[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 125 (Monday, September 30, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ON THE OCCASION OF THE SPECIAL JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS IN NEW YORK 
                             CITY, NEW YORK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL R. McNULTY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 26, 2002

  Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, September 6 of this year, a 
special Joint Session of the United States Congress convened in New 
York City to reflect on the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. 
This most rare and somber session served as a necessary reminder of the 
human loss and heroism that the City and State of New York, our nation, 
and our world experienced on that fateful day. I am proud and blessed--
as an American, and as a New Yorker--to have been able to take part.
  We met at Federal Hall, the very same site where the first Congress 
met over two centuries ago. We met just blocks from where the World 
Trade Center towers once pierced the city's majestic skyline.
  Mr. Speaker, most importantly, we remembered the almost 3,000 
innocent civilians who died and their families. We prayed then--and we 
should pray now--for all of the victims of this most heinous terrorist 
act. Though a year has passed, the loss of every single person who 
perished that day is still felt by all those who loved them. The sons 
and daughters, the brothers and sisters, the mothers and fathers lost 
that day will never be replaced. We simply hope that the pain will 
subside, and that the memories will remain strong and vibrant.
  Mr. Speaker, we also expressed our deepest gratitude to the 
firefighters, police officers and emergency personnel who served on 
that fateful day and in the weeks and months that followed. These brave 
men and women, and their peers across the country, put their lives on 
the line--day in and day out--to ensure the safety and well being of 
the citizens of our communities. Recognition of the heroism and service 
of our ``First Responders'' is overdue and well deserved. We must 
continue to acknowledge their bravery and sacrifice. And we in Congress 
must resolve to provide them with the support they need to continue to 
excel in their chosen duty--to save lives.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, we reaffirmed our commitment, as a Congress and 
as a nation, to eradicate the ability of terrorists to ever again carry 
out such a horrific and offensive act--against us or against other 
innocent people around the world. We reaffirmed our promise to bring 
these cowards to justice. A terrorist is, by definition, a coward. It 
is a person who cannot get what he wants by the power of persuasion, 
and therefore resorts to the killing of innocent men, women and 
children.
  Mr. Speaker, the American men and women in our Armed Forces are now 
dispersed throughout the world, seeking out these cowards and 
introducing them to the might of a nation that finds its heart bruised 
but its strength renewed. Freedom is not free. We have paid a 
tremendous price for it. We must not forget those before us who gave 
their lives, or those who put their lives on the line today, to allow 
us the privilege of living in the freest and most open democracy on the 
face of the earth. Our patriots fight for the cause of freedom, and we 
shall support them every step of the way.
  The events of September 11, 2001, were basic violations of the 
fundamental principle that life is to give--not to take. I am proud 
that this Congress gathered on September 6, in the shadow of Ground 
Zero, to remember and honor both the victims and the heroes--and to 
remind the world that the forces of evil shall never prevail.

                          ____________________