[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18228]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON ANNIVERSARY OF TERRORIST ATTACKS 
          LAUNCHED AGAINST UNITED STATES ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 9, 2004

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate and observe the 
solemn anniversary of the unspeakable attacks of September 11, 2001, 
and in particular to express my deepest sympathies to the families of 
two American heroes, Naomi Solomon who died in the World Trade Center 
and Andy Garcia who lost his life aboard Flight 93.
  Few events in U.S. history have been so jarring to our collective 
security and so unifying. The sorrow we all felt that day was surpassed 
only by our commitment to do everything possible to ensure that never 
again would we be so vulnerable and so unprepared.
  Today, on the third anniversary of that fate-filled day, we must 
reconnect ourselves to the task of actually doing what has not yet been 
completed to make America safe.
  While we've made progress, we cannot rest. Whether on land, sea, or 
air, critical security gaps continue to exist 3 years after the attacks 
of September 11. We have before us concrete steps, recommended by the 
9/11 Commission, to address our vulnerabilities and to strengthen our 
defenses. Congress must reform the intelligence community by doing the 
following:
  Create a strong National Intelligence Director;
  Improve Congressional oversight;
  Ensure an integrated terrorist watch list;
  Strengthen the FBI's ability to collect and analyze domestic 
intelligence;
  Create an integrated strategic plan for aviation and transportation 
security;
  Improve airline passenger and baggage screening;
  Improve coordination between FAA and military authorities;
  Provide for the increased assignment of radio spectrum for safety 
purposes; and
  Make the Select Committee on Homeland Security permanent.
  In the aftermath of our Nation's tragedy, the American people wanted 
to know how we could help the families of the victims. Their response 
was to seek independent investigation of what led up to the attack on 
our country. We owe it to them and to our entire Nation to implement 
the unanimous recommendations of the bipartisan Commission to protect 
the American people and our national security. We can do nothing less.

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