[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 133 (Friday, September 9, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1582-E1583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SUPPORT OF H. RES. 391, A RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE TERRORIST ATTACKS 
            AGAINST THE UNITED STATES ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 9, 2011

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, as we approach the tenth anniversary of 
one of the darkest days in American history, I would like to use my 
time to remember those we've lost, reflect on the lessons we've 
learned, and consider what we can do as a nation to ensure that an 
attack of this magnitude never occurs on American soil again.
  Mr. Speaker, as America helplessly watched the terrifying images of 
thick clouds of grey smoke rising from the World Trade Center towers in 
New York and the Pentagon in Washington, emotions of shock, anger, 
fear, and tremendous sadness washed over the body politic. Never having 
experienced an attack of this magnitude on American soil before, the 
events which unfolded on 9/11 engendered a profound shift in the way we 
conceptualize national security and left an indelible impact on the 
psyche of every American citizen. This was a day that would have a 
profound impact on the way every American lives, and would shift a 
large amount of our country's focus and resources toward a new 
challenge: the Global War on Terror.
  In the days after the 9/11 attacks, we were introduced to a man named 
Osama bin Laden and the organization he led, al-Qaeda. These previously 
esoteric monikers became ubiquitous terms synonymous with hate, terror, 
and anger. Yet, despite the dastardly events that unfolded on that day 
ten years ago, tales of selfless acts of heroism and tremendous bravery 
in the face of evil--indicative of the American spirit--made us proud 
and provided a ray of hope in the fog of uncertainty.
  Ten years later, it is important to reflect on the lessons we learned 
from those brave men, women and children who were unjustly taken from 
us that day. My heart still aches for all 2,819 people we lost in the 
attacks, including the 343 firefighters and paramedics, 60 police 
officers, and those on board United Airlines 93, American Airlines 77, 
American Airlines 11, and United Airlines 175. We remember the bravery 
of the PDNY and NYPD first responders who courageously ran up the World 
Trade Center towers, while thousands of others rapidly evacuated. We 
also remember the remarkable story of those on United 93 who attempted 
to regain control of the cockpit after their flight had been hijacked 
by a group of terrorists that pointed the aircraft in the direction of 
the building where I currently stand.
  I would also like to remember those who still suffer, whose hearts 
still ache over the loss of so many innocent and interrupted lives. My 
heart goes out to the 3,051 children who lost a parent, and to the 
spouses, parents and relatives of the victims. Just as we promised 
shortly after the attacks, we will never forget.
  In the days and months following 9/11, we saw the true strength of 
the American people. It was during these times that people were able to 
momentarily suspend all political, regional, ethnic, and economic 
divisions to mourn and seek hope in one another. We healed as a Nation; 
we grew as a Nation. The petty differences that we so often magnify in 
our society were put aside and we focused on what we had to do to keep 
our country moving forward in the face of such adversity.
  In the decade since 9/11--thanks to American vigilance, resilience, 
and resolve--al-Qaeda has been unsuccessful in carrying-out another 
attack on our Nation's soil. Several plots by would-be terrorists 
trained by al-Qaeda have been foiled by our Nation's intelligence 
agencies and local law enforcement, including a 2009 plot to bomb New 
York City's subway and a 2010 plot to place explosive devices on cargo 
planes entering the U.S.
  Our military campaign in Afghanistan successfully overthrew the 
tyrannical Taliban and significantly hampered the power and mobility of 
al-Qaeda and its sympathizers. After years of dedicated service by the 
brave men and women who put country above self in our armed forces, 
America is safer and Afghanistan is now a fledgling democratic society. 
However, these accomplishments came with a price. Since 2011, the U.S. 
has spent over $1.2 trillion on Operation Enduring Freedom and 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. We also paid for these wars with the lives of 
6,026 of our bravest young men and women who made the ultimate 
sacrifice in defense of our country. In my district, we suffered the 
loss of 12 remarkable servicemen. We remember Long Beach residents: 
Pfc. Stephen A. Castellano; Sgt. 1st Class Randy D. Collins; Sgt. 
Anthony J. Davis, Jr.; Sgt. Israel Garcia; Pvt. Ernesto R. Guerra; Pfc. 
Lyndon A. Marcus, Jr.; Spec. Roberto L. Martinez Salazar; Spec. Astor 
A. Sunsin-Pineda; Pfc. David T. Toomalatai; Pfc. George D. Torres; and 
Staff Sgt. Joshua Whitaker, as well as Carson resident Pfc. Daniel P. 
Cagle of Carson who were all killed in action.
  As the troops in the battlefields of Afghanistan begin their 
withdrawal, we are reminded of the reasons why we entered the war in 
the first place: to exact justice on those responsible for the attacks 
on 9/11 and to eliminate their sympathizers' ability to conduct a 
similar attack in the future. In those two regards, I would argue that 
we have been extraordinarily successful. Perhaps the most consequential 
victory of the War on Terror came earlier this year when Osama bin 
Laden's life was finally ended by a group of Navy SEALs who deftly 
carried-out a covert operation at bin Laden's secret compound in 
Abbottabad, Pakistan. I am extremely thankful for President Obama and 
his Administration's firm leadership in the effort to bring bin Laden 
to justice. The sense of victory experienced by Americans after the 
death of Osama bin Laden was so powerful that it seemed to carry us 
into a new chapter of the War on Terror, one less concerned with 
fighting the enemy overseas and one more concerned with protecting our 
citizens at home.
  Therefore, I believe that now is the appropriate time to begin a 
significant withdrawal of troops from war zones in Afghanistan and 
other parts of the Arab world. Committing millions upon millions of 
taxpayer dollars to nation building abroad at a time when millions of 
Americans are unemployed and struggling represents a fundamental 
misallocation of resources. While keeping the American people safe 
should always be our top priority, more resources need to be focused 
protecting our homeland and educating, training and employing the 
beleaguered American workforce.
  We have come a long way in the past 10 years, and we should be proud 
of the progress we've made as a nation adapting to a post-9/11 world. 
However, we still have a long way to go to ensure that an attack 
similar to those on 9/11 never happen in the U.S. again. As Ranking 
Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Response and Communications, I am keenly aware of the improvements that 
need to be made in order to keep the American people safe. For example, 
I represent a district that is home to the largest port complex in the 
nation. Each year, over 350,000 containers of cargo pass through the 
Port Los Angeles alone. These large shipping containers provide would-
be terrorists with an excellent way to get hazardous materials into the 
country. That is why I am a strong proponent of working toward the 
implementation of a 100% container check rule on ports around the 
nation. This will ensure that cargo entering the U.S. is safe and will 
provide peace of mind to millions of Americans who reside near our 
Nation's ports.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that despite some 
questionable decision making during the previous administration, our 
country is stronger and safer than ever before. Although we still have 
a long way to go, the progress we've made in the last decade to secure 
our homeland from attack by unconventional forces should make everyone 
proud. Again, my heart goes out to the families of those who were lost 
during the attacks and to those who lost their lives fighting the 
perpetrators of those tragic events. While our country

[[Page E1583]]

must never stop moving forward, we must also never forget. The victims 
of 9/11 are not forgotten.

                          ____________________