[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 20026-20027]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, yesterday marked the 4-year anniversary 
of the tragedies that took place on September 11, 2001. Out of the 
destruction of that terrible day emerged a renewal of the American 
spirit and a rejuvenated commitment to fight the scourge of terrorism 
both at home and abroad.
  Yesterday, I was honored to attend a memorial service along with 
Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, former Pennsylvania Governor and 
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, Attorney General Alberto 
Gonzales, and other public officials to pay tribute to the brave 
passengers and crew aboard flight 93. We now know with near certainty 
that the terrorists aboard that flight had plans of causing severe 
destruction to either the White House or the Capitol Building. Thanks 
to the heroic actions of the men and women aboard that flight, 
thousands of lives were spared, and one of the greatest symbols of 
America's freedom and democracy still stands.
  The individuals who tried to break our fortitude will never succeed. 
They failed because as Americans we are all living, breathing examples 
of freedom and democracy, of strength and character. No act of 
terrorism can ever take that away from us.

[[Page 20027]]

  I continue to believe that the individuals, States, and countries 
that have supported terrorism should be brought to justice. On October 
7, 2001, President Bush announced Operation Enduring Freedom to 
dismantle the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which was harboring al-
Qaida. Thanks to the brave men and women in our armed forces and the 
support of other nations, we have captured countless members of al-
Qaida.
  As Americans, we have been blessed with a country that endorses 
freedom and equality. Sadly, the Afghani people were not as fortunate, 
living under the oppressive regime of the Taliban. We and other 
democratic nations have finally given them the chance to live in a free 
society. They have made considerable progress in establishing a 
democracy, noted by their landmark election on October 9, 2004, in 
which millions of Afghanis came out to vote.
  The terrorists are relentless; they will continue to target America 
unless we take a firm stand against them. While we have made 
significant progress, we must remain vigilant in bringing al-Qaida to 
justice. Winning the war on terror is essential for the safety of 
America and other nations around the world. America has a unique 
opportunity to lead this fight and act as a symbol of freedom for all 
people. I feel honored to represent the people of Pennsylvania in the 
United States Senate, and I hope that we will all continue to work 
toward creating a safer world for our future generations.
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, this past Sunday, Americans from all 
parts of the country and all walks of life joined together in solemnly 
marking the painful anniversary of the terrible attacks of September 
11, 2001.
  Of course, Americans remember 9/11 every day. It has become a part of 
how we understand the world around us; it has been seared into our 
national consciousness. But we do not remember only the terrorist 
attacks themselves. We remember the lives, contributions, and 
aspirations of nearly three thousand innocent men, women and children 
who were killed that day. We remember the courage and heroism of our 
first responders. And we remember the outpouring of support and 
assistance and solidarity that came from every community in this great 
country and from so many around the world in the days following the 
attacks.
  All of these memories unite us as Americans. Every day, those 
memories strengthen our unshakable resolve to defeat the terrorist 
networks that wish to do us harm, and to preserve the freedoms that 
generations of Americans have fought to protect.
  As our country confronts the devastation left in the wake of 
hurricane Katrina, we can see some of that same national strength, that 
same American solidarity and resolve, emerging again. It is by 
nurturing and reinforcing that national strength and compassion that we 
pay tribute to those we lost on September 11, 2001.
  Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, on this fourth anniversary of the tragedy 
of September 11, 2001, we pause to remember the victims and families 
impacted by the horrific terrorist attacks on our Nation. We also honor 
the bravery and sacrifice of our first responders and the generosity of 
millions of Americans who united to support one another.
  The wounds from that dreadful day will never completely heal. 
Families and friends of those killed in New York City, the Pentagon, 
and on flight 93 over Pennsylvania still grieve for the senseless loss 
of their loved ones. We will never forget their sacrifices.
  This year, as we simultaneously recover from the aftermath of 
Hurricane Katrina and honor those that lost their lives on September 
11, we must continue to bolster our Nation's readiness for disasters of 
all sorts. Congress must fulfill its responsibility to the victims of 
terrorism by supporting the efforts of our military and law enforcement 
as they continue to pursue those who seek to do our Nation harm. 
Likewise, Hurricane Katrina has reestablished what September 11 proved 
4 years ago, that we still have work to do in preparing our Nation to 
respond to a large scale disaster. The best way to honor the victims of 
9/11 and our most recent disaster is to act to correct the mistakes of 
the past. We must continue to learn and evolve so that our Government 
can be as responsive as possible to the security needs of its citizens 
now, to honor the memory of those we have lost and as a promise to 
generations to come.

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