[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 114 (Thursday, September 14, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1729-E1730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             HONORING 9/11

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL T. McCAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 2006

  Mr. McCAUL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, five years ago this week, our 
generation was defined by the heroic actions of hundreds of first 
responders, brave Americans and innocent victims who gave their lives 
on September 11, 2001. That day, 19 Al Qaeda hijackers murdered nearly 
3,000 innocent people. Those terrorists had a simple cause: inflict the 
highest loss of life and the most damage they could to our Nation. They 
may have succeeded in murdering thousands of people going about their 
daily lives, but they failed miserably to defeat the patriotic spirit 
of America and of freedom everywhere.
  In the days, weeks and months following the tragic events of 
September 11th, we saw the patriotic spirit of every American emerge 
and rally in support of repair and recovery. We saw a nation unified in 
finding the perpetrators of these crimes and bringing them to justice, 
and we saw the free world awakened to the possibility of terrorist 
attacks anywhere and at any time. Simply, 9/11 changed our Nation and 
the world forever.
  Not only did these terrorists steal the lives of thousands, but they 
opened our eyes to our false sense of security. Like someone who has 
been robbed at home by a vicious criminal, we must now lock our doors 
and windows at all times to make sure that those who mean us harm are 
not allowed to break in.
  That being said, I believe that we are safer at home today than we 
were 5 years ago, but we are still not safe. Our borders are more 
secure, our intelligence services are more robust and now work closely 
together, and our armed services have routed out the terrorists in 
their homes and brought them to justice. But we are still at war. We 
cannot afford to stand idly by while terrorists operate in this or any 
country around the world, because we cannot afford another 9/11. Never 
again can this happen. We owe to the American people who depend on us 
to provide a safe and secure homeland, and we owe to it the hundreds of 
thousands of Americans who throughout history have died defending the 
democracy and freedom we enjoy today. Most of all we owe it to the 
thousands of innocent victims who died 5 years ago.
  We have been battling terrorism for a long time, but September 11th 
was the day our enemies woke the sleeping giant. Since then, we have 
seen success in the Global War on Terror and captured some of the 
world's most dangerous terrorists. We have also made great strides to 
cripple the organizations and countries that support them. However, we 
are still faced with an evil enemy who is supported by a rogue nation 
that's determined to develop nuclear weapons and use them on their 
enemies. Allowing a nation like Iran, who sponsors terrorist 
organizations like Hezbollah, to

[[Page E1730]]

possess nuclear weapons would be a dishonor to those who died on 9/11 
and an insult to those who continue to defend America's freedom.

  We promised to help make the world a safer place, free from the 
threat of terrorism at the hands of mad men. Keeping that promise means 
preventing terrorists and their supporters from getting weapons of mass 
destruction. Let's remember those who gave their lives on 9/11 by 
keeping our promise.
  When we remember the events of 9/11, we remember not as Republicans 
or Democrats, but as Americans. We must remember the police officers 
and firefighters that responded to the attacks on the W orId Trade 
Center and the Pentagon who went in to save lives, but gave their lives 
in the process. We remember the first responders from every corner of 
our nation who came to ground zero in the days after to lend their 
strength, skills and support. And we must remember the innocent 
people--the husbands and wives, the parents and children and the entire 
families who were torn apart the day the towers fell.
  We must always remember. That is our duty as Americans--that is our 
charge as patriots.

                          ____________________