[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17029]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   EXPRESSING SENSE OF SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING 
            TERRORIST ATTACKS LAUNCHED AGAINST UNITED STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. C.L. ``BUTCH'' OTTER

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 11, 2001

  Mr. OTTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlemen from New Jersey and 
California for their leadership on this important issue.
  Mr. Speaker, like many of my colleagues who have offered their voices 
before mine, I too arise in strong and unyielding support of this 
resolution.
  We are a strong and a resilient people who have, in our past, been 
called to duty, to preform extraordinary feats in extraordinary times.
  Minute by minute reports of heroic events continue to flow in from 
all sites of this tragedy. These reports, each and every one, bear 
witness to the long held belief that we are a people of purpose and our 
actions, in this time of crisis, are guided by our love of our fellow 
men.
  Many generations ago we were warned that each generation would be 
called upon to polish, sustain and improve this great republic. We were 
also told that these occasions could come disguised in many ways.
  Tuesday's events have signaled to this generation, to those of us 
here, to those we represent, to every man, woman, child, individually 
and collectively, that our time, our test and our challenge, to 
maintain our republic's destiny to be the beacon of hope and freedom 
for the world is here and now, the wait is over, the question is 
answered.
  My heart and my hand is offered, along with every other in this 
historic room as a supporter and a champion of this resolution. I am 
confident, Mr. Speaker, should I enjoy the technology to ask, right 
now, each and every resident of Idaho's First District the question of 
how I should vote on this measure, there would not be a dissenting 
vote.
  Let's note for the record, Mr. Speaker, that we Americans chose 
neither the time nor the place for this, but that those soul-less 
terrorists who have made their choice known by these acts, have grossly 
underestimated the sterling resolve that historically visits this 
Nation during our time of need.
  Mr. Speaker, we must now bury our fallen, and with heavy hearts, 
prayerful lips, but a firm belief that our lost are with our Creator 
and have joined in a celestial song to march us into the battle which 
we now willingly engage.
  May the very God, whose existence these terrorists deny, grant them 
sufficient time on this Earth to have these horrors visited on each and 
every one of them and anyone else who may have given them cause or 
quarter.
  May this same God smile on this vote we now offer, this nation we 
speak for and this purpose we undertake.

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