[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 133 (Friday, September 9, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1584]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         ON THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 9/11 TERRORIST ATTACKS

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                           HON. PETER T. KING

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 9, 2011

  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 
391 and to honor the memory of the nearly 3,000 innocent Americans who 
lost their lives 10 years ago, in the attacks on September 11th, 2001. 
Together, as a nation, we grieved with the families and friends who 
lost loved ones. Then, together, we began to look forward.
   Having had more than 150 constituents and friends murdered by al-
Qaeda, I have spent much of the past 10 years with family members of 
the 9/11 victims. These family members do not need a decade or quarter-
century mark to remember their loved ones. For them, each of the 3,652 
passing days has been a day of remembrance.
   Since that day we have made great progress in securing the Homeland. 
We created the Department of Homeland Security, and established a 
Director of National Intelligence to better coordinate the Intelligence 
Community and facilitate information sharing. Today we are safer.
   There is still more that can, and should, be done. Ten years after 
9/11 Congress has yet to follow through on some recommendations of the 
9/11 Commission, including the call for consolidation of congressional 
jurisdiction of our homeland security efforts and the allocation of 
sufficient spectrum for the interoperable communications needs of our 
first responders.
   Killing Osama bin Laden was a tremendous victory for us and all who 
oppose terrorism. Al Qaeda Central has been damaged, but the 
organization and its affiliates are as dedicated as they have been. 
They are working to radicalize and recruit individuals within our own 
country.
   While we may be safer today than we were 10 years ago, we are still 
in great danger. Al-Qaeda has not given up. It has adapted; its 
affiliates have grown; it actively recruits from within our own 
country; and it continues to be an active enemy.
   We must not allow ourselves to grow complacent. Although not on the 
same scale, we have been attacked since 9/11, with many plots thwarted 
by excellent law enforcement and intelligence work.
   We must not forget the lessons we have learned. We must acknowledge 
how far we've come, but we must not forget that we still have far to go 
before al-Qaeda and its affiliates are defeated and our Homeland is 
once again safe from this enemy.
   We must never forget what happened on 9/11. As we honor the lives of 
the victims and stand with their families, we also give our gratitude 
to the first responders who rushed to the rescue and to the men and 
women of our military and Intelligence Community who risked and, in 
many cases, gave their lives to keep America safe. In tribute to them, 
we must pledge to continue to do all that we possibly can to ensure 
that similar attacks are never replicated.

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