty was first entered into in circumstances very 
different from those that exist now, but it remains no less valid and 
no less essential today, in a world subject to the scourge of 
international terrorism. When the Heads of State and government of NATO 
met in Washington in 1999, they paid tribute to the success of the 
Alliance in ensuring the freedom of its members during the Cold War and 
in making possible a Europe that was whole and free. But they also 
recognized the existence of a wide variety of risks to security, some 
of them quite unlike those that had called NATO into existence. More 
specifically, they condemned terrorism as a serious threat to peace and 
stability and reaffirmed their determination to combat it in accordance 
with their commitments to one another, their international commitments, 
and national legislation.
  ``Article 5 of the Washington Treaty stipulates that in the event of 
attacks falling within its purview, each Ally will assist the Party 
that has been attacked by taking such action as it deems necessary. 
Accordingly, the United States' NATO allies stand ready to provide the 
assistance that may be required as a consequence of these acts of 
barbarism.''
  Many of our colleagues stood up and said we stand tall. We do. But we 
also do not stand alone. Our NATO allies are with us.

                Statement by the North Atlantic Council

       On September 12th, the North Atlantic Council met again in 
     response to the appalling attacks perpetrated yesterday 
     against the United States.
       The Council agreed that if it is determined that this 
     attack was directed from abroad against the United States, it 
     shall be regarded as an action covered by Article 5 of the 
     Washington Treaty, which states that an armed attack against 
     one or more of the Allies in Europe or North America shall be 
     considered an attack against them all.
       The commitment to collective self-defence embodied in the 
     Washington Treaty was first entered into in circumstances 
     very different from those that exist now, but it remains no 
     less valid and no less essential today, in a world subject to 
     the scourge of international terrorism. When the Heads of 
     State and Government of NATO met in Washington in 1999, they 
     paid tribute to the success of the Alliance in ensuring the 
     freedom of its members during the Cold War and in making 
     possible a Europe that was whole and free. But they also 
     recognised the existence of a wide variety of risks to 
     security, some of them quite unlike those that had called 
     NATO into existence. More specifically, they condemned 
     terrorism as a serious threat to peace and stability and 
     reaffirmed their determination to combat it in accordance 
     with their commitments to one another, their international 
     commitments and national legislation.

[[Page H5550]]

       Article 5 of the Washington Treaty stipulates that in the 
     event of attacks falling within its purview, each Ally will 
     assist the Party that has been attacked by taking such action 
     as it deems necessary. Accordingly, the United States' NATO 
     Allies stand ready to provide the assistance that may be 
     required as a consequence of these acts of barbarism.

  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Phelps), my friend and colleague.
  (Mr. PHELPS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PHELPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time. I have great respect for the gentleman and his leadership on this 
question.
  I rise in support of this resolution against these terrorist acts. No 
words can ably express my feelings about yesterday's cowardly, barbaric 
assault against our country, our innocent citizens, and our open, 
democratic way of life.
  I experienced every emotion possible: anger, disgust, sorrow, fear, 
and even helplessness. But now, I am determined and anxious and stand 
ready to act. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and family 
members of those whose lives were lost in these horrible terrorist 
acts.
  I, like all citizens, am outraged and sickened by this unprovoked 
attack and will stand with the President to find those responsible and 
to bring swift punishment for these reprehensible acts of violence.
  Mr. Speaker, we must not let these attacks on our country weaken our 
resolve to maintain a free and open society that all countries can 
emulate. We must now show the world that our country will continue to 
stand strong in the face of tragedy. We must show the cowards 
responsible that they will not win. If we place our faith in God, pray 
for wisdom, and pray that God be our pilot, we will succeed and be 
victorious.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito), who is a 
member of the Committee on Transportation, as well as the Committee on 
Financial Services.
  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Joint Resolution 
61. Today, my heart is heavy, filled with sorrow and outrage. Today, 
there are children who will be unable to hug their parents again, and 
there are parents who will never hear the voice of their children 
exclaim, Hi, Mom; Hi, Dad. So today, I join with my fellow West 
Virginians and my colleagues to offer our tears, our support, and our 
prayers.
  The events of yesterday bring our perspective into sharp focus, 
reshaping and strengthening our notions of freedom, democracy, and 
peace. An attack that claimed the lives of our loved ones and attempts 
to destroy our national resolve hurts America.

                              {time}  2130

  But make no mistake, we will rise to fight this horrible offense. The 
heart and the soul of the American people cannot be destroyed by 
cowardly, faceless acts. Never, never will we be defeated. The United 
States has been violated as a Nation, but we are united. We will pick 
ourselves up and face the challenges of the coming days, weeks, and 
months.
  West Virginians and others around the country are outraged and 
sickened by yesterday's attack, but I ask my constituents, my 
colleagues, and my fellow Americans not to let the outrage outweigh our 
compassion and cooperation. The heroic efforts of so many Americans are 
inspiring and heart-warming.
  Now is the time for us to unite and follow our Nation's leaders with 
full faith. I know that the United States is the greatest country in 
the world, and I feel blessed to enjoy the freedoms that we share. God 
bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to my 
friend and colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, the attacks by terrorists yesterday against 
the United States shocked this Nation, but let it be known to those 
responsible that we will track them down and punish them. This Nation 
will respond and this Congress will stand united with our President to 
ensure those responsible are held accountable for their actions. Any 
nation that supports or harbors these terrorists should be retaliated 
against by the United States to the full extent of our military 
capabilities.
  Mr. Speaker, today, as heroic men and women in New York and 
Washington continue to search for victims, we pray for the families and 
friends of those who have lost loved ones and those who still wait to 
receive word on the missing.
  Yesterday, after witnessing the horrors at the World Trade Center and 
the Pentagon, citizens of this great Nation demonstrated their courage 
and their willingness to help their neighbors in need.
  In my home State of New Jersey and in my district, thousands of 
residents came forward and contributed blood for the victims of the 
World Trade Center. So many of my constituents answered the call for 
blood that many had to wait in line for several hours before they were 
able to assist.
  Owners of ferry boats in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey transported 
displaced workers trapped on the tip of Manhattan to a safer spot in 
New Jersey. Emergency personnel, doctors, and nurses from New Jersey 
have worked around the clock to assist the courageous firefighters and 
police officers in New York.
  The reaction to this tragedy by the American people is proof of how 
strong this Nation is. The government, including this Congress, 
continues to operate. We will likely bring up legislation tomorrow to 
allocate Federal aid for the rescue efforts in New York and Washington.
  Mr. Speaker, terrorism does not work against the United States. It 
will only strengthen our will to stamp out this new evil.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Camp), a member of the Committee on Ways 
and Means.
  Mr. CAMP. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to join with my colleagues in Congress and all 
Americans to express support for this resolution. Today, although my 
heart is weighed down by the tragedies affecting our Nation, I stand in 
appreciation of the strength and resilience shown by Americans here and 
abroad.
  There have been countless examples of heroism in the face of 
unbelievable tragedy. Hundreds of rescue workers continue to work and 
look for survivors. Thousands of Americans have lined up to give blood, 
and all across the country, citizens are offering sincere prayers. 
Their faith in America proves that this country will prevail in the 
face of tribulation. My prayers are with the victims and their 
families.
  This resolution further confirms and makes clear that rescue efforts 
and investigators are receiving and will continue to receive the full 
resources of the Federal Government.
  The cowards who helped perpetrate this act will not get away. They 
and those who offer them assistance and haven will be punished. 
Terrorism against America will not be tolerated. This resolution 
clearly sends a message to those responsible that they cannot hide, and 
they will face the wrath and justice of the United States of America. 
America will remain united as we rebuild and recover in the aftermath 
of these heinous acts.
  May this message be clear: The spirit of democracy and freedom that 
America embodies will survive and cannot be shaken by violence or 
terror. I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure to send a 
clear message that America will not tolerate terrorism and will punish 
those who commit such appalling acts.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to my 
friend and colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda).
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues to offer my prayers 
to families of the victims, those that have been injured or lost, those 
who seek bravely to find life among the rubble.
  I join with my colleagues in strong support of this resolution. All 
four flights yesterday were bound for my home State of California. Many 
families in our very area are still waiting for family members and 
loved ones who will never return.

[[Page H5551]]

  In their memory, I am proud to stand today with all of my colleagues 
to inform the enemies of the United States that they may have shaken 
the foundations of our buildings, but they will never, they will never 
shake the foundation of our democracy. The unwavering strength of our 
democracy can be found in our people and in our beliefs and in the 
enduring ideal of our Republic that states ``All men are created 
equal.''
  Mr. Speaker, many have likened yesterday's attacks to the surprise 
attack made upon Pearl Harbor in 1941. When I saw the many acts of 
bravery and compassion in the streets of New York and at the Pentagon, 
I firmly believe that we as Americans have lived up to the lineage of 
valor from that fateful day.
  I firmly believe that we will find those responsible, and that the 
fullest measure of our justice will be meted out. There is one legacy I 
pray that we do not embrace: the abandonment of our most cherished 
ideals when blinded by rage.
  Former Secretary of State Warren Christopher said it best last night: 
``We must learn from the past to make sure that we do not repeat the 
injustices visited upon one ethnic group in 1941.''
  I pray we bring those responsible to justice, and that we do so 
justly, in a manner unclouded by hatred or racial prejudice. That is 
the foundation of our democracy.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays), the chairman of 
the Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans' Affairs and 
International Relations of the Committee on Government Reform and 
Oversight.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Yesterday's events forced us to confront as never before the 
barbarism and cowardice of terrorism. We grieve for the victims, our 
fellow Americans, and we pray for their peace. May we seek our peace 
with this painful horror by offering solace and comfort to their 
families, friends, colleagues, and all those affected by this tragedy.
  Acts of war have been committed against innocent men, women, and 
children going about the daily business and routines that are American 
life. Lives have been lost. Life in America will never be the same. 
Yet, while we react and respond to the attack, we must not succumb to 
the terror. It is the weapon of an uncivilized, spiritually bankrupt 
enemy who dares not confront us openly.
  In the face of utter irrationality, rational people feel defenseless, 
but we are not defenseless. The very freedom that made us vulnerable 
yesterday remains our impenetrable bulwark against the massacre of 
innocents that is terrorism. It is our freedom they target, our freedom 
they envy.
  We are not a Nation defined by tall buildings, a strong dollar, or a 
powerful military; we are a Nation of free people who will not 
surrender. After consoling the survivors and healing the wounded, our 
task as a free people is to support the many men and women trying to 
prosecute the war against terrorism.
  All those sworn to protect our national security and our public 
safety, from the President to the paramedic, need our support and our 
prayers. We are free to mourn, we are free to rebuild. Our freedom is 
our strength, and we will endure. Terrorists are slaves to their hate. 
They will be caught. They will be punished.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to my 
friend and colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).
  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution. Our American family has faced 
an assault on its way of life. Our freedom has come under attack. We 
are still coming to terms with the vision of our own brothers and 
sisters, our sons and daughters, our mothers and fathers, being 
victimized by despicable acts perpetrated by the evil and the cowardly.
  What happened yesterday was an unspeakable act of war on the very 
foundation of what makes us American. It was a craven assault on 
thousands of innocent people who are enjoying the freedom we hold so 
dear and the perpetrators so despise. It was a day of incomprehensible 
terror and grief, conceived and carried out by the very worst of 
mankind.
  Indeed, our American family has witnessed evil at times throughout 
its history. From the world wars to the Holocaust to the ethnic 
cleansing in Bosnia, we have always responded with action that 
exemplifies the very best of what we stand for.
  And it continues. Yesterday, with the daring of our rescue workers, 
with the complete compassion of strangers standing in lines 800 deep to 
give their own blood, the government wholly unified as one voice behind 
a Commander in Chief. We have shown the world that it is impossible to 
break our will in America. Our country will move on, our mission still 
intact. We will march forward with all conviction to fight for freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, make no mistake, make no mistake about how resolved we 
are. We are resolute in our stance that those hateful warmongers who 
perpetrated these atrocities will be hunted as predators, the very 
predators that they are. They will be punished in a way that is 
unmistakable in the defense of our country and all we hold dear.
  Justice, I say to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), must prevail, even though the 
heavens may crumble.
  God bless America. God bless our families.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), a senior member of the 
Committee on International Relations and former chairman of the 
Committee on Banking and Financial Services, and now on the Committee 
on Financial Services.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, there is nothing more difficult than to 
provide perspective to events of this week, but it would be self-
evident that two of the profoundest lessons are that all societies, 
particularly democracies, are vulnerable to terrorism and that there is 
a growing breach between elements of the Islamic world and Judeo-
Christian values.
  In this context, it is imperative that those responsible for heinous 
acts be held accountable at the bar of justice. Likewise, it is 
critical that any response be fair as well as firm so that an action-
reaction cycle is not precipitated.
  Force is justified against terrorists and their harborers, not Islam 
or innocents. I stress this point because from an American perspective, 
terrorism is the enemy. We respect Islam and Islamic nations. The only 
brief we hold is against parties that manipulate hatred and employ 
tactics of terror.
  Civilized values, whether of the East or of the West, are rooted in 
just behavior and fundamentals of faith. Accordingly, at this traumatic 
juncture, the U.S. has an obligation to emphasize our identity with 
those individuals of faith who derive their values from the Koran, as 
well as the Old and New Testament.
  The barbarous acts precipitated in New York and Washington are more 
crimes against civilization and humanity than attacks on the United 
States as a Nation. Hence, as we seek accountability, we look for the 
support of faithful people and justice seekers of all societies in a 
war to eliminate the cowardice of terrorism.
  The despicable acts of this past week do not put American security 
particularly at risk; it is civilization and civilized values which 
demand protection.

                              {time}  2145

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Scott).
  Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleagues in support of the 
resolution.
  Yesterday freedom's bell rang for thousands of civilian and military 
personnel as it has for over 200 years.
  Mr. Speaker, on December 8, 1941, President Roosevelt and his message 
to Congress declared, ``Yesterday, a date which will live in infamy, 
the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked.'' 
Likewise, we today declared that the date of September 11, 2001, will 
also live in infamy.
  Yesterday's attack is in the order of magnitude beyond anything we 
have ever experienced in the history of the

[[Page H5552]]

United States. As many as five to ten times more lives lost than at 
Pearl Harbor, lives of Americans from all walks of life.
  At this tragic time, America must speak with one voice and support 
the President in his efforts to hold all of those responsible 
accountable for their actions.
  Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families who lost loved ones 
in this great tragedy.
  Our Nation extends its greatest appreciation to rescue personnel who 
responded to this tragedy, especially those who risked or gave their 
lives in an effort to help others and those who will continue the grim 
work in the days and weeks to come.
  May God bless America.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin).
  (Mrs. CUBIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, there are no words to describe the anguish we and all 
Americans feel on this day. Our innocence has been stolen as we 
discover our vulnerability to the acts of zealous madmen.
  President Bush reassured Americans last night that, while those who 
detest freedom may destroy brick and mortar and even take the lives of 
innocents, they can not destroy the American spirit. We can take 
comfort and confidence in our national resolve and depend on it to help 
us overcome this temporary setback.
  Clearly, we must gather the American spirit and rally around our 
Commander-in-Chief. We must support his efforts to make crystal clear 
the fact that the American people are united and resolute; that we will 
take a stand against attacks on our sovereignty; and that we will atone 
this grievous act.
  I am sure the entire membership of this body joins me in supporting 
the President in the crisis and in praying to God for guidance.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Shadegg), a member of the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce.
  Mr. SHADEGG. Mr. Speaker, on December 7, 1941, America was 
forthrightly challenged by a foe. A foe that came in marked planes and 
attacked military targets. They stood forward to defend themselves and 
their possessions. That was the Pearl Harbor attack.
  Yesterday, America sustained a cowardly attack. Our foes came in 
unmarked planes and they sought, not military targets, but civilian 
ones. Mr. Speaker, they have made a grave error. They have 
underestimated the resolve of this Nation. Make no mistake, we will 
hunt them down and they will pay.
  Last night, my daughter and several of her college colleagues went to 
a blood donation center and stood in line for over 4\1/2\ hours to give 
blood. She and millions of other Americans stand forthrightly today to 
help fight for a cause they believe in and a Nation they hold dear.
  Not until 3 hours ago did the full import of what has happened sink 
in to me. For 3 hours ago, I and 24 of my colleagues on the Republican 
Study Committee, Members of Congress, went to the Pentagon. We stood 
literally 50 feet from where the gaping hole exists in the side of that 
building. We spoke with the FBI, and we spoke with the first response 
teams that were there. We thanked them for what they had done.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield to two of my colleagues who joined 
us for their reflections on that site and on these events.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra).
  Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding.
  The gentleman is absolutely right. The trip we took down to the 
Pentagon late this afternoon put the horrors of yesterday into context. 
We were taking a look at the side of the Pentagon, the part that was 
virtually destroyed, and recognizing that we were still only seeing a 
partial picture of the devastation that had happened with the crash. We 
were able to thank the individuals who, for the last 36 hours, have 
been on-site in a search and recovery mode, trying to do everything 
they can to identify and find the survivors and answer the questions. 
On behalf of a grateful America, we were able to express our 
appreciation to those workers in person and also to the people working 
in New York.
  Also, our thanks go out to the grateful people who entered into 
prayer last night for the victims, the families and for the workers 
that have done such heroic things.
  Mr. Speaker, all across America last night, people came together in 
prayer. They prayed for the victims of yesterday's tragedies and they 
prayed for the loved ones of those who lost their lives.
  As a country, we prayed for understanding, and we prayed that our 
children would never again have to witness such senseless violence.
  As we attempt to come to grips with the scope of what happened 
yesterday, I am reminded of our great nation's motto: ``In God We 
Trust.''
  Today, as a nation, we need to reaffirm our belief in this motto, 
because now, more than ever, we as a nation need to put our trust in 
God.
  My heart goes out to the victims and families and friends of those 
killed and injured in yesterday's attacks. We need to keep them at the 
forefront of our thoughts and prayers. We also need to keep in our 
prayers the thousands of firefighters, police, rescue personnel, 
doctors and others who are tirelessly working to rescue the victims of 
these barbaric attacks.
  To those who would dare threaten the United States, or the freedom 
that she represents, I can tell you that the resolve of our great 
people and this great nation remain strong. Through our faith in God, 
we will not easily be bowed.
  May this be a season of prayer, as we attempt to understand the 
tragic events of yesterday, and as we contemplate our national 
response.
  Mr. SHADEGG. Mr. Speaker, I would simply say it was impossible to 
stand there and not be stricken with grief and embroiled in rage.
  The survivors of this tragedy, the victims and their families, 
deserve our thoughts and our prayers. It was brought home when we went 
to the site.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder).
  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, it is hard for us, as we have been in one of 
centers of the firestorm, to react emotionally as we have tried to deal 
with this issue with our staff.
  We can see the pictures like other Americans. But last night, when I 
went home to my apartment and actually could look out the window and 
see the smoke from the Pentagon across the interstate and smell the 
smoke in my apartment, it became a little more real.
  Until the Republican Study Committee organized this first group of 
Members to go over this afternoon and we were standing there at the 
site, we thought that it is just a small measure of what they must feel 
in New York. The ability to thank our workers who are strained, who are 
stressed, who are now going in trying to find the bodies, the dads and 
the moms and the brothers and the sisters of Americans who have been 
brutally assassinated by terrorists and to talk about how in their 
offices now they have the names and how they are targeting where they 
are going to go in and try to find them.
  The building is still burning in some parts as they try to find the 
black box. The men were trying to figure out whether the structure was 
safe for them to go in. Yet, if they do not go in soon, they cannot get 
the black box out and this holds valuable information. So time is of 
the essence.
  We wanted to personally thank, in our small way, those Americans so 
dedicated and make it clear to anybody around the world that this is a 
Nation of love but also a Nation that is angry.
  This is a Nation that is very passionate and cares but also wants 
some answers and some results. Our heart goes out to them; and I thank 
the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Shadegg), the leader of the Republican 
Study Committee, for organizing this because it was an experience that 
many of us will never forget.
  Mr. SHADEGG. Mr. Speaker, as we stood outside of the building, 
witnessing the devastation, listening to the descriptions, the fact is 
that from the outside we can only see a part of what is going on. There 
is vastly more destruction inside the building as it is spread out and 
there are dead bodies there.
  I was struck by the comment of one worker. He had been there when the 
plane went in the building. He had seen the building moments after its 
first impact.

[[Page H5553]]

  He said to me his most difficult moment was not then and not when he 
was told perhaps there is a second plane en route and their lives were 
in danger. His toughest moment was when he went home last night and his 
5-year old asked him who would do this and why would they perpetrate 
such an act, why would they bring down an airline, why would they seek 
to kill so many people.
  It is incomprehensible when you see the death, when you see the 
devastation, and when you understand it. But make no mistake, our 
opponents need to look no further than the roof of this building. The 
American flag, the symbol of freedom, Old Glory was there yesterday. It 
is there today. It will be there tomorrow. We will not surrender until 
we have found them and we have exacted retribution.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Moran), my friend and distinguished colleague.
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, we cannot yet grasp the impact of 
Tuesday's events on the future of American life. In Northern Virginia, 
our fear and anxiety are almost overwhelming. All of us know someone 
who works at the Pentagon. They are friends and neighbors. They are 
active in our schools and churches. In short, they are good people who 
have devoted their lives to the defense of freedom. Our thoughts and 
prayers are with the entire family of Pentagon employees. They have 
demonstrated once again the particular dangers to which our military 
and Federal civil servants are often subjected.
  While thousands of innocent lives have been lost, this much is 
certain. The perpetrators of this horrible attack must not succeed in 
weakening the United States or its core values. We must not retreat 
from our legitimate role as the leader of the free world.
  Where American interests are at stake or where the cause of freedom 
and democracy can be appropriately advanced, American foreign policy 
must be one of active engagement. American leadership in promoting 
peace and democracy will put the Nation at odds with terrorists and 
others bent on evil.
  Tuesday's events, as horrible and as tragic as they are, do not mark 
the first time America has been targeted because its most basic values 
are correct. Fear of terrorists must not deter us from carrying on our 
policies just as we have for more than 200 years.
  America must also stand firm, though, in its commitment to civil 
liberties for all of our people. In the coming months and years, all of 
us will have to make accommodations to heightened security at our 
airports, Federal buildings, and other large landmarks. We can and must 
make those accommodations and in a manner that is wholly consistent 
with the U.S. Constitution.
  We will have to devote more of our national resources toward 
intelligence gathering and counterterrorism.
  We must resist the dark temptation toward human prejudice as the 
investigation of these attacks unfolds. In the wake of the Japanese 
attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese-Americans were terribly mistreated by 
our government and many of our countrymen. I do not know where the 
current investigation will lead, but I do know that no religious or 
ethnic group that comprises our diverse society must be made to suffer 
solely because of their religion or ethnicity.
  We will go after these terrorists, and we do so in concert with our 
allies around the world. Democrats and Republicans alike, we are all 
Americans in a common enterprise. We will not let this happen again.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake).
  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I stand today in strong support of the 
resolution.
  I just returned a couple of hours ago from a tour of the Pentagon. 
Two things struck me. First, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to the 
response teams there who have risked their lives to save the lives of 
others.
  Second, I would suggest that anyone who has a hard time with the 
President's phrase that this is an act of war ought to visit that site. 
It is impossible to do so without coming away struggling for even 
stronger words to describe that act and that tragedy. This was an act 
of war, and we need to respond accordingly.
  Mr. Speaker, we live in a free society; and because we do, there are 
some things that we will never do, some risk that we are always willing 
to accept in order to live in a free society. But at the same time 
there are things that we need to do.
  The first thing we need to do is to respond to this act of terror.
  I was heartened by the President's statement last night that he draws 
no distinction between those who committed these acts and those who 
harbor terrorism, those who assist terrorism. We should draw no 
distinction either, and I would urge this Congress to stand behind the 
President in this regard.
  Seeing Americans all over the country pick themselves up and stand up 
and move ahead on this day makes me proud once again to be an American.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green), my friend and valued colleague.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
California for yielding me time.
  I rise today, like a lot of my colleagues, with a heavy heart for 
anyone who has suffered from yesterday's tragic and cowardly attack. 
Yesterday was one of America's darkest hours. Our thoughts and our 
prayers are with the families of the victims and those who were injured 
or killed yesterday and with all Americans.
  America is coming together and focusing on bringing the full weight 
of our Nation into recovery effort. We will find our missing, bury our 
dead, heal our wounded and rebuild. The light of freedom has not been 
extinguished.
  As the book of Isaiah says, ``Your sun will never set again, and your 
moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and 
your days of sorrow will end.''
  Mr. Speaker, that brings me to the other thoughts I have been having 
since this tragedy unfolded. From this day forward, the word needs to 
go out from this country that no matter what dark place the enemies of 
America wish to hide in, our law enforcement and military will find 
them.
  I strongly support President Bush and his position that countries 
providing safe havens to known terrorists be treated no differently 
than the terrorists themselves. We have the ability to deliver 
destruction of biblical proportions. Those who carry out these horrible 
acts need to be punished, either through our court system or through 
the reach of our military.
  To the people of America, I ask you to continue to keep the victims 
of this attack in your prayers and pray for the safety of those engaged 
in our rescue efforts.
  This cowardly attack was condemned throughout the world but was 
cheered in the streets of Iraq, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank. It 
is truly a sick society that teaches its children such hate. For them 
to cheer at this terrible loss of innocent life is something I will 
make a point of remembering.
  The new war against terrorism began yesterday, but the healing begins 
today. Our enemies hoped yesterday to weaken America, to hurt it, but 
they failed. America will come out of this horrible event stronger, 
more united, and more powerful than ever.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Northern Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis).
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in favor of this 
resolution.
  The event of yesterday, of course, will leave a lasting impact in our 
community in Northern Virginia.

                              {time}  2200

  Our friends, our neighbors, have all been affected, as I think has 
the whole country. But yesterday's act was an act of war, but the enemy 
was not necessarily a particular country or a nation, but a network of 
terrorists harbored and enabled in some cases by other nations who are 
lurking in the shadows, afraid of identifying themselves, even in some 
cases denying their deeds while praising these acts.
  The perpetrators of these vicious acts and their abettors are not 
wholly identified as yet, but their act of war was

[[Page H5554]]

not only against the United States, but against all freedom-loving 
people throughout the globe. Any failure on our part to act decisively 
against these mass murderers will only encourage more such acts against 
other peoples and other nations.
  Our country has put aside the partisan squabbling, and we stand 
united behind our President to give him the resources he needs to seek 
out and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts.
  We thank our allies and other leaders across the world for their 
expressions of support and sympathy; and working together, we can rid 
this planet of the terrorist menace that knows no boundaries, obeys no 
rules, respects no life.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution is only a start, but it demonstrates our 
determination as a Nation to stand shoulder to shoulder united as one 
people, to bring justice to these attackers and normalization to our 
lives.
  My deepest sympathy to the families of these victims and those 
awaiting word on loved ones who cannot be accounted for. My 
appreciation to the rescue workers, the police, firefighters and 
medical personnel and volunteers who have risked their lives to help 
their brothers and sisters. These Americans and countless volunteers 
have again demonstrated the American spirit at this time of crisis.
  To those military and Federal employees who were targets of the 
suicide bombers, they once again, as in Oklahoma City, have paid the 
supreme price for anger directed at our political system. They are 
heroes who will forever be remembered for the sacrifice they made for 
freedom. History will never forget their heroic sacrifice.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), my distinguished colleague.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution; but tonight I would like to take a moment to tell my 
colleagues about three of the lives so cruelly ended yesterday by 
nameless cowards.
  Tara Shea Creamer lived in my hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts. 
She was just 30 years old when she departed Boston on American Airlines 
Flight 11 which crashed into the World Trade Center. Ms. Creamer and 
her husband, John, were married in 1994 and have two children, Colin, 
age 4, and Nora who is just 15 months old. She also had three sisters 
and two brothers, and her husband teaches in the Worcester Public 
Schools.
  Ms. Creamer was one of seven employees of the TJX Company 
headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts, flying to Los Angeles on a 
3-day business trip.
  Lynn Goodchild, was 25 years old and lived in Attleboro, 
Massachusetts which is in the central part of my district. She was one 
of the 65 people on board United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston to Los 
Angeles on her way to vacation in Hawaii when the plane was hijacked. 
Ms. Goodchild was the daughter of William and Ellen Goodchild of 
Attleboro. She had a brother, Neil. Lynn graduated from Attleboro High 
School, went on to graduate from Bentley College in Waltham, 
Massachusetts, and worked at Putnam Investments in Boston.
  Dianne Snyder, 42, was a flight attendant from Westport, 
Massachusetts. She is a mother of two children, ages 11 and 14. She and 
her husband, John, moved to Massachusetts from Connecticut just a few 
years ago. Dianne worked for American Airlines and was on the job on 
Flight 11. As John Snyder said, ``I know there are so many families 
that are affected by this in so much pain right now.'' His words are 
tragically true.
  While respecting the privacy and personal grief of Lynn Goodchild, 
Tara Shea Creamer and Dianne Snyder's families, friends and colleagues, 
I believe it is important that my own colleagues and the American 
people know something about the Americans murdered yesterday by 
terrorists. Three women are now lost to all of us. Their talents, hopes 
and dreams lost forever.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to hold Tara Shea Creamer, Lynn 
Goodchild, Dianne Snyder and their families, along with all of the 
victims of this tragedy, in their thoughts and prayers.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Grucci).
  (Mr. GRUCCI asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GRUCCI. Mr. Speaker, I rise as so many do here this evening to 
speak about the atrocities that have happened with a very heavy heart. 
In my district there are men and women who went to work yesterday 
morning to work at the World Trade Center, and they never returned 
home. Their children have no mother or father, and their families will 
forever be touched. I ask why. Why does something like this happen? Was 
that a military installation that was targeted for attack? The answer 
is, no. It was a building where men and women shopped and worked, and 
children from schools would go to ride the elevator to the top floor to 
look out over the horizon of the New York City skylines to New Jersey 
and out to Long Island.
  I ask myself did those people do something wrong. The answer is no, 
they did nothing wrong. Why? The answer is there is no answer to a 
question like that. When people are born and bred to be evil as those 
who have perpetrated this crime against society have been, there is 
only one answer, and that answer is to eradicate that evil from our 
society so that freedom-loving people, people who wish to live with the 
liberties that we enjoy in this country, the same kinds of liberties 
that have brought many people through our gates and through the 
outstretched arms of the Statute of Liberty, to find a new home and to 
find a life in this country because we allow those types of liberties 
to our people who live here.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday is not going to take that away. There was an 
attempt to rock the seat of government of this country, to take out our 
leaders and destroy our economics. All of those have failed. The only 
thing that has succeeded was the pain, the suffering, and the needless 
death of so many innocent people, the number of which is staggering, 
and may be as high as 20,000 to 30,000 people will be found to be the 
victims of that terrible ordeal.
  Our hearts go out to the families, and the Federal Government is 
marshaling its resources to help in the recovery and to help in trying 
to find those who may still be alive in that twisted rubble and that 
wreck of a building that was a landmark of this great Nation.
  When that is completed, and as we continue to discuss this today, we 
will find those who are responsible and bring them to the swift justice 
that they deserve. No place can they hide on this planet; nowhere can 
they find refuge from what they did yesterday.
  Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support this resolution. The prayers of 
this house, the prayers of the world are with those families who have 
been touched in Washington and New York, and the families who are the 
victims of those plane crashes. God bless America and God bless those 
who are in pain and suffering tonight.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
North Dakota (Mr. Pomeroy).
  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution before 
us.
  Today, Americans the Nation over went to work with a unity and sense 
of purpose borne of the unspeakable tragedy we suffered as a country 
yesterday. We are all filled with a deep sense of loss for the 
thousands of innocent victims, their families and friends. We are all 
as Americans in awe of the heroism we have seen by our police and our 
firefighters, as well as that from ordinary Americans who have risked 
or even given their lives in courageous efforts to help others.
  Mr. Speaker, as Americans we all want to pitch in and help in the 
immediate recovery effort; and the long, slow lines of the Nation's 
blood banks will bear witness.
  As Americans, we also know that we are in a war today. We are at war 
with terrorists who seek to rob us of our way of life, just as they 
robbed us of our countrymen in their cowardly attacks of yesterday. 
They will not win their war against the people of the United States.
  Our freedoms, liberties and collective strength of united American 
people represent a far more mighty force than these murderers could 
ever have imaged. We are applying that strength today in an urgent, 
focused effort to identify those responsible. And when

[[Page H5555]]

we know who conceived and executed these terrible acts, we will render 
a fearsome punishment in response, not solely to account for the lives 
taken and the losses inflicted against us, but in defense of freedom 
for us and people around the world.
  Despite the devastation and horrific loss of life wrought by 
yesterday's attacks, the terrorists failed to achieve their objective. 
They have not even made a dent in the very source of American 
greatness: a strong, united people living freely in the greatest 
democracy the world has ever known.
  In honor and loving memory to all who died and their families, we 
will not rest until this war these terrorists cowardly launched 
yesterday is won and won completely, and our country and the world made 
safer as a result.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), the chairman of the Subcommittee 
on Highways and Transit.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution before 
us. Tuesday's terrorist attacks were designed to create fear and chaos, 
but the real effect has been to pull us together. Through a systematic 
act of war, the terrorists have awakened a sleeping giant, and as a 
result they will discover how effective we can be now that we are 
sufficiently united and motivated.
  Mr. Speaker, our friends in the British Parliament and German 
Bundestag have made it clear to me that they regard yesterday's attack 
as an attack against civilization, not just against the United States; 
and I believe that attitude is shared by most people around the world, 
and that most of the world's governments will cooperate with us in a 
spirit of resolute solidarity as we develop a strong, intelligent 
response.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Mrs. Jones).
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding 
me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, for everything there is a season and a time for every 
activity under heaven; a time to be born and a time to die; a time to 
kill and a time to heal; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to 
mourn and a time to dance; a time to embrace and a time to refrain; a 
time to be silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to 
hate; a time for war and a time for peace.
  After the atrocities of yesterday, we, the American people, asked the 
question: What time is it? This is a time for prayer. This is a time to 
mourn the loss of life. This is a time to weep because crying eases the 
pain. This is a time to appreciate and honor those countless, nameless 
men and women, firefighters, rescue workers, volunteers and others who 
have risked and lost their lives trying to help their fellow Americans.
  This is time to embrace one another and to express our feelings of 
love. This is a time to mend broken hearts of the people of our Nation 
who have experienced the loss of a family member. This is a time to 
speak of the strength of our Nation and to let the world know that we 
resolve that to never allow any terrorists to think for one moment that 
they can, by their conduct, permanently disrupt our democracy.
  This is a time to ferret out the persons who have committed these 
acts of terrorism and to hold them accountable. In time we will emerge 
from this stronger, wiser and more compassionate. In time we will find 
our way. In time we will again laugh, share good times, and take 
pleasure in our family, friends and favorite pursuits.
  Mr. Speaker, in times like this, I call upon my faith and say, 
``Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning.''

                              {time}  2215

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston), a member of the 
Committee on Appropriations.
  Mr. KINGSTON. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday, in addition to losing thousands and thousands 
of our fellow citizens, loved ones, parents, moms, brothers and 
sisters, we were attacked at three symbolic buildings, a financial 
center, a military center, and the government center, buildings which 
Americans recognize, visit and study. The financial center, the World 
Trade Building, where wheelings and dealings that affect the entire 
globe take place, indeed the actions themselves, breaking the skyline 
of New York City, the economic beacon of the West. The Pentagon, where 
our strategists, our generals, get together, the wizards of what is 
best for national security. And Washington, D.C., the very center of 
the free government and representative democracy.
  We were stunned in disbelief, confused in grasping the scope of the 
hatred behind such an act, and yesterday was a very low and sad day for 
the United States of America. But it was also a defining moment, 
because Americans, which are so often divided in philosophy and 
geography, by region, by politics, by race and by economics, we are now 
one. We are united in our patriotism, our resolve and our commitment.
  This United States Congress will get behind the proper government 
agencies, the FBI, the CIA, the military, the Attorney General, we will 
give them the resources they need to identify and plan a strategy to 
retaliate.
  And, Mr. Speaker, the citizens of the United States of America will 
get back on our airplanes. We will return to our workplaces. And we 
will resume our government in this great and free country, and this 
land of freedom will reign on and the bell will be heard all over the 
world.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) a valued member of the Committee on 
International Relations.
  (Mr. BROWN of Ohio asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the victims and the 
families, especially the firefighters and the police officers who gave 
their lives.
  Mr. Speaker, no words can properly express the emotions we all feel 
regarding the attacks in New York and Washington. My deepest sympathies 
go to the families and friends of those Americans taken from us in this 
brutal, senseless manner.
  Thousands of military, law enforcement, and rescue personnel are 
currently assisting the victims and piecing together the clues that 
will lead to the capture and appropriate punishment of the perpetrators 
of these horrendous acts. At this time of crisis in our nation, I urge 
all Americans to exercise patience and caution and to search for ways 
to help fellow citizens.
  I also urge my fellow Americans not to allow these unprovoked acts to 
diminish our shared faith in the United States or to compromise the 
values that make ours the freest country in the world. The celebrated 
resolve of the American people to overcome adversity must and will 
prevail. With the memory of those lost, America will persevere.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to my 
distinguished colleague and good friend, the gentlewoman from Minnesota 
(Ms. McCollum).
  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, yesterday's terrorist attack was a crime 
against the American people and it was a crime against humanity. 
Calling this attack an act of war does not begin to accurately describe 
this barbaric attack.
  Today, we stand with our President, the men and women of law 
enforcement, and with our Armed Forces as we dedicate our Nation to 
achieving swift and appropriate justice for the terrorists responsible 
for this act.
  Today, we have been inspired by the courage of Americans risking 
their lives to rescue and heal their neighbors. Today, we are comforted 
by America's prayers for the injured and grieving. And, today, from the 
ashes of this horrific act, we as Americans reaffirm our highest 
beliefs in freedom, democracy and justice.
  On behalf of the people of Minnesota's Fourth District, our hearts 
and prayers are with the victims of this terrible crime.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam), a member of the Committee on 
Agriculture and the Committee on the Budget.
  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, America changed forever yesterday. Our 
innocence lost, we have had the horrors of faraway capitals delivered 
to our own. Our freedom at stake, we have resolved to fight back at all 
forms of terror and tyranny. We have seen Americans rally

[[Page H5556]]

behind the blood drives to aid the wounded, shopkeepers who opened up 
their wares to weary, shell-shocked fellow citizens, refused payment 
and bid only ``God bless you.''
  I was with the President yesterday in Florida when the initial attack 
occurred, and aboard Air Force One throughout much of the day as the 
breadth of the horror unfolded. The President was calm, deliberate, and 
thoughtful as he received wave after wave of bad news and analysis. He 
immediately reached out to his national security team and settled into 
his Commander in Chief responsibilities. He rightly made the decision 
to go to a secure location to manage the crisis as it developed. I am 
sure all Americans are grateful, as I am, that the threats against the 
White House and Air Force One were not carried out.
  Mr. Speaker, the fabric of American life was frayed but not torn 
yesterday. It was soiled with the blood of innocent American civilians. 
But our American way will not be diminished, and America will not be 
tarnished by these agents of evil. May America endure and prosper 
forever.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my valued 
colleague, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Lucas).
  Mr. LUCAS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise to add my voice to the 
outrage I am sure every American feels today. My condolences and those 
of my fellow Kentuckians go out to the families who have lost loved 
ones as a result of yesterday's tragic events. The victims of these 
cowardly attacks were innocent Americans of every color and creed. 
Heartbreak is the only word that can adequately describe what I felt as 
I witnessed one of the most despicable crimes in our history.
  Franklin Delano Roosevelt described December 7, 1941, as a date which 
will live in infamy. He described that day's attack upon Pearl Harbor 
as an unprovoked and dastardly attack. I say to my colleagues here in 
Congress, and my fellow Americans watching us here tonight, that the 
evil which fueled the murder yesterday of thousands of peace-loving 
Americans rivals that evil which plunged our Nation into World War II 
some 60 years ago. And make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, yesterday's attack 
was nothing less than an act of war.
  The terrorist forces against us would see us brought to our knees and 
see us shaking in terror. They would have us back away from the 
freedoms we hold dear. But they must be made to understand that those 
freedoms are the result of 200 years of struggle. Nothing within the 
terrorists' power can daunt this great democracy and its resolve.
  It was John F. Kennedy who said, ``Let every nation know, whether it 
wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, 
meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the 
survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge and more.'' 
The circumstances have changed since President Kennedy said these 
words. The sentiment has not. God bless America.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller), a member of the 
Committee on Appropriations.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues and millions 
of Americans in their shock, sorrow and outrage at yesterday's horrific 
attack. I join with them, too, in the resolution to stand united 
against terror and against cowards that would attack innocent men, 
women and children, and against the fear that would overthrow our 
liberty. We will recover. We will rebuild. And we will continue to 
stand proudly, a shining city on a hill, a target to many, but a beacon 
of hope to so many more.
  To the thousands of victims of yesterday's attack, and their family 
and friends, we offer nothing less than the full support of the most 
powerful nation on earth. All of us share in this tragedy, and my heart 
and prayers go out to the friends and family of the victims, including 
the two employees of the Census Bureau's New York Regional Office. 
Words cannot soothe the pain of this loss, but I pray that it is some 
consolation, to those who grieve, that a nation grieves with you.
  Already, the armies of compassion are mobilized. Amid yesterday's 
terrible destruction was also great heroism. Police, firemen, and 
rescue workers put themselves in grave danger in order to save the 
lives of others. Volunteers worked through the night. People lined up 
around the block and around the country to give blood. Yesterday was a 
call to action and America answered.
  No one answered more readily than our Commander in Chief. President 
Bush's day began yesterday with a visit to Booker Elementary School in 
my congressional district in Sarasota, Florida. The gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Putnam) and I were there to welcome him to the school when 
we learned of the attack. We joined him aboard Air Force One to return 
to Washington. En route to Andrews Air Force Base, we received a 
credible security threat to the President and Air Force One. Because of 
this threat, we were diverted to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. 
During the flight, we met with President Bush and he updated us on this 
tragedy. My respect for him has only increased as a result of the 
experience. I witnessed a President fully informed, engaged, and 
resolute in easing the pain of the victims' families and our Nation, as 
well as finding and punishing those responsible.
  To those who committed this act of war and those who would stand with 
them or hide them or assist them in any way, I offer only scorn, 
defiance, and resolution.
  Scorn, that small men with evil intent would think for a moment that 
a cowardly attack against innocent men, women and children would ever 
constitute any kind of victory.
  Defiance, that we will not allow fear to compromise our liberty or 
our way of life.
  And resolution, that those responsible will be found and brought to 
justice, along with any who would follow their example.
  These people sought to visit terror upon our country but it is they 
who will live in fear, their nights spent in terror and their days 
spent in hiding, until justice is served.
  Mr. Speaker, I join our President and our country in sorrow and 
resolution.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my good 
friend and colleague, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin).
  Mr. CARDIN. Let me thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) 
for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, it was 187 years ago this very evening that in 
Baltimore, Maryland, at Fort McHenry, this Nation, this young Nation, 
won its second war of independence. It was the beginning of the end of 
the War of 1812. Francis Scott Key on this very evening 187 years ago 
wrote his inspirational poem that became our National Anthem.
  In that third verse, he wrote some words that are helpful for us this 
evening:
  From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave.
  And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph doth wave.
  We survived the attack by a hostile power and became the strongest 
Nation in the world, and we will survive this attack on our democratic 
principles, and we will grow even stronger.
  Marylanders have once again shown their patriotism. Mr. Speaker, the 
calls to our office from doctors, from firefighters, from ordinary 
citizens offering their help has been heartwarming.
  Let me just conclude by the words that were included on a page of one 
of our major papers in the editorial section, where it wrote: Lady 
Liberty still stands tall, shrouded in smoke, covered in dust and 
blood. She is crying, she is afraid, she is angry, but she will not 
yield.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon), the chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Military Readiness.
  (Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I think first tonight about 
the quiet efforts of thousands of ordinary people yesterday who were 
called upon to do extraordinary things: the firefighters and EMS 
personnel who climbed up the stairs of the World Trade Center towers 
while thousands of their fellow citizens were going down. Why did they 
do that, knowing full well that they would likely perish? Because they 
could save people, strangers who were trapped inside. How many did they 
save we will never know. Those brave heroes are no longer here to tell 
us their stories. They perished, sadly, when the towers collapsed. Who 
will

[[Page H5557]]

tell their story now? We have only the testimony of those they helped, 
those who did not make it out, and, of course, we have the thanks and 
prayers of a grateful Nation.
  How about the workers at our airports who were called upon to land 
hundreds of planes all across America at airports large and small? They 
landed them all safely. That is a story that did not make the news. And 
the people in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, just folks who 
work a job day by day, just like the rest us. They got up, went to 
work, kissed their spouse and their kids, and never came home. And of 
the passengers and crews of the four hijacked planes, innocent people 
just trying to get from place to place on a busy day. They were going 
to business meetings, family outings or vacations.
  And so we ask as we take stock of our loss, what cowards could 
perpetrate such acts? Who would kill innocent people on such a massive 
scale? Dozens of our colleagues have said it correctly. We are at war. 
So let us today prepare for a war. A Declaration of War has been 
drafted. I will circulate it tomorrow for my colleagues to cosponsor. 
We have a unique responsibility here in this House, for the 
Constitution, Article 1, section 8, gives the Congress, and the 
Congress alone, the power to declare war, to raise and support armies, 
to provide and maintain a navy, and to make rules for the government 
and regulation of the Armed Forces. That is our job, my colleagues, our 
job alone.

                              {time}  2230

  Let us do our job, the most important function of the Federal 
Government, to provide for the common defense.
  My friends, this war will not be won quickly, and it will not be won 
in a very cheap manner. It will require nothing less than a complete 
rethinking about what constitutes national security and intelligence.
  So I ask my friends in good faith to join together to give our 
President the tools he needs to win the war and finish the job.
  My friends, we will infiltrate and decimate the ranks of these 
terrorist groups. We will seek out and destroy their base camps and 
training grounds. We will punish their clients and host states. And we 
will eliminate their leaders once and for all. This must be our goal. 
Nothing less will do the job.
  Let us give our families the security they deserve. Let us make our 
streets safe again. Let us send our enemies into retreat.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings).
  (Mr. HASTINGS of Washington asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this 
resolution.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Ross).
  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, like all Americans, I was stunned, angered, 
and saddened by yesterday's unprecedented and unconscionable terrorist 
attacks in New York and here in our Nation's capital.
  Today is a time for all Americans to come together and pray for our 
country, for all the victims of this horrific tragedy and their 
families, and for all those working around the clock to assist in the 
rescue and recovery efforts that will get our Nation moving again.
  I am proud of the way that the people of New York City and 
Washington, D.C. and all across America have responded to these tragic 
events. As the details unfold, no doubt the number of casualties will 
be staggering, and we will have many questions to answer.
  Our country is in a state of shock, but we are resolved to not let 
these groups alter our Nation's livelihood. We will overcome this 
tragedy, and we will become a stronger Nation because of it.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday's attacks were a threat, not only to our 
people, to our children, to our grandchildren, but to our freedom, and, 
indeed, the American way of life. Simply put, they were acts of 
cowardice that will not be tolerated.
  Our response should be swift and strong, one that will send a 
message, loud and clear, to terrorists around the world: we will not 
allow this to become the kind of country where our children and 
grandchildren will always fear, a fear of terrorism.
  Make no mistake about it, the President, the administration and this 
Congress will stand united as one America in our endeavor to root out, 
not only the perpetrators, but also those who harbor and support such 
evil and inhumane acts of terror.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton), the chairman of the Subcommittee 
on Telecommunications and the Internet of the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, this has been a long day, and somehow we knew 
last night that this nightmare would not go away when daybreak came 
this morning. This has been a long day, particularly for those families 
that have lost a loved one, and also for the emergency personnel, 
friends, and neighbors. This has been a long day for America, as we 
come to grips with this attack on America and the values that we hold 
so dearly.
  I spoke earlier this afternoon with a family in my district whose 
son, Brad, worked on the 93rd floor of the World Trade Center. Their 
news was no news, no word, no good.
  As we struggle with our grief and pray for those families, we are 
reminded that this is a country that stands for freedom and justice, 
and, yes, we will prevail. We stand here tonight united behind our 
Nation's efforts to seek swift justice. We will find all the people who 
orchestrated and participated in this evil web. I have no doubts. These 
mass murderers, wherever they are, will be identified and, yes, justice 
will be served.
  Tonight I participated, like thousands of Americans, in a prayer 
vigil, and I said a prayer for Brad. I asked for a miracle to save him 
and so many others like him.
  I say to our fellow citizens across the country, thank you. Thank you 
for your prayers for us, for the leaders of this country, and the so 
many public servants. They are appreciated, and they help right the 
mayhem to lift us all.
  Yes, we are united. We are the United States of America.
  God bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my friend 
and colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren).
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday America experienced tragedy. With 
the collapse of the World Trade Center and the penetration of the 
Pentagon by hijacked aircraft, thousands of Americans lost their lives. 
We all mourn, and we are all resolved to take new steps to secure again 
the safety of our country.
  We Americans stand together now. As Americans, we will insist that 
these American deaths be accounted for and that American lives lost 
will not come without an extraordinarily high cost to those who are our 
enemies and those who help and support our enemy.
  As we move ahead through each day, there is something that we must 
remember and take comfort in: a great nation is defined by great 
peoples. We saw this greatness yesterday in the heroism of firefighters 
and police and volunteers who tried to save others. We saw it in the 
victims on planes who, while facing certain death, called ground forces 
with information that today are helping us put together the evidentiary 
pieces to identify our enemies.
  We Americans, our heritage may be Irish, Chinese, German, Italian, 
and many more; we are Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, and 
more. It is important to remember that it is not how we look or how we 
dress or the religion we follow that distinguishes us as Americans. No, 
instead, it is our commitment to liberty, our dedication to the 
American beacon of liberty and the passion with which we love America.
  Let us punish America's enemies, but take care never to dishonor our 
country by blaming other loyal Americans merely because of their 
religion or ethnicity.
  Mr. Speaker, our country will emerge stronger after enduring these 
attacks. Today, our hearts and prayers go out to those who are lost and 
to their families; and, as a diverse and united people, we pray 
together that God bless the United States of America.

[[Page H5558]]

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood), the chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce.
  Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, President Kennedy once observed that there were two 
moments that the children of his generation would never forget, the day 
Pearl Harbor was attacked and the day that Franklin Roosevelt died.
  Now it can be said that the two moments that my generation will never 
forget are the day President Kennedy was assassinated and yesterday's 
murder of the innocents.
  The visions from the hell that was visited upon us yesterday will 
remain in our memories for the rest of our lives. Among the most 
horrifying of those images is that of the second Boeing 767 crashing 
into the World Trade Center at 9:03 a.m.
  When flight 175 took off from Boston with its 56 passengers and 7 
flight attendants bound for Los Angeles, its pilot was my constituent, 
Victor Saracini. Before becoming a pilot for United, Mr. Saracini had 
served his Nation as a Navy pilot. As all commercial pilots, he was 
responsible every day for the lives and the safety of others. I am 
certain that this Navy man did not relinquish his helm without a fight.
  Mr. Saracini leaves behind a wife, Ellen, and two children, Kirsten 
and Brielle.
  Today, it is our duty to remember and honor and grieve for all those 
who were torn from their families and from this life, even as we here 
who were ourselves targeted for destruction struggle to find some 
purpose in all this madness.
  But tomorrow we must dedicate ourselves to the reality that 
civilization and freedom cannot exist side-by-side with deranged and 
vicious assassins. We owe it to our children and to the children of 
those whose lives were stolen yesterday to rid the world of those who 
thirst only for our destruction.
  As I stood on the steps of the Capitol last night, I thought of 
another dark hour in our history and the haunting words of Abraham 
Lincoln, who had stood there more than 100 years before and spoken 
these prophetic words: ``With firmness in the right, as God gives us to 
see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind 
up the Nation's wounds; to care for him that has borne the battle; and 
for his widow, and his orphans; to do all which may achieve and cherish 
a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.''
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Strickland).
  Mr. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents in Southern 
Ohio, I want to express our condolences to all those who have suffered 
the tragedy of the last few hours.
  Many years ago, a young missionary was murdered while working in the 
jungles of South Africa. Later, his parents found in his diary a 
message that is appropriate for us to contemplate today. The young man 
had written the following words: ``He is no fool who gives what he 
cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.''
  All of us are mortal. We cannot determine the length of our lives or 
the circumstances of our deaths. That is true of us today as it was 
true of those innocent Americans who worked in the World Trade Center 
towers, and in the Pentagon, or were passengers in the hijacked 
airliners yesterday morning.
  As the day unfolded, they had no way of knowing the sadistic and 
barbaric acts which would take their lives. They were innocent victims, 
and we mourn their deaths.
  But we also mourn the deaths of those who freely gave their lives 
while trying to save others. We honor the firefighters, the police 
officers, and the citizen volunteers who unselfishly gave what they or 
none of us can forever keep. They gave their lives, and, in doing so, 
they have gained what they cannot lose, will never lose, and that is 
the everlasting honor, gratitude, and devotion of the American people.
  Today I feel unspeakable rage for those who killed our people. But, 
even more strongly, I feel the sense of pride in our country and the 
goodness and the decency of our countrymen.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Cox), the distinguished chairman of our 
Policy Committee.
  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, the magnitude of this tragedy is still 
revealing itself. The bombings are over, but the extent of the damage, 
the number of people killed, is still partially obscured to us. The 
death toll in a single day may eclipse the entire toll from the Korean 
War. That this war, waged by foreign enemies of the United States, 
happened on American soil, makes it unique in our modern history. That 
it happened on our city streets, that it targeted our national symbols, 
makes it all the more unbelievable.

                              {time}  2245

  But it is true, it happened. We are brought face to face with the 
grim reality that not only do a dangerous few of our fellow human 
beings hate America and what she stands for, but they are willing to 
kill all of us and themselves in order to vindicate that hate.
  These terrorist shock troops did not know the names of the people 
they killed, they did not know the identities of the families they have 
destroyed forever, and they do not care. As General Norman Schwarzkopf 
said so pointedly yesterday, always, even during the Gulf War, the 
United States has taken extraordinary measures to avoid civilian 
casualties in its military operations. But these terrorists 
intentionally target innocent men, women, and children. That, he said, 
is the difference between these bastards and us.
  The terrorists and the states that harbor them do not hate any of us 
as individuals. They hate America; they hate our civilization. Now 
civilization must defend itself. We cannot bring back the wonderful 
people who perished yesterday, but we can honor their memory.
  The Statue of Freedom atop this capitol stands as a beacon. It was 
placed there when our Nation was torn apart by the Civil War. That war 
shook the foundations of this building, but it did not undermine the 
foundations of our country.
  Let us honor the dead, the wounded, and the tens of thousands of the 
heroes who are bringing New York and Washington back to life. Let us 
defeat those who have declared war on America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen).
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time.
  I rise this evening to join my colleagues in support of this 
important resolution condemning the vicious, unprovoked, and tragic 
attack against our country and our citizens.
  Yesterday is a day that we will never forget, a day which began like 
any other, but one in which our lives were changed forever as we saw 
and heard about the damage and destruction of our Nation's symbols of 
freedom and strength and the so very many lives that are being lost. My 
heart, sympathy, and prayers, and those of all of the people of the 
U.S. Virgin Islands, go out to the families and friends of those who 
lost their lives in yesterday's attack and to those who were injured.
  We also want to express our deep appreciation to those police, 
emergency medical personnel, firefighters, and the countless others who 
selflessly and quickly responded to save and protect lives and who 
continue their efforts today and will do so for as long as they are 
needed.
  I fully support, and ask all Americans to support, our President in 
his determination to identify and find those who committed these acts 
and bring them to justice.
  But I also want to recall for all of us the prayer of our chaplain 
this morning who asked God to help us proceed free of prejudice. We 
must not use this tragedy to malign or persecute innocent Arab 
Americans or any other people living in this country as we learn more 
about the true perpetrators of this heinous act.
  Mr. Speaker, America is strong. The American people are strong. We 
are a country and a people of a deep and abiding faith. With that 
faith, we will face this tragedy as we have faced others before; and we 
will never let the actions of those who would foster and act

[[Page H5559]]

out of hate poison our hearts; nor will we let these terrorists or any 
terrorists succeed in further inflicting their evil and their hate on 
us or the rest of the world.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Goss), the distinguished chairman of the 
Committee on Intelligence.
  (Mr. GOSS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, we all know what an arduous and shocking day 
yesterday was. Mr. Speaker, we are experiencing direct and deep 
feelings of grief and loss for the families of the victims, so many 
victims there were. CeeCee Lyles of Fort Myers, Florida, in my district 
was a flight attendant on one of the United Airlines flights, number 
93, one of the brave Americans who called her husband, reported the 
hijacking, and said good-bye. Imagine the terror of that.
  Today I started my day as usual, walking to the Capitol office from 
my nearby home here, and there was the Capitol dome above us, rising 
beautifully, boldly, reassuringly, into a bright, blue sky and the 
strong sunshine of the morning today. I thank the Lord for keeping it 
safe, and the good Americans who worked to do that as well.
  For a minute, it was like yesterday never happened; it was just all a 
bad dream. And then we all went to work. The images, the statistics, 
the reports, they are heart-wrenching.
  What kind of people, if we can call them people, could think up and 
carry out such fanatical and diabolical atrocities against innocent 
human beings? How does hate grow so grotesquely and get channeled into 
such devastation? What type of murderous leaders would advocate these 
kinds of things?
  Mr. Speaker, I say to my colleagues, this is the face of terrorism. 
It is unspeakably evil; and we, the United States of America, are 
confronted with it on behalf of our citizens. I have no doubt we shall 
prevail. We have professionals at work who will find those responsible; 
and they will protect us, as they have done so well. We have the 
capability to render harmless those who have done this; and we have, I 
think, the resolve of the people in our land and the leadership of our 
land committed to this task.
  There are so many Americans stepping forward in so many ways, doing 
wonderful things to provide relief, compassionate help and aid where it 
is needed, the kind word, the message of support, all of these things. 
We have so many allies and friends, other nations around the world 
doing the same thing. We can have freedom, and we can have security. We 
will be debating those things as we go forward.
  I am reminded of something that happened in Japan after Pearl Harbor 
which has been referred to. There were some who said, ``We have awoken 
the sleeping giant. Perhaps we have done too much.'' To those who have 
done this, I say, indeed, we have woken up; you will be hearing from 
us.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez), my valued colleague and friend.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time, I thank my colleagues for bringing this resolution before 
us.
  My daughter asked me, What has happened? I could not find the words 
to explain what has occurred. For on September 11, the agents of evil 
and hatred have declared war against our country, seeking to use fear 
as a weapon in a cowardly attack on the World Trade Center in New York 
and the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. These attacks were, by far, the 
deadliest ever launched against the United States and, by targeting 
symbols of American strength and success, clearly were intended to 
intimidate our Nation and weaken its resolve. But the cowardly 
perpetrators of these heinous crimes do not know America. They do not 
know Americans.
  For freedom is not a vulnerability; it is our strength. Throughout 
our history we have met every challenge, and we will meet this one. 
Make no mistake: this was an act of war against the United States and 
all of our people, and we will not tolerate it. As we experience this 
tragedy, I have joined, and we have all joined, the President and the 
Congress and the American people in outrage. As a member of the House 
Committee on Armed Services and a member of the Terrorism Panel, we 
will push for action to see that the cruel people who have committed 
this horrible crime and those who have sponsored them meet with justice 
expeditiously.
  With the fall of the Twin Towers and the devastation of the Pentagon, 
Americans have lost their innocence, but America will not be defeated. 
We do not know how many lives have been taken. We do not know how many 
tragic stories we will be hearing. But our hearts and our prayers go 
out to the many victims, to the loss of life, to the pain and the 
suffering that is immeasurable. The heroic and selfless actions of 
those workers, volunteers, State and local officials who responded to 
the tragic events with courage and determination will not be forgotten. 
Our prayers go with the victims and with everyone. God bless America.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers).
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, in the hours since yesterday morning, my 
emotions and certainly those of my colleagues in Congress and, indeed, 
of every American, have ranged from disbelief to shock, anger, and 
sadness, and then to a determination to see that all those responsible 
for this reprehensible act be brought to justice, and that we do all we 
can in our society to prevent a reoccurrence.
  Since the attacks, I have been deeply moved by the courage of all of 
those who have been involved in the rescue efforts in New York and 
Washington, as well as the individual bravery of hundreds of thousands 
of everyday Americans who have lent helping hands in countless ways. 
The scenes and stories of the thousands of rescuers who willingly 
placed themselves in mortal danger in order to rescue survivors, which 
resulted in hundreds of firemen and police officers ultimately giving 
their lives in that effort, is something that will stay with me 
forever. We are truly a Nation of great and heroic people.
  I know that the thoughts and prayers of everyone in our Nation go out 
to many people involved in this event: the victims, their families and 
friends, the rescuers, those involved in the investigation and, 
certainly, the President on whose shoulders now falls tremendous 
responsibility. We have many difficult days ahead of us; but this 
Nation is strong and, by the grace of God, we will survive and grow 
stronger through this trial, as we have many times before. The 
terrorists have robbed our Nation of many lives, but we will never let 
them rob us of our spirit.
  In closing, let me quote from former President Jerry Ford who made 
these comments when he received the Congressional Gold Medal last year: 
``In the course of some 86 years, I have seen more than my share of 
miracles. I remain convinced that politics is a very noble calling, one 
worthy of enlisting the idealisms and commitment of a young America. 
History tells us that it is only a matter of time before your 
generation is going to be tested, just as mine was tested by the 
economic depression of the 1930s, foreign tyranny in two world wars, 
and the hateful traditions of Jim Crow. To you will fall the 
responsibility of crafting a political process that rises above focus 
groups and sound bytes; for supplementing material prosperity with a 
spiritual purpose and a spiritual goal. But, above all that is new, I 
hope you never lose the old faith in an America that is bolder, freer, 
and more just with every passing generation. America is a work in 
progress, and all of us, past, present and future, have been or will be 
the torch carriers for liberty and freedom in the 21st century.''
  Let us be those torch carriers. May God bless and comfort our Nation 
and all of our people.
  Let us follow the path laid out by President Ford. Let us have his 
hope, and let us all stand firm for our noble cause, let us be workers 
for justice, and let us be torch carriers for liberty and freedom.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady).
  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the caring families and

[[Page H5560]]

communities in the Eighth Congressional District, and on behalf of the 
members of the Texas Task Force One, the Urban Search and Rescue Team 
from Texas A&M University who were swiftly deployed to help New York, I 
rise to pledge our help, our support, and our prayers.

                              {time}  2300

  Today we come together to reinforce America's resolve, to state our 
unqualified support for the President in this time of crisis.
  We come here also for the very real purpose of trying to show those 
dearest and nearest to the victims of yesterday's terrorist attack that 
their deep sense of loss is shared by a Nation.
  Of loved ones suddenly taken, we hope that in some small way we can 
help further the sense of a life well fulfilled, a time on Earth well 
spent, and joyous days to come in a glorious place waiting eagerly for 
us; of loved ones yet to be found, we pray and hope.
  Years from now, the vision of September 11, 2001, will mean something 
different to every eye that sees it. It is a dark day, and to 
paraphrase the poet Alfred Tennyson, the heavens must surely have 
filled with shouting at the sheer evil that man plunged upon innocent 
man. Here on Earth we shouted as well.
  By any measure, yesterday's attack was a declaration of war on our 
country, on our shores, and we must act accordingly. In the coming 
days, our challenge is to aid and comfort the fallen friends while 
showing the world that America is absolutely unbowed. And then, after 
due diligence and without mercy, we must calmly and deliberately exact 
justice from the terrorists responsible, and each complicit government.
  It will not be easy. ``The times which future generations delight to 
recall are not those of ease and prosperity, but of adversity bravely 
borne.'' America has faced unimaginable adversity before, and we have 
borne it with one voice and one power.
  If Members believe in justice, believe this: America's time will 
come, and those who celebrate terrorism will celebrate no more.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
during consideration of House Joint Resolution 61, pursuant to the 
order of the House of earlier today, debate on the joint resolution be 
extended by 30 minutes, equally divided and controlled by the chairman 
and/or his designee and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
International Relations.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to my 
dear friend and distinguished colleague, the gentlewoman from the 
District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman for 
yielding time to me.
  As we pray for the September 11 victims and their families, let us 
remember not only what it means to work in Washington, D.C., but to 
live in Washington, D.C., like the 600,000 people who call the Nation's 
capital home. Many of us who serve in this House live here, too, and 
the rest of us spend as much time in the District as they do in their 
own districts.
  The enemy knew well that the way to attack our country was to try to 
attack this city. If we shift course enough to learn how to safeguard 
the Nation's capital from the new terrorism, New York and the rest of 
the country will not be far behind.
  Understand that this will require a radical reevaluation of security 
as we have known it. Just as important, it will require that we 
reconcile our security with our core identity as an open, democratic 
society.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Johnson).
  Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today we resume the process of 
moving forward. All across our great land, people are crying out for 
justice. We as a Nation now know the horror and the terror that so many 
in the world experience on a daily basis. The actions taken yesterday 
by a few without a doubt have the sanction of many.
  Where is the return of good will that the United States so generously 
hands out? We, the United States of America, are the promoters of 
democracy and stability, of justice and of the sanctity of human life. 
Indeed, we have new fears that did not exist before. However, these 
fears have brought out a new, untapped, infinite reservoir of courage 
and strength never before witnessed in history.
  Make no mistake, the perpetrators of this act of cowardice will be 
found. We are engaged in an undeclared war against a tyranny of 
historical proportions that has no face, bears no names, and yet has 
many followers. The battle we wage at this moment is a battle against a 
diseased and flawed philosophy that encourages the attack and the 
destruction of that which is good and right.
  Any one person or multiple persons that would attack our Nation, the 
symbol of freedom for the world, is attacking the tenets of our liberty 
and a beacon of hope for the world.
  As we move forward in the days to come, we must carefully use words 
such as ``safety'' and ``order,'' and we must be cautious when calling 
for actions that ``need to be taken for the good of the people.'' I 
encourage my colleagues to be wary of any suggested government action 
that would infringe on our freedoms. Any encroachment of our civil 
liberties is a victory for the perpetrators of yesterday's heinous 
crimes.
  We must continually bear in mind the words of Benjamin Franklin when 
he had stated that ``those who would sacrifice their essential liberty 
to seek a small portion of temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor 
safety.'' Freedom is not our greatest liability, it is our greatest 
asset.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my good 
friend and distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts 
(Mr. Neal).
  Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I just want to join all who serve in this wonderful 
House on this occasion, both Democrat and Republican, to condemn in the 
strongest possible terms the unimaginable and unprecedented terrorist 
attacks that took place at daybreak yesterday. Not even air should 
stand between the two political parties on this issue.
  We are also reminded of the lyrics of that old song, ``What a 
difference a day makes.'' In what represents the most serious act of 
aggression on American soil in our Nation's history, a nameless and 
faceless enemy launched an assault on the very foundation of our 
society.
  For many Americans, the memory of planes crashing into the World 
Trade Center and the Pentagon will be the defining images of a 
lifetime. No words can really express the feelings of shock, sorrow, 
and outrage that we all feel, and we are all in the process of mourning 
in our own way.
  But soon we are going to desire answers to precisely what happened, 
why it happened, and how we will prevent it from happening again. That, 
too, is a natural response. But we also have to be patient, because we 
need and want our response to be right.
  Americans have been challenged before, and we will meet this 
challenge as we have before. We are blessed as a people by having our 
values and beliefs written into our Constitution, a wellspring to which 
we repeatedly turn in times of trouble.
  It is important to remember that this is the act of a small group, 
and these actions cannot be blamed on any ethnic group to which they 
belong. That is the foundation on which our Constitution rests, and it 
is not, even on this occasion, worth giving up.
  It is clear to the world that we stand united on this issue, and this 
Congress will support the President as he undertakes action against 
this enemy. All Congress will support these decisions on rebuilding the 
devastation we feel today morally and spiritually.
  We support the determination of the American people to proceed with 
prosecuting those who are responsible for these actions. It is true now 
and it will be true as long as it takes to bring these people to 
justice.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), who is chairman of the 
Subcommittee

[[Page H5561]]

on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, 
and they oversee FEMA.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time 
to me.
  Mr. Speaker, there are few new thoughts we can add at this hour of 
the evening about our reflected thoughts of the last 36 hours, but I do 
appreciate the fact that the House has made it available for every 
Member who wanted to offer a thought to do so.
  Aside from an expression of sincere sympathy to all those who have 
lost a loved one, a prayer today for the souls of those who have 
perished, and an expression of admiration and thanks to all of those 
who have struggled mightily to recover and rescue people they do not 
even know, I would hope that we might all take a moment to contemplate 
the inhumanity of people who would commandeer four aircraft full of 
innocent people, including children, with the intent to propel them 
into buildings filled with thousands of other innocent people who did 
nothing more than show up to work on a Tuesday morning.
  These terrorists, Mr. Speaker, are not people in the accepted 
understanding of the word, and the world will not be safe until they 
are blotted from the face of the Earth. I have every reason and hope to 
believe that this Congress is united in its commitment to provide the 
President of the United States with every resource necessary to search 
and recover the victims of this horrible tragedy and to search, 
discover, and destroy this blight upon the human race.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my 
distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind).
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I too rise in support of this resolution and to offer 
condolences to the victims and their families of these terrorist acts.
  Yesterday's attack on New York and Washington was a monstrous and 
cowardly act against the entire United States and our people. It was 
well-organized and cold-blooded. The world watched as an army of heroes 
mobilized to help those in need at great risk and personal sacrifice.
  From my home State of Wisconsin, I have heard from many who share a 
common sense of grief and an outpouring of support for the victims and 
their families. Millions are answering the call for blood donations. 
Once again, our Nation is demonstrating that we can rise to any 
challenge. We will not be defeated, and living in fear will not be an 
option.
  The immediate task before us is to secure the safety of our citizens, 
both here and abroad, against any future attacks; to care for those 
victims and their families. Then we must determine how this happened, 
who is responsible, and how we bring them to justice.
  Justice will not be obtained overnight. I pray for the patience of 
the American people and for the patience of our President so that we 
may seek the truth and hold accountable those who are responsible. It 
is only through deliberate and thoughtful actions that justice is 
served and future attacks prevented.
  Yesterday, our age of innocence ended, just as it ended 60 years ago 
at Pearl Harbor. But unlike Pearl Harbor, there is no obvious enemy. 
But like Pearl Harbor, they have awakened a sleeping giant.
  In the shadow of this terrorist attack, we find ourselves at the dawn 
of a new era of warfare in the 21st century, one made more sinister by 
the stealth, cunning, and terror. We will recover from this, but we 
will never forget this. For those who mean us harm, let there be no 
mistake that the United States and the rest of the civilized world will 
unite together to defeat them.
  We have experienced this harsh reality as no nation should ever have 
to, and must work to prevent similar attacks both here and abroad. 
Toward this end, we will need to develop a new international alliance 
committed to identifying and rooting out terrorists groups before they 
have the chance to strike.
  In closing, I pray for the victims and their families; and I pray for 
leadership in this country that is calm, deliberate, and just, in the 
midst of fear, anger and a thirst for revenge. In short, leadership 
worthy of the ideals and values that have made our country strong and 
just.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hayes), a member of 
the Committee on Agriculture, and very importantly, with this debate, 
the Committee on Armed Services.
  (Mr. HAYES asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. 
Yesterday, our Nation suffered the most horrific act of terrorism the 
world has ever seen. Make no mistake about it, a hostile act of this 
magnitude should be viewed as an act of war against our Nation.
  Like everyone here today, I am proud to be an American. I am proud of 
our Nation today, and I am proud of the values and heritage which have 
made our Nation great.
  Our main government was formed on the base principle that our Creator 
endowed us with the inalienable right of life, liberty, and the pursuit 
of happiness. Our government is charged with ensuring these freedoms 
and equal protection to us all.
  Unfortunately, there is unspeakable evil alive and at work in our 
world and against these principles. That evil perpetrated the terrorist 
attacks against our Nation yesterday.
  As we begin our new future, the world can be assured that Americans 
will respond to yesterday's attacks on three important fronts.
  First, we will make every effort to provide care for those who are 
injured and lend comfort to those who have suffered the loss of a loved 
one.
  Second, we will provide all necessary intelligence and military 
resources to ensure that additional terrorist attacks are stopped in 
the near and long term.
  Third, our government will use the full assets of our law enforcement 
and intelligence communities to find the criminals who orchestrated 
these attacks and all those who aided them in their effort.
  Once they are found, we will act swiftly and deliberately to punish 
the guilty and show the world that this type of treachery will not be 
tolerated.
  Our country is the brightest light of freedom the world has ever 
known. The greatness of America emanates from our people, and as we 
have seen throughout our Nation's history, our people respond to evil 
like yesterday's acts of terrorism with greatness. May God bless, 
protect, and guide America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to our 
distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Olver).
  Mr. OLVER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday America was assaulted by a carefully planned 
and executed campaign of terrorism. My deepest sympathies go to those 
who have been touched by this tragedy, the victims and their families, 
and they include victims and families from my district and my State of 
Massachusetts.
  My heartfelt thanks go to the medical personnel, firefighters, 
policemen, policewomen, and volunteers who have selflessly answered the 
call. We are forever indebted to those heroic rescue workers who have 
risked and given their lives in search of additional victims.
  All of us pray that additional survivors will be rescued from the 
devastation, and we must be certain that all the needed resources are 
available to do that. But today we must also look toward the future. We 
must ensure the safety of our citizens, the primary goal of both 
military and civilian components of our government.
  I support the actions already taken by the President to secure the 
Nation and provide disaster relief. We must mete out punishment for the 
perpetrators of this attack. Our response must be decisive but 
carefully calculated. One critical goal of American force and foreign 
policy must be to mobilize other nations to join together with us to 
crack down on terrorism with new determination, and we must overhaul 
our airport security and surveillance procedures so yesterday's 
disaster cannot happen again.

                              {time}  2315

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from California

[[Page H5562]]

(Mr. Gary G. Miller), a member of the Committee on the Budget and the 
Committee on Financial Services.
  (Mr. GARY G. MILLER asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in 
support of House Joint Resolution 61.
  As the horrific series of events unfolded yesterday, I like most 
Americans watched in shock as the blatant, cowardly terrorist attacks 
in New York and Washington took the lives of thousands of our fellow 
citizens.
  For far too long, we have stood on the sidelines while terrorist 
operations around the world have stockpiled weapons, trained their 
minions, and poisoned the face of the Earth with hate, death, and 
destruction. We have responded only to retaliate against actions taken 
directly upon our citizens and our interests.
  While these actions have been warranted and severe, it has not been 
enough. Yesterday's attack will be viewed as an act of war against 
America.
  Today, we need to console those who have lost so much. We will grieve 
with our brethren who have lost husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, 
daughters, and sons. We will grieve the loss of our friends and our 
fellow citizens in the wake of this terrible, terrible tragedy.
  However, we need to be firm in reminding our enemies, whomever they 
may be, that America remains strong, intact, and ready to respond. Do 
not mistake our grief and our tears as weakness or helplessness. In the 
coming days and weeks, the United States will again show the fortitude, 
the wherewithal, and the strength of spirit that has made our Nation 
the greatest in history.
  Today, I ask my fellow citizens to be patient. We will find those who 
have committed this heinous travesty. They will be brought to justice.
  We must now take this opportunity to send a clear message to those 
who would question America's unity and perseverance. Acts of terrorism 
will never go unpunished. America cannot be intimidated.
  Finally, I ask everyone, each one of us, as American citizens to pray 
for these victims and for their families. Reach out. Offer what you can 
to help them as they grieve. Go that extra mile to ensure that those 
who have survived this trauma are able to rejoin us as a united people, 
and embrace that spirit that has for so long made America great.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to my good 
friend and distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Cummings).
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, today I stand before you with a heavy 
heart in the wake of yesterday's tragedy. Our prayers go out to the 
victims and their families, and we give special recognition and thanks 
to all the courageous personnel and volunteers who have sacrificed to 
save American lives.
  In an attempt to heal the Nation during a tragic event of his time, 
President Lyndon Johnson said, ``Yesterday is not ours to recover, but 
tomorrow is ours to win or to lose.'' I say to the American people, we 
will win tomorrow. We will stand united against terrorism and evil. We 
will do everything in our power to bring all the perpetrators of these 
cowardly acts of violence to justice and put in place mechanisms to 
protect our citizens and this Nation from such acts in the future.
  As I stand in support of this resolution, I stand with my fellow 
Americans for our precious freedom, and I implore us to stand together 
as one Nation. A true rainbow of diverse colors, cultures and 
religions, united against evil. United together, tomorrow is ours to 
win.
  I also urge the American people to remember what a great leader said 
just a few years ago. Jimmy Carter stated, ``We live in a time of 
transition and an uneasy era which is likely to endure for the rest of 
this century. During this period, we may be tempted to abandon some of 
the time-honored principles and commitments which have been proven 
during difficult times of past generations. We must never yield to this 
temptation. Our American values are not luxuries but necessities, not 
salt in our bread but the bread itself.''
  May God bless America.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Bono).
  Mrs. BONO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for 
yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, the entire world watched as this tragedy struck. Like 
most Americans, I was transfixed by the horrible drama unfolding on my 
television screen when, without any warning, the foundation of my 
building was rocked by the blast of the Pentagon only blocks away.
  Yesterday's events shook the very heart and soul of our Nation, 
regardless of whether you were close enough to feel the impact or 
watching thousands of miles and a continent away. The rage and 
frustration Americans shared gave way to a clear understanding that our 
Nation was now at war, and this is a war like no other. Our enemy is 
invisible and consumed with hate, and the acts perpetrated against 
America are an assault on all civilized people.
  Yesterday, the people of California's 44th district lost one of our 
own. A gentle lady parishioner from Palm Springs, who gave selflessly 
to help others, lost her life at the hands of cowardly and despicable 
fiends. My prayers and thoughts are with her family and with the 
families and loved ones of all of the victims of these heinous acts.
  Before yesterday, our national security seemed a remote concern. 
National polls routinely registered very little concern for national 
security. Indeed, few outside of Washington paid much attention to 
terrorist acts that were quietly averted nor was there much support 
outside of Congress for increased funding for intelligence or national 
security programs. That must, and will, change. Now, there can be no 
doubt that our first priority must be the security of our people.
  Today, though shaken and mournful over the loss of so many of our 
fellow Americans cut down by senseless acts of violence, our will is 
strengthened and our purpose is very clear. We will hunt down and 
destroy these agents of evil and bring swift and terrible retribution 
to those who shelter them.
  Our Nation is built upon the hopes and dreams of those yearning to 
live free. From the smoldering ashes of this devastation, a steely 
resolve has been forged. The bonds that bind these United States will 
not be broken and we will never ever forget.
  God bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush), our valued colleague.
  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening in support of this very 
important resolution. Yesterday, we witnessed a tragedy too devastating 
to comprehend. Our hearts were broken as we watched the sanctity of the 
American workplace being attacked by faceless cowards in a senseless 
act of terrorism.
  I say to those spineless scoundrels, America will not be intimidated. 
America will not be defeated. We will gather greater resolve. We will 
recapture our focus. We will renew our strength.
  Throughout our Nation's history Americans have always responded to 
adversity with singular commitment and boundless courage. Indeed, 
America was born out of adversity.
  So, tonight, we pray for every victim and every victim's family. Many 
lives were lost and now only our prayers can bring the devastated 
families peace.
  We must acknowledge that yesterday's assault will change the way we 
go about our daily business here in this Nation. We must operate under 
a new, vigorous, and heightened sense of security and with continued 
courage and focus.
  We will, Mr. Speaker, search out every cave, look under every rock 
and scrutinize every crevice on the face of the Earth until we find the 
cowardly culprits who attacked and killed the innocent of our Nation. 
At this time, let us stand closer and more unified against the evil 
forces that threaten not only our liberty but the liberty of freedom-
loving people all around the world.
  So, Mr. Speaker, tonight, to the American people, and to my 
colleagues in the Congress, I quote Proverbs 3:5-6, ``Trust in the Lord 
with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your 
ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.''

[[Page H5563]]

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly).
  (Mr. GALLEGLY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in standing in strong 
support of this joint resolution tonight.
  I rise in strong support of this resolution that condemns the 
terrorists who murdered our citizens in a planned act of war, extends 
our condolences to the families and friends of the victims in these 
attacks, commends the heroes who responded to the scenes of 
destruction, and supports the punishment of those directly responsible 
and their sponsors for these acts of war.
  This is, indeed, a national day of unity and mourning. It is 
important that we stand here today, as representatives of the people in 
the People's House, and show our enemies we will not be bowed, that we 
are strong in our resolve and that we will respond. The hijacked planes 
attacked New York City and Washington, D.C., but the devastation was 
wrought from coast to coast. I learned today that one of my neighbors 
in Ventura County, California, lost her brother-in-law, who was a pilot 
on one of the doomed aircraft. She is one of thousands of Americans 
across this great land who mourn today. We owe it to the victims, their 
families and to all Americans to stand strong and united in our resolve 
to live in freedom and peace, to promote the same throughout the world, 
and to punish those who have declared war on our soil and those who 
protect and encourage them.
  There will be justice.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Toomey), a member of the 
Committee on the Budget and the Committee on Financial Services.
  Mr. TOOMEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution today.
  The cowardly attack on innocent Americans yesterday is the worst 
assault on our country and our freedom in our Nation's history. I think 
we all feel this attack very personally, and we will all keep the 
victims and their families in our prayers.
  As many have said, this was an attack on freedom itself, and we 
cannot allow the evil, cowardly terrorists responsible to win. We must 
take whatever measures, commit whatever resources necessary to find the 
people responsible for this atrocity and bring them to justice, and we 
must also hold fully accountable any country or group which aided or 
harbored these terrorists in any way whatsoever.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, we must take a new approach to fighting 
terrorism, a proactive, aggressive, and comprehensive approach. It is 
no longer sufficient to treat these terrorists as ordinary criminals, 
waiting for them to act and then attempting to apprehend them and 
convict them of crimes.
  We know several large, sophisticated, determined terrorist 
organizations who have declared war against the United States and have 
demonstrated the ability and intent to carry out acts of terrorism 
against America, including yesterday's atrocities. These barbarians are 
worse than criminals. They are enemies in a war that they have launched 
unprovoked against the United States.
  It is time for this Congress, our Federal Government, our Nation to 
engage in this war against these organizations to find them, to destroy 
them, and to ensure that attacks like yesterday's never happen again.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird).
  Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for 
yielding me the time.
  My friends, yesterday the story was about terrorism, horrible acts, 
despicable acts conducted by a few crazed individuals who gave their 
lives to take the lives of others. But let the story tonight and 
tomorrow and the days to come be not about terrorism but about heroism, 
the heroism of hundreds who gave their lives to save the lives of 
others.
  The firefighters who raced into that burning building knowing full 
well that it would likely collapse on them and take their lives. The 
police and rescue squads who raced to the scene in the hopes of saving 
people who were killed in the rubble. Passengers on that jet, who by 
their heroic acts may have saved the lives of the people in this 
building this evening and yesterday. The volunteers who raced to the 
scene to see if they could help in some way. The heroism of our Armed 
Forces, on alert even as we speak. The heroism of our staffs who came 
to work today knowing full well that they too are targets.
  We are speaking tonight for those who lost their lives and cannot 
speak. We are also speaking for the hundreds of thousands of 
constituents we represent, but more than that, we are speaking for the 
oldest constitutional democratic republic on the history of this Earth; 
and we say to those who would attack this great Nation, who would 
attack our freedom, you will never succeed. You will never succeed.
  Even if you had managed to destroy this majestic building and even if 
you had killed each and every one of us, others would rise in our 
place, others would lift our torch of liberty and defend our people and 
our freedoms. This Nation will persevere and the light of liberty will 
continue to burn brightly forever.
  Let each American today and in the weeks to come fly the American 
flag proudly from their homes and their businesses and their cars and 
wherever else. Let us show the world America is united, that freedom 
will persevere, and that terrorism will never succeed.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder), a member of the 
Committee on Rules.
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for 
yielding.
  By noon on yesterday, I was thinking about a wonderful book I read 
many years ago by Alan Paton. It was entitled Cry the Beloved Country. 
On Tuesday we cried, too. We cried for different reasons than Alan 
Paton, but we too cried for our beloved country.
  The acts of the terrorists on that unbelievable day were acts of 
ultimate violation on a society that is so open and so free that even 
they could travel unrestrained among us.

                              {time}  2330

  When the prayers are said, when the tears are dried, when the bodies 
are buried, we must remember always. The war against terrorism has been 
engaged in only casually for the past 30 years. Now we must get serious 
and win it. There are only two sides in this war. To those who believe 
there is neutral ground, we must say that belief put them on the side 
of the enemy; and we will punish those with such beliefs.
  To those who believe that they can quietly harbor and help the 
terrorists, we must say they are the enemy; and our military will bring 
our enemies to their knees.
  To those who commit these unspeakable acts of war, we will find those 
individuals and kill them. I am not without hope. Eugene McCarthy once 
observed that America can choke on a gnat, but swallow tigers whole.
  Mr. Speaker, I have listened for 2 days to the Members of this body. 
This is the tiger we were sent here to deal with, and we will. There 
will be no lack of resolution here. There will be no rancor. We will 
stand behind the President and do what our Nation must do both here and 
abroad. We must end the time when radicals can inflict pain, suffering 
and death on innocent citizens without recourse.
  We must end the ability for nation states to see no evil, hear no 
evil, and speak no evil, even while living in evil's midst. America has 
been changed forever through this tragedy. It falls upon us to rebuild 
the confidence in our society that this great Nation will not cower, 
that we will be safe again, that freedom works.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah).
  (Mr. FATTAH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution along with my 
colleagues.
  We must act, not just speak. Action is our Nation's heavy burden 
tonight.
  Let us began first, care for the wounded, rescue any survivors, bury 
the dead, heal New York and begin to rebuild the Pentagon.
  Second, think and work to prevent further immediate attacks on our 
people and infrastructure of all kinds.
  Finally, determine who is responsible for these attacks and for past 
acts that have gone

[[Page H5564]]

unpunished and make them pay their debt to this country. Avoid harm to 
innocent people but pursue justice for those who have lost their lives. 
We can do no less.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Becerra).
  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise, as has my country, to pray for 
loved ones, to embrace our valiant rescuers, and to condemn the heinous 
and cowardly acts of abject terrorism that we witnessed yesterday. We, 
the American family, have lost fathers, mothers and sons, our brother 
the firefighter, our sister the police officer.
  Mr. Speaker, Carolina, my wife and I, extend our sincere condolences 
to all who have suffered a loss, and our hearts and prayers are with 
those yet to be saved but for whom the candle of hope remains lit.
  To Clarisa, Olivia, and Natalia, my three daughters, and to all of 
the children of America, how do we explain this barbarous act of 
terrorism? I will not try to make sense of it. That is not possible; 
but from my words and deeds, from the way our country prosecutes this 
unconscionable crime, I hope they will remember and learn how this 
country lives and breathes its freedom and relentless search for 
justice. Perhaps then as our children grow older and wiser, they will 
be better prepared to preserve life and defend America's values.
  Mr. Speaker, Godspeed to the heroes who rushed to the disaster to aid 
victims and, instead, became victims. Godspeed to the courageous and 
tireless rescuers who work as we speak, temper our sorrow with pride 
and redemption, strength our resolve.
  And Godspeed, Mr. Speaker, to our government as one Nation, as an 
American family, for with us reside the power given by the people to 
vigorously prosecute this horrendous and unforgivable crime to its end. 
Justice, democracy, and the will of a freedom-loving people demand no 
less. Let us represent the people well.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal), a member of the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce.
  Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today is a day of words, words of 
outrage at the unspeakable horrors of yesterday; but we know that words 
cannot provide the bond to heal those wounds; but by our words we 
extend our arms and embrace the injured and the families of the dead. 
Yes, today is a day of words; but tomorrow is a day of action.
  Mr. Speaker, for those who committed these crimes, they do not even 
begin to know what they have unleashed. Perhaps they look at the United 
States and see us argue with each other along political, regional or 
racial lines, and believe that we are weak and divided; but they are 
wrong. We are a large family that can fuss and fight, but we are still 
family.
  Yesterday, terrorists came into our front yard and murdered innocent 
members of our family. By that action, the terrorists shocked our 
conscience. But that shock is certainly turning into a growing rage. 
Terrorists and those who aid and abet them around the world, they are 
about to learn that hell hath no fury like American anger.
  Mr. Speaker, I propose that this Congress add a provision to every 
foreign operations appropriations bill that requires that any Nation or 
organization before they receive any penny of American money must be 
certified by the President that they have fully cooperated in 
apprehending these murderers, and that they have further cooperated in 
fighting terrorism around the world.
  If this was done in the name of religion, do not mistake the fact 
that we call ourselves a Christian Nation as a signal of weakness. 
Perhaps we have followed the New Testament admonition of turning the 
other cheek in the past when terrorists have bombed our ships and 
embassies; but today we turn to the Old Testament and read the phrase, 
an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
  Mr. Speaker, since we are speaking in religious terms, let me close 
by saying to these criminals, using an old Southern religious phrase, 
you have hell to pay.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The Chair would advise the 
managers that the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) has 19\1/2\ 
minutes remaining. The gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) has 2 
minutes remaining.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney).
  Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I join Americans everywhere today and 
tonight, as well as my colleagues here, in expressing our sorrow and 
sympathy and condolences to every family and friend who has experienced 
a loss as a result of what went on in yesterday's tragedies. And, 
unfortunately, there were those in my district who suffered loss, and 
our hearts go out to all of them this evening.
  Mr. Speaker, in the face of this trauma, the American character of 
resolve has shown itself. Untold numbers of citizens have participated 
in rescue and medical efforts, while others have joined together to 
comfort victims and their families. Lives have been lost, but lines 
have been formed as people line up to give blood, and everywhere men 
and women and boys and girls reach out to help those who are hurt, and 
that effort will continue.
  Congress and the President have pledged to work together; and they 
are going to work together to meet the challenges and work with 
essential agencies, and every effort will be made to further rescue, 
further medical treatments, to support victims and families of victims 
and to address the enhancement of our security throughout this country 
as we move forward into the future and to identify and hold accountable 
those responsible for these despicable, cowardly acts.
  Although everyone continues to experience competing emotions of 
sorrow and anger and frustration, we are going to refuse to allow these 
acts to rob us of the values we have as citizens. We will not tolerate 
these acts against our people or our country, but we shall exercise 
patience so we rightfully identify anyone responsible for these acts; 
and once we have done that, then it will be our duty to execute strong 
and certain recourse.
  Mr. Speaker, we have the ability and the wherewithal as people to 
meet these challenges; we have met so many challenges in the past. As 
we do that, we shall not allow our emotions to override our values as 
people and as citizens. Our civil liberties and those of all Americans, 
together with our own sense of justice, will not be abandoned lest we 
tender to terrorists the victory they have not achieved and they do not 
deserve.
  Certainly our lives have now changed, but still our resolve is 
enforced by the memory of the victims, by their families, and their 
bravery and selflessness of those who marched into danger to try to be 
of help. They inspire us as we move forward.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), a senior member of the 
Committee on International Relations, the Committee on Intelligence, 
and chairman of the Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and 
Trade.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, it has been an extraordinary afternoon and 
evening here in the House, and I am moved to comment upon the 
sentiments that have been expressed: strong comments, high-minded 
comments, and deeply felt sentiments. I can and do associate myself 
with all those remarks.
  I know we are all very proud of the individual examples of heroism 
and bravery on the part of so many Americans, and we certainly I think 
all sense a degree of unity and resolve that we have not seen perhaps 
since 1941.
  As a member of the Committee on Intelligence 6 years previous and now 
again as vice chairman since January, I can tell, Mr. Speaker, we have 
had in the intelligence community many examples of successes against 
terrorism directed at our homeland.
  But the inadequacies and the failures of our intelligence are 
available for all to see. The successes we do not talk about.
  I recall when I visited General Schwarzkopf's headquarters 4 days 
after the end of the Persian Gulf war, he reminded us there is never 
enough intelligence for our field commanders and for our civilian 
leaders.
  We face a whole new range of asymmetrical threats against the United 
States, including terrorism directed at our civilian population. So now 
we have reached the point where all of our great rhetoric must be 
matched by actions. Many Members here this afternoon and evening have 
ended their

[[Page H5565]]

comments with the words ``God bless America.'' That is most assuredly 
appropriate, but I think we might also ask God for the wisdom 
collectively to know what is best for our country and then the resolve 
and courage to do it. We certainly must match the qualities and the 
expectations of the people we represent.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, owing to the unprecedented 
participation in today's debate, we have had over 120 Republican 
Members who have participated and I am sure the number is similar on 
the side of the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos); and owing to 
the fact that the majority leader, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Armey), said every Member who wants to participate would be entitled to 
do so, I understand, if my information is correct, on the Democratic 
side there are approximately 12 more Members waiting to speak. We have 
four more as of now.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that during consideration of 
H.J. Res. 61, pursuant to the order of House of earlier today, debate 
on the joint resolution be extended an additional 30 minutes, equally 
divided and controlled by the chairman of the Committee on 
International Relations or his designee and the ranking minority 
member.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Hinojosa).
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution. Yesterday our shores, our security, and our sense of 
ourselves as a Nation suffered a heinous cowardly attack, a blatant act 
of war that demands a like response.
  Innocent American men, women, and children in civilian airplanes were 
used and converted into the deadly missiles that destroyed thousands of 
people in our most important centers of military and economic 
enterprise. The terror of those moments cannot cow us. They must only 
serve to steel and solidify our resolve.

                              {time}  2345

  From the stretches of the Rio Grande to the reaches of the Great 
Lakes, from the shorelines in the Pacific to every skyscraper on our 
eastern shore, compassionate and disciplined American men and women 
will do what is necessary, search for our survivors in the rubble at 
the New York World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., 
care for our wounded, volunteer to donate blood, reach out and comfort 
the grieving, ensure our school children of their safety, and do our 
Nation's business in State and Federal Government buildings, in banks, 
in the fields, and in factories.
  The quiet determination of American resolve will grow. The message 
and the action must be clear. America is a Nation of law, and the 
lawless terrorists behind this attack on our Nation must be punished 
and brought to their knees. America is a Nation of peace, but peace 
will be defended from those who make war. We have the intelligence, the 
technology and the will to pursue our enemies and put an end to their 
illusions of invulnerability. We will find them.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) who is a member of the 
Committee on Resources as well as the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this 
resolution. While the terrorists crashed their planes here on the East 
Coast, the emotional wreckage is strewn across our Nation. From New 
York City to Dalles, Oregon, families are grieving tonight over the 
loss of loved ones. My thoughts and prayers are with those who were 
harmed or killed by this horrific but cowardly act of terrorism. They 
and their families have our deepest sympathies. Our prayers go to those 
brave men and women who even tonight are risking their lives to save 
the lives of others.
  September 11 is indelibly scarred in the soul of our country as a day 
when terrorists who have no conscience, who have no decency, challenged 
our very freedom and independence. Those who challenge America and harm 
her citizens through acts of terrorism shall be hunted down and 
annihilated. Let the world know that those countries that give aid or 
safe harbor to such terrorists shall incur our wrath also. They share 
fully in the responsibility of the actions of the terrorists whom they 
supported.
  America is a patient Nation. We are a tolerant people. But our 
patience and our tolerance have run out. The wolf is rising in our 
hearts. Our Nation's great strength comes from our freedom and our 
independence. And we will defend our way of life. Our Nation's great 
sense of purpose comes from its people. And we will defend our 
citizens. We will beef up our security, we will enhance our 
intelligence gathering, and we will make America safe and free again.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to my good 
friend and distinguished colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. 
Slaughter).
  (Ms. SLAUGHTER asked and was given permission to include extraneous 
material.)
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time. I would like to paraphrase an editorial from Toronto that I 
think we really ought to hear. It was written by a man named Gordon 
Sinclair who is the voice that we always hear on a program called As It 
Happens.
  This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the 
most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the 
Earth. Germany, Japan and to a lesser extent Britain and Italy were 
lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured billions of 
dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is 
today even paying interest on the remaining debts it owes to the United 
States.
  When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans 
who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on 
the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it. When earthquakes hit 
distant streets and cities, it is the United States that hurries in to 
help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. 
Nobody helped.
  The Marshall Plan and the Truman policy pumped billions of dollars 
into discouraged countries, and now newspapers in those countries are 
whining and writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans.
  Why does no other land on Earth even consider putting a man or woman 
on the Moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy and you get radios. 
You talk about German technocracy and you get automobiles. But you talk 
about American technocracy and you find men on the Moon, not once but 
several times, and safely home again.
  You talk about scandals, and Americans put theirs right in the store 
window for everyone to look at. Even their draft dodgers are not 
pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets in Canada, and most 
of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American 
dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here.
  When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down 
through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the 
Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central Railroad went broke, 
nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke.
  I can name you 5,000 times when Americans raced to the help of other 
people in trouble. Can you name even one time when someone else raced 
to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even 
during the San Francisco earthquake.
  Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I am tired of hearing them get 
kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. 
And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands 
that are gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada will never 
be one of those.
  Stand proud, America.
  I think we need to hear that. It does us a little good to remember 
who we are.
  On the morning of September 11, our nation experienced a tragedy of 
unspeakable proportions. Four commercial passenger jets were hijacked 
with devastating consequences. Thousands of people are known or 
presumed to be dead, and thousands more have been injured.
  We are all brokenhearted over the needless loss of life that has 
occurred. Too many beloved spouses, parents, siblings, and children

[[Page H5566]]

had their futures snatched away by madmen. Scores of firefighters, 
police officers, and rescue personnel were lost when their dedication 
drove them to the scene and into the damaged buildings to help the 
victims. These men and women are national heroes.
  As time passes, more stories of heroism will emerge--people who put 
their own lives at risk in order to aid others. I am astounded and very 
proud to have heard how many people stayed calm in the midst of chaos. 
Time and again, we heard how perfect strangers reached out to help each 
other survive and escape. In the worst of circumstances, the very best 
in these people emerged.
  I am deeply proud, as a New Yorker, of the great strength and courage 
showed by the people of this city and state and their leaders. The 
mayor and other local leaders were on the scene, demonstrating that 
they would not submit to terror. The outpouring of support, volunteers, 
and donations from around the city, state, and nation are a testament 
to the fundamental generosity and greatness of spirit found in New 
Yorkers and, indeed, in all Americans.
  If these terrorists believed that they could intimidate America with 
these despicable acts, they are very, very wrong. As Americans, we 
pride ourselves on being tough and resilient, even defiant. These 
heinous crimes will only stiffen our resolve never to bend in the face 
of terrorist threats. We will find the people responsible for these 
crime, and they will pay a heavy price.
  As Members of Congress, we have returned to the Capitol today to 
conduct the business of the nation. We are hard at work, and we will 
get the job done.
  As a demonstration of solidarity, I have asked all of my constituents 
to fly the American flag. America shall not be bowed. We will stand 
strong before this act of unspeakable cowardice, and we shall prevail.
  God bless America.

                  Volunteers Prepare For N.Y.C.'s Call

                      (Liz Foran and Greg Livadas)

       While medical personnel and Red Cross volunteers prepared 
     to travel to New York City to help at the World Trade Center, 
     hundreds of other local people waited in line for up to eight 
     hours yesterday to replenish blood supplies.
       ``I figured they were going to need all the help they could 
     get,'' said Irondequoit resident Carolyn McMahon, who went to 
     the Prince Street donation center yesterday.
       Three local Rural/Metro Medical Services ambulances and 
     more than a dozen local staff members planned to leave 
     Rochester at 3 a.m. Today to be in New York City by 11 a.m., 
     spokesman Darrell Grigg said.
       ``We don't even know where in New York City we're going,'' 
     he said. ``We will be unsure what we'll be doing, whether 
     assist in rescue and recovery, helping emergency services 
     within the city or being involved in the operations in 
     transferring some of the stable patients to hospitals in the 
     area.''
       Rochester Fire Capt. Pete Rizzo, part of a statewide Urban 
     Search and Rescue Team, left yesterday for New York City to 
     assist officials there while area firefighters, medics, 
     morticians and social workers readied teams.
       ``I'm a little bit apprehensive, but I'm really glad I can 
     step in and help,'' said Michael Rood, director of the 
     Salvation Army's William Booth Haven men's shelter and a 
     social worker.
       Rood and seven other Salvation Army social workers will 
     travel to Syracuse for advanced training in anticipation of a 
     call for help from New York.
       Rochester Fire Capt. Daniel McBride said dozens of local 
     firefighters are ready to help firefighters in New York City 
     should there be the need.
       ``I would go down in a heartbeat,'' McBride said. ``There's 
     a tremendous need I hear unconfirmed reports of over 200 
     firefighters unaccounted for. They've taken a big hit.''
       Those without specialized training found other ways to 
     help--mainly by donating blood.
       Area blood donations centers extended hours until 10 p.m. 
     yesterday and tonight.
       Sybil Miller, spokes-women for the American Red Cross blood 
     Services for the New York-Penn Region, said about 1,000 pints 
     of blood from the region, which includes Rochester, will be 
     sent to New York City.
       ``We have earmarked half of our local supply to be sent to 
     New York a soon as they say they need it,'' Miller said.
       Officials at New York City's largest blood donation center 
     said they could run out of O-negative blood by late 
     yesterday. They had only 40 pints of O-negative left 
     yesterday afternoon.
       The need for blood may be just as great locally, as 
     hospitals prepare for the possibility of receiving patients 
     transferred from inundated New York City hospitals.
       ``I really don't know what to expect,'' said Monroe County 
     health director Dr. Andrew Doniger, who expects to know more 
     today.
       Area hospitals have cleared beds and assessed their surgery 
     schedules for the coming days in preparation, Doniger said. 
     He added that the many hospitals downstate, and in 
     Pennsylvania and New Jersey, would have to be overwhelmed 
     first before upstate hospitals would be called in to help.
       Area hospitals and the Medical Society of Monroe County 
     have also assembled lists of physicians who would be willing 
     to volunteer at hospitals in New York City and Washington, 
     D.C.

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kennedy), a member of the Committee on 
Agriculture and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
  Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
the resolution today. Our hearts and prayers go out to those who have 
lost their loved ones in the recent atrocious and cowardly acts. Our 
spirits are lifted by the countless acts of courage and heroism and for 
those that have sacrificed their lives for others. To some, we appeared 
weak yesterday. Yet as we gathered together to pray under the Capitol 
dome just minutes ago, I am reminded of Paul's words to the 
Corinthians, ``When I am weak, then I am strong.''
  In my own life, I have repeatedly found that it is only when I am 
weak, by surrendering my own will to God's will, that I am strong. 
America itself has repeatedly shown that when it appears weak, it is 
strong. We need only to look to the example of Pearl Harbor. I have 
great confidence that under God's guidance, America will rise from this 
moment of apparent weakness and again serve as a strong beacon of hope 
and liberty to the world.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to my 
good friend and distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Bentsen).
  (Mr. BENTSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, like all the Members here and like all 
Americans, I was shocked and quite frankly stunned at the actions that 
occurred yesterday. As we look at the news and the video of the actions 
over and over again, it is just unbelievable that America and Americans 
could suffer this type of attack, this cruel, cowardly, dastardly 
attack of terrorists.
  As a young man, I spent some time in New York and I have been in and 
out of the World Trade Center more times than I can remember. I know 
some of those firms that are there. I do not think I know anybody who 
is working there or was working there. I hope I do not know anybody who 
was still there. But it is unbelievable to me that this attack on 
America's power and prestige could have taken place. But what is also 
unbelievable is the response of the American people here at the 
Pentagon, the American people in New York, responding to it. The 
firefighters, the police, the people that went back into the buildings, 
the people who gave their lives who did not have to. The collateral 
damage was the flesh and blood of Americans. But the collateral damage 
was not and should not be the American ideal.
  As we resolve to move forward and to show the terrorists, whoever 
they may be, that we will strike back, and that we will continue to 
prosper and to grow and be the greatest Nation in the history of the 
Earth, we must not lose the American ideal. That was preserved 
yesterday in the carnage that occurred by this cowardly, dastardly 
attack. We must not forget. And we should not allow our fellow 
Americans who died yesterday to die in vain.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Minnesota, (Mr. Gutknecht), a member of 
the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on the Budget, and the 
Committee on Science.
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. I thank the gentleman for yielding time.
  Mr. Speaker, every generation faces its own challenge. We in our day 
met ours on Tuesday morning. Our ancestors looked squarely into the 
ugly face of Naziism and of communism. They knew that the future of all 
they held dear counted on them. They understood the stakes. They met 
the challenge. They prevailed. And the world is better for it. The 
``ism'' that we must defeat is terrorism. We will bury our dead, we 
will comfort the wounded, we will rebuild those buildings. But if we 
fail to defeat this enemy, all of our burying and building will be in 
vain. The attacks against innocent Americans were acts of war. The 
souls of the victims cry out. They cry out a warning. If we fail to 
defeat terrorism, there will be more attacks, and more victims. We must 
commit ourselves to a total war.
  Clauschwitz said that the goal of any military encounter is to 
destroy the enemy's will to fight. This must be our goal. We must 
destroy their will to advance their agenda through terror. We

[[Page H5567]]

must raise the price of practicing terror so high that generations to 
come will gag at the very thought.
  There have been many times in our Nation's history when our 
adversaries have miscalculated the steely resolve in the American 
spirit. They miscalculate us now. The war that we must confront will 
not be easy. There will be dark days. We may not win every battle. But 
we will and we must wage the war with valor and with vigor. We must 
and, with the grace of God, we will prevail.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my valued 
friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Rivers).
  Ms. RIVERS. Mr. Speaker, today America is defined by emotions, grief, 
disbelief and rage. Our hearts ache for the victims of the senseless 
violence unleashed on New York City and Washington, D.C. These victims 
who became targets simply by arriving for work or getting on an 
airplane touch us deeply. These were ordinary people, doing ordinary 
things, and yet they found themselves consumed by a maelstrom of evil. 
Americans of every color, ethnicity, religion and political perspective 
have joined together to comfort grieving families, to condemn 
yesterday's barbaric and inexcusable acts, and with a single voice to 
cry out for justice. But our search for justice must be pursued 
carefully. We must guard against a rage that turns blind. We must 
direct our full fury toward the perpetrators of this great evil along 
with those who give them aid and comfort. But we must act with informed 
certainty and punish only the guilty, not those who simply look like 
them or have similar surnames or live near them.
  Additionally, as we consider legislation to address this crisis, each 
proposal must be passed before the great lens of our Constitution, the 
cornerstone of our Republic and our freedoms. Americans will be scarred 
by the assault that took place just hours ago, but we will go on. Our 
people, and our democracy, are resilient. While America has many faces, 
she has but a single soul. We are a free people with a love of liberty 
and a history of generosity and compassion. We will join hands with 
other Americans and with those international allies who feel as we do 
about this hideous affront to the civilized world.
  Edmund Burke said nearly 300 years ago, ``When bad men combine, the 
good must associate. Else they will fall, one by one.''
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Thune), the chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Rural Enterprises, Agriculture, and Technology.
  Mr. THUNE. I thank the gentleman for yielding time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. The 
casualty numbers keep mounting in New York and at the Pentagon. I had 
the chance this evening to see, Mr. Speaker, up close the wreckage. 
Pictures really do not do it justice. They do not capture the 
destruction, because it is much more gripping in real life. Like many 
Americans, as I viewed the pictures from a distance on television, it 
was hard to fully capture the horror and the terror that befell people 
working in New York and at the Pentagon. Yet after seeing it up close, 
you cannot help but be struck by the realization that somebody's 
father, somebody's mother, somebody's brother, somebody's daughter is 
not coming home. I cannot comprehend the pain that these families will 
deal with.

                              {time}  0000

  So I say to the people of New York and the people of Virginia and 
Maryland and D.C., that the people of South Dakota grieve with you and 
support you. In past disasters, you have been there for us. We will be 
there for you, and we are praying for you.
  The people of South Dakota stand with our President, President Bush, 
in protecting and defending American citizens and American freedoms. We 
are a people who deeply value freedom, and yesterday's acts of 
terrorism were an assault on those freedoms. And war was not declared 
just on this Nation, but on the entire free world, because free nations 
cannot abide the companionship of the kind of hatred that prompted the 
murderous acts that we witnessed yesterday.
  We will respond. And to the terrorists, those who prey on weakness, 
those terrorist bullies who committed these acts, we will face you with 
strength. You can run, but you cannot hide. We are coming after you. We 
will find you, and there will be a reckoning.
  God bless America, and God bless the American people.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to my good 
friend the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank).
  Mr. FRANK. Mr. Speaker, endless repetition is sometimes the bane of 
this place, but today and tonight it has served an important purpose. 
It demonstrates the resolve transcending every difference in our 
society, partisan, ideological, racial, regional, and religious, to 
demonstrate to the perpetrators of this monstrous act that they are 
terribly wrong in thinking that democracy is a source of weakness.
  We are unanimous in our resolve to demonstrate to them and to anyone 
else who doubts it that democracy remains a source of great strength. 
We will do that by waging a just war on this murderous gang, and on any 
governments that have been supportive of them. But we will do it in a 
way that will show not simply our physical superiority, but our moral 
superiority, because we will maintain a respect for innocent life that 
this gang showed no respect for.
  We will do it by showing that, in a democracy, we decide our public 
policies by the deliberative process; and no effort to blackmail or 
terrorize us into changing what this country decides is in our best 
interests, domestically or internationally, is going to work. If 
anything, it will backfire. And we will do it by fully empowering our 
security forces, who did such a wonderful job yesterday in the face of 
terrible adversity, to defend ourselves internally and externally in a 
way that is both effective and fully consistent with our own democratic 
traditions.
  Let me make explicit what a number of us have said: our fight, our 
war, is with the murderous fanatics who perpetrated this act. It is not 
with all followers of the Islamic religion, it is not with people of 
Arab descent who live in this country or elsewhere.
  We have the capacity as the greatest and strongest democracy in the 
history of the world to concentrate our resources in self-defense, both 
in the immediate sense against these murderers and in the future to 
protect ourselves in a way that will once again make people understand 
the strength of democracy.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood), a member of 
the Committee on Appropriations.
  Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, my eloquent colleagues have talked about 
this terrible act and what has been perpetrated on our soil and our 
people and the innocent casualties that are mounting every day. Our 
hearts go out to all those that have lost their families and been 
wounded, especially the emergency responders that were doing their job 
and had the building come down around them and kill them. We have 
talked about this. We had a prayer vigil tonight. We have prayed about 
it.
  Mr. Speaker, the time for talk and the time for prayer, however 
important, is behind us. Now is the time to act. We need to react to 
these terrorists with overwhelming force. We need them to understand 
that this can never happen again.
  God bless the Americans that we have lost, and God bless America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my good 
friend, the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Roemer).
  (Mr. ROEMER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, our American revolutionary soldiers traipsed 
through the snow 225 years ago, and it was noted that their tracks 
could be found by the blood in the snow. Thomas Paine said, ``These are 
the times that try men's souls.''
  September 11, 2001, tried our Nation's soul. And just as the British 
underestimated those soldiers 225 years ago, these cold-blooded 
culprits have badly underestimated the United States' steel resolve.

[[Page H5568]]

  Last night, I went to the Pentagon; and at midnight, I looked up at 
our fortress where our military stays and saw a building collapsed like 
a marshmallow accordion by these terrorist acts.
  I looked behind me and the only inspiration of that day occurred then 
when I saw an army of Americans behind me, lit up by the lighting, 
people in the medical profession, excavators, FBI teams picking up 
small pieces of the airplane. That is what Lincoln talked about, the 
better angels of our nature.
  But our history and legacy is not just about goodness and fairness; 
it is about force, and it is about justice. Quoting John Paul Jones, 
``We have not yet begun to fight.'' When we identify these people, we 
will track them over hills and valleys and up mountain tops, and they 
will get their just due. You can count on it.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce).
  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the honorable chairman for 
yielding me time.
  Today, first and foremost, our hearts go out to the victims and 
families affected by yesterday's sad and shocking attacks. The stories 
of tragedy and the compelling stories of heroism that have begun to 
emerge from the smoke and the shattered buildings will forever be a 
part of this black day that has been burned into our national memory.
  But let these days that follow be remembered not just for our sadness 
and anger, but for our national resolve. As a Nation, we must now pull 
together to overcome this vicious attempt to break our national spirit.
  Those responsible for yesterday's horrific events have seriously 
miscalculated the strength and resolve of Americans. Our sense of 
security may be temporarily unsteadied, but our unity is emboldened. 
Our bonds of liberty, our bonds of freedom, our bonds of democracy are 
stronger and run deeper than any individual, than any building, than 
any monument, and no act of violence, no knives or sharpened razors, 
can ever sever them. We will not be intimidated by these cowards.
  We will remain committed until those responsible learn the steep cost 
of taking innocent lives, innocent American lives, on American soil. 
The flame of liberty remains bright and will continue to shine upon the 
world, casting deep into the dark shadows of violence, intolerance and 
extremism. There will be no corner on this Earth where the demons of 
September 11 will be safe from justice.
  For now, we must go on with our daily lives, because to do otherwise 
would be giving into the evil behind these events. In our schools and 
offices, in our neighborhoods and churches, we must help our families, 
our friends and our neighbors begin the healing process.
  I urge my fellow Americans to donate blood, to volunteer, to offer 
their prayers and their assistance to help those in need.
  As America recovers, we will also pursue our attackers and fight on. 
Mr. Speaker, we are at war with the most vicious, most cowardly and 
most wicked enemy we have ever faced as a Nation. But America will not 
go gentle into that good night. For those we have lost and for the 
future of our Nation and the freedom we hold dear, we will strive, we 
will persevere, and we will prevail.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my friend 
and valued colleague, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak).
  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time 
as I rise to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, when the President spoke last night, he spoke for all 
Americans when he said terrorist attacks can shake great buildings, but 
cannot shake the foundations of American democracy. We stand with the 
President when he says those countries which harbor terrorists must 
share the responsibility for their acts with those who commit them.
  We stand united in our grief for the families who have lost loved 
ones. We pray for those who still do not know the fate of their loved 
ones.
  And we stand ready to help, as best we can, those emergency personnel 
who are looking for survivors and are undertaking the grim task of 
recovery.
  Finally, we stand together, literally together, on the floor of this 
House, where the work of this great Nation continues. People across the 
Nation, people here in Congress, have lined up to give blood and to 
make other kinds of donations. We will show terrorists and would-be 
terrorists that while you can strike at us, you cannot subdue the 
strength and spirit of this great country, a strength and spirit that 
lies within each of us.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass).
  (Mr. BASS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the pending resolution.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Combest), the very distinguished chairman of 
the Committee on Agriculture.
  Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, we pray for and extend our sympathies to 
those who have lost friends and loved ones. We commend and celebrate 
those who are working day and night to serve the injured and the 
harmed. This is American resolve at its best, and it is this resolve 
that should shake the souls of those responsible for this act.
  Yesterday, they hit us hard and they hurt us terribly. They watch as 
we pick up the pieces, as we bandage our wounds, and as we bury our 
dead. They joy in our pain, they relish in our losses.
  And they made a big mistake, and they should get prepared, for they 
are about to feel our pain.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Smith) has 18\1/2\ minutes remaining, and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lantos) has 1 minute remaining.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, will my good friend request additional time?
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend, 
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Ferguson).
  Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, just moments ago, I arrived back here in Washington from 
my home State of New Jersey, where I spent the day visiting hospitals 
and Red Cross centers and, finally this evening, an interfaith prayer 
service in one of our communities.
  While we will send a very clear message with our vote tonight in this 
House that the unbelievable and tragic and cowardly violence of the 
last 24 or 36 hours will not stand, Americans in New York and New 
Jersey and across this Nation have already begun to send that signal 
through their heroism, through their acts of bravery, through their 
selfless giving of their time and their energy, of their blood.
  Americans across this Nation have already begun to send a very clear 
message, not only that we will go out and track down and punish the 
perpetrators of these heinous acts, but that we as a Nation will 
continue to stand in solidarity with one another, to make sure that we 
as a people, as human beings, will never let this stand. Not on our 
soil.

                              {time}  0015

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for 
time, but I would just note to the membership that, again, pursuant to 
the majority leader's statement that every Member who wants to speak on 
this vital issue will have that opportunity, my understanding is that 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) has six additional speakers, 
so I would like to again ask unanimous consent that during 
consideration of H.J. Res. 61, pursuant to the order of the House of 
earlier today, debate on the joint resolution be extended for an 
additional 30 minutes, equally divided and controlled by the chairman 
and ranking minority member of the Committee on International 
Relations.
  Mr. Speaker, let me be clear that we have no additional requests for 
time, and we intend on yielding back to expedite these proceedings.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from New Jersey?

[[Page H5569]]

  There was no objection.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Smith) for his courtesy.
  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald), my friend and neighbor and my 
distinguished colleague.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me this time.
  I rise today in strong support of this resolution. On behalf of my 
constituents in the 37th Congressional District in California, I offer 
condolences and prayers and support for the families and loved ones of 
New York, the State of California, and across this Nation devastated by 
the wanton terrorism perpetrated on these United States of America. 
This cowardice act against our Nation is permanently etched in the 
memories of all Americans.
  As I think about my grandchildren, Ayanna, Myles, Ramia and Blair, I 
think about the psychological toll it has taken on our children who 
suffer from the ills of this heinous crime that is devastating. 
However, let it be known that the President and the Members of Congress 
who stand in this hallowed Chamber shoulder to shoulder will move with 
swift deliberation to bring justice and to restore confidence to the 
American people. Our buildings are shattered, but not our resolve, not 
our democracy.
  Yet in the face of this unspeakable tragedy, we thank our 
firefighters, law enforcement officers, the Red Cross, FEMA, and 
numerous volunteers for their quick response, daring courage, and 
unrelenting commitment. Their noble service is immeasurable.
  As a senior Member who serves on the House Subcommittee on Aviation, 
I pledge to the American people that I will work with the Secretary of 
Transportation and the FAA, with whom I have met, to make sure that air 
travel is safe to fly again. We must applaud our air traffic 
controllers and the ground crew at airports across this Nation who 
directed over 2,200 flights from the hostile airways to safe harbors.
  Mr. Speaker, this has been a tragic moment here in America. We will 
think back on September 11 as the deadliest assault on America in 
recent history, but we shall move with resolve to bring the responsible 
people to justice. We are a united America.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson), my friend and valued 
colleague.
  Mr. JEFFERSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time.
  Mr. Speaker, in the early 1800s, Percy Bysshe Shelley penned these 
words in exhorting a wounded people of his day: ``Rise like lions after 
slumber in invanquishable number. Shake your chains to earth like dew 
which in sleep had fallen on you. Ye are many, they are few.''
  Mr. Speaker, when I reflect on the events of September 11, 2001, 
these words of this 19th century poet come to mind. Many Americans have 
lamented that the horrific terrorist acts of yesterday have changed 
America forever. I beg to differ. America has not changed. We have 
merely rediscovered and rekindled a latent attribute that defines us as 
no other people on Earth: our invanquishable spirit. The chains that we 
are shaking to Earth like the morning dew after slumber are the chains 
of complacency regarding our vulnerability toward terrorism. With this 
realization, there can be no doubt that we will defeat the evil that 
shook, but that did not shatter, our national spirit.
  Mr. Speaker, my heart grieves for the victims of yesterday's 
terrorist acts, for their families and loved ones. But, Mr. Speaker, 
amidst this palpable grief, I am comforted, as these families should 
be, by the fact that they now have an extended family of some 250 
million people, 250 million men, women and children, united and strong 
as lions rising after a slumber.
  Finally, I am also heartened by the response from the world 
community, from virtually every nation and every people, a response of 
unity with our Nation. This response further illustrates the truth of 
Shelley's observations as expressed through his poetry. We, the people 
of the world, they are saying, cherish the freedom and democracy for 
which America stands. We are the many, they are saying with us, the 
terrorists are the few. So not only will America rise from this 
unspeakable tragedy like lions, we can be assured that so much of the 
rest of the world is ready to rise in its exalted purpose with us.
  Mr. Speaker, together, we will indeed be invanquishable. Therefore, 
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards), my friend and colleague.
  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday our Nation was shocked by a 
despicable act of cowardice. Today, even as we grieve and pray for 
those killed, injured and missing, America will show the world that our 
national spirit cannot be broken by the acts of terrorists.
  In times of threat and tragedy, the American family has always come 
together, and we do so again today.
  With strong faith and resolve, we are already working together to 
help the victims and their families, to punish the guilty, and to move 
our Nation forward.
  Those who underestimated the American spirit should know that today 
our President and Congress are working in unity to carry out the 
business of our Nation and to hunt down the perpetrators of this attack 
against all of the American people.
  Once again, American military personnel have sacrificed their lives 
and service to our Nation. May our country honor them and the 
courageous rescue workers and all who have died with our prayers, our 
unity, and our firm commitment to protect Americans' freedom and 
security.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson), the chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Ways and Means.
  Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me this time.
  I would like to just share three thoughts, most of which have already 
been shared this evening. My first is simply to express my heartfelt 
sympathy for the families of the victims of this mindless terrorism. 
May we each help you as you face the pain of your loss. May our 
prayers, our thoughts, neighborly gestures, that long line of people 
willing to give blood, letters from those who knew your sons and 
daughters, grandchildren, relatives, friends and coworkers, be of some 
small comfort to you for paying this terrible price of living in a free 
society in a troubled world.
  Secondly, I want to say how proud I am to be an American, to witness 
our ability to rally, to help each other, to stand tall in the face of 
senseless, cowardly, vicious terrorism. To all of those policemen, 
firemen, volunteers, health care providers, folks of all sorts who have 
come out to help to save lives, to rebuild, we are strong.
  Thirdly, and hear this, our friends around the world, America is now 
at war. It is the first war ever fought against a non-nation entity, 
but it is war nonetheless, and again a well-organized, well-funded, 
focused enemy.
  While its energies are focused against America now, terrorism is 
everyone's enemy. The weapons it is developing can be used by any 
terrorist group, against any object of one's hate. So while it is 
terrorism against the United States today, its success strengthens the 
name of terrorism and will enable others to use this weapon, even 
against sponsoring nations in the future. Terrorism is not rational, is 
not just, is not honest; but it is passionate and powerful.
  Differences between nation states can be reconciled. Diplomacy, U.N. 
peacekeeping forces, intervention by allies are all tools we have 
developed to help nations resolve differences peacefully, to preserve 
the lives, hopes and dreams of all of their people and the prosperity 
and the hope for the common good of all. These tools cannot be used 
against non-nation states. That is why they are the ultimate danger. 
Terrorism endangers us all, for it allows only one answer: violence.
  So we are at war. It is a war we must win, and it is one all of our 
allies have an interest in joining us to win.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Barrett), my friend and colleague.

[[Page H5570]]

  Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I stand tonight in prayer and 
sorrow, sorrow for the victims of this terrible attack, sorrow for 
their families, sorrow for Linda George whose brother, Bryan, works 
with me. Linda was a passenger on one of the planes that was hijacked 
yesterday.
  I stand in sorrow for the families of people I never knew, people 
like Nicole Miller, Tom Burnett, Cora Holland, Barbara Keating, John 
Jenkins, Amy King, Patrick Quigley, Kenneth Lewis, Rodney Dickens, Mark 
Gingham, and hundreds, if not thousands, of others; all Americans who 
did not deserve to die in this wicked attack.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand tonight in hope. Hope for the families who are 
still praying that their loved ones may miraculously be saved in the 
rubble in New York City; hope for people like Andrea Haberman, a young 
woman from Wisconsin who was on her first business trip to New York and 
was in the World Trade Center at the time of the attack.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand tonight in heartfelt thanks, thanks to the 
firefighters, police officers and rescue workers who risked or gave 
their lives to help others. Every American should be proud and thankful 
for their bravery and service to others.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I stand tonight in determination, determination 
that the perpetrators of this horrible attack will be quickly 
identified and brought to justice. They will see that America will not 
allow this crime to go unpunished.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Schaffer).
  Mr. SCHAFFER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  What an awesome opportunity it has been, Mr. Speaker, for all of us 
to be a part of listening and observing the eloquence of the country 
propounded from these microphones by representatives from every State 
in the Nation, both parties, all races, religious beliefs, political 
viewpoints. This is the best of America, and it represents why America 
is the best country in the world, and it also suggests the reasons why 
perhaps America has been a target in the last 2 days.

                              {time}  0030

  America's financial institutions are the best in the world because 
they are free. That is why they have perhaps been a target. Our 
airlines are the best in the world. They have been a target, too.
  The sentiments expressed by people from around the country today 
suggest what it really means to be an American, these notions that God 
has given us the rights that have been enshrined in our Declaration of 
Independence 225 years ago by the most visionary leaders in the history 
of human civilization: this notion that God has given us the right to 
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
  Every American who revels in those joyous rights also knows the last 
line of that Declaration: that we must be prepared to pledge to 
ourselves and each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
  All those who have contributed to the greatness of America have been 
willing to pledge those very elements for the greatness of their 
country. Some have given their lives. Some have lost their fortunes. 
But the sacred honor of America has never been stronger.
  Mr. Speaker, we beg God for his mercy and the repose of the souls of 
those lives that have been lost, for those lives that are in peril 
today. Also, Mr. Speaker, we also must pray for those perpetrators. 
They are about to meet their makers, too.
  Mr. Speaker, the greatness of America stands strong. Americans should 
hold their heads high and be proud. We are the greatest Nation on the 
planet, and we will be emboldened and empowered by this challenge and 
those challenges that lie before us.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my friend 
and colleague, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Clement).
  Mr. CLEMENT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to say to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Smith) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), they both have 
give us a splendid opportunity tonight, and have given everyone an 
opportunity to speak from their soul and from their heart about this 
true tragedy that we have had in America.
  I want to say to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) over 
here, he is our only Holocaust survivor in the United States Congress, 
a true humanitarian. But he knows from another day and another time and 
another crisis that we cannot look the other way. We as Americans 
cannot look the other way either.
  I remember when Jack Kennedy and Martin Luther King lost their lives 
in that terrible assassination. I knew where I was and I knew what I 
was doing. I will never forget the day, September 11, 2001, when I was 
watching television and thought just an accident had happened, that a 
plane had happened to hit one of the World Trade Center towers. And 
then what happened? Just 17 minutes later, the second tower was hit. 
Then we knew, the world knew, the United States knew, that we had 
terrorism on our hands.
  Then I was driving to the U.S. Capitol, and I see all that smoke and 
all that fire from the Pentagon, and all the tragedy and all the loss 
of lives. We know that terrorism is systematic. We know that we are in 
a real battle. It is not going to be easy for any of us in order to 
bring this terrorism to a halt, because we know they are organized. We 
know that they believe in hatred, they believe in negativism, and many 
of them have been programmed that way.
  Support this resolution, support America, and let us continue to 
fight for freedom and democracy.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my friend 
and colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Owens).
  (Mr. OWENS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, this is a time for mourning. No one should be 
ashamed to cry. We are all united as one with the numerous victims of 
this attack on American civilians.
  My daughter-in-law was due to work at 9:30 a.m. on the 68th floor of 
the World Trade Center. She had to drop my grandson off at a nearby 
day-care center, and with her baby in her arms, she watched in horror 
from the street as the first plane struck the first tower. How 
fortunate I am that it only took 4 hours to find out that the two of 
them were safe.
  All decent people are touched, but this intimate brush with death so 
close in the family brings tears to my eyes each time I hear a story of 
another unfortunate soul who was consumed by this catastrophe.
  I have heard some parents say that they do not want to tell their 
children about this horror. Let me fervently urge these parents to tell 
their children about the brave New York City policemen and firemen who 
went in to stop the spreading inferno while others were rushing out to 
safety.
  I ask them to tell their children that more than 200 firemen and 
nearly 70 policemen died struggling to save others.
  This is a time for mourning and this is a time for rage. Very well-
organized devils have done this ghastly deed. We are face to face with 
evil geniuses and cold-blooded murderers. They must be surgically 
exposed and then driven from the face of the Earth.
  National security is now the business of every Member of Congress. My 
constituents do not want to hear me explain that I am not a member of 
the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. They want to know how 
could this happen, and what is being done to guarantee that it never 
happens again.
  The Intelligence Community that scored vital successes in the war 
against Nazi Germany and in the Cold War may now be woefully 
inadequate. In memory of all the dead and for the peace of mind of 
those who are living, the structuring of the world's most effective 
intelligence network must now become the business of every American. 
The obliteration of this conglomerate of evil is the duty of every 
American. I am pleased to join my colleagues in support of this 
resolution.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my friend 
and colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters).
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.

[[Page H5571]]

  Mr. Speaker, this great country is a mighty democracy built on the 
hopes, dreams, and sacrifices of many hardworking people who throughout 
our history were determined to develop, live, and prosper in the 
world's greatest Nation.
  The history of this Nation is one of struggle, and yes, oftentimes 
disappointments, dashed hopes and dreams. But through it all we have 
persevered, worked hard, and sacrificed to make this Nation a great 
Nation. We have come a long way in the elimination of poverty, 
prejudices, and injustice. We are immensely proud of our successes, and 
we are confident enough in our freedom to confront our shortcomings.
  We are a diverse Nation of many religious and political persuasions. 
We are an amazing patchwork of hopeful people who believe that we all 
have potential and we all deserve happiness and success. We do not take 
lightly any attempts to dim our hopes, to dash our dreams, to destroy, 
maim, or kill. We deplore terrorism, and we will not and cannot 
tolerate terrorism and destruction. We will not allow terrorism to 
erode the constitutional rights and personal freedoms that define us as 
Americans.
  I stand here today to reassure the citizens of New York, Washington, 
Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Boston, New York, San Francisco, and others 
cities throughout the country that this legislative body will indeed 
work to ensure that the persons responsible for these acts of terrorism 
will be swiftly brought to justice.
  We are a wise people who have transcended a history that has taught 
us that violence begets violence, and violence serves no useful 
purpose. The cowardly attacks on the New York Twin Towers Trade 
Building and the Pentagon, the hijacking of American and United 
Airlines airplanes, the death, pain, and destruction that has shaken 
the very core of our society, must be responded to immediately.
  We will indeed identify and deal with the perpetrators. We are good 
people; not a perfect people, but we are good people. We do not deserve 
to have innocent Americans' lives destroyed by evil minds that plot and 
plan sneak attacks on our establishments and our structures and our 
people.
  Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the harmed and the 
deceased. We grieve with them. Their losses are our losses, but we ask 
that they rest assured that our loved ones, their loved ones, will not 
have died in vain. We ask God to have mercy on their souls. We know we 
must take an honest assessment of all of our public policy at all 
levels, and strengthen our resolve for peace on Earth. We ask God to 
guide us in our response.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson).
  (Mr. JACKSON of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today we pray for the innocent 
victims who suffered and died in yesterday's heinous and horrific 
terrorist attacks. We offer our sympathy and condolences.
  We hurt alongside the families and friends who lost loved ones in 
hijacked planes, the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and rescue 
workers who sacrificed themselves to save others. We praised the heroic 
efforts of the police, the firefighters, the emergency medical teams 
and volunteers who responded to this tragedy.
  Today Americans stand united, a unity that we must trust will 
strengthen our President with wisdom and good judgment. All Americans 
should continue to do what we can to help: to give blood, to volunteer, 
to pray for peace in the world. America's determination and indomitable 
spirit must not allow terrorists and terrorism to weaken our commitment 
to an open and democratic society.
  We vow to fully, thoroughly, and comprehensively investigate those 
who are responsible for this dastardly and deadly deed. We are sure we 
must respond with strength and in a comprehensive and proportionate 
manner.
  Yesterday was September 11, day 9-11, and we were sent an emergency 
wake-up call. It was not dialed accidentally, it was a deliberate 
message. Terrorists struck at our greatest symbols of financial power 
and military might.
  We have a profound opportunity not only to investigate who and how 
this was done, but also, more importantly, why it was done. We may not 
be able to answer that question today. The pain, the hurt, the 
suffering, and the anger are too great. But maybe in our tomorrows, 
when we have the answer to why, then we will be better able to work 
toward the day when such tragedies will never happen again.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano).
  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday terrorists unleashed a highly organized attack 
on the symbols of our Nation's prosperity and power. In an instant, 
this tragic attack destroyed the lives of many Americans.
  Yesterday morning, countless numbers of ordinary people in my city 
and in Washington woke up on a beautiful late summer day and went about 
their lives as they always have. Lawyers and accountants, janitors and 
clerks arrived at their places of work to start another day. But the 
events that soon consumed us all changed that forever. We never 
expected this to happen on our soil, and in a profound sense, we have 
lost some of our innocence.
  How can I begin to verbalize my sorrow over the deaths of so many 
wonderful people, individuals whose lives touch others deeply in an 
endless interconnected fabric. These individuals each had unique 
stories, friends, and family who loved them and depended on them. In an 
instant, husbands lost wives, children lost parents, and siblings lost 
brothers and sisters.
  This is heartbreaking. The perpetrators of these acts intended to 
create fear and to bring our society shuddering on its knees, but they 
have failed. Today as we begin the process of clearing the rubble and 
rebuilding, we are more united and more dedicated in our core beliefs 
of liberty and democracy.
  Yesterday I was in New York City. It is hard to express in words the 
devastation that this act has brought to my city. The people of New 
York and the people of our Nation have responded with generosity, 
courage, and patriotism. During this time of great sadness, we as a 
Nation are witnessing the spirit of hope.
  Let there be no misunderstanding, the American people will not let 
this terrible act diminish our spirit or force us into fear. As I left 
New York City this morning on my way to join this important discussion 
and express my support for this resolution, I was startled to see the 
skyline of my city without its two great towers standing above all 
others. In their space, I only saw a cloud of smoke rising up to the 
sky.
  Yet, even without those towers watching over my city, we will 
continue to embrace our freedom and live out our principles of 
democracy. Those faceless terrorists may think that they have won a 
great battle, but they have only made our country more dedicated to its 
core principles and ready to defend those principles against any 
threat.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday terrorists unleashed a highly organized attack 
on the symbols of our nation's prosperity and power. In an instant, 
this tragic attack destroyed the lives of many Americans. Yesterday 
morning, countless numbers of ordinary people in New York and 
Washington woke up on a beautiful late summer day and went about their 
lives as they always have. Lawyers and accountants, janitors and clerks 
arrived at their places of work to start another ordinary day. But the 
events that soon consumed us all changed that forever. We never 
expected this to happen on our soil, and in a profound sense we have 
lost some of our innocence.
  How can I begin to verbalize my sorrow over the deaths of so many 
wonderful people, individuals whose lives touched others deeply in an 
endless interconnected fabric? These individuals each had unique 
stories, and friends and family who loved them and depended on them. In 
an instant husbands lost wives, children lost parents and siblings lost 
brothers and sisters. This is heartbreaking.
  The perpetrators of these acts intended to create fear and to bring 
our society shuddering to its knees. But they have failed. Today, as we 
begin the process of clearing the rubble and rebuilding, we are more 
united and more dedicated to our core beliefs of liberty and democracy. 
Yesterday, I was in New York City and it is hard to express in words 
the devastation that this cowardly act has brought to our city. The 
people of New York

[[Page H5572]]

City, and the people of our nation, have responded with generosity, 
courage and patriotism. During this time of great sadness, we as a 
nation are witnessing a spirit of hope.
  Over the last day and a half we have seen countless examples of 
courage as our emergency workers and our firemen and policemen risked 
their lives to save others. They exemplify the best values of our 
nation. Ordinary people reached out to offer whatever they could to 
assist and stood in long lines to donate blood. And in the end, many of 
them paid the highest price in order to save others and help them keep 
their families and friends from suffering such unbearable tragedy.
  Let there be no misunderstanding, the American people will not let 
this terrible act diminish our spirit or force us into fear. As I left 
New York City this morning on my way to join this important discussion 
and express my support for this resolution, I was startled to see the 
skyline of my city without its two great towers standing above all the 
others. In their space I only saw a cloud of smoke rising up to the 
sky. Yet, even without those great towers watching over the city, we 
will continue to embrace our freedom and live out our principles of 
democracy. Those faceless terrorists may think that they have won a 
great battle, but they have only made our country more dedicated to its 
core principles and ready to defend those principles against any 
threat.

                              {time}  0045

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute just to 
close.
  In my 21 years as a Member of this House, I have never seen such an 
unprecedented unity and solidarity with our fellow Americans as has 
been expressed by my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. This has 
been an extraordinary debate, a bipartisan expression of our very deep 
concern and anguish over the horrific loss of human life and an 
ironclad resolve to effectively prosecute the war on terrorism.
  It has all been said, Mr. Speaker, today and into this evening.
  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, we all search for words of wisdom that 
will heal these wounds. Yet, there are few poets who could pen the 
phrases we long to hear. And, certainly, I do not presume to possess 
the vocabulary to put this tragedy in its proper perspective.
  I simply rise to say the following. And I say it with confidence: At 
this moment, all Americans--regardless of our backgrounds, regardless 
of our political affiliations, and regardless of the languages we 
speak--all of us speak with one voice.
  As this resolution demonstrates, all of us speak with one voice in 
mourning our fellow Americans who have died, and in expressing sympathy 
for the families, friends and colleagues whom they have left behind.
  We speak with one voice--one voice--in expressing immense 
appreciation and awe for the emergency personnel who answered the call 
of duty, many of whom did not return.
  One voice expresses anger and outrage. One voice asks: ``What can we 
do to help?'' And one voice expresses full, complete and unwavering 
support for our military and for our commander-in-chief.
  I support this resolution, above all, for spirit of unity that it 
embodies.
  As these events have demonstrated, none of us can predict what today, 
or the next day, will bring.
  Yet, Americans can--by uniting, and speaking with one voice--make 
certain that tomorrow will bring us a nation that is, and always will 
be, strong yet free, diverse yet indivisible, and, while ever mindful 
of the magnitude of our loss, also eternally hopeful and endlessly 
optimistic that our Nation's greatness will only grow.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution. It 
says what all Americans are saying and expresses our unbroken resolve 
in the face of this outrageous and cowardly attack on our country.
  When I think of the horrific events that happened yesterday, I am 
consumed with feelings of great sadness and anger. Yesterday was a day 
of outrage and deep loss. Like all Americans, I am filled with sympathy 
for the victims and families who have lost loved ones in these brutal 
attacks.
  The enormity of this loss is impossible to measure. it may be some 
time before we fully understand what happened and who is responsible. 
But make no mistake--those who organized these inhumane and dastardly 
attacks will be found and they will be brought to justice.
  These attacks on Americans on American soil have not and cannot 
extinguish the American spirit. Now more than ever, we must steel 
ourselves to do what must be done--and to do it carefully and 
correctly. Words and rhetoric are not enough. We can no longer appeal 
to the hearts and souls of terrorists and those who support and harbor 
them--they have no heart and they have no soul.
  Clearly, our concept of national security must include stronger and 
more effective measures to keep Americans safe from terrorist attacks. 
We must commit ourselves to a course of action to ensure that this kind 
of catastrophe never happens again and that those responsible are 
brought to justice for their crimes.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, September 11, 2001 is a day that each of us 
will remember as long as we live. That day and the terrorist acts 
committed against the United States must always remind us of the price 
we have paid for our freedom. Our hearts and prayers go out to the 
thousands of families whose lives have been shattered by the 
unspeakable horror that we have all witnessed. We can and will rebuild 
the structures that have been destroyed. We will never restore the 
lives of those lost in this tragedy. As a Congress and as a nation we 
have a solemn obligation not to rest until those guilty of these 
murderous acts are brought to justice. May God have mercy on those who 
have committed these crimes against us and may God have mercy on the 
United States of America.
  Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, joining with my colleagues, 
I come to the floor with a heavy heart to express my deepest sympathies 
for the victims and family members of yesterday's horrific events in 
New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. We have them all, including 
those from my congressional district, in our prayers.
  The Congress is prepared to assist all federal, state, and local 
agencies in any way that it can. The victims and families come first in 
our concerns.
  I also want to assure all Americans that we will find those 
responsible for these cowardly acts and make sure that they are 
punished. This type of attack on America and its people will not stand.
  If those responsible think that they can shake the foundation of the 
American spirit, freedom, and democracy, I have a message for them. You 
have never been more wrong.
  The foundation of liberty and freedom that America is built upon is 
unshakable.
  Finally, as a member of the Armed Services Committee, I along with my 
committee colleagues will do everything in our power to provide the 
necessary resources to prevent anything like this from happening again.
  There is much work to be done in the days and months ahead, but 
America will rise to the challenges as is always has throughout its 
history.
  Again, my deepest sympathies and prayers go out the victims and their 
families.
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, after a painful and shocking 
day where we saw the unthinkable become a reality, I returned to my 
house to embrace my wife, Tiia, and two children.
  My five-year-old son, Robert, had only one question. He asked it in a 
way that only a five-year-old could: ``Why did those mean people fly a 
plane through that building?''
  How can you explain to a child the hate that drives individuals to 
act with utter disregard for human life? What answer can we find to the 
question, ``Why?''
  We may not have that answer soon; however, there are things we do 
know. These things are as solid and sure as the Cascade Mountains that 
greet us each morning, and as deep as the Puget Sound waters: the 
promise and potential that the freedoms we enjoy will never be given up 
to any terror. The gift of democracy will continue to be exercised no 
matter what the cost. The values of openness and tolerance, without 
which we would descend to the level of our new enemies, will continue 
to stand. Finally, the American spirit which drives us to reach out to 
help those in need--a spirit we need now more than ever--will continue 
to triumph.
  In the wake of this terrible act of terrorism, I am calling upon all 
of us to take these actions: (1) Please pray for the victims and their 
families; (2) support President Bush and the Congress in the actions we 
must take to respond to this tragedy. This is no time for partisan 
politics; (3) use my office as a resource to answer questions; (4) 
donate blood if you can; (5) do not let terrorism scare you. The United 
States will track down those responsible and bring them to justice.
  We have the strongest democracy in the history of the world and we 
will get through this shocking attack on our country.
  Tiia's and my prayers go out to the families of the victims.
  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer the strongest possible 
condemnation of yesterday's terrorist attack on the United States, and 
to offer my deepest condolences to all the victims of this senseless 
tragedy, to their families and loved ones.
  To those who have suffered most in the last two days, we will make 
every effort to rescue and bring you comfort and solace. Throughout the 
course of the last thirty hours, we have seen the American spirit at 
its finest. Americans have volunteered their energy, their homes and 
even their blood to aid victims.
  To the perpetrators of these heinous acts, we will pursue and bring 
each and every one

[[Page H5573]]

of you to justice. America will not tolerate such acts of barbaric 
terrorism. We must do all we can to bring the guilty to justice and 
ensure this never recurs.
  To all my fellow Americans, the United States must not bow to 
terrorism. We must do the nation's business. We should not let 
yesterday's tragic events stop the work of our nation--to do so would 
give terrorism its victory.
  We must learn from the kindness of strangers who have come to one 
another's comfort in the last two days.
  Finally, in the process of combating international terrorism, we must 
either abandon American civil liberties nor express our fears and anger 
by indiscriminately striking out against those with different names, 
skin color or religion.
  Today, here on this floor, we honor the victims. Tomorrow, and in the 
coming weeks and months, we will honor them further by showing that our 
Nation and her people are stronger than the forces of terrorism.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, like most Americans, I was glued to the 
television yesterday. It was with the eyes and heart of a wife, mother 
and grandmother primarily that I responded incredulously to the 
horrific images. Throughout the day, I tried to reach my family back in 
Illinois, and found myself looking at their pictures. Those of us who 
did not lose loved ones or know personally someone who perished in this 
attack could all empathize with the agony of those who do. We all have 
sent our precious ones off to work or said goodbye to them at the 
airport, never giving more than a passing thought about their safety. 
With great anticipation, we have ridden in elevators to the top of the 
World Trade Center, and as citizens visited public buildings like the 
Pentagon. In just a few hours, our sense of security as an American 
family was shattered. It will be a long time before we take ordinary 
acts for granted again.
  Today, our hopes and prayers are with the injured, and we rejoice 
with each discovery of someone found in the rubble. Today we marvel at 
the courage of the firefighters, police, military personnel, emergency 
crews and volunteers, many of whom also perished, who have worked and 
are working so hard to save lives.
  Yesterday I was consumed by unanswerable questions. What kind of 
people carefully and deliberately plot to brutally murder thousands of 
innocent men, women and children? How can one imagine individuals 
celebrating the deadly success of this evil plot? How could any human 
being have such total disregard for human life? How could anyone be so 
consumed by hate? It is still hard to get my mind around this.
  Today I realize that we must be careful as we answer those questions. 
I represent a very diverse district that includes people of all races, 
nationalities and religions. All of them are horrified today. But some, 
Arab Americans and Muslims and others have another concern--that they, 
our neighbors and fellow American residents, will become the targets of 
anger and frustration. This is a time when, in tribute to the value of 
tolerance that is at the heart of our democracy, we must embrace one 
another. Turning against each other will only be a victory for the 
perpetrators of this evil plot.
  As a proud member of the Congress of this great nation, I am working 
with my staff to assure my constituents that our government is 
mobilized now to take decisive action to assure that this will never 
happen again. The full resources of this nation will be expended to 
find and root out those responsible for this atrocity. We are 
vigorously engaged in the search and rescue effort and ready to provide 
any support and comfort we can to those who are grieving.
  If the purpose of this despicable attack was to deter our commitment 
to freedom and our support for our democratic allies, like Israel, it 
has failed.
  We will have peace and security again in this country and we continue 
our efforts to spread peace and security throughout the world. We will 
pay tribute to our lost loved ones, to those who have responded so 
bravely, and we will comfort the families that are aching across the 
nation. And we will stand together in this country and with our allies 
around the world and all those who consider themselves civilized, and 
we will have justice. And the commitment to freedom from which this 
nation was born will continue to flourish.
  Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, America was wounded. Wounded in 
our souls. wounded by an unimaginable evil.
  Our nation will forever remember this despicable attack on America, 
on our people, and on the freedom we enjoy as Americans. These horrific 
events will be forever engrained in the minds of our peace-loving 
people for many years to come.
  We must come together in our hearts to bring peace to the families 
and friends of the lost loved ones. We must open our hearts to those in 
need.
  Lifestyles in this nation and around the world may change, but the 
message must go out to our faceless enemies that we the American people 
have the resolve to persevere. In the words of Confucius, ``Our 
greatest glory is not in never falling, but rising every time we 
fall.''
  We are a strong and proud people who have faced adversity and enemies 
greater than the pathetic cowards who attacked us yesterday. Our 
enemies will not see us falter. The American people and this congress 
will stand behind our President.
  This tragic event will only serve to solidify our principles of 
freedom and democracy. These terrorists fear our very foundation of 
freedom and democracy. They will learn that America's belief in freedom 
and democracy are far more powerful than any acts of terrorism.
  We will continue to be the greatest nation this planet has ever seen, 
and our enemies are about to find that out the hard way! I will support 
the President's efforts to hunt down and punish those cowards 
responsible for the killing of unsuspecting and innocent civilians. 
Unfortunately, whatever action taken will never be enough to 
sufficiently avenge our nation's losses.
  Let us always remember that although our nation has been violated, we 
will deal with those who perpetrated this terrorism.
  Freedom to live was stolen from many of our mothers, fathers, 
children, sisters, brothers, and our citizens. We must never forget 
that, even long after our answer comes.
  Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Speaker, yesterday America was hit by an unspeakable 
tragedy--an act of unconscionable horror.
  I am uncomprehending, and I am saddened beyond depths I could have 
imagined, at the terrorist attacks that have been launched against the 
United States. My heart goes out to the families of all those who have 
been lost--airline passengers and crew, workers in office buildings, 
military personnel, rescue workers--too numerous to even estimate at 
this point.
  Yesterday, Americans from coast to coast and around the world stopped 
what they were doing and experienced shock, insecurity, and grief.
  Our country has not felt such horror or fear in its history. Cities, 
suburbs, and rural towns became ``still'' as news spread of the events 
unfolding in New York City, Washington, DC, and western Pennsylvania.
  As we relive yesterday's events, we will continue to be in shock. We 
will search for information about friends, family, and professional 
colleagues affected by this vicious attack.
  However, as we move beyond the shock, we must remain assured that 
America's institutions and government remain fully intact. Our 
democracy is stronger than a band of suicidal terrorists. We will 
survive this deplorable attack. In fact, we will grow stronger. While 
this attack has destroyed lives and infrastructure, it has not 
destroyed our foundation as a country.
  To the perpetrators of this act, I would state that you have not 
destroyed the spirit of America. You have not even shaken the 
foundation of this country. If anything, even as our nation grieves, 
its very foundation has been re-enforced with a sense of itself, its 
purpose, its freedoms,and the deeply felt civic connections among its 
citizens.
  In the morning hours, even as hundreds of thousands of people were 
immediately gripped by chaotic circumstances in Washington, DC, and New 
York, we knew that our faith in one another as citizens would sustain 
us through the events unfolding before our eyes.
  In the afternoon, as we watched the brave men and women of fire, 
police and medical professions carry out their duties, our confidence 
in civic institutions was re-assured and grew deeper.
  All day as public resources were mobilized to support the efforts of 
New York City, Washington, DC, and southwestern Pennsylvania, our trust 
and belief in the leadership provided by local, state, and federal 
officials grew stronger.
  My fellow Americans, after yesterday, that bond that binds us 
together as Americans, that bond that seems invisible or recessed in 
our daily lives, that bond that seems not to exist when we watch 
political or partisan differences being expressed, that bond became 
fully visible and tangible once again.
  All of us felt its presence and re-emergence as we struggled through 
yesterday.
  As we evacuated buildings.
  As we follow the news.
  As we took the metro or walked home.
  As we shared our sorrow with friends and family.
  To my colleagues and fellow Americans, I would say that it is through 
this bond--shared between ourselves, and indeed shared among all people 
who relish freedom and democracy--that we will tap our inner strength 
to overcome yesterday's event.
  Over the next several weeks, we will take stock of our loss. We will 
grieve for friends and loved ones. After that, we will re-build the

[[Page H5574]]

physical infrastructure that was destroyed, and in so doing make sacred 
the memories of Americans lost.
  Our lives will go on--saddened by those lost--but unencumbered by 
fear of those who have neither the ability nor courage to truly 
threaten our freedom and way of life.
  As we move to respond internationally, we will assemble the facts to 
identify those responsible. And then we will act swiftly to punish 
those responsible, and we will protect U.S. national security interests 
in concert with our friends who share a commitment to actively combat 
terrorism.
  To America's friends and allies, we take comfort in your words of 
condolence and look forward to your support in the future.
  To the perpetrators of this crime against human life, you will be 
tracked down.
  You may wish to remember what Admiral Yamamoto, the architect of the 
last major attack on U.S. soil at Pearl Harbor mused after that event: 
``I fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant and filled him 
with terrible resolve.''
  The United States will use every resource available to find you and 
to punish you.
  Cowardly acts of terror will not change the United States of America. 
You will not win.
  Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, there have been many times over the past 
two days when an analogy has been made to Pearl Harbor.
  I am struck by a different analogy from the same war.
  In August 1940, the Battle of Britain raged in the skies. It was 
different from previous wars because innocent civilians Were thrust 
into the battle As bombs rained down on London and the rest of Britain.
  Prime Minister Winston Churchill spoke to the House of Commons on 
August 20. He said: ``If it is a case of the whole nation fighting and 
suffering together, That ought to suit us, Because we are the most 
united of all the nations, Because we enter the war upon the national 
will and with our eyes open, and because we have been nurtured in 
freedom and individual responsibility and are the products, not of 
totalitarian uniformity, but of tolerance and variety.''
  The same could be said of us today, Mr. Speaker.
  What the terrorists will never understand is that the strength of 
America is the hearts of our people. They may attack our buildings; 
they may attack innocent civilians. But they can never harm the thing 
that makes us great--it's inside us.
  Last night, church services were held across the country--from 
Clarendon, Texas to Washington, D.C.--as people prayed for those 
affected by the tragedy and for strength and courage to face what lies 
ahead.
  I believe that God will continue to bestow His blessings on this 
favored land, and each day I will thank Him for the opportunity to be 
an American.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it will take weeks, months, perhaps 
years, for us to understand the magnitude of the terrorist attacks. Our 
lives will be changed as we struggle to find a balance between the need 
for increased security and the necessity of protecting our freedoms.
  I was driving to work at the Rayburn House Office Building yesterday 
morning with my window down because of a broken air conditioner. As I 
came abreast of the Pentagon, which was on my right, I thought I heard 
a muffled boom and then, after a few seconds, saw a billowing black 
cloud of smoke. A few minutes later, when I stopped at the entrance of 
the Rayburn garage, a Capitol Hill policeman told me, ``They just hit 
the Pentagon,'' and pointed to the same black cloud of smoke I had just 
passed.
  It will take a while for our government to resume normalcy and for 
our country to regain its confidence. I used to tell Sunday School 
students that ``confidence'' comes from the Latin, ``con fides,'' which 
means ``with faith.'' That is how we will have to proceed.
  Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, the grief millions of Americans are 
feeling today all across our great nation knows no boundaries. While I 
recognize the significance of the Congress making a statement for the 
record to condemn yesterday's attacks, I also recognize mere words ring 
hollow today to the millions of Americans who have lost so much.
  Lost in this tremendous tragedy were friends and loved ones, mothers 
and fathers, military personnel, firefighters, and police officers; 
innocent men, women, and children all. Over the days, weeks, and months 
ahead, all Americans must come together, work together, and do what 
they can, whether it is donating blood to a local blood bank or 
something as simple as thanking the brave men and women who put their 
lives on the line each day to ensure our safety and freedom.
  The grief and mourning all of us are feeling today however, must be 
balanced by our resolve to identify and take action against those 
responsible for these despicable and unprovoked acts of war. For these 
were not simple acts of terrorism or mere crimes. They were acts of 
war; a direct and deliberate attack against our country, our 
government, our economy, and our military.
  To that end, I disagree with those who believe we must bring these 
perpetrators ``to justice.'' They should be destroyed, and destroyed 
with force so powerful that these vipers will no longer have the 
ability to rear their fangs towards our great nation again. I agree 
with the President who said last night there will no longer be a 
distinction between those who commit acts of terror and those who 
provide harbor to them. I only regret such a distinction has existed 
for so long.
  While we remember and reflect on all we have lost, we must also move 
forward with a renewed fight to destroy terrorists and dismantle their 
infrastructure. This consists of identifying any and all terrorist 
elements--whether they be those who actually train and commit these 
acts, or those who harbor, finance, supply and otherwise offer support 
to them. Once we have positively identified them, we take them out; 
eliminate them from the face of this earth with a vengeance so strong 
they will never rise again. In doing so, they should be afforded the 
same lack of warning and mercy as they offered to the innocent victims 
in the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
  There are other steps we could and should take, in light of these 
terrorist acts.
  We must all work to immediately untie the hands of our military and 
intelligence leaders to deal swiftly with serious and recognized 
threats to our national security. For the last 30 years, our 
government, through executive orders, has had an artificial barrier in 
place; prohibiting surgical attacks against known terrorist leaders. As 
the threat posed to American citizens by terrorist organizations 
continues to grow as demonstrated by the occurrence of September 11th, 
it is essential we use every tool at our disposal to eliminate those 
who would destroy our lives and property from doing so. To that end, I 
introduced H.R. 19, ``The Terrorist Elimination Act''; legislation 
repealing those portions of executive orders prohibiting the government 
from directly eliminating terrorist leaders.
  Terrorist leaders should rarely be targeted, and any such steps 
should only be considered after very careful and comprehensive 
consideration involving our military, intelligence, and policy leaders. 
However, when terrorist leaders, such as the ones who caused the 
attacks against New York City and Washington, D.C., take and threaten 
the lives of Americans, I believe it is entirely appropriate for us to 
remove them by any means necessary, without arbitrarily limiting our 
options.
  Finally, we must begin to take steps toward understanding why our 
intelligence community failed to have knowledge or warning of such a 
well-planned, multi-faceted strategic attack. The federal government 
spends billions of dollars each year to ensure the safety of its 
citizens. For us to have no knowledge ahead of time is simply 
unacceptable, and I fully expect steps will be taken to understand the 
source of these problems and fix them immediately; including allowing 
our agents in the field more latitude to gain information and 
eliminating bureaucracy to ensure information is disseminated more 
quickly.
  What we must avoid, however, is the knee-jerk reaction to pass more 
laws restricting the civil liberties of American citizens. The 
tragedies of this attack will only be compounded by giving the 
government more power at the expense of our civil liberties. If we 
cannot stop this sort of attack with all of the power our government 
agencies already have, then we are in very serious trouble. As I have 
said, the one area where the government can and must approve is in 
allowing more latitude to gain information overseas and in taking 
direct action against terrorists.
  As I said at the outset, mere words have little meaning during this 
time of national tragedy. What we must do now is to take meaningful 
steps to exact retribution on those who are responsible and ensure this 
never happens again.
  Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today in expressing 
my outrage at these terrorist attacks on American soil. My thoughts and 
prayers go out to the families of those who perished at the hands of a 
cruel, and as yet unknown killer. I extend my deepest respect and 
gratitude to the hundreds of emergency responders who, at this moment, 
continue to make order of the wreckage that has resulted from this most 
wretched attack.
  Our proud nation has never flinched from adversity. On the contrary--
we are a nation that pulls together during extraordinary times. And, 
indeed, this is an extraordinary time. This unity of spirit is already 
evident by countless Americans who are lining up at bloodbanks across 
the country, those offering clothing to the walking wounded whose 
clothes were seared by burning buildings, and scores of volunteers who 
are seeking to come to crash sites to relieve exhausted rescue 
personnel. The resolve of America is evident in the face of this 
carnage and chaos.

[[Page H5575]]

  I join Members of the House and Senate in supporting President Bush's 
efforts to use all necessary resources to protect our Nation, and to 
determine who has perpetrated this unseemly act of terrorism and to 
punish them, or those who harbor them. I invite the President to 
communicate swiftly with the Congress to let us know what resources our 
Government agencies need to address the damage inflicted upon our land 
and our people. I know that Congress will respond thoroughly and 
expeditiously.
  While buildings, as well as nerves, may be shattered by this heinous 
act of terrorism, American spirit is steadfast and unflinching. God 
bless America.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member calls to his colleagues' 
attention the exceptionally perceptive editorials of Nebraska's two 
metropolitan newspapers--the Lincoln Journal Star and the Omaha World-
Herald. The editorial advice of the former newspaper that ``now is the 
time for Americans to unite, to draw together'' is certainly evident in 
abundance in Nebraska today, and throughout this Nation. All of us in 
Congress and in other national leadership need to consider, and lead by 
our example and our actions in the Congress, the advice of the Omaha 
paper that while ``this is a time for anger, to be sure, and grief and 
compassion toward those whose family and friends are among the victims. 
But it's also a time for a clear-eyed assessment of what Americans can 
do to make our society less vulnerable to this kind of warfare.''

            [From the Lincoln Journal Star, Sept. 12, 2001]

                 Attacks Mark Bloody End to Complacency

       Life in America will be forever altered by the terrorist 
     attacks on New York and Washington, D.C.
       Life will change because Americans not only will 
     accommodate it, they will welcome it. Aren't you willing this 
     morning to tolerate ultra-strict precautions the next time 
     you board an airline?
       A message was driven home in the thunder of exploding 
     airplanes and collapsing skyscrapers. The greatest threat to 
     American security may be from shadowy forces using guile, 
     deception and stealth--not from recognizable foes wielding 
     batteries of missiles and the recognizable implements of war.
       Aircraft carriers, satellites, ballistic missiles, tanks, 
     and helicopters were of little use against the foe who struck 
     Tuesday morning in the deadliest attack ever mounted against 
     Americans on American soil.
       Apt comparisons were quickly drawn between the attack on 
     Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. This day, too, shall live in 
     infamy. The toll of dead and injured, however, apparently 
     will surpass the 2,388 deaths and 1,178 wounded at Pearl 
     Harbor.
       In World War II the enemy struck at what was then a far-
     flung outpost of American military might. But on Sept. 11, 
     2001, the enemy struck at the very heart and nerve center of 
     the American military--the Pentagon in the nation's capital.
       Despite the distinctions between Tuesday's terrorism and 
     Pearl Harbor, Americans of today would do well to emulate the 
     response of Americans to that surprise attack in the last 
     century.
       Now is a time for Americans to unite, to draw together. 
     Terrorism is effective when it drives a wedge between a 
     government and its citizens. Terrorism is effective when it 
     can create chaos, when it can disrupt a society's productive 
     routines.
       Now is a time for Americans to remain calm. There were 
     reports Tuesday afternoon of gas price spikes, and lines 
     forming at gas stations. That's overreaction. Tuesday's 
     blasts will have less effect on America's gas supply than the 
     accidental refinery explosion earlier this summer in 
     Illinois.
       Americans can help each other. One way is to donate blood. 
     The nation's blood supply, already at perilously low levels, 
     was drained by Tuesday's catastrophe. Call the Community 
     Blood Bank at 474-1781.
       Americans should hold to their traditions of fairness and 
     religious tolerance, even as they turn to prayer in 
     accordance with their own faiths. If the attacks prove to be 
     the work of Muslim extremists, those of different beliefs 
     should remember that many Muslims abhor such violence. And 
     surely Americans have learned enough about race not to hold 
     every individual of Mideastern descent responsible in this 
     time of rampant suspicion.
       Most of America's response to Tuesday's suicide hijackings 
     will be directed from Washington. This is no time for 
     rhetoric as usual. Americans are sick of Republicans and 
     Democrats who spend more energy fighting for partisan 
     advantage than in actually addressing problems. Focus on 
     ridding the globe of terrorists--not angling to pick up seats 
     in the next election.
       Certainly the nation's intelligence-gathering capabilities 
     need to be scrutinized. Perhaps there has been too much 
     reliance on satellite surveillance. Perhaps it's time to re-
     emphasize human operatives.
       Tuesday's attack also should remind Washington that 
     America, despite its status as the world's sole superpower, 
     needs allies. And it especially needs allies if anti-
     terrorism efforts are to succeed. In the past several months 
     the Bush administration too often has acted unilaterally. Now 
     is an opportune time to mobilize the international community 
     against terrorism. The bloody devastation in New York and 
     Washington just as easily could happened in Moscow, Berlin or 
     Paris.
       The deadliest attack ever made on American soil marks the 
     start of a new era in this country. Complacency is now a 
     thing of the past. As America grids for sustained battle 
     against terrorism, may it be granted the wisdom to choose 
     wisely as it balances the needs of liberty and security.
                                  ____


             [From the Omaha World Herald, Sept. 12, 2001]

       Yesterday was a day for Americans to face often-neglected 
     realities.
       Our borders are porous. Our cities are poorly protected. 
     Our airline security program has been exposed as a dismal 
     failure. Our defense and intelligence services are 
     underfunded and, in some cases, held only haphazardly to 
     account.
       The Pentagon lies in partial ruin. The World Trade Center, 
     a foremost symbol of our commercial might, has been erased 
     from the Manhattan skyline. Americans can no longer be sure 
     our centers of government and commerce are safe based solely 
     on the good will of the public.
       Some of the vulnerability exists because Americans wanted 
     more personal benefits from government at the expense of 
     defense and intelligence. Civilian society has grown apart 
     from some of the realities of security. Accordingly, many 
     Americans were unprepared for this brutal introduction to 
     warfare in what is sure to be one of its 21st century forms.
       It is a maddening, infuriating kind of conflict in which 
     the enemy often can't be identified. Its targets are selected 
     with cruel indifference to human values--the traveling 
     public, the institutions of democratic government and large 
     concentrations of innocent civilians.
       It is war on a horrifyingly large scale. Some people 
     compared the attacks with the Japanese ambush of Pearl 
     Harbor. However, the toll was potentially greater than the 
     2,400 lives lost in that 1941 attack. Fifty thousand people 
     worked in the World Trade Center towers. If the hijack-
     terrorists had achieved a maximum kill, it would have been 
     near the magnitude of the 60,000 people who died at 
     Hiroshima.
       Tuesday, as the hours passed and shock turned to anger, 
     Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf said what a lot of people were 
     thinking--the first impluse, he noted, is to find the 
     persons responsible and punish them severely.
       But as Schwarzkopf acknowledged, part of the frustration of 
     a terrorist war is not knowing the adversary, immediately or 
     at all. We can only trust that the government will do its 
     best to take care of that essential part of the response. 
     These events should remind Americans of the importance of 
     electing the best leaders they possibly can--the most 
     important consideration is not the benefits the candidate 
     promises but the character and wisdom he potentially can 
     bring to an unforeseen crisis.
       This is a time for anger, to be sure, and grief and 
     compassion toward those whose family and friends are among 
     the victims.
       But it's also a time for a clear-eyed assessment of what 
     Americans can do to make our society less vulnerable to this 
     kind of warfare. Travel may become less convenient. The White 
     House and the Capitol may become less accessible. 
     Surveillance of suspect organizations may increase. 
     Government resources that people counted on to make their 
     lives more comfortable might have to go for security, which, 
     after all, is the government's foremost responsibility.
       Grown-ups will accept, indeed welcome, the sacrifices that 
     need to be made.
       The terrible events of September 11, 2001, will surely 
     never be forgotten. This will stand with Pearl Harbor and the 
     burning of the White House by the British in the War of 
     1812--events that not only saddened and outraged the country 
     but also reignited its determination to preserve the 
     blessings of liberty.
       This determination has always been one of the country's 
     greatest strengths. It has seldom been more urgently needed 
     than now.

  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, today is another day that will live in 
infamy
  Americans are not used to attacks on our citizens, especially on our 
own soil. And America will not stand for it.
  Today's cowardly attacks were made by those who despise freedom. 
Well, I have news for them: freedom will prevail, and they will pay the 
highest price for their actions.
  This was an act of war. Some of my friends who are World War II 
veterans compare this to Pearl Harbor. But in World War II, we knew 
who--and where--the enemy was. As yet, we don't know the answer to that 
question, but be assured that we will find out.
  Our thoughts and prayers today are with the innocent victims and 
their families. We also owe a great debt of gratitude to those rescue 
workers who continue to put public safety above their own. They are 
true American heroes, and we are deeply saddened that many of those 
public servants lost their lives.
  But while we grieve, we must also harden our resolve to protect this 
wonderful country. I have great confidence in the men and women who 
serve in our military and will be called upon to respond on behalf of 
our nation. I also have great confidence in our civilians, who will 
willingly make whatever sacrifices might be needed.

[[Page H5576]]

  I encourage our citizens to donate blood, which is critically needed 
at this time. I also encourage you to go to your house of worship and 
join in prayer.
  America will rebound from this tragedy. The terrorists took their 
best shot, and now it's time that we take ours.
  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, our great Nation was dealt a blow of 
untold destruction and loss of life, in a cowardly and egregious act of 
war by terrorists.
  At this time my thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the 
families of this horrible terrorist act. This is now a time for our 
Nation to collectively grieve and come together as one to address this 
crisis. I salute the brave men and women who are, even now, pouring 
through the tangled remains of the buildings, the doctors, nurses, 
paramedics, and law enforcement who are working long hours to provide 
critical medical attention, and the volunteers who are rallying to 
support them.
  The American people and Congress will support the President's effort 
to utilize every resource available to ensure our Nation's security. 
Our Nation has not witnessed such an unprovoked attack since Pearl 
Harbor. As in the past, America will respond. We will identify the 
perpetrators of these attacks and hold them accountable for an act of 
war against the American people.
  Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Joint Resolution 61 
expressing the sense of the Senate and House of Representatives 
regarding terrorist attacks launched against the United States on 
September 11, 2001.
  We are gathered here on the floor of the people's House 1 day after 
the worst attack on American soil in our Nation's history.
  We are gathered here to demonstrate that the people's work must go 
on. And that we will not be intimidated away from performing the 
people's work.
  We are gathered here to show the world that you can take our people's 
lives, and you can destroy their property; but you can never destroy 
their values of freedom and the institution of democracy.
  And so, as the people's representatives, we must act in the face of 
turmoil, confusion, and danger to do the peoples' work; to show our 
enemies that the people cannot be intimidated, and that our democracy 
cannot be shut down.
  Today is a day that we must demonstrate to the world that terrorism 
is not free speech, it is murder; and that terrorist acts are not 
politics, they are war. It is time for us to realize that the 
perpetrators of these acts are not trying to capture our attention to 
make a point. They are trying to destroy us; and it is time for us to 
respond in kind.
  The resolution before us says that we ``commit to support increased 
resources in the war to eradicate terrorism.'' It also provides that we 
``punish the perpetrators of these attacks, as well as their 
sponsors.'' These are appropriate responses to what has happened over 
the past 24 hours.
  In the coming weeks, I do not want to see terrorist faces on the 
covers of our national newspapers. I do not want to hear the pundits 
talk of this group or that. I want our intelligence community and 
military forces to hunt them down like the murderous cowards they are. 
And I want this Congress to use its ``power of the purse'' to ensure 
that they have the resources they need to accomplish this task. That is 
what this resolution says we will do. That is what we must do.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I will share with the Chamber that last 
night, my wife spent the evening hours with beloved neighbors in our 
hometown of Stonington, CT. Their young grandson, my daughter's 
classmate and friend, had a new and exciting job in New York City 
located on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center. He was a bright 
and energetic young man; a smalltown boy pursuing the American dream in 
``the Big Apple.'' Following yesterday's attack, calls to his cell 
phone went unanswered. He is missing. We fear the worst.
  Today in eastern Connecticut we have learned of four others who are 
missing, and we mourn the deaths of three loved ones who were on two of 
the aircraft involved.
  This distress among our fellow citizens demands that we respond with 
strong and unequivocal action. This resolution is just the first step. 
I expect that it will be followed by authorizations and appropriations. 
In the name of the missing and the dead, we can do no less. This is the 
people's house. In their name, this is what we resolve to do.
  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to strongly condemn the heinous acts 
of terrorism committed against the American people yesterday. The 
barbaric cowards perpetrating these acts have attacked not only our 
country, but also the values of human freedom and democracy that so 
many Americans have died defending both here and abroad. Our thoughts 
and prayers are with the injured and those who have tragically lost 
loved ones.
  In the short term, we must do everything we can to save and care for 
those injured in these attacks. The Federal Government can and must be 
a vital partner in this effort. As chairman of the appropriations 
subcommittee that funds the Department of Health and Human Services, I 
am very pleased to see the Department is coordinating emergency medical 
services under the Federal Response Plan, dispatching medical supplies 
and disaster medical teams to the areas affected by these attacks.
  I must express my sincere gratitude to all those police, fire, and 
volunteer rescue units that have saved so many already at their own 
risk and continue their efforts to find survivors. My appreciation also 
goes out to those tresting the many injured. Lastly, I must say thanks 
to all those who have donated their time, blood, and possessions to aid 
the rescue effort. It always impresses me that in times of great 
tragedy, the people of this country rise to the challenge in coming to 
the aid of their fellow citizens. This says a lot about the values this 
nation represents.
  Of course, our energies must be strongly focused on finding those 
responsible and bringing them to justice. I consider this to be an act 
of war against the United States and a substantial and coordinated 
response is needed to protect our national security. Like the 
President, I believe we must strongly punish not only these terrorists, 
but also those who provide them with a haven in which to operate. I 
hope that our friends and allies worldwide will help us in this effort.
  Clearly, the unforeseen nature of these attacks requires us to 
rethink the way we defend this country, with the hope that future 
attacks can be prevented. Domestically, we must pay better attention to 
unconventional threats and basic security measures. Internationally, we 
need to better utilize our intelligence resources so that these types 
of threats can be detected early.
  This is not the first time our country and way of life have been 
challenged. This challenge too will be answered and this great nation 
will prevail over these faceless cowards. These are the times when all 
Americans are called upon to rise to the occasion, working together 
with a common purpose to show that this Nation continues to stand tall 
and proud.
  Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, yesterday our Nation suffered previously 
unimaginable horrific acts against our Nation's citizens and our 
democracy, in an attempt to shake our foundation of freedom.
  As parents, grandparents, and peers we not only see these acts as an 
attack on our Nation--but also an attack that threatens to shatter the 
innocence of life as seen by our children. Yesterday, the actions of 
others crushed this innocence and reminded us that freedom does not 
come without a cost. As so many American's who have fought for this 
country already know--freedom is not free.
  I want to express my condolences and prayers to all of the families 
and friends who have lost loved ones and to those victims who are 
fighting to survive their injuries. I also want to ask us all to 
remember and pray for the dedicated people who have worked and continue 
to work to recover possible survivors.
  As a nation of free people we will join together and recover from 
this tragedy. From the ashes of this tragedy we will rise up and 
prevail--because in America--every morning has the potential for new 
and even better beginnings.
  Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, America was besieged by images of 
tragedy and horror as we witnessed an attack on the very heart of the 
freedom which we hold so dear. Today, the Nation and the world are 
besieged by emotion: disbelief, anger, and enormous sorrow. We mourn 
the loss of thousands, and grieve for the families, friends, and 
communities that have lost so much.
  As Chaplain Coughlin told us through prayer this morning, ``Yesterday 
changed the world, and today we are changed.'' We will meet this change 
and this challenge united--knowing that our freedom is our greatest 
strength and knowing that in our resolve to protect freedom, we will 
not fail.
  Mr. HILLEARY. Mr. Speaker, our Nation, our freedom, and our way of 
life were violently attacked yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are 
with the victims and their families, as well with the men and women who 
are conducting the recovery efforts.
  While, our adversaries correctly calculated how to get past airport 
security and execute their plan, they badly miscalculated the unity and 
resolve of the American people. Whatever policy disagreements we may 
have are a family fight. One need only to see the long lines of people 
waiting to give blood for the victims, or the truckdrivers in New York 
stopping to pick up carry pedestrians across the George Washington 
Bridge, or the woman handing out free pairs of sneakers to women 
wearing high heels so they could get through the rubble safety to know 
that the American people are as united as ever.
  We stand united behind the President and his national security team. 
While the people

[[Page H5577]]

behind these vicious acts don't have the courage to show themselves, we 
will find out who is responsible for this, we will hunt down those who 
financed and protected the terrorists, and we will make an example of 
them.
  This is much more than a massive criminal act; it is an act of war, 
and will be dealt with as such. The merchants of terror have gambled 
that America won't have the stomach to do what is necessary to 
safeguard our freedom. they have gambled wrong. America can't--and 
won't--flinch.
  Mr. LARGENT. Mr. Speaker, today our nation grieves for those lost in 
yesterday's horrendous attacks. Our prayers are with the victims and 
their families. We also must honor the heroic efforts of those who gave 
their lives while attempting to rescue victims trapped in the Trade 
Towers. Hundreds of firefighters, police officers and other workers 
reportedly lost their lives during the terrible collapse of buildings. 
We will never forget their courage and sacrifice, and we must do all we 
can to assist those who continue to attend to victims and search for 
survivors.
  Make no mistake: yesterday's attacks were an act of war against the 
United States. When we determine who is responsible our reaction must 
be strong, decisive, and sustained enough to stamp out this threat 
against our nation. We must support our president in any operation that 
would punish the group responsible for these attacks and any government 
who harbors these terrorists.
  America has been challenged in the past, and we have not only 
prevailed but come through each trial a stronger nation. This test will 
be no exception. After September 11, 2001 we will be a stronger, more 
noble, and more free nation than before.
  Today a new generation of Americans is reminded of the fact that 
freedom is not free. The struggle before us will be long and difficult 
but America will prevail. The depth and breadth of evil in yesterday's 
attacks was extraordinary, but the spirit of America is greater still. 
The people of Oklahoma, in particular, have been an example to the 
world of how Americans respond to terror. We stand by one another 
regardless of race or ideology with compassion and determination.
  The spirit of fear that spread throughout our nation yesterday will 
be driven from our soil. Our military will play its role, but the real 
victory of freedom over tyranny will come, as it always has, from the 
character of the American people. As a nation we must, more than ever, 
hold to our common heritage and belief that the freedoms we hold dear 
are the right of every individual under God and not merely the fruits 
of economic or military power. The Apostle John writes in 1 John 
chapter 4 that perfect love drives out fear. The love the American 
people have for freedom and for every child of God is a foundation that 
can withstand any attack. Terrorists may wage war against our structure 
but they will not touch our soul.
  In the coming days the world will undoubtedly see the strength of our 
military but they will also see the strength of our character and the 
values that make America what it is. America has always been a 
lighthouse to the world, welcoming those seeking a safe harbor and new 
beginnings. America was attacked precisely because her freedom shines 
brightest. In the days to come that lighthouse will shine even brighter 
still, penetrating the darkest of nights and standing tall as an 
enduring beacon of hope.
  May God bless the victims and their families, and may God bless 
America.
  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, September 11th was a tragic day in 
America's history, and a defining day in the lives of all Americans and 
all civilization. My prayers go out to all those who's loved ones were 
lost or injured.
  As we reflect on the horror of the terrorist attack we must all, 
individually and collectively as a nation, resolve to support our 
President, military and law enforcement in their pursuit, capture and 
conviction of those responsible for carrying out this act of terror.
  The intent of terrorism is to strike fear in the hearts of people, 
and to cause people to cower and retreat. We must all demonstrate as a 
nation and as individuals that terrorism has failed in its intent. Our 
history demonstrates that America has risen to meet and defeat every 
attempt to shake our dedication to peace and liberty. Now will be no 
exception.
  Freedom and hope in the world rest today, as it has for over two 
centuries, on the shoulders of Americans. May our response against 
those who attacked America be swift and decisive, and our resolve to 
never allow this to happen again ever vigilant. God has blessed 
America, and I pray God's healing hand touch all Americans whose 
families suffered loss and injury yesterday.
  Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, yesterday our nation 
experienced one of the worst tragedies in its history. It was a tragedy 
caused by violent terrorists with no regard for precious human lives. 
It was a tragedy that reminded us not to take our freedoms for granted. 
And it was a tragedy that will be sure to touch the lives of everyone 
in our nation for a long time. Today I want to express my deepest 
personal condolences and concerns to the victims of yesterday's tragedy 
and their families.
  The attacks yesterday on passengers on four airlines flights, the 
World Trade Center in New York, and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. 
struck at the heart of our nation. They struck our entire country by 
attacking some of our great nation's most important symbols and 
institutions. The Pentagon is a symbol of our nation's great military 
might, which protects our borders and defends our democratic way of 
life. The World Trade Center was a symbol of this nation's vital and 
strong economy--an economy that will remain as strong as the resolve of 
all Americans.
  More than assaulting our symbols, the terrorists struck at the heart 
of our nation--its people. They struck not just the immediate victims 
of yesterday's violence, but at many, many more. They struck the 
victims' families, friends, and all our communities. Their violence 
didn't just destroy buildings--it took away the gift of life from 
countless innocent Americans. The human cost of this violence will be 
deep.
  I join with all of my colleagues in declaring today a national day of 
mourning. It is important that we take the time to mourn the dead and 
others affected by this tragedy. Only by mourning and praying can we 
come to grips with this terrible act and make peace with its 
consequences. But we must do more than mourn.
  We must act swiftly in the coming days to provide emergency aid to 
support to those areas affected by the violence. This should include 
federal funds for rescue, recovery, rebuilding, and counseling. And it 
should also include individual volunteer efforts, whether it's the 
donation of blood or assistance in providing solace and comfort to the 
victims' families.
  We must find the perpetrators of these heinous acts and bring them to 
justice. I have faith the President Bush will act quickly and 
aggressively to identify the terrorists and launch appropriate 
retaliation.
  We must do everything in our power to prevent terrorists from 
inflicting this strain of violence in the future by significantly 
increasing our intelligence budget and investing more in traditional 
human espionage.
  We must work to restore the fullest confidence in our airway safety 
by strengthening security measures at airports around the country. Most 
Americans understand that greater security measures may entail some 
sacrifices, but those sacrifices may be a small price to pay for 
greater peace of mind.
  And finally, we must help each other heal from this tragedy. When 
terrorists seek to divide us, we must remember to trust each other and 
to stand united. By placing our trust in each other, we can once again 
strengthen and preserve the strong bonds of this country that these 
terrorists tried to break.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker. Southern West Virginians know loss. We hope 
and pray for the victims of these attacks and their families as other 
Americans have hoped and prayed for us in the past. Our nation's motto 
is E. Pluribus Unum: Out of many, one. Americans always display this 
unity best when disaster strikes our fellow citizens.
  Yesterday's attacks did not kill only Washingtonians and New Yorkers. 
The victims came from across this country. At least one family in my 
own District was torn apart. Dr. Paul Ambrose, a talented and public-
spirited young physician, was aboard one of the airplanes that the 
terrorists crashed. The sympathies of all America are with Ken and 
Sharon Ambrose of Huntington, West Virginia, today. We will avenge 
their loss.
  America seeks peace, but it is not blind. The people who planned 
these attacks are out there, and we know that they still pursue their 
evilness. Their celebrations will be short, because America's resolve 
is sure. I support the President's vow to punish these murderers and 
those who give them shelter.
  As the death toll mounts in the aftermath of the most vicious 
terrorist attack ever perpetrated on Americans and America, I ask the 
good Lord to give us the courage, wisdom, and conviction to bring those 
responsible to justice.
  Certainly, the horror of this attack has been etched into the minds 
and hearts of all Americans. It is time to mourn the dead. To care for 
the injured. But it is also time to plan for our future, and to take 
actions to insure that the lessons of this attack will not be lost. 
That those who perished will not have done so in vain.
  America will persevere. We are not weakened by this attack, but 
rather, will grow stronger. Out of these flames of death, an even 
stronger American spirit will be born. And the beacon of freedom, of 
our Democratic institutions, will burn even brighter upon the world.
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, my office manager, Mary Christ, 
noted the following

[[Page H5578]]

that I want to share with my colleagues. And I quote:

       Suddenly, we are living in a new world.
       This attack on the United States is worse than the Pearl 
     Harbor of the past.
       Then, a known enemy struck at a far-away naval base.
       Now, an unclear enemy has struck against the heart of the 
     nation.
       Innocent civilians were turned into weapons, and innocent 
     civilians were the targets and the victims. It was 
     unspeakable brutality and terror.
       It could not have been worse.
       This was the day we will all remember.
       This was the day the world changed.
       For 10 years, we have been living in the optimism after the 
     fall of the Evil Empire and a new freedom around the world. 
     Now, a new Evil has struck.
       A new war will be waged across world.
       It will never be the same.

  Thank you Mary!
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.J. Res. 61.
  911 now has as new meaning in America. September 11, 2001 is the day 
the landscape of America was changed forever. Whenever I hear 911, not 
only will I think of emergency assistance; I will remember the victims 
and families of this great tragedy and the importance of the fight 
against terrorism.
  We will rebuild structures, but we cannot rebuild thousands of lives 
that have been lost to this world forever. Our thoughts and prayers go 
out to the victims, their families and friends and all of those 
affected by this reprehensible and cowardly attack against our country. 
As we attempt to rescue survivors and console those who have lost, we 
begin our determined quest to find the murderers and impose the 
appropriate punishment.
  Make no mistake. The act of war perpetrated against us will be met 
with the full force of the United States. Once we have identified the 
cowards, our response will be swift and severe. President Bush, 
Congress and the American people are resolved to take on and defeat the 
forces of evil that attempt to disrupt our way of life. The principles 
of democracy in a free and open society are at stake. Weak and cowardly 
terrorists have declared war against all nations that enjoy freedom and 
liberty. The world is now divided between those who support terrorism 
and those who will fight it, and all peaceful nations should band 
together in a unified force against those that spread hatred and wreak 
terror. We shall target not only those who plan and carry out these 
acts of terror, but those who feed, finance, clothe and harbor them.
  Congress must reassess our priorities in the way we provide security 
for the American people. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I 
pledge to stand with President Bush in addressing our intelligence and 
national security needs. We must keep Americans safe to assure our 
freedoms.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a dark day in America. Today, the light of 
freedom shines bright and we must move forward with confidence as the 
greatest nation in the world.
  May God bless those who lost their lives and comfort their families. 
And, my God bless the United States of America.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I first wish to associate myself with the 
remarks of Mr. Armey and Mr. Gephardt. The partnership we have formed 
and the commitment to work together on a bipartisan basis with no aisle 
between us is a statement of great importance. The American people 
today have an enhanced commitment to freedom and democracy, and that 
commitment is directly reflected through their representatives in this 
Congress.
  Yesterday's heinous attacks were acts of war against the citizens of 
the United States. And, the complexity of the attacks clearly points to 
a well-financed and painstakingly planned operation.
  As the chairman of the Special Oversight Panel on Terrorism, 
Committee on Armed Services in the House, I wish to make a slightly 
different point. During the past 24 hours, since the shock of viewing 
the events of yesterday began to wane, the question has been asked many 
times: how do we prevent this from ever happening again?
  As you know, there is no simple answer. However, during our 
deliberations on the panel which was established by former full 
committee chairman, the late Floyd Spence, it has become abundantly 
clear that there are at least five principles which must be developed 
or enhanced to safeguard the future security of our great nation.
  First, there is an obvious need for the development of individual 
responsibility for the security of ourselves, our families, friends and 
our communities. An awareness for our surroundings and potential 
dangers must be understood and developed. We have heretofore existed in 
a relatively safe environment, free of dangers posed by terrorism. To 
some degree that may not continue to be the case.
  Second, there is a need to develop ``institutional responsibility.'' 
That is, to take steps to insure the places we go to work and visit are 
safer from violence. The Congress of the United States, as an 
institution, has made important strides during the past decade in this 
regard as we have safeguards in place today that did not previously 
exist. This is not so with most other institutions. Obviously, there is 
a need to increase institutional security at airports and in other 
places. State and local governments have special responsibilities in 
this regard as they are the closest to the people.
  Third, to those of us who have studied this subject, it has become 
apparent that a high level of intelligence information is necessary in 
order to ward off terrorist acts. Simply stated, if we don't know they 
are planning an attack, we have little if any chance of stopping them. 
The previous administration's ban on recruiting unsavory characters and 
excess reliance on electronic forms of intelligence collection prevent 
us from collecting the critical human intelligence (HUMINT) that alone 
can provide warning of such attacks. In regard to the most recent 
event, we had no specific knowledge of the plan and disastrous results 
occurred. Better resources and a better organized intelligence 
operation is therefore a principle to advance.
  Fourth, as President Bush pointed out in his remarks last evening, 
international cooperation is an essential principle. International 
terrorism simply has no borders. Government and societies are 
threatened by the same groups of individuals on every continent. This 
very day, we should each reach out to friends and associates in other 
government's to offer our cooperation and seek theirs.
  Fifth, deterrence will begin to take place when would-be terrorists 
have developed a full understanding that there is a heavy price to pay 
for terrorist acts. That is why I believe everyone here today agrees 
that President Bush was exactly right when he said clearly: ``we hold 
not only the terrorists responsible, but those who harbor and assist 
them as well, and we will hunt them down. . . .''
  My colleagues, today is the beginning of a new chapter in the history 
of the USA. I pledge to all of you to work hand in hand together with 
you to bring an end to these types of heinous events. Together, we will 
make our country stronger than ever, and together we will see that 
yesterday's events are never, ever repeated.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, America was faced with a gutless, cowardly 
attack yesterday. Innocent people were murdered in cold blood--America 
was awakened to a new type of warfare. A type of warfare that was 
unfathomable to decent God-fearing people around the world.
  Yet, as in the past, once awakened, together as a people, we will 
rise up in defense of democracy, rise up in defense of liberty.
  America was also awakened to its lost patriotism, a patriotism that 
we drifted away from because of the security and prosperity this great 
land of freedom has enjoyed so long.
  We are a peaceful people--but we will not turn the other cheek. No 
one should doubt our resolve.
  As President Bush said, not only those individuals in this evil 
should be targeted, but countries who support these people and these 
acts must and will be punished.
  It is sickening to me to see pictures of people celebrating the 
deaths of innocent Americans. It is heartening to me to see the 
pictures of the heroes during this opening shot of war--those who 
helped others--firemen, policemen, doctors, nurses, paramedics--the 
list goes on and on.
  And ultimately, that is the list that will win this war.
  While we mourn the growing list of victims--we must celebrate the 
growing list of heroes.
  Those are the ones who will win this war.
  I pray for the victims and their families. I pray for our Commander-
in-Chief. I pray that justice will be ours.
  Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to pay 
tribute to those innocent lives that perished yesterday in an attack on 
America's freedom. The images of collapsing skyscrapers, a burning 
Pentagon, and large airplanes diving through our metropolitan skies 
will scar our memories forever.
  As a former law enforcement officer, I want to pay particular 
attention to the thousands of police officers, firefighters, EMS 
personnel, and other emergency responders who did their jobs with the 
utmost professionalism during the tragedies yesterday in New York, the 
Washington, DC area, and in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
  In my 7 years as a county sheriff, never did I train for, or conceive 
of a tragedy of this magnitude. Hundreds of New York City firefighters, 
police officers, and other emergency personnel who were the first to 
respond to the World Trade Center, were crushed in the rubble of the 
collapsing buildings as they were vigorously carrying out their 
mission--the mission of rescuing people.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday's events may have exposed the cowardness of a 
coordinated and faceless act of terror, but let us take note that it 
also exposed the bravery and professionalism, the perseverance, and 
heroism of

[[Page H5579]]

the many police officers, firefighters, and paramedics who continue to 
do their jobs as I speak, amid the crushed vehicles and dead bodies of 
their fallen brethren who were among the first responders to the 
tragedy yesterday.
  As we gather here to express our sadness and our anger at the tragedy 
of these acts of terror, let us also be sure to express our sincere 
gratitude to the emergency service personnel in each of our districts 
who continue to do their jobs every day, the job of protecting our 
lives and the lives of our constituents, so that we can live in an 
atmosphere of confidence and safety. These men and women are true 
heros, and they need to know that they are appreciated.
  Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.J. Res. 61, 
which condemns the cowardly terrorist attacks on New York and 
Washington, DC. I commend the leadership for bringing this bipartisan, 
bicameral resolution to the floor to demonstrate the resolve of our 
great nation and our solidarity with the families and friends of 
yesterday's victims.
  Yesterday's actions were nothing short of an act of war. Although we 
do not yet know who is responsible, we can be fairly certain that these 
enemies of freedom and democracy were seeking to destroy our very way 
of life. They certainly succeeded in bringing about death and 
destruction on a massive scale, and causing terror in the hearts of 
every American. But they will never succeed in breaking the spirit of 
America. Our great nation will survive today, and we will continue to 
stand as the beacon for democracy worldwide.
  We in Congress are back at work today, carrying on the work of our 
nation. Across our country, millions of Americans are carrying on with 
their lives at work and in their homes. Our hearts are heavy with loss 
for those who perished. But we will not panic. We will not allow some 
senseless act of cowardice to deter us from our daily way of life. We 
will continue to cherish the freedoms for which our forefathers fought, 
and stand up even more strongly for freedom and democracy worldwide.
  In stark contrast to this calculated, cowardly act of mass murder, 
there were stories yesterday of spontaneous acts of courage displayed 
by Americans in Washington and New York. Hundreds of the policemen, 
firefighters and other rescue workers bravely risked their lives to 
save the victims of the attack. As we speak today, thousands of 
Americans are lining up for hours to donate blood. Many more are 
volunteering in hospitals. This is the spirit of America that will 
never be broken.
  Mr. Speaker, ten years ago, I was a Member of the House when we stood 
in solidarity against the tyranny of Saddam Hussein in the Persian 
Gulf. Saddam thought he could divide our nation, but he was wrong. He 
underestimated the strength, resolve and ingenuity of the American 
people.
  Today, ten years later, we are faced with a new enemy, perhaps even 
more heinous and sinister. But, like Saddam, this enemy underestimates 
our ability to recover from tragedy and arise united as an even 
stronger nation. Ten years ago, I stood in this well as a Democrat, 
united in support of my President and our men and women in the Armed 
Forces. I do the same today, and I vow to President Bush that I will 
support him in his efforts to punish those responsible for this 
deplorable attack. Those who are responsible for this attack should 
make no mistake--all Americans, Democrats and Republicans, stand united 
behind our President, and we will bring abut justice!
  Mr. Speaker, throughout the confusion of the day, the beacon atop the 
Capitol dome remained illuminated. This beacon is a symbol of the 
freedoms that define our great nation. The enemies of our nation can 
denounce and threaten our freedoms, and periodically they can wound us, 
as they did yesterday. But they will never extinguish the flame of 
democracy. Freedom is the powerful, defining force that unites a 
diverse people under the umbrella known as the United States of 
America. Yesterday we were all touched by this awful tragedy, but today 
is a new day in America, and we are stronger and more united than ever.
  Mr. Speaker, God bless the families of this awful, cowardly act, and 
may God continue to bless America.
  Mr. DeMINT. Mr. Speaker, I often rise on the floor of the House and 
speak of securing America's future. As yesterday's events show, there 
is much work to be done.
  Yesterday, we suffered the worst terrorist assault on American soil 
in the history of our country. The horror that was perpetrated by 
assailants as yet unidentified, has resulted in untold death and 
destruction. Regular people, with children, and parents, and brothers 
and sisters went to work yesterday never suspecting that they would be 
the victims of catastrophic brutality committed by enemies they never 
knew. I am deeply saddened for those who lost loved ones, and I know 
that we will do absolutely everything possible to rescue those still 
alive but trapped in the rubble. Yesterday we saw evil at its worst. 
Today, as Americans come together to donate blood, rescue the 
survivors, and comfort those in mourning, we see America at its best.
  The first two questions that follow this kind of unspeakable tragedy 
are always who did it and why. Although we have not yet determined who 
was behind the attack, we do know some things about them. The people 
who did this premeditated act of violence were calculated, malicious, 
and cunning. They ruthlessly turned commercial airliners filled with 
innocent passengers into flying bombs. They were brazen in their 
planning and determined in their execution. Their despicable act of 
violence and cowardice is tantamount to an act of war, and as President 
Bush said, we must marshall the full resources of the government to 
hunt down and eliminate those who would use terror as a weapon. We must 
redouble our efforts to ensure that the manufacturers of terror have no 
place to rest, no allies willing to risk harboring them, and no hope of 
ultimate success.
  The United States of America is a peace loving nation; we are not a 
people who are easily provoked to confrontation or war. We are slow to 
anger and practice tolerance. We routinely give of our surplus food, 
knowledge, and resources to others in the name of humanitarianism. We 
have opened our arms to receive those fleeing from oppressive regimes 
who agree with the principles of freedom and wish to join us. And to 
those peoples and nations who do not agree or do not wish to join us, 
we strive diligently to coexist with them peacefully in the 
international community.
  But there are some who are not satisfied with our decision to sustain 
a society that protects life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 
They refuse to embrace the virtues of freedom and have rejected the 
blessings of liberty, and further, they have attempted to prevent 
America from doing so.
  We espouse freedom and the way we choose to govern ourselves embodies 
and manifests that principle. Our society, commerce, and government are 
open. And, as yesterday's attack showed, that openness can make us 
vulnerable. The goal of our attackers is that we will respond by 
closing our cities and society and withdraw our efforts to spread 
freedom around the world so that their quest for power through 
barbarism will go unchallenged. But we will remain steadfast and 
continue to challenge terrorism.
  And so as the dust is settling and the smoke is fading in New York 
and Washington, and as we count our lost, a rage is kindling. To those 
who committed this act, I say that you have not accomplished the 
destruction of Democracy or dampened the light of Liberty. You have 
only reminded us once again, that there is a price for freedom; but you 
will surely bear that cost in full as well. You will know the fury and 
scourge of a people provoked to protect their freedom and answer for 
loved ones who are now dead.
  Many have appropriately compared September 11, 2001 with December 7, 
1941. It is worth pointing out that in distinction to the events of 
1941, yesterdays attack targeted both military personnel and civilians. 
And while we deal with the shock and dismay that must be similar to the 
day after the events that catapulted us into World War II, I would note 
the words attributed to Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto after the 
Pearl Harbor attack when he said, ``I fear all we have done is to 
awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with terrible resolve.''
  Today I join with other Members in passing a resolution condemning 
this act of terrorism and in the coming hours and days, we in Congress 
will be working closely with the President to rescue survivors, honor 
our dead, and dispatch the severest possible punishment to those 
responsible. We have much work to do to secure the future of America, 
and the principles of freedom and democracy throughout the world.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H.J. Res. 61. Yesterday, September 11, 2001, a cowardly 
attack of horrific proportions was perpetrated against the United 
States. Words simply cannot explain the enormity and horror of what was 
witnessed yesterday. It was a day of barbaric acts in striking 
contrast, the darkest side perpetuating an act of cowardice and the 
American resolve and heroism, of individuals rushing to rescue those 
fallen by this despicable cowardly attack.
  At this time our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the 
innocent Americans who were murdered or injured in the World Trade 
Center, the Pentagon, and on board the airlines, in this unprovoked and 
unconscionable attack on the United States.
  Make no mistake; what happened Tuesday, September 11, was an act of 
war, perpetrated by cowardly fanatics with no regard for life. It was 
an attack against our basic freedoms and values. Our response must be 
just, swift, and severe.
  During this time of tragedy, the United States Congress and its 
members stand strongly united behind our President, the Joint

[[Page H5580]]

Chiefs of Staff, and the nation. The United States stands prepared with 
grim resolve to identify, pursue, and capture, and bring to justice the 
perpetrators of these attacks. America's resolve is unwavering, with no 
quarter given to those who have committed these heinous crimes and 
those who harbor them. There can be no distinction between terrorist 
and those nations who seek to give them sanctuary and asylum.
  Yesterday, the world changed. Yesterday, humanity's innocence was 
stripped away and violated in a flash of fire and the haze of 
destruction. The nation will do what generations of Americans have done 
before us, we will roll up our sleeves and get to work, continue the 
ongoing rescue efforts, mourn those we have lost, rebuild what has been 
destroyed, and seek justice for this diabolical attack on our Nation.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution.
  Yesterday America lost its innocence. Never again will we feel that 
we are safe from attack. I am shocked. I am horrified, I am deeply, 
deeply saddened.
  Make no mistake about it. Our Nation is at war. However, this is a 
new kind of war where we aren't sure who is the enemy. At least one 
thing is certain--our resolve is strong to find those responsible and 
to punish them.
  Our response must be swift, forceful, and thorough. But above all, we 
must be careful that our actions do not unnecessarily increase world 
tensions. Let us not fall to the barbaric level of our attackers.
  I proudly represent the Dayton area, home of Wright-Patterson Air 
Force Base, one of the largest military bases in the country. Every 
day, tens of thousands of Dayton area citizens work to protect our 
national security.
  That work takes a new meaning as our Nation comes to grips with new, 
urgent military requirements.
  I join my constituents in offering condolences to the victims and 
their families of this brutal terrorist attack. My prayers are with 
them.
  I am also especially thankful to the fire fighters, police officers, 
rescue workers, and the military personnel who have risked their lives 
to protect us.
  The American spirit cannot be defeated. We will move forward to 
protect our economy, our military, and our way of life.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, later this week a delegation from the 
European Parliament was scheduled to meet in Chicago with an American 
delegation, which I have the honor to lead, in our 53rd meeting of the 
Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue. As much as we would like to 
proceed in ``regular order'', the two delegations have decided that it 
will be inappropriate at this time for us to meet in Chicago. Instead, 
we will meet in Washington.
  I want to thank the European delegation, headed by chairperson Imelda 
``Mel'' Read of the United Kingdom, for a touching expression of 
sympathy, solidarity, and willingness to work against terror which she 
sent me yesterday, which I ask that it be inserted in the Record at 
this point.
  In addition, I would like to insert a statement from the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament and by the Council of 
Ministers of the European Union, both of which express their solidarity 
with the United States.

                                          European Parliament,

                               Washington, DC, September 11, 2001.
     Hon. Benjamin A. Gilman,
     U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Ben, The members of the European Parliament delegation 
     for relations with the United States and myself are shocked 
     and horrified by the terrorist attacks in New York and 
     Washington.
       I wish to express to you personally and to the members of 
     the US delegation our deepest sympathy for the innocent 
     victims of these attacks.
       The European Parliament has repeatedly condemned in the 
     strongest possible terms such appalling acts and I wish to 
     assure you of our determination to stand by the USA in 
     combating terrorism.
       I would also like to inform you that the European 
     Parliament delegation is ready to participate in any event 
     that may demonstrate our common resolve to continue working 
     together in promoting peace, security and prosperity in the 
     world.
           Yours sincerely,
     Imelda Read.
                                  ____


  Statement of the European Parliament, Committee on Foreign Affairs, 
    Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy, Brussels, 12 
                             September 2001

       The Foreign Affairs Committee has learned with shock and 
     sorrow of the atrocious terrorist attack in the USA.
       We join our colleagues in the US Congress and all American 
     people in their deep sorrow and stand united with them in 
     solidarity.
       This terrorist act is directed against the entire 
     international community of democracies and their citizens.
       We stand together with the USA in the fight against 
     international terrorism.
       At the same time, we should develop a joint policy of all 
     democracies against any state hiding or supporting terrorism 
     and we should aim to overcome together the most burning 
     conflicts in the world.
       No political reason justifies terrorism.
                                  ____


                   Declaration by the European Union

       The Council of the European Union, meeting in special 
     session today, in the presence of the Secretary General of 
     the Atlantic Alliance, expressed its horror at yesterday's 
     terrorist attacks in the United States. The Council stressed 
     its complete solidarity with the government of the United 
     States and the American people at this terrible time and 
     extended its deepest sympathy to all the victims and their 
     families. We ask all Europeans to observe 3 minutes of 
     silence Friday, 14 September at I2h00 and we also declare 14 
     September 2001 a day of mourning.
       These horrendous acts are an attack not only on the United 
     States but against humanity itself and the values and 
     freedoms we all share. The life and work of our open and 
     democratic societies will continue undeterred.
       The Union utterly condemns the perpetrators and sponsors of 
     these acts of barbarism. The Union and its Member States will 
     spare no efforts to help identify, bring to justice and 
     punish those responsible; there will be no safe haven for 
     terrorists and their sponsors.
       The Union will work closely with the United States and all 
     partners to combat international terrorism. All international 
     organizations, particularly the United Nations, must be 
     engaged and all relevant international instruments, including 
     on the financing of terrorism, must be fully implemented.
       The Community and its Member States have offered to the 
     United States all possible assistance with search and rescue 
     operations. Discussions are underway to establish what help 
     would be most useful.
       Recalling the strong and enduring ties which exist between 
     the European Union and the United States, the Council has 
     asked the Presidency to stay in close contact with the 
     government of the United States in order to convey this 
     message of solidarity.
                                  ____

                                               September 12, 2001.
       On behalf of the eight members of the British Parliamentary 
     Delegation in Washington Hon. Michael Connarty MP said:
       Every member of our all-party delegation expresses our 
     deepest sympathy to the American people at this time of 
     tragedy. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families, 
     friends and communities who have lost love ones.
       We unreservedly condemn these cowardly acts of terror 
     against innocent people. All of our delegation stand united 
     behind Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Jack 
     Straw in offering solidarity and help to bring the 
     perpetrators to justice.
       On a personal level, our delegation wishes to record our 
     thanks to the State Department Officials who showed such 
     concern for our safety and welfare when we found ourselves in 
     the Capitol during the attack on the Pentagon.
       We are impressed by the bravery and resolve of the American 
     people, their representatives and their government. We are 
     certain they will prevail.
         Michael Connarty, James Clappisson, David Heath, Patsy 
           Calton, Baroness Walmsley, Angela Watkinson, John 
           Lyons, David Hamilton.

  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I join all Americans today in 
mourning the loss of so many innocent American citizens and condemning 
those who planned and carried out these horrific acts of terrorism on 
September 11, 2001, a day that will be forever emblazoned in the hearts 
of all Americans.
  This is the fourth generation type of warfare that we have long 
feared, and we will employ every available resource to eradicate such 
tactics from the face of the earth. We will not rest until we ferret 
out those who perpetrated this infamous act and those who aided or 
abetted this action.
  Our nation is united in our deep sympathy and compassion for the 
victims, families and friends of those who perished and were injured. 
We are united in our gratitude for the heroism of rescue workers and 
volunteers. And we are united in our indignation and our determination 
to find and to punish those responsible for these barbaric acts of 
terrorism.
  Our prayers go out to the victims, their families, and for our 
country at this time of national tragedy. We have been shaken by these 
savage and cowardly attacks--but our resolve and our character will 
never be daunted. Americans always rise to the challenge of a crisis, 
and we will once again show the world what it means to be an American.
  May God's grace be with the victims, their families, and with 
America.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, our nation witnessed one of the 
most despicable acts imaginable to mankind. The senseless devastation 
unleashed through these cowardly acts left every American with a sense 
of lost innocence and increased fears. Today, however, our nation 
stands united against not only the individuals who perpetrated the 
attacks, but against those who abhor freedom and embrace such evil and 
hatred.
  America is a land that embraces freedom and values human life. We are 
a people that

[[Page H5581]]

rush to help our fellow citizens, even at great peril to ourselves. 
Yesterday, America witnessed the heroism of police, firefighters, and 
bystanders who risked their own lives to help others. That is America 
at its finest--a spirit that will not be broken.
  While America grieves, no nation, group, or individual engaged in or 
harboring terrorism should misunderstand the immense resources being 
employed to identify and punish those responsible. We will find you, we 
will hunt you down, and we will eliminate you.
  The American people and the rest of the world must know that in times 
of great pain and tragedy, America is united not divided. As we have 
done countless times throughout our nation's glorious and storied 
history, Americans will unit behind President Bush to ensure that 
justice is served. Let us not forget the words of Japanese Admiral 
Isoroku Yamamoto following the bombing of Pearl Harbor who feared he 
had, ``. . . awakened a sleeping giant and instilled in him a terrible 
resolve.''
  We must continue to pray for those who have been impacted by this 
tragedy. The families and friends of those killed and injured yesterday 
need our support, comfort, assistance, and prayers for many months to 
come.
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, as we pass this Resolution in Congress today 
condemning the terrorist incidents that took place in New York City and 
in Washington yesterday, we are also committing ourselves to supporting 
the increased resources that will be necessary to respond to this newly 
enhanced threat. All of our lives have been changed as a result of the 
events of September 11th, and as we reflect upon the loss of life and 
the human impacts of this tragedy, let us also resolve to take the 
appropriate actions to assure that we are better able to protect the 
lives of American citizens in a world that has become a more dangerous 
place.
  In this regard, I believe there is consensus at this time among 
Members of Congress to support the increased level of spending for 
defense and national security in the next fiscal year. But I am 
concerned, Mr. Speaker, about the real defense requirements that each 
of the military services has submitted to Congress, in response to a 
request from Congressman Ike Skelton earlier this year. These 
``unfunded requirements'' of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and the Air 
Force represented the actual requests that were NOT included in the 
budget for Fiscal Year 2002, submitted by President Bush in June. The 
total amount of that listing of unfunded requirements submitted to 
Congress was $32.4 billion, and when the President's budget was 
submitted to Congress in June, it accounted for NONE of these urgent 
requests from the services.
  Therefore, as we debate the defense authorization and defense 
appropriations bills in the aftermath of yesterday's tragedies, I 
believe it would be helpful for the Members of the House to review a 
summary of the list of unfunded requirements. I believe this listing 
details the kind of expenditures that we have postponed for too long. 
At this time, I believe the real national security need is closer to 
the actual requests that were made by the Joint Chiefs, and I my 
colleagues to support a more responsible level of defense spending for 
the next fiscal year. Following are some of the highlights of the 
listing of Unfunded Defense Requirements for the next fiscal year.


                                  army

  Equipment Recapitalization: The Army needs $421 million to 
recapitalize its Apache and Chinook Helicopters and its Abrams tanks 
and Multiple Launch Rocket systems.
  Comanche: The Army needs $52.3 million to support its Comanche 
program at the minimum sustainable level. The Army has identified 
Comanche as its first Transformational program.
  Army Data Distribution System (ADDS): The Army needs $124.5 million 
to upgrade and maintain its data distribution and communications 
networks in support of more rapid deployments and operations.
  SINCGARS: The Army needs $17.6 million just to buy the required 
numbers of the baseline SINCGARS radio.
  Information Systems Security: The Army needs $48.6 million to upgrade 
and ensure the security of its information systems.
  HMMWVs: The Army needs $264 million to purchase 4000 HMMWVs to cover 
unit shortages.
  Heaters: The Army needs $22 million to replace unsafe heaters used in 
field encampments by deployed troops.


                         navy and marine corps

  Defense Message System (DMS) Transition: The navy has a shortfall of 
$15 million because the new Defense Message System (DMS) cannot support 
the Navy's special handling and Emergency Action Messages. The Navy has 
to maintain two messaging networks to handle its highest priority 
communications as a result, and this requirement is unfunded.
  Close-In-Weapons-System (CIWS): The Navy needs $85 million to fully 
fund upgrades to the Close-In-Weapons-System on Navy ships. This system 
defends against small fast moving boats and both slow and high speed 
missiles and aircraft.
  Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM): The Navy needs $121 million to fully 
fund the RAM missile which protects Navy ships from Anti-Ship Cruise 
Missiles.
  F-A 18 E/F: The Navy needs an additional $390 million to buy 7 more 
F/A 18s than currently planned. The average age of Navy planes is now 
on course to exceed the average age of its ships, an astonishing and 
troubling problem. The Navy must recapitalize its air fleet.
  EA-6B Jammers: The Navy needs $15 million to replace 57 jammer pods 
that are obsolete. These aircraft protect attack aircraft from Surface 
to Air Missiles (SAMs)
  Spares: The Navy needs $294 million to fund Spare Parts
  Training: The Navy needs $30 million to fund 2 additional trainer 
aircraft for training Navy pilots and $123 million for live and inert 
training ordnance
  Integrated Defense Electronic Counter Measures (IDECM): The Navy 
needs $45 million to equip this year's F/A 18 E&F fighters with the 
IDECM system which protect these aircraft from Surface to Air Missiles 
(SAMs)


                               Air Force

  Wartime Reserve Munitions Replenishment: The Air Force needs $362 
million to replenish its stocks of ammunitions, bombs, warheads, 
missiles, and guidance kits of all of its armaments.
  Readiness Spares: The Air Force needs $46.5 million to fully equip 
its readiness spares kits
  Link 16: The Air Force needs $232.8 million to procure and install 
the Link-16 network capability on its Command and Control Aircraft (the 
AWACS and JSTARS) and 10% of its strike force to ensure that these 
aircraft can be updated with the latest information on threats and 
targets while in the air.
  Global Air Traffic Management (GATM): The Air Force needs $50.9 
million to equip its C-130, KC-10, and C-12 airlift fleet with the 
Global Air Traffic Management (GATM) which is required for safe flight 
in commercial airspace.
  Time Critical Targeting: The Air Force needs $291 million for network 
and planning tools and communications upgrades to allow planning of air 
campaigns capable of attacking time critical targets as they are 
identified.
  Bomber Upgrades: The Air Force needs $730.7 million to fund upgrades 
to its workhorse bomber fleet that delivers a majority of all bombs and 
missiles. These aircraft are projected to have service lives of up to 
80 years, and this funding is needed to keep them operating and as 
capable as possible.
  Fighter Upgrades: The Air Force needs $640.9 million to fund upgrades 
to the A-10, F-15, and F-16 fighters to upgrade avionics, increase 
reliability and mission capable rates, and enhance survivability
  Stored Munitions: The Air Force needs $127 million to replace 
obsolete munitions that are prepositioned overseas with modern 
precision guided munitions.
  Fighter Self Protection: The Air Force needs $45 million for 
electronic self protection measures on the A-10 & F-16, and accelerate 
development of a towed decoy for the F-15.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with the rest of my 
colleagues to condemn the terrorist attack on the United States and to 
express my sympathy to the victims of this horrific action. The 
destruction of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon was a frontal 
assault on the United States, our people, and our way of life. 
Democracy and freedom will not yield to these cowardly acts. I have 
great faith in the citizens of this country, and the heroic and 
selfless acts witnessed in response to this tragedy are a testament to 
the strength of the American people.
  We stand here today to further demonstrate the resolve of this great 
nation. The government is functioning normally, and Congress is in 
session. We come together today, Democrats and Republicans, to send the 
unmistakable message to the world that this country will not give in to 
terrorism. We will support the President and authorize any action 
necessary--employing all of the resources at the disposal of the U.S. 
government--to identify, track down, and bring to justice the 
perpetrators of this despicable act.
  The attack yesterday was the single worst terrorist event in U.S. 
history. The bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 claimed 2,400 lives. 
Estimates indicate that thousands of lives were lost yesterday. My 
prayers are with the victims and their families, as they deal with the 
impact of their loss. It will take some time to fully understand the 
human toll that was exacted on September 11, 2001. But we already know 
that the United States will stand tall and survive, with liberty and 
justice for all, now and forever.
  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues in sadness 
and anger, as our nation has paid severely for its love for freedom. 
Yesterday, those who have long practiced terror against the innocent 
revealed that

[[Page H5582]]

their capacity for evil truly knows no bounds. They struck at America 
because America embodies what they hate: prosperity born of liberty; 
the triumph of diversity; and the pursuit of justice at home and 
abroad.
  While the entire nation mourns the loss of innocent life, many 
families in Massachusetts are experiencing loss on a personal level as 
two of the airplanes used in this attack began their journey in Boston.
  My thoughts and prayers are with those who lost friends and loved 
ones too young, too soon. No words of sympathy can ease their pain; no 
acts can restore what they have lost. Our responsibility to them above 
all is to honor and recall those who died and bring those responsible 
for their deaths to justice.
  Those who visit violence on citizens of this nation will feel 
America's might. We pursue them without joy but with a firm resolve to 
prevent future tragedy.
  Today is a day for mourning and remembrance. In the days to come, we 
must take a hard look at the state of our defenses against terrorism. 
It is a delicate task to prevent terror while preserving the civil 
liberties that have long distinguished our nation. We must rededicate 
ourselves to finding a balance that both protects and empowers the 
American people. And we must never, ever let down our guard.
  Terrorism may spill blood on our shores. But it cannot extinguish our 
nation's faith in the principles which motivated its founding and have 
guided its history. America will endure, stronger tomorrow than today, 
ever a beacon of hope and inspiration to the entire world.
  While I recognize that this list may be incomplete, I wish to honor 
and remember the men, women and children of Massachusetts who died at 
the hands of terror yesterday, and whose names will forever testify to 
America's commitment to freedom:
  John Ogonowski, Dracut, Mass.
  Anna Williams Allison, Stoneham, Mass.
  Robin Caplin, Natick, Mass.
  Jeffrey Coombs, Abington, Mass.
  Tara Creamer, Worcester, Mass.
  David DiMeglio, Wakefield, Mass.
  Paige Farley Hackel, Newton, Mass.
  Alex Filipov, Concord, Mass.
  Karleton D.B. Fyfe, Brookline, Mass.
  Peter Gay, Tewksbury, Mass.
  Ted Hennessey, Belmont, Mass.
  Charles Jones, Bedford, Mass.
  Daniel C. Lewin.
  Chris Mello, Boston, Mass.
  Laura Lee Morabito, Framingham, Mass.
  Jane Orth, Haverhill, Mass.
  David Retik, Needham, Mass.
  Richard Ross, Newton, Mass.
  Bill Weems, Marblehead, Mass.
  Garnet ``Ace'' Bailey, Lynnfield, Mass.
  Mark Bavis, West Newton, Mass.
  John Cahill, Wellesley, Mass.
  Lynn Goodchild, Attleboro, Mass.
  Peter Hanson, Massachusetts.
  Susan Hanson, Massachusetts.
  Christine Hanson, Massachusetts.
  James E. Hayden, Westford, Mass.
  Ruth McCourt, Westford, Mass.
  Juliana Valentine McCourt, Westford, Mass.
  Jesus Sanchez, Hudson, Mass.
  Brian D. Sweeney, Barnstable, Mass.
  Patrick J. Quigley IV, Wellesley, Mass.
  Jessica Sachs, Billerica, Mass.
  Alex Filipov, Concord, Mass.
  Kenneth Waldie, Methuen, Mass.
  Peter Hashem, Tewksbury, Mass.
  Betty Ong, Andover Mass.
  Douglas Gowell, Methuen, Mass.
  Frederick Rimmele, Marblehead, Mass.
  Robert Jalbert, Swampscott, Mass.
  Dianne Snyder, Westport, Mass.
  Louis Neal Mariani, formerly of Dracut, Mass.
  Marie Pappalardo, formerly of Methuen and Lawrence, Mass.
  Memories of them will always be with us.
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in shock, horror, and 
outrage over the indescribable tragedy that has engulfed our nation.
  Yesterday, extremists hijacked our own domestic airplanes and used 
them as missiles in a horrific terrorist attack against the symbols of 
American economic and military strength.
  No words can fully describe the sense of loss that we and other 
members of our American family feel. The lives of thousands of families 
were shattered among yesterday's rubble and we grieve with them.
  No American was left untouched by yesterday's quiet heroes who put 
their own lives at risk. From the employee of the World Trade Center 
who carried a disabled woman on his back down dozens of floors to 
safety, to the firefighters and police officers who lost their lives 
running into burning buildings, to airplane passengers who performed 
tremendous acts of heroism that will forever remain unsung, to the 
thousands who gave blood and volunteered to help in any way they could. 
There are so many examples of selfless acts by Americans who, despite 
their own crises, looked to ease the tragedy of those around them.
  We also cannot forget the courage of tens of thousands of federal 
employees who reported for work today despite the fear and 
vulnerability they cannot help but feel.
  Yesterday's terrorist attack was an act of pure evil, but the 
foundations of American democracy remain intact and strong. As 
incomprehensible as it is to understand how our lives will be changed, 
one thing is certain--the United States Government will seek out those 
responsible, avenge these attacks, and take fierce retribution against 
the cowards who are responsible.
  America is at war. We will remain vigilant and we trust that all 
civilized nations of the world will join us in our determined fight to 
uphold democracy and the rule of law.
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, America grieves for the victims of these 
terrorist attacks, and for their families and friends. Our prayers are 
with them and our hearts go out to those who have endured unbearable 
loss. Our most hopeful thoughts are with those who have risked their 
lives in heroic rescue efforts. In this grim moment, we must be 
resolute in protecting the fabric of our democracy and the individual 
freedoms that make America a great nation. As we grieve, we cannot let 
terrorists win by turning the United States into a police state.
  America must remain calm because such calm is essential to preserving 
our liberties. America must bring to justice those responsible for 
these cowardly deeds. We must be cautious about rolling back freedoms 
at home or placing blame in the wrong place.
  America must continue to be a beacon of democracy for the world. Let 
this sad moment cause all governments and all people of good will 
around the world to unite and to move together to challenge and uproot 
those who have destructive goals which seek to create death and drive 
the world toward chaos. Now, more than ever, America must continue to 
be a force for peace in the world. We must not let the terrorists win.
  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, today we come together as a nation to mourn 
the victims of yesterday's abominable terrorist attacks, offer our 
deepest condolences to their families and friends, honor the courageous 
rescue workers who lost their lives in the line of duty, and condemn in 
the strongest possible terms those responsible for these monstrous 
acts.
  No words can adequately express our shock, our sadness, and our 
tremendous loss from this terrible tragedy. The great promise of the 
new millennium has been forever tarnished by these unfathomable acts of 
barbarism.
  It is almost impossible to comprehend the hatred that motivated the 
perpetrators to take the lives of so many innocent men, women and 
children. This was truly an act of pure evil.
  We must never forget these heinous attacks and the many victims that 
perished. But even as we ponder the sheet horror of yesterday's events, 
we must not allow ourselves to become paralyzed by fear and 
apprehension. This is exactly what the terrorist hoped to achieve. We 
must deny them any semblance of victory.
  In these trying times, we are once again reminded of the strength and 
fortitude of the American people, and the power of our shared beliefs 
in freedom, liberty and justice. The firefighters and police officers 
who sacrificed their lives to help those in need, the thousands of 
people lining up around the country to donate blood, and the countless 
others that have come forward to offer assistance typify the essence of 
the American spirit. This is something no terrorist attack can even 
extinguish.
  We will spare no effort or expense in tracking down the cowardly 
thugs responsible for planning and carrying out these unprecedented 
attacks. There will be no place for them to hide, no sanctuary in which 
they can cower. We will seek them out wherever they are and see that 
justice is done.
  If our enemies believed that the American people would shrink in the 
face of terror, then they were wrong. Instead, they will learn--as our 
foes have learned in the past--that adversity only strengthens our 
resolve. We will fight and win the war against international terrorism, 
and from this battle will emerge a strong, safer American and a more 
secure, freer world.
  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, yesterday America walked through the eye of 
terror's perfect storm.
  Thousands of American families were hideously drafted into a war that 
they, and most of us, only dimly perceived and little understood.
  But today we emerge from the ashes of hate and the horror of evil 
reminded that America has an historical mission in the world--to hold 
up freedom's light and defend it against every and all attempts to 
snuff it out.
  William Lloyd Garrison once said: With reasonable men, I will reason, 
with humane men I will plead; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, 
nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost.
  Today, the Congress is saying, for the world to hear, that: With 
reasonable men we will

[[Page H5583]]

reason; With humane men we will plead; but to agents of modern terror, 
we will give no quarter nor waste our arguments.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, September 11, 2001, the most 
horrific terrorist attack in the history of the world was perpetrated 
against the people of the United States of America. Some have compared 
this attack to Pearl Harbor, but I do not. While Pearl Harbor was 
awful, it was a surprise attack against a military installation. 
Yesterday's cowardly attack was targeted solely against civilians. This 
was no Pearl Harbor, but something far worse.
  Our nation, especially the people of New York City, are not in a 
position to begin to understand the catastrophic amount of death and 
grief which this one day has wrought upon us. It will take time before 
many of us can fully evaluate the true atrocities that have taken place 
and begin the process of absorbing and then accepting the events of 
September 11, 2001. But no one was untouched by these events. All of 
our lives have been altered forever.
  I was in New York at the time of the attack on the World Trade Center 
and saw with my own eyes the complete destruction that befell a once 
great structure. Worse than that, I saw the trauma on the faces of the 
people who may never see or speak to their loved ones again.
  What we have witnessed are unforgettable sights. For the rest of our 
lives, and beyond, people with watch video of a plane crashing into the 
World Trade Center, of the Pentagon burning uncontrollably, and perhaps 
most terrible of all, two one hundred-ten story buildings tumbling to 
the earth. These are horrible images, burned forever into the American 
conscious.
  But beyond those ghastly sights, yesterday also provided us with 
sights I will never forget. Inspirational visions of Americans coming 
together to help fight these cowardly acts; coming together to show 
that even though terrorists can bring down buildings, terrorism cannot 
defeat the freedom and patriotism in the hearts of all Americans. 
People commonly saw how hard and cynical New Yorkers are--but yesterday 
New Yorkers lined up to give blood, donate supplies and cook meals to 
help the rescuers and the rescued alike. New York's firemen and 
policemen came to the rescue and saved many lives, while sacrificing 
far too many of their own.
  These acts of compassion have brought our nation together.
  Every member of this body will come out today and denounce these 
events, calling upon our government to strike back, and show that we 
will not bow down to terrorism, that the people of the United States 
will fight back against whatever terrorists throw our way.
  As I watched the people lining up to give blood, and heard the 
outspoken anger of people across this country on every news station, I 
realized that America has already begun to strike back. The way 
terrorists win is to frighten innocent people, to make them change 
their lives. The American people have demonstrated a complete 
unwillingness to let that happen.
  Mr. Speaker, we grieve for the thousands of people who lost their 
lives in New York, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania, and my heartfelt 
sympathy goes out to all of the families throughout our country who are 
today mourning a missing loved one. But we do not grieve for America or 
for the ideas of freedom upon which our country is based. They continue 
to thrive and without a doubt, they will guide us through these 
troubled times.
  May God bless America and all Americans.
  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, September 11, 2001 will long stand as 
one of the darkest days in U.S. history. But in the aftermath of those 
heinous attacks on our nation, the world has seen us in what may well 
be our finest hours.
  With each passing hour after of the attacks on our nation's most 
enduring symbols, we learned about Americans reaching out to help their 
neighbors. All across the land, people were lining up to donate blood, 
giving their time at hospitals to treat victims and offering an untold 
amount of assets to the common cause of the disaster recovery. And we 
now know that the earliest heroes of this unprecedented tragedy even 
sacrificed their lives to spare far more Americans and their government 
from further horror. We thank all those who have risen to the 
challenge, and the many more sure to come to our aid in this time of 
crisis. You all exemplify what is best about our country and why we 
endure in good times and bad.
  Diverse and independent as we Americans are, we have never lost our 
underlying national unity. Our freedoms allow us to question other's 
views, and to publicly criticize our government. We are able to 
challenge the underlying principles of every public policy, and we are 
proud to do so for all Americans and the world to view. Some perceive 
those differences of opinion as a sign of weakness to be exploited, but 
they are what weave together the broad tapestry that is America and 
allows it to thrive as a superpower.
  Indeed, we are a people of many heritages, customs, religions and 
political viewpoints. It is not surprising that we have often found 
ourselves disagreeing on social policies, programs and personal value 
issues. But no one should mistake that for a lack of the most important 
traditional ``family value'' of all--that as Americans.
  No matter what our religious beliefs, we can join together for a 
moment of silence. We can still pray together for friends, neighbors, 
our community and our country. No matter where we stand on any raging 
debate of the day, we are still able to start each ballgame standing 
together to sing the national anthem. Despite our political 
differences, all members in the House of Representatives and students 
across America start each day together saying the Pledge of Allegiance. 
And even when we disagree with our government, citizens still fly the 
American flag with pride. And yes, we can even reach fever pitch 
debating the federal budget and our economic future. But in the end we 
work together trying to develop a plan that will best protect our 
future. And we have seen just that in recent weeks. The ties that bind 
us may be flexible, but they are stronger than ever. It should be clear 
today that we will always join together when our national security is 
threatened, and we will do what is necessary to protect our interests.
  Unfortunately, some individuals are more committed to extremism in 
the name of religion rather than freedom. They will go to any lengths 
to achieve their goals and show their commitment to the cause. 
Undercutting adversaries--whether real or perceived--is more important 
than abiding by the laws of their religion. They are threatened by the 
United States, and our willingness to defend other freedom-loving 
people under seige. But they are not able to take us on in the open, in 
the naked light of world opinion, because they know they are destined 
to lose that battle. And they don't have the capability or he human 
resources to confront us military. So they strike out in the kind of 
cowardly acts of violence we saw yesterday--seeking desperate revenge 
on those who challenge them and hoping to undermine our will.
  It should be clear to everyone following this tragedy that the 
terrorists have not succeeded in their suicide mission. In fact, world 
opinion has totally turned against them. Those who supported this 
deadly mission and any future would-be terrorists need to understand 
one thing: their attempts to undermine us has only strengthened our 
resolve to protect our interests. And protect them we will.
  Our nation is grieving its losses, and I share in offering my 
sympathy to the many families and neighbors who have lost loved ones to 
this senseless crime against humanity. We are grateful for the many 
individuals who have come to the aid of their fellow citizens, and are 
humbled by the acts large and small. But as we respond to this tragedy, 
we will not ignore the need to protect our security interests. We will 
stand one hundred percent behind our government in its efforts to 
respond. Rest assured, we will dedicate no less effort or resources to 
tracking down the perpetrators of these deadly attacks than we have to 
the humanitarian cause. We will exact a price for those who acted 
against our country and all who enabled them--wherever they may be. We 
will not relent until we are satisfied that all have been accounted for 
and brought to justice, and that the world understands that the cost of 
threatening our freedoms is too high.
  Mr. CONDIT. Mr. Speaker, yesterday will forever mar American history. 
We will long remember the horrible tragedy that was inflicted on 
thousands of innocent men, women and children. While the hearts and 
prayers of our nation go out to the victims and their families, we must 
very firmly fix our sights on finding those responsible.
  They must be brought to justice and they must pay the price. In 
listening to the President's address last evening, I wholeheartedly 
endorse his statement that any persons, groups or nations that played a 
role in either carrying out these horrific deeds or sheltering those 
who are responsible must be held accountable.
  The World Trade Center has been a target of terrorism in the past. We 
have been warned that major terrorist activities would occur on U.S. 
soil. Yesterday's attack required sophisticated planning and 
coordination. Dozens, if not hundreds of people, had to be part of the 
plot to bring these attacks into fruition. Others clearly assisted the 
terrorists. They must be found and they must be punished.
  We must not let any stone go unturned. We must follow any path 
wherever it takes us and clearly determine responsibility for these 
horrendous acts. Then, we must act swiftly and decisively. Anyone who 
thinks they can commit barbarous acts such as these must feel the full 
weight of the American people.
  Today we stand as one. We are Americans--united and strong in our 
resolve. Let no person, group or nation misunderstand that.

[[Page H5584]]

  As tragic as yesterday's events are, we must learn from them and look 
at America's intelligence and security apparatus with an objective eye. 
Our intelligence and security agencies must be reviewed from the 
perspective of how we failed to sense that a terrorist operation this 
large was underfoot, and how our airport security could break down so 
completely.
  We must ask ourselves hard questions and then come up with honest 
answers. We owe that much and more to the victims, their families and 
the American people. While we grieve for our losses we must ensure they 
can never happen again.
  Mr. RYUN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in response to this 
attack on our American way of life and to this affront on our rights to 
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
  On behalf of the people of Kansas, we offer our prayers and support 
to those searching for survivors in the rubble and fighting the still 
smoldering fires in New York and at the Pentagon. We also want to offer 
deepest sympathies to those families suffering the loss of a loved one.
  And, to all of us as Americans who are feeling a loss of safety and 
security, I want to share the words found in the Bible in Daniel 3:17 
which says,

       If we are thrown into the fire, the God we serve is able to 
     deliver us from it.

  I also offer these words to those who played any part in perpetrating 
this terrible act and want to put each and every one of them on notice 
that deliverance also means that justice will be served. We will 
dedicate every resource and every fiber of our being to making it so.
  Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, tonight, America is united in mourning 
those lost in the faceless and cowardly attacks on Americans in our 
nation. During this most difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are 
with the victims, families, law enforcement, and medical professionals 
that have been directly touched by this horrible tragedy.
  But even as we try to make sense of what can only be described as a 
senseless act of hatred, we must remain strong, vigilant, and 
unwavering in our commitment to fight tyranny at every turn. And as the 
President said our response will be swift--against those who carried 
out the acts and those who harbor them as well. In doing so, together 
we will work to bring the cowards responsible for these despicable 
actions to justice.
  We have seen unspeakable horror and evil. Today, we stand with 
resolve and purpose to preserve justice, freedom, and democracy--the 
very foundation of our great nation.
  Mr. WATKINS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to fully support 
this joint resolution today condemning the horrible acts of terrorism 
committed against the United States on September 11, 2001.
  I am both saddened and angered by yesterday's events. Like most 
Americans, I have been watching these events in disbelief, and praying 
for the families, the victims, the rescue workers, and those 
responsible for finding the guilty parties. I, along with the people of 
the Third District of Oklahoma, send condolences and prayers to those 
affected by these senseless and cowardly attacks.
  Make no mistake: our Nation is at war. The acts that were perpetrated 
against the United States yesterday were a willful act of destruction 
to destabilize our American democracy. The acts were meant to threaten 
our freedom. In fact, they have failed.
  The American people will not be intimidated by the threats of 
faceless, cowardly terrorists. We will not live in fear. Our attackers 
have underestimated the will and resolve of the American people. The 
country is united today more strongly than before yesterday's terrorist 
attack. We are united in our purpose: to hunt down and eliminate the 
individuals and organizations who commit, support, and ferment these 
acts of evil. We will not rest until we find and destroy all of the 
terrorists who are responsible for committing these acts.
  A free Nation cannot be truly free until the threat of terrorism is 
extinguished. Any our Nation will be free--the United States of 
America--shall pay whatever the price to remain free.
  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, as we move from the shock and anger of 
yesterday's terrorist attack, we must take action to protect every 
American.
  We suffered an intelligence failure similar to Pearl Harbor. We must 
identify how our intelligence missed the planning for this attack and 
correct the problem. We must lift restrictions on our agents operating 
abroad and provide them with the tools they need to defeat terrorists 
who attack Americans.
  Our aviation security system also failed. We need sky marshals on 
every flight while applying the lessons from airlines like Israel's El 
Al that operate safely under terrorist threat. We will work with 
manufacturers, airlines and pilots to secure cockpits from any attempt 
to commandeer the aircraft.
  Our military and intelligence establishment won the cold war, but 
must now be reformed to master the threats of a new century. Terrorism, 
weapons of mass destruction, cyber-attack and ballistic missiles are 
the new threats to our freedom.
  We must build a Global Alliance Against Terrorism with our key allies 
in NATO, the Middle East and Asia. If this attack was delivered by 
foreign terrorists, we will hunt them down. Terrorists cannot operate 
without the support of governments. if we find a foreign government 
provided aid for this attack, that government will face the full might 
of the U.S. military and our allies.
  Our grandfathers and mothers of the Greatest Generation responded to 
Pearl Harbor's call. This is our time. Standing behind our President 
and our government, we will protect the American people, our allies and 
the ideals we hold dear.
  Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, at 9:43 A.M. on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, 
I was atop the United States Capitol giving a tour of the Capitol Dome 
when I saw a burst of fire, then a mushroom cloud and smoke billowing 
out of the Pentagon.
  At first, I though the explosion occurred in nearby housing 
developments. It could not be the Pentagon. But no, it was much too 
close. The Pentagon was on fire.
  I left my office exactly one minute before the second airliner 
crashed into the World Trade Center, and I did not know at first that 
the United States had been the victim of terrorist attacks. Quickly, 
though, I could see that something was terribly wrong and was ushered 
out of the Capitol to safety.
  Like everyone else, I was shocked and saddened at the events of that 
day. These were senseless and cowardly attacks on our freedom and our 
liberty. These acts will not go unpunished.
  We, as Americans, have a tremendous ability to join together and 
unite in times of need. We have seen this in the record number of 
citizens throughout the nation rushing to blood banks to donate blood. 
My district office in Stockton, California, has been flooded with calls 
from people wanting to help.
  In 1994, when we were faced with the potential of sending United 
States forces into Bosnia, and again in 1998 facing a potential 
conflict with Iraq, I presented five parameters to guide decisions to 
commit our armed forces to overseas conflict. We must:

       1. Protect territories belonging to the United States.
       2. Preserve our political and economic system from foreign 
     threats.
       3. Keep sea lanes open for trade, and maintain free and 
     voluntary trade between the United States and trading 
     partners.
       4. Prevent domination of strategic areas of the globe by 
     powers hostile to the existence and interests of the United 
     States.
       5. Safeguard Americans and their property from acts of 
     terrorism.

  These acts have hurt each and every one of us, but our resolve is 
unshaken and our courage as a people is solid. And so, our duty as a 
nation is to unite behind President George W. Bush to take whatever 
steps necessary to apprehend these cowardly thugs and bring a swift and 
just punishment.
  To the families, who have either received the news of the death of a 
loved one, or are holding out hope that their loved one will be 
recovered safely, my prayers, and the prayers of all Americans are with 
you. I knew one of the victims, and understand the pain.
  I stand firmly behind our President in this hour of crisis. The 
United States of America will continue to shine as a beacon of hope and 
freedom to nations throughout the world. There is nothing any terrorist 
can ever do to change our Democracy.
  May God bless America.
  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor 
of the bipartisan resolution sponsored by the House Majority and 
Minority Leaders. Let me begin by expressing my profound sorrow and 
deepest sympathy to the friends and families who have lost loved ones 
in this tragic attack, or who are awaiting word of their friend or 
family member's well being. I commend the efforts of the rescue workers 
and volunteers who are working around the clock to aid and assist the 
victims. Our Missouri FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team will arrive in 
New York today to lend their expertise. Members of Congress and their 
staff will be donating blood tomorrow to ensure survivors have this 
vital resource. Our collective grief as a body is enormous and 
impossible to quantify. We stand united behind our President. Just as 
we rebuilt our belief in our NASA space program following the 1986 
tragedy when the orbiter Challenger exploded after launch killing all 
crew including teacher Christa McAuliffe, we can come together as a 
people and strengthen our national security and work internationally to 
rid the world of terrorist attacks in the future.
  Mr. Speaker, I join with you and all members to remember the victims 
of the terrorist attacks in New York City, rural Pennsylvania, and at 
the Pentagon by observing this day, September 12, as a national day of 
unity and

[[Page H5585]]

mourning as called for in this resolution. For the Record, I submit a 
number of personal reflections from members of my congressional staff.

       Jon Atlas, Legislative Correspondent:
       In the wake of this disaster, our challenges are threefold:
       First of all, we must continue to locate survivors of the 
     attack and work to comfort the friends and families of those 
     most affected. My heart goes out to all those whose family 
     and friends have lost their lives or are still missing in the 
     rubble. In this darkest of moments in history. I am 
     encouraged to know that rescue workers from around the 
     country have convened upon New York for no personal gain, but 
     rather to help save the lives of their fellow Americans. This 
     heroism is an example of our country greatest assets: our 
     spirit. In the face of this tragedy, our country will come 
     together: to help our neighbors cope, to ease the suffering, 
     and to restore American confidence. After watching 
     yesterday's rescue efforts unfold, I'm extremely honored to 
     call myself an American knowing that people with such a grand 
     spirit live within our borders. Secondly, we must ensure that 
     we prevent future acts of terror from reaching American soil. 
     The terrorists knew of our security weakness, and we must 
     close these holes. Our airports must be safe, our roads must 
     be safe, and our borders must be safe. One major area of 
     concern for me is that in an age of immeasurable 
     technological advancement, it is possible for a commercial 
     jumbo jet to simply ``disappear'' from FAA communication. 
     Each plane in the air should be accounted for at all time. By 
     restoring the secure feeling to which we have become 
     accustomed, America will proceed down the road of prosperity. 
     Finally, we must seek out those who have shattered the dreams 
     of so many innocent travelers, business people and federal 
     employees and punish them for their heinous act. Soon, 
     foreign governments will understand the consequences of 
     harboring terrorists. The United States will send a clear 
     message that these types of actions against our citizens will 
     not be tolerated or forgotten. Yesterday's victims go beyond 
     those within the area of the direct attack. America's 
     freedoms and way of life were under siege, but our ideals 
     held up. This morning, seeing the Capitol building with the 
     flags flying made me realize our country will not fold under 
     such massive disasters. Our citizens may have been attacked, 
     but our democracy will persevere.
       Nicki Cardwell, District Aide:
       From the heartland we send our hearts, prayers and support 
     for our fellow Americans personally suffering from this 
     terrible atrocity. In American tradition we will continue 
     with our daily work with heavy hearts and a quiet 
     determination to preserve the freedom that this country 
     represents. This injustice has raised an awareness of how 
     vulnerable people of a free nation can be and we will 
     preserver as generations before us.
       Evan Pickford, Legislative Correspondent:
       The terrorist attack yesterday was an incredibly sad event 
     for everyone in our country, particularly the families and 
     friends of the many victims of the attack. I feel incredibly 
     fortunate that everyone close to me lived through the 
     incident, but I am still deeply saddened by this tragedy. My 
     utmost condolences go out to everyone who was hurt or lost a 
     loved one from this terrible crime, and I hope for swift 
     action to punish those responsible for these incidents. I 
     hope that this tragedy brings together those survivors to 
     show their love for each other and their appreciation of the 
     value of human life.
       Beth Rosenberg, Legislative Assistant:
       September 11, 2001 will live forever in American history as 
     a day of infamy. Yesterday our country was victimized. New 
     York City and the Pentagon were transformed into scenes from 
     a war movie, and the United States witnessed events of a 
     magnitude never before seen in our country. While our country 
     was slowed yesterday by these incredulous attacks, we were 
     not stopped. As Congress convenes today, we demonstrate our 
     nation's resolve and our ability to rally together as we 
     condemn the perpetrators of these heinous acts. From Los 
     Angeles to Washington, DC, Miami to New York, business in the 
     United States will continue as usual. We will go on. We will 
     survive. Today, as we begin another chapter of America's 
     history, let us remember the innocent lives lost in 
     yesterday's tragedy. Let our hearts be with their families 
     and friends, and let our minds be on rebuilding our country.
       Scott Stark, Special Assistant:
       Broken buildings and shattered lives cannot shake the 
     foundation of America. We are stronger than any act of 
     terrorism and greater than any sneak attack could ever be. We 
     cannot and will not be intimidated by terrorists. Indeed, we 
     will continue to stand tall as a shining beacon of freedom 
     through the world. Our government is still running, our 
     American leadership is united and committed, and our 
     resolution is only strengthened by these acts of cowardice.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, America suffered the most heinous acts 
of violence and cowardice in her history yesterday, and it is with both 
a heavy heart and a strong will that I address this body here today.
  As we mourn the loss of yesterday's victims and offer our hopes and 
prayers to the families that have been shattered, it is important that 
the United States remain resolute. Our friends and enemies alike must 
understand that we will not, under any circumstances, be divided by 
terror or deterred from the defense of freedom here and abroad. Our 
spirits will not be broken, nor will the resiliency of this nation.
  This nation, and this Congress, will unite behind our President to 
deliver this message to the world with swift and certain punishment for 
those who committed this crime against freedom.
  In the meantime, I am moved by the country's outpouring of love, 
support, and assistance in this time of need. And to those who 
anxiously await and anguish over the unknown fate of their loved ones 
in New York and here in Washington--I hope you can find some comfort in 
Ezekial 34:11-13:

       For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will 
     search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks 
     after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I 
     look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places 
     where they were scattered . . . and I will bring them into 
     their own land.

  God bless America.
  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the honorable Chairman for 
yielding me this time.
  Today, first and foremost, our hearts go out to the victims and 
families affected by yesterday's sad and shocking attacks. The stories 
of tragedy, and the compelling stories of heroism, that have begun to 
emerge from the smoke and shattered buildings will forever be a part of 
this black day that has been burned into our national memory.
  But let these days that follow be remembered not just for our sadness 
and anger, but for our national resolve. As a nation, we must now pull 
together to overcome this vicious attempt to break our national spirit.
  Those responsible for yesterday's horrific events have seriously 
miscalculated the strength and resolve of Americans. Our sense of 
security may be temporarily unsteadied, but our unity is emboldened. 
Our bonds of liberty, our bonds of freedom, our bonds of democracy are 
stronger and run deeper than any individual, than any building, than 
any monument. No act of violence, no knives or sharpened razors, can 
sever them. We will not be intimidated by cowards.
  We will remain committed until those responsible learn the steep cost 
of taking innocent lives--innocent American lives--on American soil. 
The flame of liberty remains bright and will continue to shine upon the 
world, casting deep into that dark shadows of violence, intolerance, 
and extremism. There will be no corner of the earth where the demons of 
September 11th will be safe from justice.
  For now, we must go on with our daily lives because to do otherwise 
would be giving in to the evil behind these events. In our schools and 
offices, in our neighborhoods and churches, we must begin the healing 
process.
  I urge my fellow Americans to donate blood, to volunteer, and offer 
their prayers and assistance of help to those in need.
  And as America recovers, we will also pursue our attackers and fight 
on. Mr. Speaker, we are at war with the most vicious, most cowardly, 
and most wicked enemy we have faced as a nation. But America ``will not 
go gentle into that good night.'' For those we have lost and for the 
future of our nation and the freedom we hold dear--we will strive, we 
will persevere, and we will prevail.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the nation witnessed 
an evil, unspeakable act by an evil, despicable, and cowardly enemy. 
The terrorists who perpetrated these atrocities upon the United States, 
killing perhaps thousands of innocent people, shall have no place to 
hide. I am confident that this Congress will support whatever action 
the President and his national-security team deem necessary to allow 
our military and law-enforcement officials to bring these terrorists to 
justice.
  By now, we are all aware of the scope of this national tragedy. In 
light of this, we have pulled together as a country, demonstrating our 
resolve to the world that such actions against this nation will not 
stand. The people of Indiana have joined their fellow Americans, and 
indeed men and women of goodwill from around the world, to pray for 
peace, calm, and justice. Our hearts go out to the victims, their 
friends, and their families.''
  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my profound sympathy for 
the victims of this terrible tragedy and their families and friends. I 
cannot begin to imagine their pain, but my thoughts and prayers, and 
the thoughts and prayers of men and women across America are with them 
during this difficult time.
  It is hard to find words to express the sadness and outrage I feel 
over this heinous act of terrorism and cowardice. This is an assault on 
democracy and the very freedom that, until yesterday, many of us took 
for granted. We must stand together to protect our freedom and to 
ensure that the forces of terror do not diminish our spirit.
  Congress and the President must now work together in a bipartisan 
fashion to make sure

[[Page H5586]]

that our nation has the resources it needs to overcome this tragedy, 
and to bring those responsible for these terrible crimes to justice.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to 
express my condolences to the families of all the victims of 
yesterday's terrorist attacks. The attacks that destroyed the World 
Trade Center, damaged our Pentagon, destroyed four aircraft and claimed 
thousands of lives shall not divide us. This is one of the worst 
tragedies for the world community. The attempt of the actors on 
yesterday was to strike a blow to democracy and freedom. They will not 
succeed. We as a world community must unite and condemn terrorism 
wherever and whenever it occurs. The world community has a 
responsibility to promote peace and encourage diplomacy. We also have a 
responsibility to bring to justice those responsible for terrorist 
acts.
  On behalf of all my constituents I want to commend the action of all 
the rescue workers, volunteers, hospital personnel and others who 
triumph over tragedy by their actions. Rescue workers who did their 
jobs under extraordinary conditions. Their actions and sacrifices shall 
not be forgotten. The thousands of people who have lost their lives or 
been injured shall not be forgotten, or overlooked.
  I stand with President Bush and my colleagues in condemning this 
atrocious act of terror. I urge that we bring to justice all of those 
involved in yesterday's despicable terrorist attacks. Finally, I urge 
that we work to make sure that communities and agencies have the 
resources to prevent such atrocities from occurring in the future.
  God bless America.
  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the resolution. 
No words can express the sorrow and outrage we all feel in the wake of 
yesterday's catastrophic events. The lives of countless Americans were 
forever shattered by the most barbaric act of terrorism ever committed 
against the United States. My prayers and profound sympathy go to the 
victims, family, and friends of those affected in yesterday's tragedy. 
In a very real way, all Americans and all people who believe in freedom 
were victims of these atrocities.
  There is absolutely no doubt that those guilty of this vicious and 
devastating attack will be hunted down and brought to justice. Any 
nations or individuals harboring or assisting them in any way will be 
considered equally guilty of these crimes. It is also certain that our 
nation will now embark on a relentless and unprecedented worldwide 
campaign to root out terrorism and those who sponsor its vicious and 
craven tactics.
  This national nightmare will irrevocably alter how we assess our 
nation's security; and though our national psyche is imprinted forever 
with these devastating symbols of hatred, the madmen who perpetrated 
this act made a terrible and irreversible mistake. Ultimately, this act 
of violence will not weaken America, it will strengthen our dedication 
to democracy and bolster our commitment to keeping all Americans safe 
and free. We will reaffirm our Nation's fundamental values, and we will 
be stronger than ever.
  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise on this day of grief and mourning to 
offer my condolences and prayers to all those who lost loved ones 
during yesterday's heinous and cowardly attack. Our nation stands with 
you, committed and resolute. Our prayers and hearts are also with the 
brave men and women of law enforcement and fire rescue. These heroic 
and fearless professionals have made America proud. We owe you our 
gratitude and thanks, and we will be forever grateful to you for what 
you have done.
  Our country has been shaken and bloodied, but today the United States 
Congress speaks with one, unified voice. We speak to our friends to say 
we thank you for your support, aid, and prayers. To those responsible 
for yesterday's unprovoked acts of war--today--we will declare war on 
you.
  You have awakened our anger, and you will be vanquished. You, who 
have perpetrated these act's of terror will be brought to justice, and 
we will leave you no quarter. The full force of America's might and 
wrath is going to be brought to bear on those who assaulted freedom.
  We have entered a new chapter in our national history--and as we have 
done so many times in our past, we will be victorious. I urge my 
colleagues to support this Resolution of Condemnation. God bless 
America.
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, Americans must defeat evil and 
uphold our Constitution. September 11, 2001 will be remembered in 
history. September 12, 2001, is a national day of unity and mourning.
  Today and in the days to come, we must unite in our response to an 
unconventional asymmetric act of war against our freedom. We must unite 
in our resolve to take the steps necessary to defeat the forces of evil 
that deliberately targeted thousands of innocent men, women, and 
children to perpetuate a barbarous attack upon America's and the 
world's preeminent symbols of democracy, a free market economy, and its 
military defense. We must equally be united and vigilant in our resolve 
to protect and preserve the rights endowed upon us by our Creator.
  We must reaffirm the purpose of our government in our democratic 
republic as stated in our Constitution's Preamble:
  ``We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect 
Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquillity, provide for the 
common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings 
of liberty to ourselves and our posterity do ordain and establish this 
Constitution of the United States of America.''
  In responding to this heinous attack, we must reaffirm our commitment 
to uphold our Constitution, including the rights guaranteed to every 
American in the Bill of Rights. These precious rights have been secured 
by the blood and sacrifices of Americans for more than 225 years. I am 
confident in the ability of today's generation of Americans to honor 
those sacrifices and the memories of those killed in the attacks on 
September 11, 2001. We have an obligation to overcome this latest 
challenge to freedom while honoring our Constitution and preserving the 
rights it guarantees for ourselves, our children, and our children's 
children.
  Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, as we come together today, in 
continued shock and deep mourning our hearts go out to all who lost 
loved ones, friends, and colleagues in yesterday's tragic attacks. As 
the terrible course of events unfolded yesterday, our nation drew 
together in shared grief and in strong support for one another--
especially for the families of those killed or injured. We need to do 
all we can to help them now and in the wrenching weeks ahead.
  We must preserve the solidarity now shared by all Americans and our 
allies in other countries in the wake of this horrific act of war. We 
are resolved to bring those responsible for this atrocity to justice--
swift and sure--and make clear that America, that freedom itself, will 
never be held hostage to terror. An act of war has been committed 
against the United States, and we are justified in considering a 
declaration of war in response, once we find out who planned, executed, 
and enabled yesterday's terrorist strikes. In this, we stand ready to 
support our President as the Commander in Chief of our country.
  With a fresh awareness of our vulnerability, we must move forward to 
secure our nation. With hope that cannot be defeated, we must turn to 
what is best within us, put aside our differences, respond to the 
continuing crisis and begin the process of rebuilding. In searching for 
this hope, amid the sorrow, we need only turn to the firefighters, 
police officers, medics, and rescue workers who have put their lives on 
hold--and often in mortal danger--to respond to this crisis. Their 
courage, determination, and action are examples for us all.
  Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to denonunce 
the savage, senseless and cowardly attacks upon our citizens, our 
property and two of our most endearing symbols of national strength in 
yesterday's terrorist attacks on Washington, New York City and our 
nation's passenger airlines.
  We have lived for years under the threat of terrorism and have 
thwarted several significant plots. We have invested a great amount of 
time and money to try and create an effective system of 
countermeasures. Unfortunately, we have now seen just how far some 
people will go to harm the United States and what we stand for.
  No political or religious agenda could ever justify the hideous 
atrocities committed yesterday, and America will have to respond 
appropriately to ensure that those who would use terror against this 
country are never again in the position to strike us.
  As an international hub of commerce, the World Trade Center contained 
the offices of individuals from around the world who have suffered as a 
result of this attack. For that reason, this was not only an attack on 
America, but on all the nations of the world that trade with us.
  The mood is somber here in Washington today, but we are here and our 
government is working. Because of our society and our freedoms, we are 
always going to be susceptible. This heinous act will undoubtedly gain 
a new urgency to reduce the risks we face from terrorism.
  It is also critical for our allies and the entire world community to 
speak in one voice and say ``Terrorism in any form is wrong, and it 
will no longer be tolerated anywhere in the world.
  America has been hurt by these attacks, but we are far from defeated. 
We will care for our wounded and we will mourn those who lost their 
lives. We will then repair the physical damage to our institutions and 
seek out those who have perpetrated this obscenity upon us. We will 
have justice and we will emerge from this catastrophe stronger than 
before.
  As Ohio's Seventh District Representative to the Congress of the 
United States, my

[[Page H5587]]

thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by these 
attacks and their families. I would ask for all Americans to continue 
to pray for our nation in the difficult days ahead.
  Mr. RILEY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with a heavy heart to express my 
deepest sorrow for the victims and the victims' families of yesterday's 
tragedy. Although I know that it offers little solace, I hope that the 
families of those maimed and murdered in this tragedy know that the 
prayers and thoughts of our entire nation are with them in their time 
of grief.
  Make no mistake about it, we will find and punish those responsible 
for this horrific act. Today we grieve, Mr. Speaker, not just for the 
slain victims and their families, but also for all Americans. America 
has been attacked through a cowardly act of war. Unlike previous 
conflicts, we now face a nameless and faceless enemy.
  There is an old saying: you can run, but you can't hide! To those 
responsible for yesterday's atrocities--we will hunt you down and the 
punishment will be swift and severe.
  Throughout her history, America has always been resilient. As Ronald 
Reagan often said, ``America stands as the shining light on the hill 
for all the world to see.'' Unfortunately, as the symbol of freedom and 
democracy, we serve as a constant target for the forces of evil around 
the globe. America will rise from these ashes stronger and more 
resolute than ever!
  We often find that rather than be beaten, times of tragedy bring out 
the best in Americans. This strength is what made our nation great--and 
what will ensure America's continued greatness. The efforts of the 
first responders in New York and Washington have been nothing short of 
heroic. I have said time and again that it was not a matter of if a 
terrorist attack of epic proportions would hit our nation, but when. 
Sadly, the ``when'' occurred at 8:45 Tuesday morning. Had it not been 
for the trained first responders, the loss of life could have been 
double or triple the current known death toll. Sadly, many of those 
evacuating the World Trade Center became casualties in the buildings' 
collapse. Our gratitude and prayer and go out to them and all the 
victims of this senseless act of terror.
  Those who have perpetrated this crime must know that the United 
States will not allow this injustice to go unpunished. Today we grieve 
with words, tomorrow we will respond with actions! I urge my colleagues 
to support this resolution of condemnation.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday America suffered a cowardly attack 
upon freedom itself.
  Today, our first responsibility must be to tend to the victims, and 
their families, in their hour of greatest need. This barbaric act is 
horrible in both its enormity, and in its closeness. We have all been 
touched forever. Brady Howell, the husband of one of my office family 
members, is still among the missing. Our prayers are with Liz and all 
of the families who grieve today.
  As we have been so painfully reminded--freedom is never free. It is 
now our duty to remind the world that freedom is also never afraid.
  We must send an unmistakable message to the world that we will spare 
no expense or effort to track down all those responsible and ensure 
they never strike again.
  These attacks were an act of war, not a crime, and should be met with 
a swift and overwhelming response.
  The world must know there is no middle ground in this war, you either 
stand with us against terror, or you stand with the terrorist. Our 
friends will confidently stand with us--our enemies should fear us. 
America's reach is long, our memory is longer and our resolve is 
unshakeable. Our fury will be clenched in an iron fist that will rid 
the world of this evil in a swift and terrible blow.
  All Americans must stand united with our President in condemnation of 
these unspeakable acts. Our strength is not in our buildings and 
symbols but in our people and principles. Let us join together, in this 
moment of national tragedy, to show the world our true power. We have 
seen evil yesterday and we shall defeat it.
  God Bless the United States of America.
  Mr. KERNS. Mr. Speaker, today, our Nation mourns the loss of life of 
so many innocent people as a result of this cowardly, insane attack. 
Today, we cannot fully understand or explain this vicious act, but we 
can pray that the tragic loss of life and injuries to so many will not 
be without some redemption. This tragedy can and must bring the nations 
of the free world together--united to bring an end to terrorism in the 
world. This may not be easily accomplished, but we must lead the 
effort. Rest assured, freedom and the powers of good will prevail.
  We, the people of west central Indiana, we in the Congress stand 
united with the President to spare no expense or resource to bring to 
justice those responsible for this unjustifiable, heartless act. This 
evil must be removed from our world. Anything less is unacceptable.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support the 
resolution.
  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, yesterday's horrific, cowardly attack on the 
United States was a senseless act of terrorism by enemies who abhor 
America's principles of freedom and justice. The terrorists who 
perpetrated this attack, however, have a miscalculated view of America: 
they believe we are weak, but we are strong; they believe we will cower 
in fear, but we will stand tall in solidarity; they believe they can 
break our resolve, but our unity will only be strengthened.
  First and foremost, my heart goes out to the victims and the victims' 
families of this terrible, horrific attack. The Congress of the United 
States, along with all Americans, stands with you in this time of 
sorrow and tragedy.
  Our thoughts and prayers also go to the firefighters, police 
officers, doctors, nurses, ambulance teams, hospital workers and all 
public servants who are working to rescue survivors and to care for the 
injured. Your heroic efforts will be long remembered.
  Even as we care for our citizens who have been victimized by this 
horrible crime, the resources of our government must now be directed 
toward finding those who caused these acts of violence and bringing 
them to justice. We must also examine the ways in which we protect 
ourselves, and we, as leaders, must critically review how we allocate 
our resources to defend this nation from terrorist attack.
  In the meantime, our nation stands resolute in the face of this 
crisis. We are confident in the foundations of our democracy and united 
through out strength of spirit, which has withstood civil war, world 
war, the Cold War and encounted acts of discrimination and prejudice in 
our journey to becoming the strongest, most powerful, freedom-loving 
country in the world. No despicable act of terrorism can diminish this 
spirit or take it away.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, yesterday's horrific and 
cowardly display of terrorism against the United States has left the 
country in a state of mourning for the loss of loved ones. This 
unprovoked and barbaric attack against democratic beliefs must not go 
unpunished. To test the resolve of the United States, one must be 
prepared to encounter a proud and unified citizenry whose love for this 
country will never be diminished by acts of terrorism.
  The cowardly acts of violence against the World Trade Center in New 
York and Pentagon in Washington, D.C. unite the country in sorrow. My 
condolences and prayers go out to the families, many of which reside in 
my district, for the loss of their loved ones. To those people, let me 
say I've witnessed firsthand how individuals come together in a moment 
of crisis, and I can assure you the country will be there for you in 
your time of need.
  As yesterday's horrific events unfolded, I watched brave 
firefighters, law enforcement and rescue personnel risking their lives 
to save others. I watched hospitals prepare for the wounded and our 
armed forces go on high alert. I watched a stricken nation respond by 
rushing to donate blood and volunteer their time to help the injured. 
These are acts of honor and bravery that no barbaric act of violence 
can penetrate.
  Make no mistake, there is no honor in terrorism. It is the ultimate 
form of cowardice that may shake a nation, but never tear down the 
resolve of a proud country dedicated to the pursuit of freedom. This 
Congress is unified behind our President who will guide our country 
through this tragedy and hunt down those responsible for these 
inconceivable acts of violence against the United States.
  Let this resolution not only signify the beginning our healing, but 
also our resolve to capture those responsible. We will find you, and 
justice will be administered.
  God bless America.
  Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA. Mr. Speaker, yesterday we all witnessed in shock 
and disbelieve the worst terrorist attack in the history of this great 
country. America was attacked by a faceless enemy, a coward in the 
shadows. Many innocent lives were shattered by these horrendous acts of 
terrorism. I fully support the President's efforts to find the 
perpetrators and bring them to justice. I am confident that justice 
will be served and that these crimes will not remain unpunished.
  My deepest sympathies go to those who yesterday lost their loved ones 
in Washington and New York. May God Almighty give them peace and 
comfort them in their grief.
  Terrorism will not undermine the strength of this nation and the will 
of our people. There are still many questions in our hearts. As we look 
for answers, let us work together through these difficult times. 
America is at war against the forces of terror and destruction. Peace, 
liberty, and democracy will prevail. America will prevail.
  Mr. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in complete unity with my colleagues 
in this great body to condemn the most horrific acts of terrorism in 
our world's history.
  Our country mourns together today for the victims of yesterday's 
brutal, cowardly attacks and our thoughts and prayers are with them and 
their loved ones. We commend and thank

[[Page H5588]]

the heroic efforts of the thousands of rescue workers who at this hour 
search tirelessly for the victims and survivors of this national 
tragedy.
  Make no mistake, what happened yesterday in New York City and our 
nation's capitol was a deliberate Act of War against the United States 
of America and as assault upon the freedoms of people worldwide. When 
the hijackers steered our civilian airliners into the World Trade 
Center and the Department of Defense, they not only targeted America's 
financial and military centers, they attacked our culture, liberties, 
and way of life.
  Since our founding, America has served as a symbol of freedom and 
stands today as the world's greatest, most enduring democracy. While 
our democratic principles may make us a target for those fearful of 
freedom, they also bond and unite us in the face of adversity. This 
tragedy will only make our great nation stronger in rebuilding from the 
rubble. There shall be no doubt that justice will find all of the 
cowardly murderers who are in any way responsible or connected with 
these atrocious acts.
  This Congress and this government will work with relentless resolve 
to bring the full resources of these United States and her allies to 
bear upon the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. They will be 
brought to justice. I look forward to working in steadfast dedication 
with my colleagues and with the President in avenging these unspeakable 
acts.
  May God bless America.
  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, it took only a matter of 
minutes to forever change our nation. The worst fears of a free society 
have come true, and we will live with both the physical as well as the 
emotional scars from this tragedy for years to come.
  Today is a day for rescue, grieving and investigation. We must do 
everything within our power to help the rescue efforts in New York City 
and at the Pentagon and to extend a compassionate hand to the victims' 
families. The victims include not only the thousands who responded to 
save lives only to become victims themselves.
  As a nation, we took immediate steps yesterday to limit the scope of 
devastation: we sealed off airspace, closed federal buildings and 
heightened security across the country. Today we continue to safeguard 
against the residual threats posed by these horrific events. Yet, a 
nation whose people are truly free to travel and communicate will 
always be vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
  We need to investigate all the facts of yesterday's events so we can 
determine who is responsible for this insidious action and respond 
appropriately. As federal agencies and other government offices work 
together, we can begin to match questions with answers. We must make 
every effort to prevent this type of tragedy from occurring again.
  I have every faith that in this time of crisis and mourning, the 
world will see that the American spirit of resilience remains 
undeterred. Yesterday our nation came together as a united family. 
Today, that bond remains stronger than ever. My heart and prayer are 
with the injured, the victims, and all their families.
  Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, like the millions of other Americans who 
arrived at work Tuesday morning ready for another day, I was deeply 
shaken and in utter disbelief at the nightmarish events which unfolded 
before the nation's eyes in New York, Washington, D.C. and in rural 
Pennsylvania.
  America was the victim of a direct and coordinated attack that is 
unprecedented in our country's history. Terrorist forces have declared 
all out war on the United States and the American people, and in 
response we must declare war on all terrorists regardless of what 
banner they fly, or, what country they seek safe harbor in.
  The innocence of this nation has been shattered and our peoples' 
peaceful way of life has been forever changed. My thoughts and prayers 
are with those injured, the families of the many who lost their lives 
yesterday in these attacks, and those brave Americans desperately 
trying to recover the victims.
  In response to horrific injury, loss of life and destruction of our 
national institutions, the government and the people have rallied 
together to defend our country and our liberty.
  I am very proud of our President for his quick response to this 
national crisis and I fully support and endorse all efforts now 
underway to track down and swiftly punish those responsible for these 
despicable acts against America and her citizens.
  America's resolve has been put to the test like no other time in 
living memory. We must respond to these terrible acts of cowardice and 
evil with decisive and overwhelming military force to annihilate those 
who planned and ordered these attacks on innocent Americans.
  America is the greatest nation in the history of the world and its 
greatness will not be diminished by these unspeakable acts of terrorism 
and fear. To those who would seek to destroy our land, let me be clear. 
We will not only survive these attacks, but will become stronger in the 
process as citizens band together to show the world that Americans 
cannot and will not be defeated.
  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, September 11, 2001 will be a date forever 
frozen in American history. We will never forget the sickening sight of 
the World Trade Center and the Pentagon being attacked by hijacked 
airplanes. We will not rest until the criminals who committed these 
terrible acts are made to pay. We will always remember the thousands of 
innocent people who were killed, and the heartbreak that weighs so 
heavily on their families and friends.
  But the terrorists did not win. Because while America mourns today, 
we know from our history that liberty and decency ultimately triumph 
over tyranny and hate. These fanatics struck with unimaginable might at 
two symbols of our strengths--the financial district that fuels our 
economy and the fortress of our national defense system--but the United 
States still stands.
  As the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, I watched 
solemnly as the World Trade Center, a towering icon of American and 
world finance, collapsed into clouds. But our capital markets will 
survive and thrive, continuing their critical role in our economy. I 
have been talking with federal regulators and financial industry 
leaders, including Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan, and 
plan to work with them to assure consumers, savers, and investors that 
our systems remain fundamentally sound.
  As a former FBI agent, I have long been concerned about terrorism. We 
need to recognize, as the National Commission on Terrorism did last 
year, that the threat is changing--from state-sponsored terrorism that 
targeted Americans overseas, to the shadowy acts of mass violence 
against civilians we experienced in its most evil force yesterday.
  Everyone agrees that this cannot happen again. But to be taken 
seriously, our vow must be backed up with adequate resources. Despite 
space-age technological surveillance, my experience is that there is no 
substitute for good ground-level intelligence. It's tougher to do, but 
our intelligence communities need the resources and support that will 
allow them to make the personal contacts that provide information you 
can't get anywhere else.
  One fear I have is that our law enforcement officials are falling 
behind in their ability to monitor terrorist communications in the 
wireless and Internet era. There was a newspaper article this year, and 
maybe we will find it prescient, on Osama bin Laden's use of encrypted 
messages. Our authorities will forever be a step behind the terrorists 
if they do not have the legal authority and technical ability to 
intercept such communications.
  Sadly, we also must make sure that our communities are adequately 
prepared to respond to terrorist acts. Think about the crushing demand 
being placed on hospitals and emergency teams in New York City and 
Washington. How would other communities with far fewer facilities and 
trained personnel respond if they were made targets?
  This Congress and President will do everything that must be done to 
respond to these disastrous incidents. We will move ahead to protect 
Americans in this suddenly-uncertain world. And we will continue to 
mourn the loss of a new breed of patriot--the innocent civilian.
  September 11, 2001 will indeed always be frozen in our memory as a 
horrible day for America. But this day, and the days that follow, are 
what we make of them, and history will judge us on our response.
  Mr. COYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for the 
victims of yesterday's terrorist attack, and to reiterate the United 
States' firm resolve not to give in to terrorism.
  I, like all Americans, am shocked and saddened by this horrible 
attack. I want to extend my sympathy to the families and friends of the 
victims. Even one death would have been tragic. A disaster of this size 
is simply beyond human comprehension. And yet each of the thousands of 
families directly affected by this attack needs our consolation and 
support. We ache with grief for their loss, and we will work to hold 
the individuals, groups, or states who participated in these despicable 
attacks accountable for their actions.
  In the wake of this attack, life in this country will inevitably 
change. In big ways and small, we will have to adapt to a threat that 
is ever-present and yet mostly invisible.
  Terrorist attacks are so brutally effective in part because they are 
usually unexpected, and because they are so difficult to guard against. 
Consequently they can create uncertainty, fear, and even panic out of 
proportion to the threat that they actually present.
  We must work to protect our people from terrorist attack. 
Accomplishing that goal will require the dedication of substantial 
additional resources to combating terrorism. We must also accept the 
probability that despite the

[[Page H5589]]

best efforts of our intelligence and law enforcement personnel, some 
future acts of terrorism will succeed. But, perhaps the most important 
of all, we must firmly resolve to prevent the terrorists from winning.
  In particular, we must not let terrorists destroy the accomplishments 
of which our nation should be the most proud. While changes in security 
procedures are apparently required, we should not sacrifice Americans' 
remarkable freedom or our civil rights in the battle against terrorism.
  I also want to caution my fellow citizens against leaping to 
unjustified conclusions or taking inappropriate action against other 
citizens. In this regard, I want to remind the American people that our 
first thoughts after the Oklahoma City bombing were that foreign agents 
were responsible for the attack; we subsequently learned that that 
horrible attack was home-grown. And even if, as has been suggested, 
Osama bin Laden's organization is behind this attack, we should not 
attack or discriminate against Muslims or Arab-Americans. By no means 
are most or even many Muslims and Arab-Americans anti-American or pro-
terrorist. They are, rather, law-abiding and patriotic citizens who 
deserve our respect and fellowship. They most definitely do not deserve 
to be vilified or attacked.
  As we consider what action we should take, we must carefully and 
objectively evaluate the threats we face and the means we might use to 
address them. It is essential that we not underestimate our enemies in 
this conflict. They are dedicated, ruthless, and--as yesterday's 
attacks proved--willing to sacrifice their own lives for a cause they 
believe in. That being said, there are a number of reasons for 
Americans to remain calm and confident. We must recognize that the 
number of active terrorists is small, and that their resources are 
limited. We must also remember that most people around the world are as 
appalled by these attacks as we are, and that they are just as 
interested as we are in stopping terrorism. We should also remember 
that most Americans are still remarkably safe; while certain symbolic 
targets may be attacked, the risk for most Americans of experiencing a 
terrorist attack is still significantly lower than the risk of 
experiencing commonplace mishaps like heart attacks or traffic 
accidents. Finally, we must remember that most terrorist attacks are 
thwarted before they can be carried out; I am certain that Congress 
will provide the necessary resources to increase security and expand 
our counter-terrorism operations. Consequently, I am confident that the 
American people will demonstrate the resolve--and the wisdom--necessary 
to win this fight.
  We can take comfort from the fact that we have dealt with bigger 
threats in the past. The threats posed by the Axis in World War II and 
by nuclear weapons during the Cold War were real and potentially much 
more devastating. The American people rose to those challenges, and 
they did so admirably. They will rise to this challenge as well.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, let me reiterate my belief that our great 
nation will prevail in this difficult but unavoidable struggle.
  Mr. CHAMBLISS.1 Mr. Speaker, America is the most free, most open, 
most democratic nation in the world and yesterday we paid tremendous 
price for our freedom. Yesterday's vicious attack on the United States 
was a heinous and despicable act of murder targeting innocent American 
families. The devastation are unspeakable, the consequences are 
unimaginable. Every single American has been touched by tragedy like no 
other event in American history, and our national will has been seared 
by images of death and destruction. Our hearts and prayers are with the 
families of those whose lives have been lost. We have been hit at our 
hearts and we mourn our national loss. Today, we put politics aside and 
focus on our principles and our policy. We are not Republicans or 
Democrats, we are Americans, speaking with one united voice against 
this terror that has been perpetrated against us.
  I commend President Bush and the administration for their steady and 
unwavering leadership in this crisis and Gov. Pataki, Mayor Giuliani, 
DC Mayor Anthony Williams, and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge and all 
the people who have answered the call of duty to respond in New York, 
Washington, and Pennsylvania. America's first responders are our first 
line of defense and these professionals deserve our gratitude and 
praise for the work they are doing.
  However, today it is pointedly clear that we continue to live in a 
dangerous world with very real threats to our nation. There are still 
terrorists who seek to destroy our country, chemical, biological, and 
nuclear demons still hover, and enemies of freedom and democracy still 
persist.
  Terrorists are becoming more and more sophisticated and we have been 
warned that terrorists acts against us are inevitable. The United 
States has been tested. But our enemies should not be deceived. We are 
firmly resolved to find the perpetrators and punish those involved in 
any way in these despicable acts. Our determination is firm, our reach 
is long, and our nation is united. This assault on our families and our 
values and our Nation will not stand. It is important now that as we 
rebuild we also recognize the road ahead of us. Much work must be done 
to eliminate terrorist threats around the world and to protect our 
citizens at home and abroad.
  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday our Nation was attacked, an act 
of war that when all is told will have claimed thousands of American 
lives. It was a day of disbelief, shock, and horror. I offer my most 
heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims of 
this terrorist attack on our Nation and our people.
  Today is a day of anger. The United States will not tolerate a direct 
attack on its citizens. The full force and will of our government will 
be dedicated to punishing the terrorists who are responsible, as well 
as those who harbor and protect them.
  We know who the most likely individual is behind these acts, because 
he has acted before, killing Americans viciously and mercilessly. I 
strongly support our President in the effort to lead us in a swift, 
severe act of retribution that will leave no question that America will 
not allow her citizens to live under the threat of terrorism.
  Osama bin Laden is in the business of terrorism, backed by millions 
of dollars of personal wealth. We already know that he is responsible 
for a number of terrorists attacks that include the first attack on the 
World Trade Center in 1993 and the 1998 attack on the U.S. embassies in 
Kenya and Tanzania which killed over 200 people.
  He has publicly declared war on the United States and stated that 
``America will face a black fate . . . strikes will continue from 
everwhere, and Islamic groups will appear one after the other to fight 
American interests.'' It is time for this threat to be eliminated. and 
if we find that someone else is responsible for yesterday's attack then 
we should eliminate that threat as well.
  The debate has already begun about the shortcomings of the American 
intelligence--whether we should have known and been able to stop these 
horrific events before they occurred. It is true that America has in 
many ways become complacent about our security on our own shores.
  We have come to rely heavily on the benefits of highly technical 
intelligence capabilities. While these components are important in 
keeping our people safe worldwide, it cannot replace the benefit of 
investing in human skill to infiltrate the ranks of would-be 
terrorists. Humans infiltrated our security yesterday, not high 
technology. We must refocus on that lost component of our intelligence 
and security efforts.
  After the attack on Pearl Harbor, a Japanese Admiral was heard to say 
I hope we have not awakened a sleeping giant. That sleeping giant has 
awakened again and it will rise quickly--Americans united behind our 
President--to punish those who would cripple or destroy our freedom and 
our people.
  Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, today, I express my shock and outrage at 
the attacks that took place yesterday. First and foremost I send out my 
prayers and condolences to the thousands of American families most 
directly affected by this tragic event and the millions of Americans 
who feel the devastation of such a profound strike at the heart of our 
Nation.
  While our pain is immense our actions will be resolute. We will not 
stand idly by while those who seek to destroy our democracy wreak havoc 
on our country and the rest of the world. I say to those who have 
perpetrated this attack: witness the American resolve evident in the 
immediate aftermath of these horrendous attacks as our Nation's 
citizens band together to help one another in time of need; witness the 
increased sense of American unity, tradition, pride and patriotism your 
actions invigorate in the American conscious; witness the undying sense 
of hope and determination evidenced by the American people.
  I say that your attack runs counter to your goals, whatever they may 
be. You have only increased our determination to spread the American 
spirit and our belief in freedom and justice to the far corners of the 
world. You have only strengthened our condemnation of undemocratic 
institutions, and you have resigned yourself to the retribution that 
your evil acts warrant.
  God bless America and God help the families and victims of 
yesterdays' attack.
  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, the House is meeting today to lend 110 
percent support to our Commander-in-Chief, President George W. Bush. 
Every Member of Congress is completely unified in our support for 
President Bush to do whatever is necessary to rescue the wounded and 
attend to the victims and their families, and to identify those 
responsible for this atrocity, hunt them down, and bring them to 
justice.
  These attacks are an act of war against the people of the United 
States. We will eradicate these terrorists wherever they may be and

[[Page H5590]]

punish anyone who harbored them, anyone who gave them a nickel, and 
anyone who gave them comfort and aid.
  Members of Congress are furious and outraged, but we will be 
thoughtful and deliberative in our response. Above all, we will support 
our Commander-in-Chief.
  As Congress and our President decide how America should respond, we 
must be sure to remember Benjamin Franklin's warning that those who 
``give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve 
neither liberty nor safety.''
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). All time for debate has 
expired.
  Pursuant to the order of the House of today, the previous question is 
ordered.
  The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the joint 
resolution.
  The joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed and read a third 
time, and was read the third time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the joint 
resolution.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 408, 
nays 0, not voting 22, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 338]

                               YEAS--408

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Aderholt
     Akin
     Allen
     Andrews
     Armey
     Baca
     Bachus
     Baird
     Baker
     Baldacci
     Baldwin
     Ballenger
     Barcia
     Barr
     Barrett
     Bartlett
     Barton
     Bass
     Becerra
     Bentsen
     Bereuter
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Biggert
     Bilirakis
     Bishop
     Blagojevich
     Blumenauer
     Blunt
     Boehlert
     Boehner
     Bonilla
     Bonior
     Bono
     Borski
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd
     Brady (PA)
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (FL)
     Brown (OH)
     Brown (SC)
     Bryant
     Burr
     Burton
     Buyer
     Callahan
     Calvert
     Camp
     Cannon
     Cantor
     Capito
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardin
     Carson (IN)
     Carson (OK)
     Castle
     Chabot
     Chambliss
     Clay
     Clayton
     Clement
     Clyburn
     Coble
     Collins
     Combest
     Condit
     Cooksey
     Costello
     Cox
     Coyne
     Cramer
     Crane
     Crenshaw
     Cubin
     Culberson
     Cummings
     Cunningham
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (FL)
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Davis, Tom
     Deal
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     DeLay
     DeMint
     Deutsch
     Diaz-Balart
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Dooley
     Doolittle
     Doyle
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ehrlich
     Emerson
     Engel
     English
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Evans
     Everett
     Farr
     Fattah
     Ferguson
     Filner
     Flake
     Fletcher
     Foley
     Forbes
     Ford
     Frank
     Frelinghuysen
     Frost
     Gallegly
     Ganske
     Gekas
     Gephardt
     Gibbons
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gilman
     Gonzalez
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Goss
     Graham
     Granger
     Graves
     Green (TX)
     Green (WI)
     Greenwood
     Grucci
     Gutierrez
     Gutknecht
     Hall (OH)
     Hall (TX)
     Hansen
     Harman
     Hart
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Hayworth
     Hefley
     Herger
     Hill
     Hilleary
     Hilliard
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hobson
     Hoeffel
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Horn
     Hostettler
     Houghton
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Hyde
     Inslee
     Isakson
     Israel
     Issa
     Istook
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jenkins
     John
     Johnson (CT)
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Jones (OH)
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Keller
     Kennedy (MN)
     Kennedy (RI)
     Kerns
     Kildee
     Kind (WI)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kirk
     Kleczka
     Knollenberg
     Kolbe
     Kucinich
     LaFalce
     LaHood
     Lampson
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Leach
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     LoBiondo
     Lofgren
     Lowey
     Lucas (KY)
     Lucas (OK)
     Luther
     Maloney (CT)
     Manzullo
     Markey
     Mascara
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum
     McCrery
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHugh
     McInnis
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McKinney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Menendez
     Mica
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller (FL)
     Miller, Gary
     Miller, George
     Mink
     Mollohan
     Moore
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Morella
     Myrick
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Nethercutt
     Ney
     Northup
     Norwood
     Nussle
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Osborne
     Ose
     Otter
     Owens
     Oxley
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Paul
     Pelosi
     Pence
     Peterson (MN)
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Phelps
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Platts
     Pombo
     Pomeroy
     Portman
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Quinn
     Radanovich
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reyes
     Reynolds
     Riley
     Rivers
     Rodriguez
     Roemer
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roukema
     Roybal-Allard
     Rush
     Ryan (WI)
     Ryun (KS)
     Sabo
     Sanchez
     Sanders
     Sandlin
     Sawyer
     Schaffer
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schrock
     Scott
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shaw
     Shays
     Sherman
     Sherwood
     Shimkus
     Shows
     Shuster
     Simmons
     Simpson
     Skeen
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (MI)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Solis
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stearns
     Stenholm
     Strickland
     Stump
     Stupak
     Sununu
     Sweeney
     Tancredo
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Tauzin
     Taylor (MS)
     Taylor (NC)
     Terry
     Thomas
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thornberry
     Thune
     Thurman
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Tierney
     Toomey
     Towns
     Traficant
     Turner
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Upton
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Vitter
     Walden
     Walsh
     Wamp
     Waters
     Watkins (OK)
     Watson (CA)
     Watt (NC)
     Watts (OK)
     Waxman
     Weldon (FL)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                             NOT VOTING--22

     Conyers
     Crowley
     Davis (IL)
     Dicks
     Fossella
     Gordon
     Kelly
     Kilpatrick
     Largent
     Lipinski
     Maloney (NY)
     McCarthy (MO)
     Meeks (NY)
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Payne
     Rangel
     Royce
     Saxton
     Souder
     Weiner
     Weldon (PA)

                              {time}  0107

  So the joint resolution was passed.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  Stated for:
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 338, 
H. Con. Res. 61--Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the 
terrorist attacks launched against the United States on September 11, 
2001, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have 
voted ``aye.''
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). Pursuant to the order of the 
House of earlier today, S.J. Res. 22 is passed.
  Without objection, the motion to reconsider S.J. Res. 22 is laid on 
the table, and H.J. Res. 61 is laid on the table.
  There was no objection.

                          ____________________