[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 120 (Friday, September 14, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H5635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL DAY OF UNITY AND PRAYER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today we join the President of 
the United States in a national day of unity and prayer. I was moved by 
his citing of the words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt expressing the 
fact that warm courage exhibits national unity.

                              {time}  1445

  I want to offer in particular today a moment of appreciation and 
thanks to our fellow colleagues from New York and the Washington and 
Virginia area, and, of course, in Pennsylvania.
  Our eyes have been riveted on the good citizens of New York, the 
valor that they have shown, the spirit of comfort and unity that they 
have given to each other. Might I add that the Congress stands with 
them, behind them, and alongside of them.
  Might I also say to the fallen men and women, the emergency workers, 
police and fire, coming from Houston, Texas, let me say to them on 
behalf of all of our citizens and the State of Texas, we mourn with 
them and we celebrate the lives of those who gave their lives.
  But I come today to discuss very briefly another loss, another 
constituency of loss; that is, our children, the children of those 
fallen, either in the tragedy of their parent or a guardian being on 
those terrible planes, civilian airplanes being used as weapons, or 
those fallen in the World Trade Building.
  We realize, along with our military personnel, that they are part of 
families and they are loved. I believe it is important as we debate 
today the resolution to go forward and to assist the President and 
consult with the President on how we will address these terrorist acts, 
let us not forget our children.
  At the end of the day, I expect to offer and file a resolution that 
will help and encourage to expedite any benefits that are due and owing 
to children who have lost a guardian, a parent, or parents.
  I am reminded of a story told by one of my staffers from New York. 
His sister attends a school just a few blocks away from the World Trade 
Buildings. I still believe that those buildings stand in spirit. She 
acknowledged to him that one of the youngsters that was her classmate 
saw two parents go off to work that morning, and has yet to see them as 
of today.
  There will be many stories like that. Many of our children will need 
someone other than the parent or guardian to love them and to nourish 
them. Let us not have bureaucracy stand in the way of providing these 
children with their immediate needs, the monetary needs, as we embrace 
them to provide the nurturing needs, the medical assistance, the foster 
care assistance, the psychological needs. Let us wash away the 
entanglement of red tape, work with our State and local agencies, and 
push forward the needs of our children.
  This concurrent resolution will have the Congress on record that we 
are prioritizing our children and expediting their needs. I would ask 
my colleagues to join me. This is already a bipartisan resolution, and 
I thank those who have agreed to work with me, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Gilman), the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly), the 
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson), and the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Meeks), and many others I would hope will join us in ensuring 
that we move forward on behalf of our children.
  I close by simply saying that we will soon engage this Congress in a 
very important debate on how we proceed, whether in war or conflict. We 
must do it in a rational and a firm way with the facts. We must lead 
this country in a way that exhibits our valor and our courage so that 
we adhere to better angels and higher angels, and that in fact, that we 
believe in our freedom in a way that encourages peace and deliberation.
  Yes, we will give retribution, but we will be firm and factual and 
studied. We will do it together, the President in consultation with 
Congress.

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