[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 159 (Friday, November 16, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11997-S11998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SPECIAL SESSION OF CONGRESS IN NEW YORK CITY

  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I would like to draw my colleagues' 
attention to an editorial, which appeared in the New York Daily News on 
September 25, 2001.
  In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, this editorial 
proposes that Congress should convene for a special session in New York 
City. Daily News rightly points out that a convening of Congress in New 
York City would reaffirm the American people's steadfast resolve 
against the cowardly perpetrators of terrorism--and that the attack on 
New York represented an attack on our Nation.
  I am pleased to report that a bill, H. Con. Res. 249, calling for a 
special session of Congress to meet in New York City, has been 
introduced in the House of Representatives and that yesterday Senator 
Schumer and myself introduced a corresponding bill here in the Senate. 
I urge my colleagues to support this measure, which calls for a special 
1-day joint session of Congress to be held in New York City as a symbol 
of the Nation's solidarity with New Yorkers who epitomize the human 
spirit of courage, resilience, and strength.
  Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Schumer and myself, I ask 
unanimous consent that the editorial be printed in the Record.

[[Page S11998]]

  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

             [From the New York Daily News, Sept. 25, 2001]

                      Convene Congress in New York

       In today's primary election--so savagely interrupted two 
     weeks ago--pundits are predicting an abysmal turnout. But 
     today, New Yorkers, you have even more reason to go to the 
     polls. Not only will you help to select candidates for one of 
     the most critical elections in the city's history, you will 
     be sending a message that our representative democracy still 
     stands tall--the democracy that terrorists are intent on 
     destroying.
       New York was targeted because this city represents America. 
     The U.S. Congress also represents America--figuratively and 
     literally. So herewith, a proposal: Congress should assemble 
     in New York City for a special session.
       The duration doesn't matter--a day would be enough. What 
     matters is that, by meeting here, Congress would show the 
     city, the nation and the world that it stands in solidarity 
     with New York, and that the strikes against the World Trade 
     Center and the Pentagon were strikes against an America that 
     has emerged stronger than ever. An America united in its 
     determination to eradicate terrorism. Indeed, the 535 members 
     of the House and Senate could use the New York session to 
     pass a resolution or legislation related to this new war we 
     are waging. For it is Congress assembled that represents 
     America.
       Holding a special session here would be unprecedented, but 
     there is nothing in the Constitution or federal law or the 
     rules of Congress that dictates where the House and Senate 
     shall convene. In its history, the only time Congress 
     traveled was during the Revolution, when it fled the British. 
     This time, it would not be fleeing, but charging into 
     action--and doing so at the scene of the worst enemy attack 
     ever on American soil.
       Since the terror murder of thousands Sept. 11, President 
     Bush and key members of Congress have visited the city to 
     witness firsthand the destruction, the heroism and the 
     stoicism. Forty members of the Senate came as a group. 
     Consider the emotional and symbolic impact of the entire 
     Congress assembling in New York.
       And the meeting place? Perhaps the Javits Center or 
     Governors Island or Liberty Island. Or somewhere downtown 
     near the scene of the carnage. There would be obstacles 
     involving logistics and security, but they can be overcome, 
     as they were when the President and the Senate delegation 
     visited. This proposal can be brought to fruition.
       In the context of U.S. history, there are strong parallels 
     for Congress coming to New York. The city was the home of the 
     Continental Congress beginning in 1785. And when the federal 
     Constitution was adopted, the first Congress met here in 
     1789. George Washington was sworn into office downtown, 
     blocks from what is now Ground Zero. The first meetings of 
     the House of Representatives and the Senate were held here.
       Though the official seat of power remained in New York for 
     only about a year, during that time the basic functions of 
     the U.S. government were set in place. It was in New York 
     that Congress wrote the Bill of Rights and submitted the 
     amendments to the states. It was in New York that the Supreme 
     Court was established. And it was in New York, on another 
     Sept. 11--in 1789--that the Senate voted to confirm the first 
     administration's first cabinet member: New Yorker Alexander 
     Hamilton as treasury secretary.
       In 1790, Congress moved to Philadelphia, and 10 years later 
     to its new Capitol building in the nation's new capital city 
     of Washington. The last time Congress did not meet at the 
     Capitol was during the War of 1812, when the British burned 
     the building. That was also the last time--until Sept. 11, 
     2001--that a foreign enemy struck the American mainland.
       For generations, America was protected by two broad oceans. 
     No more. We have become a battleground. We are making history 
     anew. And with a simple, yet far-reaching action, Congress 
     can come to New York and write a new chapter in the indelible 
     ink of national fortitude. Congress already has acted to 
     assist our wounded city, approving $20 billion in aid for New 
     York, with more likely to follow. What we ask for here is 
     symbolic. Just as the terrorists chose the World Trade Center 
     and Pentagon as symbols, America should render its own 
     symbol--of unity, strength and resolve such as the world has 
     never seen.

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