[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 121 (Monday, September 17, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1666]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AUTHORIZING USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AGAINST THOSE RESPONSIBLE 
              FOR RECENT ATTACKS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 14, 2001

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my strong, unconditional 
support for the congressional authorization that will enable our Nation 
to act swiftly and firmly against those responsible for unleashing the 
deadliest attack on our Nation in its history. The terrorists' heinous 
acts took thousands of innocent lives and caused unprecedented physical 
destruction. But they have not succeeded in tearing us down or leaving 
us weak.
  Out of sorrow has come a soaring of the American spirit; out of 
destruction has come a restoration of community and political unity; 
and yes, out of anger, has come a steely determination to hunt down 
these terrorists and all their enablers, and to ensure that they pay a 
heavy price for these acts.
  We did not seek conflict; terrorists have declared war upon the 
United States. But we will respond forcefully when our freedoms are 
threatened and our way of life is under attack. We must take action 
against our enemies, on our own terms, at a time of our choosing, with 
moral clarity and unity of purpose. We must deter future aggressors. 
This resolution will provide the President with the full authority to 
do just that, and we should join in unanimous support of it.
  This resolution is not just authorization for a near-term strike 
against the perpetrators of the World Trade Center and Pentagon 
attacks. It is a declaration of war against all terrorists now 
threatening our Nation, and those who support them. While Congress will 
continue to consult with the Administration as we progress with this 
campaign, and play our rightful role if necessary to expand our 
operations, make no mistake that we will support the President in his 
quest to eliminate these threats to our society.
  I have fought in a conflict that many in this Nation actively 
opposed, and know how devastating domestic opposition can be to the 
conduct of war. That should never happen again. Now more than ever, 
when we are asking our troops to defend our own soil from further 
attack, we must have solidarity and the commitment of the American 
people that we will not only provide critical moral support to our 
President and our troops, but that we will follow through with the 
financial resources they need to do the job.
  This campaign demands that we relook our federal spending priorities, 
and our military needs. We must provide our troops with the current 
generation assets they need to do their job, and jump start maintenance 
of equipment that has been ignored for so long. But we must also 
modernize our forces to ensure their superiority in the 21st century. 
Perhaps we will revise our focus, reshape our priorities for evolving 
forms of warfare. But we will not ignore the military's needs, and our 
national security will be restored as the top national priority. We 
will make assets available to protect our homeland, and we will ensure 
our troops are equipped to do their job and prevail in their mission--
now and well into the future.
  As President Bush has said, this battle will take time and resolve. 
But with the continued support of all Americans, we will win, no matter 
how long it takes. I urge all my colleagues to join in unanimous 
support of this Nation, our President and our military in this war by 
voting for this resolution authorizing use of force against the 
perpetrators of terrorism worldwide.

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