[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 111 (Monday, September 11, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9289-S9295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, there are moments in every lifetime which
defy words. For me, those moments are the attack on Pearl Harbor, the
day President Kennedy was assassinated, the Good Friday earthquake in
Alaska, my own airplane crash in 1978, and the day I viewed the Exxon
Valdez oilspill. My most recent and most vivid memory is the helicopter
trip I took over Ground Zero with my good friend, Senator Inouye, on
September 13, 2001.
The total impact of what Senator Inouye and I saw just shocked the
two of us. We both went through World War II and saw a lot of trauma, a
lot of destruction. But nothing was more stark in terms of our
memories, particularly mine, than what I saw that day in New York.
Embedded in my mind then were the questions: Who would do something
like this? And why? We would soon learn the answers, and those answers
changed our Nation forever.
September 11, 2001, was one of our country's darkest days, but the
worst in our enemies brought out the best in our citizens. Their
efforts reflected the words of the author Henry James:
We work in the dark, we do what we can, we give what we
have.
Following those attacks, Americans did everything they could to help
those directly affected. Those of us in Congress almost immediately
made $40 billion available to initiate recovery.
Since then, our country has been fortunate. We have met the
terrorists abroad rather than here on our soil, and we have
accomplished this in a way consistent with our ideals.
Democracy is harder to move than a dictatorship. It moves slowly, but
it moves surely. There is much more work left to do, but so far, we
have been able to prevent another massive terrorist attack on our
country.
The terrorists who attacked us 5 years ago thought they could defeat
us. They questioned our resolve and our dedication to our principles.
They were wrong. Our resolve is strong, and it has brought about a
different response than the terrorists anticipated. The past 5 years
have been a proving ground for our country's courage and commitment.
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Today I am reminded of the words once spoken by President Reagan. He
said this:
Perhaps you and I have lived with this miracle too long to
be properly appreciative. Freedom is a fragile thing and is
never more than one generation from extinction. It is not
ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended
constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a
people. Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have
never known it again.
Today we pause to remember those we have lost over the past 5 years,
men and women who sacrificed everything so that this miracle, the great
American experiment, could continue. Our thoughts and prayers are with
them and with their families. And we will remember forever September
11.
Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today, our Nation honors the memory of
those who were killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
We also pay tribute to the heroism of the first responders who
selflessly risked, and even gave, their lives in the rescue and
recovery missions that followed those horrific attacks. Five years
after that tragic day, we still remember their tremendous bravery, and
we remember the simple acts of kindness that Americans all over the
country displayed as they donated equipment for the first responders,
observed moments of silence, or flew the flag in a show of patriotism
and unity. Each of these acts, however large or small, contributed to
our Nation's recovery. Let us not forget the great strength of spirit
that guided Americans through that difficult time as we move forward,
bound together by our faith in this great and free Nation.
As we mark this solemn day, let us also rededicate ourselves to
defeating the terrorists who continue to threaten us. This should not
be a partisan issue every Senator wants to protect our country and
every American wants to defeat the terrorists who attacked us. This
must be our top priority, and we must strive to regain the unity and
resolve that bound us together after 9/11 as we show the terrorists how
badly they have underestimated the strength and resilience of the
American people.
Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on the approaching
fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks against our Nation.
I still vividly remember that morning. When my chief of staff came to
tell me about the attacks on the World Trade Center, I was in a meeting
on how to improve our 911 emergency response system to better suit the
needs of our first responders in rural areas. Even then we knew right
away that our country would be forever changed.
The events of September 11 undoubtedly remain etched into the memory
of every American. Five years later we are reminded daily of the
profound impact that fateful morning had on our great Nation. Although
deliberation and debate continues all across the county and in this
body to determine the best way to keep our Nation safe, as we approach
the anniversary of 9/11 we must commemorate and pray for those who lost
their lives, for their surviving loved ones, and for the brave men and
women serving in our Armed Forces around the world protecting our
freedoms.
I said it the day after the tragedy here on the floor of the Senate,
and I still believe it: America is strong. No terrorist strike will
undermine our country to a point that would make us lose our
fundamental purpose as a nation and a people.
We as a nation have adjusted to a new way of life since that day. We
understand that these measures have changed our lives slightly but not
our way of life. Increased security at airports, a transformed homeland
security position, and a new national intelligence apparatus are but a
few of the changes we have made in combating the new war of the 21st
century.
After that day in 2001, many of us in elected service had to answer
``what happens next?'' We knew then that the phrase ``war on terror''
had been used lightly before and that this war had been ongoing before
September 11. But our eyes were opened that day, and our strategic
outlook was dramatically altered. President Bush has called it the long
war, and I agree with him. We are in a struggle for survival against a
faceless enemy who uses terror as a weapon against civilians anywhere,
anytime.
It is this reality that has driven our foreign policy for the last 5
years and will continue to define how we fight against terror abroad.
This is a different kind of war than what we have confronted before.
Not only will we have to fight terrorists on the battlefield but also
in urban areas, cyberspace, and over the airwaves. Not only are we
fighting with bullets but also with ideas. Our greatest export
continues to be freedom and democracy, and it will be these tools, not
force, that will eventually lead us to victory.
But any victory we have will be hard fought. Our enemy is a radical
network of terrorists that can flourish anywhere in the world. The
terrorists' directive commands them to kill Christians and Jews, to
kill all Americans, and make no distinction among military and
civilians, including women and children.
It is with this knowledge that we approach the global war on terror.
After September 11, we could not sit back and wait for the terrorists
to strike again. On the contrary, our President, with congressional
backing, ordered our Government to go on the offensive. We have shut
down sanctuaries of terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have cut off the
terror financing, and we have worked with our friends and allies to
track down and apprehend terror operatives wherever they may be. We
have had many such successes against terrorism since 9/11.
In the past, we would combat terrorism mostly using law enforcement
mechanisms. We now combat these terrorists by taking the fight to them
with our international partners using every available resource.
Some of these resources come from our intelligence community. Prior
to September 11, our intelligence and law enforcement communities were
restricted from sharing certain information with one another.
Thankfully, today our counterterrorism efforts are more comprehensive,
and these barriers no longer exist.
Al-Qaida used to train thousands of terrorists in Afghanistan under
the nose of the international community without any repercussions to
the organization or the Taliban. Thankfully, no longer is Afghanistan a
safe haven for those brewing plots against our Nation. The Afghan
people have been freed from the oppressive Taliban and fight with us
side-by-side in the war on terror.
Additionally, Iraq was governed by a mass-murderer and a state
sponsor of terror and now boasts for the first time a democratically
elected government.
Of course, none of this could have been attained without the men and
women of the armed services. Many of these servicemen have sacrificed
everything to protect our freedoms abroad. Yet while the cost has been
high, the cost of doing nothing would be even greater. Our country
continues to mourn for the men and women who have lost their lives
while on duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other parts of the globe.
Despite the many difficulties in this war, our Armed Forces have not
retreated nor walked away in the face of adversity. They continue to
seek out terrorists to disrupt their plans of horror both in the Middle
East and elsewhere. They also continue to provide support and guidance
to the Iraqi and Afghani people in their newborn democracies. Our
citizens in uniform have taken the battle to the enemy and achieved
success.
As we mourn the victims lost on September 11 and the Americans who
have lost their lives since that day protecting us, let us remember
that we are all Americans and must continue to remain committed to
protecting what we hold dear. We will never forget the events of
September 11. It will forever be a harsh reminder of the intentions of
our enemies who detest freedom and democracy.
That said, we must also never forget what we witnessed in the days
following this tragedy as America came together for the greater good.
From that experience we learned that we as Americans are much more
united than not. Much has changed since that fateful day of September
11, but our country has emerged prepared for the new challengers of the
21st century. Let us remember those who lost their lives that day and
never forget why we fight abroad today.
Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I wish to take a few minutes to reflect
upon
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one of our Nation's most trying hours. Five years ago, our Nation
embarked on the greatest test of its courage and mettle since the
``greatest generation'' rose to the challenge of defending freedom in
World War II from the forces of hatred and fascism.
As the 9/11 Commission observed, the morning of Tuesday, September
11, 2001, was a beautiful morning in New York and here in Washington,
DC, before the peace was shattered. None of us will forget those hours
that morning, hours which saw our Nation face unimaginable tragedy.
This defining moment awoke within every American the grim knowledge
that we are a nation at war with hatred and fear and that we must rise
to the challenge. Each of us will remember where we were, what we were
doing, when America turned to face this new challenge with sorrow and
resolve.
In the morning hours of September 11, starting at 8:46 a.m., we
experienced the 21st century's ``Pearl Harbor'' moment. Americans stood
transfixed by the images we saw unfolding before us: the brutal
violence of intolerance and the unimaginable courage of our heroes on
the ground and in the air striving valiantly to prevent it. By 10:38
a.m., America began to truly understand the scope of what had happened:
the thousands of innocent Americans lost, the destruction of the Twin
Towers and damage to the Pentagon, the dawning of a new age in our
Nation's proud history.
Each American grappled to understand this moment in history as it
unfolded before us, trying to make sense of senselessness. As a nation,
we continue to struggle with it each day. Like all Americans, I have
spent many hours seeking meaning from and understanding of the events
of September 11, 2001. It has not been an easy task, nor will it ever
be completed.
But we know the importance of remembering those who are not here with
us now--the innocent passengers aboard those four planes and in the
Towers and the Pentagon; the courageous first responders who charged
into the chaos to try to save their fellow man; the brave
servicemembers who have given their lives around the world to protect
the freedoms we continue to enjoy, to engage our enemies wherever they
may run and hide.
The people who perished during the September 11 attacks were not
simply victims: they were mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters,
sons and daughters, husbands and wives, and friends and neighbors. We
remember them for the shared jokes and laughter, the debates and
challenges, the quarrels and sometimes heart-wrenching disagreements,
the fellowship and love of family that bind us together.
Mr. President, 9/11 represented a crossroads for our Nation: we had
the choice between fear and hope, between appealing to our higher
angels and succumbing to our darkest demons. A year from now, children
starting kindergarten will never have known a world before 9/11. It is
my greatest hope that a century from now, when schoolchildren look back
on 9/11, it will be viewed not as the beginning of a time of darkness
over our democracy but as the clarion call for us to protect and defend
the fundamental rights and liberties we enjoy, a rallying to the
fundamental beliefs that we as Americans hold so dear. It is the least
we can do, out of respect for those who left us that day.
Those lost to us on September 11 and the struggles afterwards shall
never be forgotten. They remain in our hearts, the source of our
resolve. As we have in the past, America shall meet this challenge with
honor, wisdom, and an unbreakable spirit. As a nation, we recommit
ourselves to never giving in to those who would misrepresent faith to
spread hate, fear, and violence. We know that the gifts bestowed upon
us are the gifts of faith, hope, and love. We shall eschew the
politicking of fear and instead choose the unity of purpose that our
times require.
Five years after that day, our Nation recommits itself to remembering
the tremendous loss we suffered as a country. We seek to honor the
sacrifices made on September 11 by renewing our faith in America
itself. I stand here as sure today as I was when I went to sleep on the
night of September 10, 2001, that it is the promise of our common goals
of hope and progress, not fear and violence, that deliver freedom and
security both at home and across the globe, for all people.
Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today, across my great State of Maine and
throughout America, in countless ceremonies--public and private, in
testaments--planned and spontaneous, and in towns of every size and
stripe, we commemorate with mutual solemnity the fifth anniversary of a
day born out of inconsolable and unimaginable loss as well as
unconquerable spirit and ennobling service September 11, 2001.
As we pause to mourn those who have passed from us and as we confront
once again unspeakable acts of barbarism and horror, we cannot help but
find abundant comfort, solace, inspiration, and pride in the eternal
images and remembrances of heroism and sacrifice on that terrible day.
Through what President Lincoln once eloquently phrased as the
``mystic chords of memory,'' we share in reverent and heart-wrenching
moments of silence and find a unifying kinship with those who convene
at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville,
PA. And regardless of our circumstance, location, and occupation, we
cast aside our differences, agendas, and personal and individual
pursuits, to place into action and live out the immortal words of our
Founding Fathers that reverberate throughout the halls of Congress as
well as the annals of our history: E Pluribus Unum, or ``Out of Many,
One.'' Out of the ashes of destruction, we become one Nation,
indivisible.
At the same time, we are not immune to feeling a panoply of
emotions--patriotism, pride, anger--as well as a persistent, gnawing
disbelief that such calculated savagery could exist in the world and
could be perpetrated so brutally and ruthlessly against innocent
people. And those feelings intensify when we put faces and names with
the long line of those who perished. It becomes especially personal
when we reflect upon the Mainers whom we have lost. We grieved then--
and we feel a deep, inescapable sorrow now for the tragedy that befell
Anna Allison, Carol Flyzik, Robert Jalbert, Jacqueline Norton, Robert
Norton, James Roux, Robert Schlegel, and Stephen Ward. Our thoughts and
prayers remain--as they have for the last 5 years and as they will
always--with their families and loved ones.
While we forever honor their memory, we also understand that the
greatest memorial is to embrace all that we have retained as a nation--
our strength, our sense of purpose, and our veneration of the
principles of liberty and justice--even and especially in tumultuous
times.
Let us remember how that one day in September not only changed
America and the world but also reminded us of what really matters--of
the tenets and people we should value and what true heroes really look
like. I recall those passengers who, when faced with the horrible
certainty of their circumstances, brought down United Airlines flight
93 to save the lives of others--not to mention the very symbols of our
democracy, the Capitol and the White House.
On this poignant occasion, we celebrate those heroes who walk among
us today while the legacy of those who perished on 9/11 echoes
throughout New York, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, and every town and
city in this land. And we revere the indelible and exemplary
contributions of all first responders on 9/11 and those made daily
throughout our Nation by firefighters, police officers, rescue workers,
and Americans who are ever-capable of performing extraordinary deeds.
We are also mindful of our military men and women who protect and
defend our way of life. Whether on American shores and soil or around
the globe, their steadfast sense of duty is an inspiration to us all.
As we herald the supreme actions of the past, we must remain
unrelenting in our focus on the trials and tribulations of the present
and the future. The plot foiled by British authorities this past summer
was a chilling reminder that underscores the lurking and merciless
threat we face--and that we cannot afford to yield to the call of
complacency. Just as our enemies have proved they are ever-patient, so
must we prove we are ever-vigilant.
We come together on days of remembrance such as 9/11 to draw strength
from those who are with us and from the memories of those who are not.
We
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recognize the remarkable and munificent valor of fallen friends,
family, and fellow countrymen whose valiant example binds us to them
and their noble heritage--and binds us to each other today--and into a
future more illumined by their selfless deeds on our behalf.
That sentiment brings to mind a great son of Maine, GEN Joshua
Chamberlain, who, in 1889, said the following upon dedicating the
Monument to the 20th Maine that he so nobly commanded at the Battle of
Gettysburg:
In great deeds something abides. On great fields something
stays. Forms change and pass. Bodies disappear. But spirits
linger to consecrate ground for the vision-place of souls.
And reverent men and women from afar, and generations that
know us not and that we know not of, heart-drawn to see where
and by whom great things were suffered and done for them . .
. And lo! the shadow of a mighty presence shall wrap them in
its bosom, and the power of the vision pass into their souls.
It is that power of vision that we have in common that draws us
together today. From that it surely follows the outpouring of respect
and admiration that testifies to a solitary and solemn truth--that time
will never, ever, dim the glorious deeds that were done in the face of
heinous evil.
The morning of September 11, 2001, began with such beautiful blue
skies but ended with a nation in grief-stricken desolation and stunned
shock. In Washington, DC, I watched the images along with the rest of
the world.
Later, as the sun set over the National Mall--still capped by smoke
billowing from the wound in the side of the Pentagon--I will never
forget joining with my colleagues in the House and Senate on the
Capitol steps to sing ``God Bless America.'' We sang to send a message
to the country and to the world that we would never be deterred--that
freedom is forged by something much more resolute than any act of
terror.
Recalling all that September 11 represents--the tragedies and the
triumphs--how it revealed the better angels of our nature for the world
to see in our hour of calamitous attack, despair, and fear, we must
unequivocally resolve on this day--and every day--that we will bring
the fight to the enemy, will not falter in our unwavering commitment,
we will persevere, and most of all, we will and must prevail.
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. President, today is a day of remembrance, a day of
remembrance here in America and around the globe. Five years ago today,
on a clear September morning, serenity was broken by death and
destruction.
What happened in New York, in Washington, and in Pennsylvania that
day we will never forget.
We will never forget the nearly 3,000 people whose lives were lost on
that day; we will never forget their families; and we will continue to
honor their lives by defending our freedom and fighting against all
those who wish our Nation harm.
Much has happened in the last 5 years since September 11, 2001. Our
Government has responded in a variety of ways.
So that we could better ``connect the dots'' in the future, the
Department of Homeland Security was established, and later, a Director
of National Intelligence was put into place so that our intelligence
community could work together more seamlessly.
Numerous security upgrades have been put into place across our
country, new technologies have been developed and implemented to curb
the advances of terrorists, and we are safer now than we were then.
Over the last 5 years, we have waged an unprecedented and global
campaign against terrorism. America is safer because we have had the
PATRIOT Act. Our families are safer because we have had the
surveillance necessary to make sure that those who are speaking on
telephones with al-Qaida operatives overseas are being monitored.
Our Nation is safer because we have pursued, captured, and
interrogated terrorists and used that information to capture other,
high-ranking al-Qaida leaders. We are safer because we have had the
leadership, tenacity, and the opportunity to pursue terrorists wherever
they may go.
Our campaign against terrorism has been done in a comprehensive way
with cooperation from other countries and it has been done utilizing
all the power that the State has, not only militarily but through the
surveillance of terrorist training camps, a strong diplomatic front
working with our allies, and through financial means watching and
seizing the bank accounts from where terrorists draw their resources.
Our comprehensive efforts are about keeping America safe. As we
remember those who died on 9/11, we also must remember that we are not
safe yet.
We are safer. We have been kept safe, but we must continue the
vigilance, we must continue the determined campaign against terrorists
and the states that sponsor terrorism.
Thanks to the faithful leadership and resolve of all those that serve
to protect us, especially our Armed Forces who give so much, no other
attacks have occurred on American soil to date. We must continue to
defend freedom here at home and abroad. As a Member of the Senate, I
will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and
in both Houses of Congress to make sure that we continue to devote the
necessary resources to this continuing mission.
As our President said on that mournful day 5 years ago, ``A great
people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can
shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch
the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot
dent the steel of American resolve.''
Our Nation will never forget those lost on September 11, 2001, and we
can demonstrate our continued commitment to their lives and memories
through our unending defense of Democracy and our blessed and beloved
United States of America.
Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, 5 years ago we saw the face of evil cross
our shores as a band of terrorists took control of four planes and used
our own technology against us to kill thousands of our fellow citizens.
Plotting in secrecy and under the cover of darkness, in caves in the
remote hills of Afghanistan, these terrorists planned to kill as many
Americans as they could, destroying some carefully selected buildings
that, to them, symbolized our Nation and our unique way of life.
We all remember that day with great clarity and we will never forget
where we were and what we were doing when we heard the news--a plane
had crashed into one of the Trade Towers in what appeared to be a
tragic accident. Then, a second plane struck the other tower. It was
then clear that this was no accident. We were under attack.
In the moments that followed a nation looked on in horror as we saw
the face of bravery and courage under fire as the men and women of New
York's police and fire departments responded to the attack in New York.
They battled long and hard, against the odds, to come to the aid of
those who were trapped in the towers. Sadly, in the effort to save
those who were in desperate trouble, many of those first responders
were also trapped in the towers as they weakened, and ultimately
collapsed.
As we watched events continue to unfold in New York, we heard reports
that another plane had hit the Pentagon and caused a considerable
amount of damage to the building and claimed the lives of many of those
who were working there. Then came the news that a fourth plane had
crashed in a lonely field in Pennsylvania. Suddenly the attack took on
massive proportions as we looked with fear and trepidation to the skies
and wondered if there were more planes headed for additional targets
throughout the country.
In the days that followed, the story behind the events became clear.
The attack was orchestrated by a terrorist group that was led by Osama
bin Laden. Three planes had hit their targets. The passengers on the
fourth, made aware of the fate of the other three planes by friends and
loved ones on their cell phones, had launched their own attack on the
hijackers and they were able to take control of the plane and stop the
hijackers from using it to destroy another landmark and kill more
Americans in a crowded city. The brave men and women on that flight had
sacrificed their own lives so that others might be spared.
Those are the bare details, a brief outline of some of what happened
that day. It was a day that had a great impact on every American--and
it hit us all on a deeply personal level. Ask anyone and you will see
that we all have
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our own story, our own recollection of what happened on September 11
and what it meant to us. We aren't unique in that. The Trade Center was
a global marketplace, so people from all over the world also have their
own story to tell about that day, especially those who lost friends and
loved ones in the attacks on the Trade Center and the Pentagon.
When it is written, history will make it clear that September 11 was
more than an American tragedy. It was the beginning of a global
nightmare.
It has now been 5 years since the day the towers fell and with the
passage of time has come study after study, investigations, and other
attempts to make some sense of everything that happened that day. There
were failures of some systems to work at their peak efficiency, and
there were warnings that, with hindsight, should have been handled
differently. The important thing now is not to place blame and point
fingers, but to ensure we are fully and adequately protected so we
don't have to experience another September 11.
As I prepared my remarks for this day, I thought about my young
grandson, now 3 years old. He is a wonderful addition to my life and he
continues to give me an added perspective to the events I see on the
news every night. I know someday he will ask me about that day. When he
does, I hope I am able to find the right words to explain to him about
the courage and the bravery of all those who worked so hard to try to
save the lives of those who were in danger that day. I hope I can help
him understand the reasons why our brave service men and women are
fighting on the front lines of the war on terror to keep him safe. It
won't be easy for his is a world of peace and innocence and far removed
from the hatred that drove the events of that day.
Still, no matter what I tell him, I know he will ask me why these
things happen. His grampa will tell him that this is a world full of so
many good things--like his parents who love him so very dearly, and the
things he loves to do, like go fishing with his grampa. Unfortunately,
it is also a world where people preach anger and hatred and try to harm
people they don't even know.
If it is a hard lesson for us to learn, you can imagine how difficult
it will be for a small child. How to talk to our children about
September 11 was a problem when it happened, and it will continue to be
so as we work to put an end to terrorism around the globe, wherever it
exists.
Ultimately, that will be the legacy of September 11. We were cruelly
attacked on that day, by a group that underestimated our resolve as a
nation and our will as individuals to right the great wrong that had
been done to us. Today, 5 years later, we stand united, still strongly
committed to putting an end to the threat of terrorism, wherever it
appears. We didn't start this battle, but our Armed Forces will, once
again, put an end to it.
Five years ago the world stood still, and it was changed forever. The
ripples begun on September 11 continue to have repercussions that draw
us back to that day almost constantly. As we remember the events of
that dark, sad day, we pause to remember all those who lost their
lives, especially their families and their loved ones. Our thoughts and
prayers are constantly with you. We remember the fireman, police and
rescue squads who responded to the sites of the attacks and performed
with great bravery. The concern they showed for others and the
sacrifices they made to try to save anyone they could will never be
forgotten. And, we remember our servicemen and women who stand guard
around the world, defending our precious freedoms and our way of life.
We owe them all a debt we will never be able to repay for the
sacrifices they continue to make on our behalf.
Today we rededicate ourselves to the work that must be done to make
our Nation stronger, safer and more secure so that our world will be a
better place for us all to live. It will be difficult and it will
require us all to play a part in the effort to rid the world of the
threat of terror. It will ultimately be the legacy we will leave to
those who will follow us--a world in which everyone is able to live in
peace and freedom and without fear.
Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, five years after the terrorist attacks
of September 11, we still feel the pain and loss of that terrible day.
We will always honor the memory and spirit of those who lost their
lives and those who gave their lives for others.
Our Nation's most enduring values were attacked on that day. We have
a responsibility to those who died, to their families, and to the first
responders who answered the call of duty without hesitation, to never
forget and to never let this tragedy be repeated. Together we have a
responsibility to all Americans to keep our Nation secure and our
citizens safe.
Yet, 5 years after our cities were attacked, America is still not as
secure as it should be. We must take the hard lessons from that
devastating attack and confront the new challenges of a changing world.
We must continue fighting for the tough, smart policies that will make
our communities safer.
We have a lot of work ahead of us. Our vast transportation systems
remain vulnerable. Our borders are porous.
To protect America, we must secure our ports, improve intelligence
oversight, share information effectively, and allocate resources based
on risk. We must fully implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations,
improve nuclear material tracking, and strengthen our diplomacy around
the world. We must deliver better support to our first responders to
help them do their jobs.
In the aftermath of September 11, our Nation came together. Five
years later, we must remember those we have lost, their courage and
brave spirits, and once again, move forward together to better protect
our communities and defend the freedom we cherish.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the
innocent Americans who were killed in the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001. I ask that we commemorate the emergency responders
who provided relief in the aftermath of the attacks. I finally ask that
we salute our brave men and women in uniform who have volunteered to
serve their country in this time of need.
I offer my condolences to the family of Al Marchand from Alamogordo,
NM, a flight attendant on United Airlines flight 175 and one of the
first casualties on this horrific day. Since that day, many New
Mexicans have volunteered to serve their country by entering the ranks
of our Armed Forces. Some lost their lives in this war to protect our
way of life. I will ask that the attached Associated Press article
containing the names of these proud soldiers be printed into the
Congressional Record. I also will pay tribute to LTC Marshall A.
Gutierrez and LCpl Shane P. Harris, the two most recent casualties from
New Mexico in the ongoing global war on terror.
Five years have passed since al-Qaida terrorists struck our homeland.
The images and shock of that day are still with me. To this day, I am
saddened by our losses, but I am also heartened by all the heroic acts
of our citizens in what was the most shocking attack on our homeland.
In the months following the attacks, our brave soldiers toppled the
regime in Afghanistan that provided a base of operations for the
terrorists who carried out the 2001 attacks. We helped that country
establish a democratic government and are working with allies in NATO
to bring peace and stability to a country that has spent much of its
recent history in the strife of civil war.
One of the important lessons political and military leaders learned
from the 2001 terrorist attacks was that America cannot stand by idly
as threats to its security develop far from our shores. This required
our intelligence and law enforcement agencies to work with friends and
allies around the world and with each other to gather actionable
intelligence that would help us disrupt terrorist plots at home and
abroad. To help consolidate our domestic defense system, the Congress
created the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland
Security was organized to prevent attacks within the United States,
reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and to minimize the damage
and assist in the recovery from terrorists attacks in America. The
Congress also followed the recommendations of the National Commission
on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, the 9/11 Commission. and
passed historic legislation that reformed the agencies that make up our
intelligence community. While these
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reforms were important and necessary, the disruption of a recent plot
to hijack planes flying from London to the United States shows us that
our enemies are still bent on bringing terror into our cities.
Many of my fellow citizens from the State of New Mexico have
contributed to strengthening our defenses in the global war on terror.
An urban rescue team traveled from New Mexico to Virginia to help
recover survivors from the ruins at the Pentagon. Sandia and Los Alamos
National Laboratories helped identify the strains of anthrax that were
found in Government office buildings shortly after the terrorist
attacks. They helped develop a biological threat detection system that
was deployed at the 2002 Winter Olympics, the 2004 Summer Olympics, and
in locations around our Nation's Capital. The national labs have also
been at the forefront in developing tools to detect and dispose of
materials that can be used as a ``dirty bomb'' or other weapon of mass
destruction. Finally, the National Infrastructure and Analysis Center--
NISAC--is being used to develop response strategies for government
officials and first responders for large and complex crises.
Over the past 5 years, we have learned a good deal more about how the
attack was planned and executed, and we have spent countless man hours
and resources to make our Nation safer. We can be proud of the fact
that we have worked to implement most of the 9/11 Commission
recommendations. We are more prepared as a Nation for these types of
dangers than we were prior to September 11, 2001. But this is a
struggle that will not end with the same clarity and decisiveness of
battles past. So as we continue to adjust to the new sense of normal, I
hope all Americans take time to reflect on the events of September 11,
2001, honor those who have fallen, and rededicate themselves for the
struggle ahead.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the article to which I
referred be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
[From the Associated Press State & Local Wire, August 8, 2006]
New Mexicans Killed in Iraq and Afghanistan
(By the Associated Press)
A list of New Mexico soldiers and Marines killed in Iraq
and Afghanistan:
Killed in Iraq:
Army Spc. Jose Zamora, 24, of Sunland Park, killed Aug. 6,
2006 when a roadside bomb exploded near the Humvee he was
riding in during combat operations in Baghdad. Zamora was a
combat engineer assigned to the 2nd Brigade Troop Battalion,
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division from Fort
Campbell, Ky.
Army Sgt. Leroy Segura Jr., 23, of Clovis, killed Aug. 4,
2006 from injuries suffered in a Humvee accident in
Habbaniyah, Iraq. Segura, a 2001 graduate of Clovis High
School, was assigned to the 362nd Engineer Company, 54th
Engineer Battalion.
Army Pfc. Rick Salas Jr., 21, of Roswell, killed March 7,
2006 when the vehicle he was in was hit by an improvised
explosive devise and overturned in Mosul, Iraq. He was
assigned to the Army's 37th Armored Regiment, C Company.
Army Cpl. Jesse Zamora, 22, of Las Cruces, killed Feb. 3,
2006 during his second tour of duty when he was hit by a
piece of shrapnel from a roadside bomb near his Humvee in
Beiji, Iraq. Zamora, a 2002 graduate of Mayfield High School,
was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry
Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, stationed at Fort
Campbell, Ky.
Army Sgt. Clifton Yazzie, 23, of Fruitland, killed Jan. 20,
2006 during his second tour of duty when a roadside bomb
exploded near his Humvee in Al Huwijah. Yazzie, a 2001
graduate of Kirtland Central High School, was a member of the
101st Airborne Division.
Army Spc. Vernon R. Widner, 34, of Truth or Consequences,
killed Nov. 17, 2005, near Beiji, Iraq, when the Humvee he
was in was struck by an Iraqi-driven vehicle. Widner, on his
second tour of Iraq, was a member of the 101st Airborne
Division, 3rd Special Troop Battalion 3rd Brigade Combat
Team, stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky.
Army Pfc. Mario A. Reyes, 19, of Las Cruces, killed Nov. 7,
2005, near Baghdad when a car bomb blew up while he was on
patrol. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored
Cavalry Regiment from Fort Carson, Colo.
Marine Lance Cpl. Chad Robert Hildebrandt, 22, of Springer,
a 2003 graduate of Maxwell High School, killed Oct. 17, 2005,
in Rutba, Iraq, after being shot in the head during his
second tour in Iraq.
New Mexico National Guard Sgt. Marshall A. Westbrook, 43,
of Farmington, a member of the Albuquerque-based 126th
Military Police Company, killed Oct. 1, 2005, in Baghdad
after being struck in the head by shrapnel from an explosive
device.
Army Cpl. Lyle Cambridge, 23, of Shiprock, a 2000 graduate
of Aztec High School, killed July 5, 2005, in Baghdad when an
improvised explosive device detonated near the vehicle in
which he was riding. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd
Armored Cavalry Regiment based at Fort Carson, Colo.
Air Force Special Forces 1st Lt. Jeremy Fresques, 26, a
1997 graduate of Farmington High School, killed May 30, 2005,
when an Iraqi single-engine plane crashed near Jalula, about
80 miles northeast of Baghdad.
Reserve Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan Grant, 23, of Pojoaque,
killed May 11, 2005, when the amphibious assault vehicle he
was in was hit by an explosive device.
Army Staff Sergeant Joseph Rodriguez, 25, Las Cruces,
killed Jan. 28, 2005, when an improvised explosive struck his
vehicle in south Baghdad.
Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Adlesperger, 20,
Albuquerque, a rifleman killed Dec. 9, 2004, during fighting
in the Anbar province.
Army Spc. Jeremy E. Christensen, 27, Albuquerque, killed
Nov. 27, 2004, when a homemade bomb was detonated near his
patrol vehicle in Ad Duilayah, Iraq.
Army Spc. Christopher A. Merville, 26, Albuquerque, killed
Oct. 12, 2004, when his unit came under fire during combat
operations in Baghdad.
Marine Sgt. Moses D. Rocha, 33, Roswell, shot Aug. 5, 2004,
during fighting in Najaf on his second tour of duty.
Army Sgt. Tommy L. Gray, 34, Roswell, a tank mechanic
killed Aug. 3, 2004, when he was caught between two vehicles
in his motor pool in Taji.
Marine Lance Cpl. Aaron Austin, 21, Lovington, killed April
26, 2004, in Fallujah during his second tour in Iraq.
Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher Ramos, 26, Albuquerque,
killed April 5, 2004, from hostile fire in Anbar province
during his second tour of duty.
Army Spc. James ``Heath'' Pirtle, 27, La Mesa, a graduate
of Carlsbad High School, killed Oct. 4, 2003, when the
Bradley fighting vehicle he was in was hit by a rocket-
propelled grenade in Assadah.
Killed in Afghanistan:
Army Sgt. Robert P. Kassin, 29, who moved to Clovis as a
teenager, died July 16, 2006, near Larzab, Afghanistan, when
his platoon came under fire. He was with the 2nd Battalion,
4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain
Division, Fort Polk, La.
Air Force Maj. Steven Plumhoff, 33, stationed with Kirtland
Air Force Base's 58th Special Operations Wing, killed Nov.
23, 2003, when his MH-53J Pave Low helicopter crashed near
Bagram, Afghanistan.
Air Force 1st Lt. Tamara Long Archuleta, 23, of Belen, co-
pilot of an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, killed when the
helicopter crashed in Afghanistan on a mercy mission on March
23, 2003.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher James Speer, 28, of
Albuquerque, died Aug. 7, 2002, after being wounded in an
ambush on July 27 in the east of Afghanistan.
Senior Airman Jason Cunningham, 26, a Carlsbad native who
also lived in Farmington and Gallup, killed March 4, 2002,
while rescuing wounded troops in Marzak, Afghanistan.
Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, 5 years ago, the Nation woke up to a crisp
and sunny fall day and went to bed in a world forever changed. We lost
so much that day--3000 lives, a skyline, a sense of safety in our
homes, our comforting ignorance of the stark face of evil. Since 9/11,
we have tried to heal, to remember with honor those we lost. And we
have tried to make real the false security we felt that crisp September
morning before the first plane hit.
We have--and will continue to--debate what America has become since
9/11. We need to figure out if we are safer, if we have sacrificed too
much freedom for security, if we have paid too little to bolster the
first responders, if we have fought the wrong war in Iraq, if we
haven't done the right work in Afghanistan. These questions should and
must be answered.
But today, we need to put aside our considerable differences and
recall the common, deep wound every American suffered on 9/11. Our
sorrow, anger, and shock were not partisan; we were united in our
outrage and unified in our resolve. As we remember today who and what
we lost on 9/11, we must also remember the love we share for who and
what we are in America. That is what was attacked that September
morning--and that is what can bring us together to build a more secure
America.
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, today marks the fifth anniversary of the
vicious attack on America by al-Qaida terrorists. Despite the passage
of time, Americans still vividly recall with enormous pain and sorrow
that dark and somber day.
We honor the nearly 3,000 innocent Americans who lost their lives
that
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day. We recall the brave firefighters and first responders who
sacrificed their lives so that others could live.
We vividly remember the images on television of the Twin Towers
crumbling before our eyes. We could see from our office windows the
plume of smoke rising from the Pentagon, and we realized that but for
the grace of God and courage of the passengers on flight 93, the
Capitol buildings and many of us could have met that same fate.
We recall the pledge by all Americans that this type of attack will
never, ever occur again. We recall how all of us in Congress came
together in common purpose.
And we recall the enormous outpouring of support from the entire
world, which stood by us and reassured us, saying so eloquently,
``Today, we are all Americans.''
More than 200 sons and daughters of Massachusetts perished in that
tragedy. I will ask that their names be printed in the Record. Today,
more than ever, our thoughts and prayers are with them and their
families and friends whose lives were changed forever on that tragic
day.
Although their loved ones will never be brought back, I hope the
words of Abraham Lincoln will provide a measure of solace on this
anniversary--``We here highly resolve that those dead shall not have
died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of
freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, and for the
people, shall not perish from the earth.''
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the list of names to
which I referred to be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
=Stephen G. Adams
Gertrude ``Trudi'' Alagero
Anna S. W. Allison
Barbara Arestegui
Myra Aronson
Japhet Aryee
Garnet ``Ace'' Bailey
Christine Johnna Barbuto
Mark Lawrence Bavis
Graham Berkeley
David W. Bernard
Mark Bingham
Jeffrey D. Bittner
Susan Leigh Blair
Kelly Booms
Carol Bouchard
John B. Cahill
Michael R. Canty
Christoffer M. Carstanjen
Neilie Anne Heffernan Casey
William Caspar
Swarna Chalasani
Stephen Cherry
Geoffrey William Cloud
Jeffrey D. Collman
Kevin P. Connors
Jeffrey William Coombs
John ``Jay'' Corcoran
Fredrick John Cox Jr.
Tara Kathleen Creamer
Thelma Cuccinello
Patrick J. Currivan
Dorothy deAraujo
Gerald F. DeConto
Manuel Del Valle Jr.
Gerard P.Dewan
Simon Dhanani
David DiMeglio
Donald A. DiTullio
Alberto Dominguez
Jamie Lynn Fallon
Lisa Fenn Gordenstein
Alexander M. Filipov
John R. Fisher
RichardFitzsimons
Carol Flyzik
Alan Friedlander
Paul J. Friedman
Karleton Douglas Beye Fyfe
Thomas Edward Galvin
Douglas Gardner
Peter A. Gay
Linda George
Edmund Glazer
Lynn Catherine Goodchild
Peter M. Goodrich
Douglas A. Gowell
Andrew Curry Green
Francis Grogan
Philip Guza
Paige Farley Hackel
Maile Hale
Carl Hammond
Peter Burton Hanson
Sue Kim Hanson
Christine Lee Hanson
Gerald Hardacre
Melissa Harrington Hughes
Eric Hartono
John C. Hartz
Peter P. Hashem
James E. Hayden
Robert J. Hayes
Roberta Bernstein Heber
Edward R. Hennessy, Jr.
Noberto Hernandez
Todd R. Hill
Cora Hildalgo Holland
Herbert Wilson Homer
John Nicholas Humber
William Christopher Hunt
Waleed Joseph Iskandar
Jason K. Jacobs
Ariel L. Jacobs
Aaron J. Jacobs
Robert A. Jalbert
Amy Nicole Jarrett
John Jenkins
Joseph Jenkins Jr.
Charles E. Jones
Jennifer Lynn Kane
Robin L. Kaplan
Robert M. Kaulfers
Richard Keane Jr.
Barbara A. Keating
Ralph F. Kershaw
Brian Kevin Kinney
David P. Kovalcin
Kathryn L. LaBorie
Judy Larocque
Janis Lasden
Robert G. LeBlanc
Dong Lee
Joseph A. Lenihan
Jeffrey LeVeen
Daniel Lewin
Sara Low
Sean P. Lynch
Marianne MacFarlane
Susan McAleney Mackay
L. ``Neil'' Mariani
Karen Martin
Joseph Mathai
Margaret Mattic
Kevin M. McCarthy
Ruth McCourt
Juliana Valentine McCourt
Michael Gregory McGinty
Thomas F. McGuinness Jr.
Gavin McMahon
Deborah Medwig
Christopher Daniel Mello
Stuart Todd Meltzer
Raymond Joseph Metz III
Martin P. Michelstein
Craig J. Miller
Antonio Montoya
Carlos ``Beto'' Montoya
Laura Lee Defazio Morabito
Christopher M. Morrison
Brian Joseph Murphy
Mildred Rose Naiman
Shawn M. Nassaney
Laurie Olsen Neira
Renee Tetreault Newell
Kathleen Ann Nicosia
Robert Norton
Jacqueline Norton
John Ogonowski
Leah E. Oliver
Seamus O'Neal
Betty Ann Ong
Jane M. Orth
Marie Pappalardo
Robert ``Bob'' Pattison
Nicholas Thomas Pecorelli
Todd D. Pelino
Berinthia Berenson Perkins
Jean Peterson
Dennis J. Pierce
Everett ``Marty'' Proctor III
Carrie Beth Progen
Sonia Puopolo
Patrick J. Quigley IV
David E. Retik
Venesha Richards
Fred Rimmele, M.D.
Waleska Martinez Rivera
Isaias Rivera
Stephen L. Roach
Raymond J. Rocha
Laura Rockefeller
Jean D. Roger
Philip ``Phil'' Rosenzweig
Richard Barry Ross
Michael Craig Rothberg
James M. Roux
Jessica Leigh Sachs
Rahma Salie
Jesus ``JR''-Sanchez
Matthew Carmen Sellitto
Robert M. Shearer
Kathleen Shearer
Antoinette Sherman
Jane Louise Simpkin
Heather Smith
Diane Bullis Snyder
Timothy C. Stout
Edward W. Straub
Madeline Amy Sweeney
Brian David Sweeney
Kevin T. Szocik
Leonard (Lenny) Taylor
Michael Theodoridis
Eric ``Rick'' Thorpe
Alicia N. Titus
Amy E. Toyen
Daniel Trant
Mary Trentini
Jim Trentini
Tyler Ugolyn
Michael Augustine Uliano
Kenneth E. Waldie
Meta Fuller Waller
Stephen Ward
William Michael Weems
John J. Wenckus
Peter M. West
Maudlyn A. White
Candace Lee Williams
Christopher R. Zarba Jr.
____________________