[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 108 (Monday, September 13, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9141-S9142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 136--HONORING AND MEMORIALIZING THE 
            PASSENGERS AND CREW OF UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 93

  Mr. CONRAD (for himself and Mr. Jeffords) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and 
Administration:

                            S. Con. Res. 136

       Whereas on September 11, 2001, acts of war involving the 
     hijacking of commercial airplanes were committed against the 
     United States, killing and injuring thousands of innocent 
     people;
       Whereas 1 of the hijacked planes, United Airlines Flight 
     93, crashed in a field in Pennsylvania;
       Whereas while Flight 93 was still in the air, the 
     passengers and crew, through cellular phone conversations 
     with loved ones on the ground, learned that other hijacked 
     airplanes had been used to attack the United States;
       Whereas during those phone conversations, several of the 
     passengers indicated that there was an agreement among the 
     passengers and crew to try to overpower the hijackers who had 
     taken over Flight 93;
       Whereas Congress established the National Commission on 
     Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (commonly referred 
     to as ``the 9-11 Commission'') to study the September 11, 
     2001, attacks and how they occurred;
       Whereas the 9-11 Commission concluded that ``the nation 
     owes a debt to the passengers of Flight 93. Their actions 
     saved the lives of countless others, and may have saved 
     either the U.S. Capitol or the White House from 
     destruction.''; and
       Whereas the crash of Flight 93 resulted in the death of 
     everyone on board: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That--
       (1) the United States owes the passengers and crew of 
     United Airlines Flight 93 deep respect and gratitude for 
     their decisive actions and efforts of bravery;
       (2) the United States extends its condolences to the 
     families and friends of the passengers and crew of Flight 93;
       (3) not later than January 1, 2006, the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives, the minority leader of the House of 
     Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, and the 
     minority leader of the Senate shall determine a location in 
     the United States Capitol Building (including the Capitol 
     Visitor Center) that shall be named in honor of the 
     passengers and crew of Flight 93, who saved the United States 
     Capitol Building from destruction; and
       (4) a memorial plaque shall be placed at the site of the 
     determined location that states the purpose of the honor and 
     the names of the passengers and crew of Flight 93 on whom the 
     honor is bestowed.

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a concurrent 
resolution to honor the memory of the passengers on flight 93. This 
past weekend marked the third anniversary of the vicious and merciless 
attacks that took place on American soil on September 11, 2001.
  As we reflect on those events and mourn the great loss we suffered, 
we remember the innocent who perished and we are reminded of the 
valiant efforts of those who saved lives, including the passengers and 
crew of flight 93. Those brave people gave up their lives in order to 
save others that fateful day.
  In the last several months, the 9/11 Commission released its report 
about the series of events that took place on September 11, 2001. The 
Senate has subsequently undertaken an evaluation of the Commission's 
findings through a series of hearings. As the story continues to 
unfold, it becomes more clear how important the actions of the 
passengers and crew of flight 93 were. We now know that flight 93 was 
almost certainly headed to the U.S. Capitol or the White House. We also 
know the passengers of flight 93 learned through a series of phone 
calls to loved ones that hijackers on three other flights had turned 
airplanes into flying bombs that morning, crashing them into the World 
Trade Center and the Pentagon.
  Armed only with that knowledge and their own courage and resolve, 
those brave passengers attacked the hijackers and forced them to crash 
flight 93 into rural Pennsylvania far short of its intended target.
  The 9/11 Commission concluded that the Nation owes a debt to the 
passengers of flight 93. Their actions saved the lives of countless 
others and may have saved either the U.S. Capitol or the White House 
from destruction.
  Those of us who work here in the Capitol owe a special debt of 
gratitude to those heroes. Their actions saved one of the greatest 
symbols of our democracy. Had flight 93 reached its intended target, 
the dreadful day might have been even worse.
  Today I am submitting a resolution honoring and memorializing the 
passengers and crew of United Airline flight 93. This legislation 
expresses our deepest respect and gratitude to them, as well as 
condolences to their families

[[Page S9142]]

and friends. This bill also calls for a location in the Capitol to be 
named in their memory and a commemorative plaque to be placed at that 
location.
  Today I bow my head in memory of those who died at the World Trade 
Center and the Pentagon. I also pay respect to our first responders, 
volunteers, and average citizens who risked their lives to save others 
on that day.
  Finally, I pay homage to the passengers and crew of flight 93 for 
taking on those who wished to harm our country and Nation's Capital. I 
believe it is appropriate at this time to acknowledge the actions of 
the passengers of flight 93 for showing such remarkable heroism and to 
commemorate them in the very walls that might have crumbled had they 
not made that ultimate sacrifice. We are forever indebted to them and 
should never forget their bravery or their sacrifice or that of their 
loved ones.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in sponsoring this resolution. I 
have it at the desk and I am submitting it now. I hope on a broad 
bipartisan basis we are able to recognize those brave passengers and 
crew of flight 93 for what they did on that remarkable day.

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