[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.

                              {time}  1200

  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

[[Page H6038]]

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.

                              {time}  1210

  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

[[Page H6039]]

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.

                              {time}  1220

  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.

[[Page H6040]]

  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.

                          ____________________