[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 126 (Wednesday, September 9, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H9373-H9376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 11 AS A NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 718) Recognizing September 11 as a ``National Day 
of Service and Remembrance''.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 718

       Whereas, on September 11, 2001, terrorists ruthlessly 
     attacked the United States leading to the tragic deaths and 
     injuries of thousands of innocent United States citizens and 
     other citizens from more than 90 different countries and 
     territories;
       Whereas in response to the attacks in New York City, 
     Washington, DC, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, firefighters, 
     police officers, emergency medical technicians, physicians, 
     nurses, military personnel, and other first responders 
     immediately and without concern for their own well-being rose 
     to service, in a heroic attempt to protect the lives of those 
     still at risk, consequently saving thousands of men and 
     women;
       Whereas in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, 
     thousands of recovery workers including trades personnel, 
     iron workers, equipment operators, and many others, joined 
     with firemen, police officers, and military personnel to help 
     to search for and recover victims lost in the terrorist 
     attacks;
       Whereas in the days, weeks, and months following the 
     attacks, thousands of people in the United States and others 
     spontaneously volunteered to help support the rescue and 
     recovery efforts, braving both physical and emotional 
     hardship;
       Whereas many first responders, rescue and recovery workers, 
     and volunteers, as well as survivors of the 9/11 terrorist 
     attacks, continue to suffer from serious medical illnesses 
     and emotional distress related to the physical and mental 
     trauma of the 9/11 tragedy;
       Whereas hundreds of thousands of brave men and women 
     continue to serve every day, having answered the call to duty 
     as members of our nation's armed forces, with thousands 
     having given their lives, or been injured to defend our 
     nation's security and prevent future terrorist attacks;
       Whereas the entire nation witnessed and shared in the 
     tragedy of 9/11 and in the immediate aftermath of the 
     September 11 attacks became unified under a remarkable spirit 
     of service and compassion that inspired and helped heal the 
     nation;
       Whereas in the years immediately following the September 
     11, 2001, attacks, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 
     documented a marked increase in volunteerism among citizens 
     in the United States;
       Whereas families of 9/11 victims, survivors, first 
     responders, rescue and recovery workers, and volunteers 
     called for Congress to pass legislation to formally authorize 
     the establishment of September 11 as an annually recognized 
     ``National Day of Service and Remembrance'', and for the 
     President of the United States to proclaim the day as such;
       Whereas in 2004, Congress unanimously passed H. Con. Res. 
     473, expressing the sense of Congress that it is appropriate 
     to observe the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks 
     with voluntary acts of service and compassion;
       Whereas hundreds of thousands of people in the United 
     States from all 50 States, as well as others who live in 170 
     different countries already observe the anniversary of the 
     September 11, 2001, attacks each year by personally engaging 
     in service, good deeds, and other charitable acts; and
       Whereas, on March 31, 2009, Congress passed the Edward M. 
     Kennedy Serve America Act, which included for the first time 
     authorization and Federal recognition of September 11 as a 
     ``National Day of Service and Remembrance'', a bill signed 
     into law on April 21, 2009, by President Barack Obama: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) calls upon all people in the United States to annually 
     observe a ``National Day of Service and Remembrance'', with 
     appropriate and personal expressions of reflection, including 
     performing good deeds, attending memorial and remembrance 
     services, and voluntarily engaging in community service or 
     other charitable activities of their own choosing in honor of 
     those who lost their lives or were injured in the September 
     11, 2001, attacks, in tribute to those who rose to come to 
     the aid of those in need, and in defense of our Nation; and
       (2) urges all people in the United States to continue to 
     live their lives throughout the year with the same spirit of 
     unity, service, and compassion that was exhibited throughout 
     the Nation following the September 11, 2001, terrorist 
     attacks.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Towns) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TOWNS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As we take time today to remember the tragic events of September 11, 
2001, let us also remember the great compassion that Americans showed 
each other following the attacks. They donated blood, searched through 
wreckage, and sat to comfort one another. The service of volunteers 
helped our country through their time of crisis, as it has so often 
during our history.
  It is in their spirit that we observe the anniversary of the attacks 
by not only remembering those lost and injured on September 11, 2001, 
but by serving our fellow Americans in their honor. This is the proper 
tribute to those who served those in need on that day.
  I am proud that we are taking time today to recognize these heroic 
volunteers. I would like to thank the leadership for allowing us to 
bring this bill to the floor today.

                              {time}  1245

  I would also like to thank the ranking member of the Committee on 
Oversight and Government Reform, Mr. Issa of California, for his 
support of the bill. I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Bilbray) will control 20 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The resolution before us is a commitment to reaffirm a sense of 
urgency, of reminding all of us of the crisis that occurred not so long 
ago in the crumbling towers in New York and the crisis at the Pentagon 
and in Pennsylvania. I appreciate the chairman bringing this item 
before us, and as a representative of the minority on the committee, I 
want to strongly urge its support.
  I appreciate the fact that the gentleman has worked in a bipartisan 
fashion. I think this is one committee where the chairman and ranking 
member have proven that Washington, especially the House of 
Representatives, can work in a cooperative manner, and I think if there 
is any place the American people not only expect but demand that we 
find that bipartisan ground, I think we have found it in this 
resolution and on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Engel).
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and my good friend from 
New York for yielding to me.
  Mr. Speaker, September 11 will always have a special meaning in our 
hearts and in our lives. I guess the previous generation, when you said 
December 7, Pearl Harbor Day, that was something that stuck in their 
minds. But, for us, September 11 is a date that will live, as President 
Roosevelt said, in infamy.
  September 11 showed us the worst in people, the terrorists that 
killed approximately 2,000 people in New York

[[Page H9374]]

and at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania, but it also showed the best in 
people, New Yorkers and others who came to try to save people, 
certainly at the World Trade Center.
  Every week when I go back to New York, I look at the skyline of New 
York and something is missing. It always feels, to me, empty. It always 
feels wrong. Of course, the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center are 
missing. But as much as I have pain in my heart for the missing towers, 
it is nothing like the pain in my heart and the grief I have for the 
thousands of people that were killed and for their families.
  I was very proud to be a New Yorker that day. I said it on the floor 
of this House soon afterwards 8 years ago. I am still very, very proud 
to be a New Yorker.
  But there is still much more work to be done. We have been fighting 
for years for a health care bill that would enable first responders and 
good Samaritans who came to the World Trade Center day in and day out, 
digging sometimes with their bare hands to try to find victims and who 
very often did find victims, and now who are suffering from irreparable 
injuries to their lungs and to their health. We need a bill, and the 
New York delegation has been fighting for a bill that will take care of 
these people who, by the way, come from all 50 States, and we need to 
do that. This Congress needs to do that.
  But also, as Mr. Towns said, we need to remember those people, the 
people who perished and the thousands of people who came to the aid of 
and to help the victims, to save their lives, to escort them to safety, 
to come and try to find people in the rubble. That again showed the 
best of humanity, the best of Americans, the best of New Yorkers, the 
best of what this country has to offer.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, September 11 will obviously never be the same and 
will hold a special meaning. I generally have not attended meetings or 
any kind of things on that day in the 8 years because it is, for me, a 
day of reflection, but I am very, very proud that this Congress is 
taking up this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from New York (Mr. King), the ranking member on the Committee 
on Homeland Security.
  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding.
  I want to commend Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa for bringing 
this bill to the floor. I want to thank Congresswoman Matsui for the 
tremendous work that she has done in leading the way on this 
legislation. I am proud to be a cosponsor of the legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to my good friend from New York, 
Mr. Engel, and he really articulated the way all New Yorkers feel. 
September 11 will be a day that none of us will ever forget. It is a 
day that will just be embedded into us because of the terrible horror, 
the tragedy, all that occurred on that day, but also because of the 
tremendous valor, the tremendous dedication, and the tremendous sense 
of courage which was also demonstrated on that day.
  I lost probably 150 constituents, friends, neighbors that day, and 
that is just all throughout downstate New York. Almost every Member of 
Congress can say the same thing about the large numbers of deaths in 
their districts and their friends, their neighbors who were murdered 
that day.
  So it is really important, as we go forward, that September 11 never 
just be a day, never just be a holiday, never just be a day where maybe 
some people get off and some don't or a day that you use to go 
shopping. It should be a day where we find a way to remind ourselves of 
the sacrifice of that day, of the police officers and the firefighters 
and the EMTs and construction workers who actually ran into the burning 
towers and suffered those incalculable deaths, 343 firefighters, 60 
police officers, a number of EMTs, a number of construction workers, 
all of whom were killed rescuing people that day.
  Mr. Speaker, just as a historical note, this legislation initiated 
from an organization called MyGoodDeed, and this organization, one of 
the founders was Jay Winuk. His brother Glenn was a constituent of 
mine.
  Glenn was actually working in Lower Manhattan that day as a lawyer, 
but he was also a volunteer firefighter. After he evacuated his own 
building, he ran into the World Trade Center and was killed. Just this 
past week, he was finally awarded the 9/11 Medal of Valor. But the 
Winuk family, in honor of Glenn, who really personified September 11 in 
that he was one of both a civilian and a firefighter, who in both 
capacities performed so brilliantly that day, his family was the 
starter of this organization, which was the genesis of this 
legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. BILBRAY. I yield the gentleman an additional 2 minutes.
  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, also, for instance, tomorrow, 
throughout my district, there will be various types of services being 
carried out. For instance, in my own office, we have a blood drive 
which is run by my assistant, Patricia Gartland, who will have people 
lined up from morning to night giving blood in honor of those killed on 
September 11.
  In my own school district, the Seaford School District, there will be 
a large commemoration, and the coordinator, Ken Haskell, is a 
firefighter who lost two brothers on September 11. He is coordinating 
an effort where the students will show the good works that they did in 
honor of those who died on September 11.
  So, Mr. Speaker, this is a day which, again, as tragic as it was, as 
horrible as it was, it is also a day from which tremendous good came 
from that. So let's go forward. Let's adopt this legislation in the 
spirit of what happened on September 11, both in memory of those who 
were murdered and in honor of those who gave their lives, and in honor 
of those who in the days afterwards, as Congressman Engel said, not 
just from New York but from all over the country, came to Lower 
Manhattan, came to the World Trade Center, came to the Pentagon, went 
to Pennsylvania to try to do what they could to help those and to take 
part in the rescue operation and recovery operation and really showed 
the unity of the Nation, maybe as never before.
  With that, again, I thank the chairman, I thank the ranking member, I 
certainly thank Congresswoman Matsui, and I urge the adoption of the 
resolution.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Matsui), who really is responsible for us being here 
today. I want to thank her for her insight and, of course, making it 
possible for us to recognize people who really contributed so much on 
September 11.
  Ms. MATSUI. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 718, which 
recognizes September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. 
On April 21 of this year, with Senator Ted Kennedy standing by his 
side, President Obama signed into law the Edward M. Kennedy Serve 
America Act. This landmark legislation makes historical investments in 
both national and community service programs and helps to facilitate 
the extraordinary interest in volunteerism we are seeing throughout the 
country and in my hometown of Sacramento certainly, too.
  The Serve America Act also designates September 11 of every year as a 
National Day of Service and Remembrance. This year, and with this 
resolution, we are recognizing the observance of the first-ever 
federally recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance.
  This bipartisan resolution calls upon all Americans to engage in 
community service and contribute to local projects in their 
neighborhood on September 11 in tribute to those who selflessly served 
their communities during the attacks on that day, as was mentioned by 
our New Yorkers here and people throughout the country.
  On that day and the days following, first responders, rescue and 
recovery workers and perfect strangers came together to help those in 
need. Their sense of patriotism and service truly made our Nation 
great. This year we will honor them not only by remembering their 
heroism, but by recommitting ourselves to bettering our communities and 
our country.
  This Friday, we will join with Americans across the country and give 
back to our communities by volunteering to

[[Page H9375]]

build houses, participate in literacy programs, lead neighborhood 
cleanups, collect food and clothing for the coming winter, and really 
much, much more. As a result, extraordinary things will be happening 
all through this country. The service events taking place will help 
address some of our Nation's toughest problems, from poverty and unmet 
education needs to preparing for natural disasters.
  As co-Chair of the National Service Caucus, it is a pleasure to call 
attention to the tremendous work of volunteers participating in the 
first-ever National Day of Service and Remembrance and to partner with 
my colleague Peter King of New York on this legislation.
  I also want to thank MyGoodDeed.org, the Corporation for National and 
Community Service, and the families of 9/11 who helped make this a 
reality and for promoting volunteerism and service in every corner of 
our county.
  I am really proud that this body has come together and has been a 
leader in recognizing the importance of volunteerism and community 
service. Please join me in honoring this spirit of service by voting in 
support of this resolution.
  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier).
  (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding.
  I have to say that I am rather struck as I listened to my California 
colleagues, Ms. Matsui and Mr. Bilbray. We have had three New Yorkers 
and now three Californians who have stood here to recognize the 
significance of what, unfortunately, is one of the most tragic days in 
the 220-year history of the United States of America.
  All of the remarks have been extraordinarily thoughtful. They have 
focused on why it is that we are here, and it is to remember those 
thousands of lives that were lost. But, as was said by Mr. Engel, Mr. 
Towns and Mr. King as well, and Ms. Matsui and, I know, Mr. Bilbray, 
the good that has come from one of the most tragic days in our Nation's 
history is that we saw a solidarity, the likes of which we have not 
seen in a long period of time, and we saw so many great things done by 
courageous people.

                              {time}  1300

  Now, we've heard about the New Yorkers, and no one sacrificed more 
than New Yorkers as we, for literally months, watched the cleanup take 
place at the World Trade Center. But I'm reminded of the Rancho 
Cucamonga Fire Department in Southern California. It was so moved they 
came together and provided a fire truck to the New York City Police 
Department. And when we've had three New Yorkers and three 
Californians, I know that we speak for everyone across this country 
when we underscore how important it is to recognize this, one of the 
most tragic days in our Nation's history.
  Now, there are other things that have come from this. And as I look 
at my friend, Mr. King, I'm reminded that he is the former chairman, 
now the ranking member, of the Committee on Homeland Security that was 
established in the aftermath of September 11. And as we sit here, 
prepared to mark the eighth anniversary, I think it's important to note 
that another good thing has emerged.
  That good thing is the fact that while most predicted that within a 
matter of months, and certainly years, we would have another terrorist 
attack on U.S. soil, it's due to the work of Peter King and lots of 
other people in this institution, in the executive branch and around 
the country that have ensured that we have not to this point, and we 
hope and pray that this vigilance will continue and that we will never 
have an attack like we saw on September 11 of 2001.
  And we also need to use this resolution, Mr. Speaker, to remind 
ourselves that we still live in a very, very dangerous world. There are 
people who would like to do us in. We know that. We find it out on a 
daily basis, and we see it in tragic terrorist attacks that take place 
in other parts of the globe.
  And so I join, Mr. Speaker, with my colleagues in strong support of 
the effort that Ms. Matsui and Mr. King and others have put together on 
this resolution in hopes that this will be a learning experience, just, 
as Mr. Engel mentioned, as December 7, 1941, was a date for past 
generations. We all remember the history of December 7, 1941; and, 
similarly, we hope that this resolution will ensure that future 
generations will never forget what happened on September 11, 2001.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join my colleagues in saying 
that this was a day that I will never, never forget as I stood and I 
watched the second plane hit, and then I realized that this was a day 
that we would never, never forget. I also want to recognize those 
firefighters and those police officers and people who came from all 
over the Nation to help us at that time, and I mean New Yorkers. And of 
course, that's something that we cannot forget. People just packed up, 
came to help us clean up. And I've never seen people work together the 
way they worked during the crisis of September the 11.
  So I think it's only fitting that we stop and we recognize the great 
work of those volunteers. And I want to thank Congresswoman Matsui, I 
want to thank Congressman Peter King for sponsoring this resolution.
  I remember on that day a gentleman by the name of Al Walden, who 
worked here in the Congress, served in the Congress with us, who was a 
judge, and his office was in the building that caught on fire, the 
first building. And I recall standing out there talking to him as we 
were looking at the problem and the smoke coming from the building. And 
then as we heard the fire trucks and the volunteers running to help 
each other, and, of course, that's a day that I will never, never 
forget. I remember getting a call indicating that Fireman Glascoe, who 
was a very, very dear friend, was in the building, and that Officer 
Venable, I mean, I just can go down the list, calling the roll of all 
these people that lost their lives on that day.
  But I can't help from thinking about the togetherness that came from 
this and how people said, let's do everything we can to assist the 
people in New York. So I want to thank people from all over this land 
for doing that.
  I have no other speakers, and I reserve my time.
  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the chairman's words. And let 
me just say, December 7, 1941, was brought up earlier, and my father's 
birthday actually was December 7 and he was actually stationed at Pearl 
Harbor in 1941. And I think the big slogan we've always heard about 
December 7 is, never again shall we be not prepared to avoid this. I 
guess the goal that we need to say in remembrance is, never again with 
9/11.
  How many of us around this country, especially if you asked those in 
New York, how many thought that flight schools in Florida or California 
were going to affect their lives? Most New Yorkers would probably say, 
it doesn't affect me. I guess how many people around this country would 
think that if Virginia gave driver's licenses to people who were not 
legally in the country, did it really matter? And they would think, no 
it probably doesn't matter in my life. I think 9/11 has proven that 
what happens anywhere in the United States may have a major impact at 
corners across this country.
  I'd have to say that we do talk about what happened at New York. We 
can identify where the Pentagon was hit. And, sadly, I don't think most 
of us could point out where in the field in Pennsylvania the heroes of 
that flight perished. In that field, somewhere in Pennsylvania, there 
were the heroes who chose to stop an act of terrorism dead in its 
tracks. And I think every Member of Congress, when we do a tour of the 
Capitol, we walk into the Capitol, every Member of Congress should 
remember those heroes who perished in that field in Pennsylvania 
because, Mr. Speaker, we stand here today and we have the privilege of 
showing our constituents this structure to representative government, 
the Capitol.
  We stand today probably because these heroes were willing to give it 
all to protect the Capitol of the United States. As far as I know, this 
was, we were the next one in line. And so, as we stand here today and 
recognizing the sacrifice, the heroism and the loss of

[[Page H9376]]

9/11, I think that we should remember every day that a Member of 
Congress or the President has the privilege of serving the public in 
this building, in this temple of representative government, that we 
ought to thank those heroes for preserving for us the right to be able 
to represent them here in this structure because without that heroism, 
not only would the structure not be here, but there's many of us that 
will vote on this resolution today who may not be here today if it 
wasn't for their heroism.
  So I ask that we support this resolution. I ask that we remember what 
it's about and we remember that the only way to make sure it doesn't 
happen again is to take the time to do the right things, learn from the 
mistakes of 9/11 and make sure we don't forget the mistakes of 9/11 so 
that we never repeat the tragedy of 9/11.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has 10 minutes.
  Mr. TOWNS. Let me just make the statement, then I will be prepared to 
yield back. Again, I want to thank the gentleman from California. I 
want to thank Peter King. I want to thank Congresswoman Matsui; I want 
to thank my colleague, of course, Congressman Engel, for his 
participation. And again I would like to urge my colleagues to join me 
in recognizing September 11 as an ideal opportunity for giving back to 
our Nation through service.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 718, 
which recognizes September 11 as a ``National Day of Service and 
Remembrance.''
  I am honored to cosponsor this resolution, and I thank 
Representatives Doris Matsui and Peter King for their work on it.
  The horrific events of September 11, 2001 made a permanent mark on 
our Nation's history and the lives of thousands of American families.
  In recognition of this, Congress passed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve 
America Act, which included for the first time authorization and 
Federal recognition of September 11 as a ``National Day of Service and 
Remembrance.''
  As a co-chair of the National Service Caucus, I believe that it is 
very fitting that Americans be encouraged to voluntarily engage in 
community service or other charitable activities of their own choosing 
in honor of those who lost their lives or were injured in the September 
11, 2001 attacks.
  Charitable activities have a positive and immediate impact in our 
communities and often make a notable difference in the lives of the 
people whom they benefit. Recently, I had the opportunity to serve in 
my community by reading books to children at the local public library 
and through the Reach Out and Read program. I encourage other Members 
of Congress and staff to set an example by voluntary service in their 
communities.
  I encourage all Members to support this important resolution.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today to honor the 
memory and sacrifice of almost 3,000 innocent men and women who lost 
their lives 8 years ago in the worst act of terrorism this country has 
ever endured.
  Terrorism anywhere is a threat to life, freedom and democratic values 
everywhere. The tragedy of September 11th was not just a tragedy for 
Americans, it will forever remain a global reminder that there are 
people who will stop at nothing and cross any border to spread hate and 
visit violence upon the innocent.
  The President has expressed his determination to face the cancer of 
global terrorism with renewed purpose and to defeat it at its source. 
He has made this commitment not only to safeguard lives, but also to 
honor the commitment of the dedicated men and women in uniform serving 
in harms way, here at home, and around the world.
  September 11th is a day to remember those who lost their lives and to 
express our solidarity with the families they left behind. It is a day 
to honor the heroic public servants who help keep us safe here and 
abroad and a day for Americans to express their gratitude for their 
sacrifice.
  September 11th is also a day of acknowledgment of the dangerous world 
we live in today and of the difficult task that still lies ahead.
  Mr. TOWNS. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 718.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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