[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 133 (Friday, September 9, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H6037-H6040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REFLECTIONS ON SEPTEMBER 11
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 5, 2011, the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Heck) is recognized for
60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
Mr. HECK. Mr. Speaker, we all have our own stories, personal stories
on how 9/11 affected us, where we were, what we were doing. For my
generation, I'm sure the day will go down in history as our day of
infamy.
My perspective is as a first responder on that day and someone who
grew up in New York. I was working for the Department of Defense at the
time, leading a counterterrorism medical response organization. And my
partner, Paramedic Jason Kepp, was actually conducting some training
with the U.S. Park Police over at their aviation facility in Anacostia
when they saw a low-flying plane and then heard the loud explosion.
Jason quickly jumped on a U.S. Park Police helicopter and was one of
the first responders to arrive at the Pentagon and provide aid.
I was traveling and in St. Louis when I turned on the TV that morning
and saw the first tower in flames and was watching as the second tower
was struck by another aircraft.
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I knew that I needed to get back to my office in Bethesda as quickly
as possible, a task made more difficult by the fact that aircraft had
been grounded nationwide. So I remained on the phone, coordinating my
teams, dispatching them to the various sites, and preparing for what
might come next.
I carried that out until I made my way back to my office here and
then subsequently on my way to New York City.
The tragic events showed us the darkest side of humanity: My drive up
the New Jersey Turnpike, along with
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my partner, Paramedic Kepp, from here to the World Trade Center site,
as we drove past the Liberty State Park and looked across the river to
see the gaping hole in the New York skyline where the Trade Towers once
stood, now a cloud of dust still hanging in the air illuminated by the
bright lights that had been set up for the rescue operation, crossing
through the then desolate and closed off Holland Tunnel because all
traffic in and out of New York had been stopped. And then the
devastation on the scene: The twisted wreckage of what was two of
America's tallest buildings, the debris field scattered widely and the
coating of pulverized cement that laid on the ground like a blanket of
snow.
But it also showed us the brightest side of humanity: The hundreds of
people who lined up along West Street every day holding up signs and
cheering on the rescuers as they made their way to and from the scene
to carry out response operations. The restaurant owners in the area who
were closed down for business to the public but opened up to provide
hot meals to the rescuers who had previously been eating cold
sandwiches and MREs. And the thousands of men and women who came to New
York City to help--Red Cross volunteers, medical providers, public
safety personnel, construction workers, heavy equipment operators among
them.
On behalf of the nearly 3,000 victims of that day--246 on the four
planes, over 2,600 in New York City in the towers and on the ground,
the 125 at the Pentagon, those numbers including 55 military personnel,
343 firefighters and paramedics from the Fire Department of New York,
23 officers from the New York Police Department, 37 officers from the
Port Authority Police Department, and 8 EMTs and paramedics from
private sector EMS, I invoke a quote of then-President George Bush:
``Our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution. Whether we
bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice
will be done.''
I offer my remarks today in memory of Fire Captain Patrick ``Paddy''
Brown, Ladder 3, an American hero, remembered November 9, 2001, at St.
Patrick's Cathedral in New York, recovered December 14, 2001, from the
rubble of the North Tower.
I would now like to yield time to the gentleman from the Empire
State, Mr. Grimm.
Mr. GRIMM. As we approach the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I appreciate
an opportunity to recognize those lost in the attacks. I think about
our heroic emergency responders, the families of those who lost loved
ones, and those, themselves, that never returned on that tragic day.
I was a 9/11 first responder, and I remember it like it was
yesterday. I remember the despair, the feeling that it wasn't actually
happening. It was surreal. I didn't believe it. But most of all, there
was an indescribable look in the eyes of those that were walking away
from the pile.
I can tell you without any uncertain terms that, during this time and
for the weeks that followed throughout the rescue and recovery, the
vast majority of us turned to prayer, and for many of us it was prayer
that got us through dealing with the wreckage and the carnage and the
reality that it was not a movie set, it was not surreal. It was, in
fact, an attack on America. It was, in fact, a beautiful day where
ordinary Americans, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, went to
work one day and never came home.
It was during this rescue and recovery that a perfectly intact
crossbeam was found among the wreckage, and that crossbeam was believed
to have been from Tower One. The cross was lifted out of the pile and
was put on display. It became much more than a crossbeam but, rather, a
symbol of hope and a symbol of comfort for all of those on the pile and
for all of those watching in despair wondering if they would ever see
their loved ones again.
There is a lot to be said about 9/11, and it's very visceral, very
personal for everyone that was touched by it, but I can tell you that
if there was one common thread, one common bond, it was the prayer, the
symbol of hope, the feeling that we all came together, and this cross
is part of that. This crossbeam, this steel taken from Trade Center One
was a part of the story and the journey that all of those involved went
through.
And now that crossbeam has been placed in the museum to be
memorialized as an artifact to remember everything that happened, but
it's under attack by atheist groups that simply want their moment,
their spotlight in the news, and that's why I put forth legislation to
make it a national monument.
This crossbeam, the steel itself, represents solace at a time of one
of the darkest moments in our history. It should be preserved. It is a
part of that history. It is a part of the comfort that we sought. And
for that purpose, I am very hopeful that my legislation will secure
this crossbeam's place at the museum so that we can all remember our
Nation's strength and resilience in the aftermath of this attack, and
we can move forward as a stronger and better America.
God bless you, and God bless America.
Mr. HECK. I now would like to yield to the gentleman from the Garden
State, Mr. Lance.
Mr. LANCE. Thank you very much, Dr. Heck.
Mr. Speaker, the 21st century began, for all intents and purposes, on
September 11, 2001. It did not begin well.
The war against terrorism is among the greatest public policy
challenges of our generation. The deceased were casualties of war to
the same extent as any person serving on the battlefield. The
terrorists made no distinction between members of the Armed Forces and
civilians. The terrorists made no distinction between small children
and infants and adults, and they killed their victims at will.
We in New Jersey lost roughly 700 people, second only to the State of
New York.
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I stated on the floor of the New Jersey State Legislature 10 years
ago--and I repeat here today on the floor of the United States House of
Representatives--that it will take the genius and the tenacity of a
free society to overcome the scourge of terrorism, but overcome it, we
shall. We have made much progress in the last 10 years; but, Mr.
Speaker, more progress needs to be made.
On December 8, 1941, speaking here in the House of the people, the
House of Representatives, Franklin Roosevelt said famously that, no
matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion,
the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to
absolute victory. That is as true today regarding the war against
terrorism as it was when Franklin Roosevelt spoke it about World War II
so many years ago.
In one of the subsequent stanzas of ``America the Beautiful,''
Katharine Bates, the author, wrote of thine alabaster cities gleam,
undimmed by human tears. But, of course, that is not true. Human tears
are still shed based upon what happened on 9/11, and alabaster cities
gleam not as brightly based upon the horrific acts of the terrorists.
At the National Cathedral on September 14, 2001, the President of the
United States, George W. Bush, said this: ``There are prayers that help
us last through the day or endure the night. There are prayers of
friends and strangers that give us strength for the journey, and there
are prayers that yield our will to a will greater than our own.
``This world He created is of moral design. Grief and tragedy and
hatred are only for a time. Goodness, remembrance and love have no end;
and the Lord of life holds all who die and all who mourn.''
The President went on to state at the conclusion of his remarks words
that I believe are from St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans. The President
said: ``As we have been assured, neither death nor life, nor angels nor
principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor
height nor depth can separate us from God's love.''
Mr. Speaker, this weekend, we honor the memories of those who were
lost on 9/11. We also honor the brave first responders to the horrific
acts of a decade ago and recall the tremendous heroism and self-
sacrifice of so many in New York, at the Pentagon, and on an airplane
over western Pennsylvania.
May God bless all of those who died on 9/11 and their families, those
who
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bravely responded to the tragedy, and those who have ever put on the
Nation's uniform to serve and protect us from the dangers we have faced
and continue to face.
And, Mr. Speaker, may God continue to bless the United States of
America.
Mr. HECK. Mr. Speaker, I would now like to yield to the gentleman
from the Keystone State, Mr. Meehan.
Mr. MEEHAN. I want to thank my good friend from Nevada, Dr. Heck, for
the opportunity to organize this moment for us in order to recognize
the significance of this weekend on which ceremonies and memorials all
across our country will be held. We will come together as a Nation to
honor the thousands of innocent lives that were lost 10 years ago.
There is no doubt that, as the events of September 11 forever changed
our Nation, the lives that were lost on that horrific day continue to
live in the hearts and the minds of millions of Americans, and people
around the world will continue to honor their memory.
I know, for many, for those who knew and lived with people who gave
their lives, this is a personal issue as well. For me, it's a
remembrance of a very special family, the Bavis family. Mark Bavis was
one of the individuals on the plane that went into the World Trade
Center. He was a member of the Boston Bruins and was a wonderful young
man. These are acts of heroism and courage from that day that will
continue to be honored, and our brave first responders who risked their
lives to rescue others will certainly be first among them.
You will hear many of us tell stories about the opportunity to be
participants in the aftermath of that immediate event. It was a small
opportunity--I think, really, it was a privilege--just a few days
thereafter to have had the nomination of the President of the United
States honored and passed on by the Senate to become the United States
Attorney, to go to work in the Justice Department just days after, and
to participate in playing a role in the Nation's response to this
horrible act of terrorism.
I think of my role as being really quite minimal in respect to, but
it became a front seat in the ability to watch so many others who
rallied around as a Nation and who, frankly, then went into harm's way
with the objective of keeping our Nation safe from the continuing
threat of terrorism.
I particularly focus on those warfighters who are bravely overseas
now, who are putting their lives on the line, and I focus on the
vigilance of the members of our law enforcement and others. The
testament of their effect has been that we are a decade later still
recognizing, not just their memories, but the reality that we as a
Nation have not been similarly attacked.
It is my hope that, not just on this anniversary of 9/11, but every
day we will remember the lives lost and those who were left without
fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. Over
3,000 children lost one or both of their parents that fateful day,
including 32 babies who were born after 9/11. Their incredible strength
and resilience and the courage of their loved and lost is an
inspiration, and I trust we as a grateful Nation will keep them all in
our prayers.
Mr. HECK. I would now like to yield to my colleague from the House
Armed Services Committee, the gentlelady from Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler).
Mrs. HARTZLER. Thank you, Dr. Heck. It is an honor to be here today
and to be able to share a few words in memory of what happened on 9/11.
9/11 changed our world forever. It is this generation's Pearl Harbor,
and it will live on in infamy. Most of us will always remember where we
were when we heard the news of the attack.
I was at home with our then 1\1/2\-year-old daughter, who was just
finishing breakfast. It was a bright, clear, sunny day in the fall. The
doorbell rang. My neighbor was on my doorstep, saying that he'd just
heard on the radio that a plane had hit the World Trade Center towers.
Thinking it a tragic accident, we turned on the TV and were horrified
to watch a second plane crash into the second tower. This wasn't an
accident. America was under attack.
The hours after that were surreal as we learned of the attack on the
Pentagon, of the brave passengers who intervened on Flight 93, of the
airplane trails in the sky that did an about-face, then dissipated--
they were no more--as planes were grounded all across this country. We
then watched in horror on TV as the towers collapsed and thousands lost
their lives.
My neighbor left; and I, like most Americans, turned in prayer to the
one who gives comfort, strength and hope during times like this. I held
my daughter close, wondering what the future would bring.
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Since that time, our men and women in uniform, our intelligence
community and our law enforcement have confronted the face of terror
head-on and have prevented another attack. For that we are so grateful.
We recognize their service and their sacrifice and pray a similar
attack never occurs again. This Sunday, we commemorate 10 years since
that fateful day. We each will remember the day in our own way, but one
theme is prevalent: We will never forget.
We mourn the loss of the lives of thousands of innocent Americans,
whose lives were snuffed out in a senseless act of terror. We commend
the first responders and volunteers who intervened in the hours and
days following the event to get us back on our feet again. We commend
their service and their courage, but we must remain vigilant.
Forces of evil still want to kill innocent citizens and snuff out the
beacon of freedom and liberty to the world. We will not be deterred. We
will continue to uphold the principles of freedom. We will not turn
back.
With God's grace, we will prevail and continue to be a beacon of hope
for generations to come.
Mr. HECK. I now yield to my friend and member of the House Permanent
Select Committee on Intelligence, the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Conaway).
Mr. CONAWAY. I thank the gentleman from Nevada for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago Sunday our Nation endured one of the worst
attacks that it has ever seen. Like so many Americans, I watched in
total disbelief at the horrific tragedy that was unfolding on American
soil. I stood in shock at the atrocities that were being broadcast live
on our television sets. We mourned the loss of life, and we remain
concerned about the lives of those trying to save the victims that were
in those towers.
These coordinated attacks were not just directed at buildings and
people, but at the very fabric of our country. This enemy sought to
create mass fear and uncertainty, but their heinous efforts are in vain
and were in vain. They attacked men, women, and children. They attacked
our military and civilians without hesitation or reservation.
While in our shock, though, we found an American vigilance and
strength that has not been seen since World War II. We reaffirmed our
commitment to freedom in ourselves and our friends abroad, and that
commitment remains strong today.
This unwavering commitment can be seen in every single member of the
Armed Forces who proudly wear our uniforms and their strong families.
It's seen in our police officers, our firemen, our emergency personnel,
and all first responders.
It's actually seen in the Members of this body and those that you and
I represent. Our commitment to liberty and freedom is as strong and
unwavering in all of us today. Today we remember those who perished and
thank those who have laid down their lives to defend us.
We mourn the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters,
and the families that were broken and lost that day. We honor those
first responders who risked their lives to save their fellow Americans.
We praise the commitment of our servicemembers and their families who
continue to keep the fight over there and not at home. We remember how
we felt that day and the sense of patriotism that we found.
As Americans today, we look forward knowing that although we face
daunting challenges as a Nation, we have the resolve to meet those
challenges. Much has been accomplished since that day. The world is
safer and more free but, Mr. Speaker, there is much work that yet
remains to be done. Let's renew the patriotism we felt that day and
move our Nation forward.
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May God bless this great country.
Mr. HECK. I now yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Denham).
Mr. DENHAM. I thank the gentleman from Nevada for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, in the midst of our Nation's pressing economic troubles
and our political disputes, let us all pause for a minute to take a
moment and reflect on what happened to our great Nation 10 years ago on
September 11.
Americans experienced the most horrific attack in the Western World.
On the 10th anniversary of September 11, let us remember the great
heroism that came out of this horrible tragedy, the brave first
responders, the men and women that serve in the police departments, the
men and women that serve in our fire departments, those brave men and
women that quickly responded at that horrific time.
Let's also think of the original passengers of Flight 93, those
passengers that showed bravery at a very difficult time, the
extraordinary action that they took. Let's think of those same service
men and women that put their lives on the line every day, put their
lives on the line after those attacks, and have continued to put their
lives on the line for the last 10 years protecting our country in the
wars that ensued after, and the millions of Americans that came
together at this tough time, put their differences aside, put their
political differences aside, put all of their differences aside and
came together as a country.
We can all remember what we felt that day, where we were. I was
traveling away from my family. My daughter was 3 years old at the time.
I can remember the disbelief as I saw what was happening on TV before
my eyes, the sorrow that I felt for the pain that you could see in the
faces of those individuals that were wondering whether their family was
safe when they went to work that day, the fear that I had as a father
and as a husband away from my family, not knowing what was happening in
my home State or to my kids.
Then the anger set in. After I found out my family was safe, the
anger that I felt that terrorists would attack our great Nation, and
then the pride that I felt as America came together, united, the
strength of a great nation, understanding that freedom doesn't just
come free. To those that attack us, we will fight back, fight back for
our freedom and strength as a nation.
I would ask all that remember these stories, the service men and
women that are bravely serving our country, to stand proud, to renew
their commitment to what happened that day and let us make sure that
America never suffers in that way again.
Mr. HECK. Mr. Speaker, I thank all my colleagues for coming down this
afternoon and sharing their feelings and experiences on that fateful
day of September 11, 2001. We have heard a range of emotions, each
telling their own story on how that day affected them.
I ask that we all take a moment of silence on that day, September 11,
2011, on the 10th anniversary, remembering those nearly 3,000 victims,
their families and those affected.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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