[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 42 (Tuesday, April 12, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3493-S3494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 26--HONORING AND MEMORIALIZING THE 
            PASSENGERS AND CREW OF UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 93

  Mr. CONRAD (for himself, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Allard, Mr. Bayh, Mr. 
Bingaman, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Carper, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Coburn, Mr. 
Cochran, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Ensign, Mrs. 
Feinstein, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 
Leahy, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Schumer, Mr. 
Specter, and Mr. Stevens) submitted the following concurrent 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and 
Administration:

                            S. Con. Res. 26

       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 October 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 select an appropriate 
     memorial that shall be located in the United States Capitol 
     and that shall honor the passengers and crew of Flight 93, 
     who saved the United States Capitol from destruction; and
       (4) the memorial shall state 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. As we 
reflect on the events of 9/11 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 
United Airlines flight 93. Those brave people gave up their lives in 
order to save others that fateful day.
  Last fall, 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 clearer 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.
  Today I am resubmitting a resolution honoring and memorializing the 
passengers and crew of United Airlines flight 93. This legislation 
expresses our deepest respect and gratitude to them, as well as 
condolences to their families and friends. This bill also calls for an 
appropriate memorial to be placed in the Capitol by the bicameral, 
bipartisan leaders of Congress.
  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 Capitol. 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 sacrifice or that of their loved 
ones.
  The Senate unanimously passed an identical resolution last October 
11, within a month of its introduction, but it did not pass the House 
of Representatives before the adjournment of the 108th Congress. The 
bipartisan legislation I am reintroducing today has the

[[Page S3494]]

support of 25 of my colleagues, including Senator Santorum from 
Pennsylvania, who has joined me in leading this effort. I am also happy 
to report that Congressman Shuster of Pennsylvania will also be 
introducing companion legislation today.
  I hope all my colleagues will join me in sponsoring this resolution. 
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.
  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today with Senator Conrad as a 
proud cosponsor of a resolution which recognizes the immense bravery of 
the crew and passengers on flight 93. Over 3\1/2\ years have passed 
since September 11, 2001, but we, the American people, have not 
forgotten the bravery and selflessness that was shown by our fellow 
citizens on that day.
  During the 108th Congress, the 9/11 Commission investigated the 
events that took place on September 11, 2001, including flight 93's 
crash in Somerset County, PA. As a result of a series of Senate 
hearings held to evaluate and gain a clearer understanding of the 9/11 
Commission's findings, the actions of flight 93's passengers and crew 
have become increasingly evident. We know with near certainty now that 
the terrorists had plans of causing severe destruction to either the 
White House or the Capitol Building.
  Having realized through phone calls to loved ones that three other 
planes had already been crashed that morning by terrorists, the 
passengers on flight 93 acted quickly and collaboratively to overtake 
the hijackers and force them to crash the plane into a rural part of 
Pennsylvania, keeping the plane's intended target safe from harm.
  As a result of the 9/11 Commission's findings, we conclude that 
America is indebted to the heroic actions of those on flight 93, who 
showed great bravery so that many other lives could be spared from 
ruin.
  We who work here in the Capitol are particularly indebted to those on 
board flight 93. In addition to saving the lives of thousands, the 
passengers on flight 93 ensured the preservation of one of the greatest 
symbols of America's freedom and democracy.
  In an effort to recognize and honor the heroes on flight 93, I am 
proud to submit this resolution with Senator Conrad. This resolution is 
an expression of our deep gratitude for what those on flight 93 did for 
each of us here in our Nation's Capital, as well as an expression of 
sorrow and condolence to their families and friends. Additionally, this 
resolution provides for a place in the Capitol Building to be 
memorialized in the name of the crew and passengers of flight 93, with 
a remembrance plaque placed at the location.
  This day presents an opportunity to remember all of those who died on 
September 11, 2001. Additionally, our volunteers, first responders, and 
the American people deserve a heartfelt ``thank you'' for the strength 
and strong resolve they showed in the face of destructive, cowardly 
acts.
  I hope that all of my colleagues will join with Senator Conrad and me 
in this bipartisan effort to honor the crew and passengers on flight 93 
for what they did on that infamous day in America's history. May their 
selfless actions, taken for us and the American people, never be 
forgotten.

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