[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 17654-17661]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, there are moments in every lifetime which 
defy words. For me, those moments are the attack on Pearl Harbor, the 
day President Kennedy was assassinated, the Good Friday earthquake in 
Alaska, my own airplane crash in 1978, and the day I viewed the Exxon 
Valdez oilspill. My most recent and most vivid memory is the helicopter 
trip I took over Ground Zero with my good friend, Senator Inouye, on 
September 13, 2001.
  The total impact of what Senator Inouye and I saw just shocked the 
two of us. We both went through World War II and saw a lot of trauma, a 
lot of destruction. But nothing was more stark in terms of our 
memories, particularly mine, than what I saw that day in New York. 
Embedded in my mind then were the questions: Who would do something 
like this? And why? We would soon learn the answers, and those answers 
changed our Nation forever.
  September 11, 2001, was one of our country's darkest days, but the 
worst in our enemies brought out the best in our citizens. Their 
efforts reflected the words of the author Henry James:

       We work in the dark, we do what we can, we give what we 
     have.

  Following those attacks, Americans did everything they could to help 
those directly affected. Those of us in Congress almost immediately 
made $40 billion available to initiate recovery.
  Since then, our country has been fortunate. We have met the 
terrorists abroad rather than here on our soil, and we have 
accomplished this in a way consistent with our ideals.
  Democracy is harder to move than a dictatorship. It moves slowly, but 
it moves surely. There is much more work left to do, but so far, we 
have been able to prevent another massive terrorist attack on our 
country.
  The terrorists who attacked us 5 years ago thought they could defeat 
us. They questioned our resolve and our dedication to our principles. 
They were wrong. Our resolve is strong, and it has brought about a 
different response than the terrorists anticipated. The past 5 years 
have been a proving ground for our country's courage and commitment.
  Today I am reminded of the words once spoken by President Reagan. He 
said this:

       Perhaps you and I have lived with this miracle too long to 
     be properly appreciative. Freedom is a fragile thing and is 
     never more than one generation from extinction. It is not 
     ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended 
     constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a 
     people. Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have 
     never known it again.

  Today we pause to remember those we have lost over the past 5 years, 
men and women who sacrificed everything so that this miracle, the great 
American experiment, could continue. Our

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thoughts and prayers are with them and with their families. And we will 
remember forever September 11.
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, today, our Nation honors the memory of 
those who were killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. 
We also pay tribute to the heroism of the first responders who 
selflessly risked, and even gave, their lives in the rescue and 
recovery missions that followed those horrific attacks. Five years 
after that tragic day, we still remember their tremendous bravery, and 
we remember the simple acts of kindness that Americans all over the 
country displayed as they donated equipment for the first responders, 
observed moments of silence, or flew the flag in a show of patriotism 
and unity. Each of these acts, however large or small, contributed to 
our Nation's recovery. Let us not forget the great strength of spirit 
that guided Americans through that difficult time as we move forward, 
bound together by our faith in this great and free Nation.
  As we mark this solemn day, let us also rededicate ourselves to 
defeating the terrorists who continue to threaten us. This should not 
be a partisan issue every Senator wants to protect our country and 
every American wants to defeat the terrorists who attacked us. This 
must be our top priority, and we must strive to regain the unity and 
resolve that bound us together after 9/11 as we show the terrorists how 
badly they have underestimated the strength and resilience of the 
American people.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on the approaching 
fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks against our Nation.
  I still vividly remember that morning. When my chief of staff came to 
tell me about the attacks on the World Trade Center, I was in a meeting 
on how to improve our 911 emergency response system to better suit the 
needs of our first responders in rural areas. Even then we knew right 
away that our country would be forever changed.
  The events of September 11 undoubtedly remain etched into the memory 
of every American. Five years later we are reminded daily of the 
profound impact that fateful morning had on our great Nation. Although 
deliberation and debate continues all across the county and in this 
body to determine the best way to keep our Nation safe, as we approach 
the anniversary of 9/11 we must commemorate and pray for those who lost 
their lives, for their surviving loved ones, and for the brave men and 
women serving in our Armed Forces around the world protecting our 
freedoms.
  I said it the day after the tragedy here on the floor of the Senate, 
and I still believe it: America is strong. No terrorist strike will 
undermine our country to a point that would make us lose our 
fundamental purpose as a nation and a people.
  We as a nation have adjusted to a new way of life since that day. We 
understand that these measures have changed our lives slightly but not 
our way of life. Increased security at airports, a transformed homeland 
security position, and a new national intelligence apparatus are but a 
few of the changes we have made in combating the new war of the 21st 
century.
  After that day in 2001, many of us in elected service had to answer 
``what happens next?'' We knew then that the phrase ``war on terror'' 
had been used lightly before and that this war had been ongoing before 
September 11. But our eyes were opened that day, and our strategic 
outlook was dramatically altered. President Bush has called it the long 
war, and I agree with him. We are in a struggle for survival against a 
faceless enemy who uses terror as a weapon against civilians anywhere, 
anytime.
  It is this reality that has driven our foreign policy for the last 5 
years and will continue to define how we fight against terror abroad. 
This is a different kind of war than what we have confronted before. 
Not only will we have to fight terrorists on the battlefield but also 
in urban areas, cyberspace, and over the airwaves. Not only are we 
fighting with bullets but also with ideas. Our greatest export 
continues to be freedom and democracy, and it will be these tools, not 
force, that will eventually lead us to victory.
  But any victory we have will be hard fought. Our enemy is a radical 
network of terrorists that can flourish anywhere in the world. The 
terrorists' directive commands them to kill Christians and Jews, to 
kill all Americans, and make no distinction among military and 
civilians, including women and children.
  It is with this knowledge that we approach the global war on terror. 
After September 11, we could not sit back and wait for the terrorists 
to strike again. On the contrary, our President, with congressional 
backing, ordered our Government to go on the offensive. We have shut 
down sanctuaries of terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have cut off the 
terror financing, and we have worked with our friends and allies to 
track down and apprehend terror operatives wherever they may be. We 
have had many such successes against terrorism since 9/11.
  In the past, we would combat terrorism mostly using law enforcement 
mechanisms. We now combat these terrorists by taking the fight to them 
with our international partners using every available resource.
  Some of these resources come from our intelligence community. Prior 
to September 11, our intelligence and law enforcement communities were 
restricted from sharing certain information with one another. 
Thankfully, today our counterterrorism efforts are more comprehensive, 
and these barriers no longer exist.
  Al-Qaida used to train thousands of terrorists in Afghanistan under 
the nose of the international community without any repercussions to 
the organization or the Taliban. Thankfully, no longer is Afghanistan a 
safe haven for those brewing plots against our Nation. The Afghan 
people have been freed from the oppressive Taliban and fight with us 
side-by-side in the war on terror.
  Additionally, Iraq was governed by a mass-murderer and a state 
sponsor of terror and now boasts for the first time a democratically 
elected government.
  Of course, none of this could have been attained without the men and 
women of the armed services. Many of these servicemen have sacrificed 
everything to protect our freedoms abroad. Yet while the cost has been 
high, the cost of doing nothing would be even greater. Our country 
continues to mourn for the men and women who have lost their lives 
while on duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other parts of the globe.
  Despite the many difficulties in this war, our Armed Forces have not 
retreated nor walked away in the face of adversity. They continue to 
seek out terrorists to disrupt their plans of horror both in the Middle 
East and elsewhere. They also continue to provide support and guidance 
to the Iraqi and Afghani people in their newborn democracies. Our 
citizens in uniform have taken the battle to the enemy and achieved 
success.
  As we mourn the victims lost on September 11 and the Americans who 
have lost their lives since that day protecting us, let us remember 
that we are all Americans and must continue to remain committed to 
protecting what we hold dear. We will never forget the events of 
September 11. It will forever be a harsh reminder of the intentions of 
our enemies who detest freedom and democracy.
  That said, we must also never forget what we witnessed in the days 
following this tragedy as America came together for the greater good. 
From that experience we learned that we as Americans are much more 
united than not. Much has changed since that fateful day of September 
11, but our country has emerged prepared for the new challengers of the 
21st century. Let us remember those who lost their lives that day and 
never forget why we fight abroad today.
  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I wish to take a few minutes to reflect 
upon one of our Nation's most trying hours. Five years ago, our Nation 
embarked on the greatest test of its courage and mettle since the 
``greatest generation'' rose to the challenge of defending freedom in 
World War II from the forces of hatred and fascism.
  As the 9/11 Commission observed, the morning of Tuesday, September 
11,

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2001, was a beautiful morning in New York and here in Washington, DC, 
before the peace was shattered. None of us will forget those hours that 
morning, hours which saw our Nation face unimaginable tragedy. This 
defining moment awoke within every American the grim knowledge that we 
are a nation at war with hatred and fear and that we must rise to the 
challenge. Each of us will remember where we were, what we were doing, 
when America turned to face this new challenge with sorrow and resolve.
  In the morning hours of September 11, starting at 8:46 a.m., we 
experienced the 21st century's ``Pearl Harbor'' moment. Americans stood 
transfixed by the images we saw unfolding before us: the brutal 
violence of intolerance and the unimaginable courage of our heroes on 
the ground and in the air striving valiantly to prevent it. By 10:38 
a.m., America began to truly understand the scope of what had happened: 
the thousands of innocent Americans lost, the destruction of the Twin 
Towers and damage to the Pentagon, the dawning of a new age in our 
Nation's proud history.
  Each American grappled to understand this moment in history as it 
unfolded before us, trying to make sense of senselessness. As a nation, 
we continue to struggle with it each day. Like all Americans, I have 
spent many hours seeking meaning from and understanding of the events 
of September 11, 2001. It has not been an easy task, nor will it ever 
be completed.
  But we know the importance of remembering those who are not here with 
us now--the innocent passengers aboard those four planes and in the 
Towers and the Pentagon; the courageous first responders who charged 
into the chaos to try to save their fellow man; the brave 
servicemembers who have given their lives around the world to protect 
the freedoms we continue to enjoy, to engage our enemies wherever they 
may run and hide.
  The people who perished during the September 11 attacks were not 
simply victims: they were mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, 
sons and daughters, husbands and wives, and friends and neighbors. We 
remember them for the shared jokes and laughter, the debates and 
challenges, the quarrels and sometimes heart-wrenching disagreements, 
the fellowship and love of family that bind us together.
  Mr. President, 9/11 represented a crossroads for our Nation: we had 
the choice between fear and hope, between appealing to our higher 
angels and succumbing to our darkest demons. A year from now, children 
starting kindergarten will never have known a world before 9/11. It is 
my greatest hope that a century from now, when schoolchildren look back 
on 9/11, it will be viewed not as the beginning of a time of darkness 
over our democracy but as the clarion call for us to protect and defend 
the fundamental rights and liberties we enjoy, a rallying to the 
fundamental beliefs that we as Americans hold so dear. It is the least 
we can do, out of respect for those who left us that day.
  Those lost to us on September 11 and the struggles afterwards shall 
never be forgotten. They remain in our hearts, the source of our 
resolve. As we have in the past, America shall meet this challenge with 
honor, wisdom, and an unbreakable spirit. As a nation, we recommit 
ourselves to never giving in to those who would misrepresent faith to 
spread hate, fear, and violence. We know that the gifts bestowed upon 
us are the gifts of faith, hope, and love. We shall eschew the 
politicking of fear and instead choose the unity of purpose that our 
times require.
  Five years after that day, our Nation recommits itself to remembering 
the tremendous loss we suffered as a country. We seek to honor the 
sacrifices made on September 11 by renewing our faith in America 
itself. I stand here as sure today as I was when I went to sleep on the 
night of September 10, 2001, that it is the promise of our common goals 
of hope and progress, not fear and violence, that deliver freedom and 
security both at home and across the globe, for all people.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today, across my great State of Maine and 
throughout America, in countless ceremonies--public and private, in 
testaments--planned and spontaneous, and in towns of every size and 
stripe, we commemorate with mutual solemnity the fifth anniversary of a 
day born out of inconsolable and unimaginable loss as well as 
unconquerable spirit and ennobling service September 11, 2001.
  As we pause to mourn those who have passed from us and as we confront 
once again unspeakable acts of barbarism and horror, we cannot help but 
find abundant comfort, solace, inspiration, and pride in the eternal 
images and remembrances of heroism and sacrifice on that terrible day.
  Through what President Lincoln once eloquently phrased as the 
``mystic chords of memory,'' we share in reverent and heart-wrenching 
moments of silence and find a unifying kinship with those who convene 
at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, 
PA. And regardless of our circumstance, location, and occupation, we 
cast aside our differences, agendas, and personal and individual 
pursuits, to place into action and live out the immortal words of our 
Founding Fathers that reverberate throughout the halls of Congress as 
well as the annals of our history: E Pluribus Unum, or ``Out of Many, 
One.'' Out of the ashes of destruction, we become one Nation, 
indivisible.
  At the same time, we are not immune to feeling a panoply of 
emotions--patriotism, pride, anger--as well as a persistent, gnawing 
disbelief that such calculated savagery could exist in the world and 
could be perpetrated so brutally and ruthlessly against innocent 
people. And those feelings intensify when we put faces and names with 
the long line of those who perished. It becomes especially personal 
when we reflect upon the Mainers whom we have lost. We grieved then--
and we feel a deep, inescapable sorrow now for the tragedy that befell 
Anna Allison, Carol Flyzik, Robert Jalbert, Jacqueline Norton, Robert 
Norton, James Roux, Robert Schlegel, and Stephen Ward. Our thoughts and 
prayers remain--as they have for the last 5 years and as they will 
always--with their families and loved ones.
  While we forever honor their memory, we also understand that the 
greatest memorial is to embrace all that we have retained as a nation--
our strength, our sense of purpose, and our veneration of the 
principles of liberty and justice--even and especially in tumultuous 
times.
  Let us remember how that one day in September not only changed 
America and the world but also reminded us of what really matters--of 
the tenets and people we should value and what true heroes really look 
like. I recall those passengers who, when faced with the horrible 
certainty of their circumstances, brought down United Airlines flight 
93 to save the lives of others--not to mention the very symbols of our 
democracy, the Capitol and the White House.
  On this poignant occasion, we celebrate those heroes who walk among 
us today while the legacy of those who perished on 9/11 echoes 
throughout New York, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, and every town and 
city in this land. And we revere the indelible and exemplary 
contributions of all first responders on 9/11 and those made daily 
throughout our Nation by firefighters, police officers, rescue workers, 
and Americans who are ever-capable of performing extraordinary deeds.
  We are also mindful of our military men and women who protect and 
defend our way of life. Whether on American shores and soil or around 
the globe, their steadfast sense of duty is an inspiration to us all. 
As we herald the supreme actions of the past, we must remain 
unrelenting in our focus on the trials and tribulations of the present 
and the future. The plot foiled by British authorities this past summer 
was a chilling reminder that underscores the lurking and merciless 
threat we face--and that we cannot afford to yield to the call of 
complacency. Just as our enemies have proved they are ever-patient, so 
must we prove we are ever-vigilant.
  We come together on days of remembrance such as 9/11 to draw strength 
from those who are with us and from

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the memories of those who are not. We recognize the remarkable and 
munificent valor of fallen friends, family, and fellow countrymen whose 
valiant example binds us to them and their noble heritage--and binds us 
to each other today--and into a future more illumined by their selfless 
deeds on our behalf.
  That sentiment brings to mind a great son of Maine, GEN Joshua 
Chamberlain, who, in 1889, said the following upon dedicating the 
Monument to the 20th Maine that he so nobly commanded at the Battle of 
Gettysburg:

       In great deeds something abides. On great fields something 
     stays. Forms change and pass. Bodies disappear. But spirits 
     linger to consecrate ground for the vision-place of souls. 
     And reverent men and women from afar, and generations that 
     know us not and that we know not of, heart-drawn to see where 
     and by whom great things were suffered and done for them . . 
     . And lo! the shadow of a mighty presence shall wrap them in 
     its bosom, and the power of the vision pass into their souls.

  It is that power of vision that we have in common that draws us 
together today. From that it surely follows the outpouring of respect 
and admiration that testifies to a solitary and solemn truth--that time 
will never, ever, dim the glorious deeds that were done in the face of 
heinous evil.
  The morning of September 11, 2001, began with such beautiful blue 
skies but ended with a nation in grief-stricken desolation and stunned 
shock. In Washington, DC, I watched the images along with the rest of 
the world.
  Later, as the sun set over the National Mall--still capped by smoke 
billowing from the wound in the side of the Pentagon--I will never 
forget joining with my colleagues in the House and Senate on the 
Capitol steps to sing ``God Bless America.'' We sang to send a message 
to the country and to the world that we would never be deterred--that 
freedom is forged by something much more resolute than any act of 
terror.
  Recalling all that September 11 represents--the tragedies and the 
triumphs--how it revealed the better angels of our nature for the world 
to see in our hour of calamitous attack, despair, and fear, we must 
unequivocally resolve on this day--and every day--that we will bring 
the fight to the enemy, will not falter in our unwavering commitment, 
we will persevere, and most of all, we will and must prevail.
  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. President, today is a day of remembrance, a day of 
remembrance here in America and around the globe. Five years ago today, 
on a clear September morning, serenity was broken by death and 
destruction.
  What happened in New York, in Washington, and in Pennsylvania that 
day we will never forget.
  We will never forget the nearly 3,000 people whose lives were lost on 
that day; we will never forget their families; and we will continue to 
honor their lives by defending our freedom and fighting against all 
those who wish our Nation harm.
  Much has happened in the last 5 years since September 11, 2001. Our 
Government has responded in a variety of ways.
  So that we could better ``connect the dots'' in the future, the 
Department of Homeland Security was established, and later, a Director 
of National Intelligence was put into place so that our intelligence 
community could work together more seamlessly.
  Numerous security upgrades have been put into place across our 
country, new technologies have been developed and implemented to curb 
the advances of terrorists, and we are safer now than we were then.
  Over the last 5 years, we have waged an unprecedented and global 
campaign against terrorism. America is safer because we have had the 
PATRIOT Act. Our families are safer because we have had the 
surveillance necessary to make sure that those who are speaking on 
telephones with al-Qaida operatives overseas are being monitored.
  Our Nation is safer because we have pursued, captured, and 
interrogated terrorists and used that information to capture other, 
high-ranking al-Qaida leaders. We are safer because we have had the 
leadership, tenacity, and the opportunity to pursue terrorists wherever 
they may go.
  Our campaign against terrorism has been done in a comprehensive way 
with cooperation from other countries and it has been done utilizing 
all the power that the State has, not only militarily but through the 
surveillance of terrorist training camps, a strong diplomatic front 
working with our allies, and through financial means watching and 
seizing the bank accounts from where terrorists draw their resources.
  Our comprehensive efforts are about keeping America safe. As we 
remember those who died on 9/11, we also must remember that we are not 
safe yet.
  We are safer. We have been kept safe, but we must continue the 
vigilance, we must continue the determined campaign against terrorists 
and the states that sponsor terrorism.
  Thanks to the faithful leadership and resolve of all those that serve 
to protect us, especially our Armed Forces who give so much, no other 
attacks have occurred on American soil to date. We must continue to 
defend freedom here at home and abroad. As a Member of the Senate, I 
will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and 
in both Houses of Congress to make sure that we continue to devote the 
necessary resources to this continuing mission.
  As our President said on that mournful day 5 years ago, ``A great 
people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can 
shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch 
the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot 
dent the steel of American resolve.''
  Our Nation will never forget those lost on September 11, 2001, and we 
can demonstrate our continued commitment to their lives and memories 
through our unending defense of Democracy and our blessed and beloved 
United States of America.
  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, 5 years ago we saw the face of evil cross 
our shores as a band of terrorists took control of four planes and used 
our own technology against us to kill thousands of our fellow citizens. 
Plotting in secrecy and under the cover of darkness, in caves in the 
remote hills of Afghanistan, these terrorists planned to kill as many 
Americans as they could, destroying some carefully selected buildings 
that, to them, symbolized our Nation and our unique way of life.
  We all remember that day with great clarity and we will never forget 
where we were and what we were doing when we heard the news--a plane 
had crashed into one of the Trade Towers in what appeared to be a 
tragic accident. Then, a second plane struck the other tower. It was 
then clear that this was no accident. We were under attack.
  In the moments that followed a nation looked on in horror as we saw 
the face of bravery and courage under fire as the men and women of New 
York's police and fire departments responded to the attack in New York. 
They battled long and hard, against the odds, to come to the aid of 
those who were trapped in the towers. Sadly, in the effort to save 
those who were in desperate trouble, many of those first responders 
were also trapped in the towers as they weakened, and ultimately 
collapsed.
  As we watched events continue to unfold in New York, we heard reports 
that another plane had hit the Pentagon and caused a considerable 
amount of damage to the building and claimed the lives of many of those 
who were working there. Then came the news that a fourth plane had 
crashed in a lonely field in Pennsylvania. Suddenly the attack took on 
massive proportions as we looked with fear and trepidation to the skies 
and wondered if there were more planes headed for additional targets 
throughout the country.
  In the days that followed, the story behind the events became clear. 
The attack was orchestrated by a terrorist group that was led by Osama 
bin Laden. Three planes had hit their targets. The passengers on the 
fourth, made aware of the fate of the other three planes by friends and 
loved ones on their cell phones, had launched their own attack on the 
hijackers and they were able to take control of the

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plane and stop the hijackers from using it to destroy another landmark 
and kill more Americans in a crowded city. The brave men and women on 
that flight had sacrificed their own lives so that others might be 
spared.
  Those are the bare details, a brief outline of some of what happened 
that day. It was a day that had a great impact on every American--and 
it hit us all on a deeply personal level. Ask anyone and you will see 
that we all have our own story, our own recollection of what happened 
on September 11 and what it meant to us. We aren't unique in that. The 
Trade Center was a global marketplace, so people from all over the 
world also have their own story to tell about that day, especially 
those who lost friends and loved ones in the attacks on the Trade 
Center and the Pentagon.
  When it is written, history will make it clear that September 11 was 
more than an American tragedy. It was the beginning of a global 
nightmare.
  It has now been 5 years since the day the towers fell and with the 
passage of time has come study after study, investigations, and other 
attempts to make some sense of everything that happened that day. There 
were failures of some systems to work at their peak efficiency, and 
there were warnings that, with hindsight, should have been handled 
differently. The important thing now is not to place blame and point 
fingers, but to ensure we are fully and adequately protected so we 
don't have to experience another September 11.
  As I prepared my remarks for this day, I thought about my young 
grandson, now 3 years old. He is a wonderful addition to my life and he 
continues to give me an added perspective to the events I see on the 
news every night. I know someday he will ask me about that day. When he 
does, I hope I am able to find the right words to explain to him about 
the courage and the bravery of all those who worked so hard to try to 
save the lives of those who were in danger that day. I hope I can help 
him understand the reasons why our brave service men and women are 
fighting on the front lines of the war on terror to keep him safe. It 
won't be easy for his is a world of peace and innocence and far removed 
from the hatred that drove the events of that day.
  Still, no matter what I tell him, I know he will ask me why these 
things happen. His grampa will tell him that this is a world full of so 
many good things--like his parents who love him so very dearly, and the 
things he loves to do, like go fishing with his grampa. Unfortunately, 
it is also a world where people preach anger and hatred and try to harm 
people they don't even know.
  If it is a hard lesson for us to learn, you can imagine how difficult 
it will be for a small child. How to talk to our children about 
September 11 was a problem when it happened, and it will continue to be 
so as we work to put an end to terrorism around the globe, wherever it 
exists.
  Ultimately, that will be the legacy of September 11. We were cruelly 
attacked on that day, by a group that underestimated our resolve as a 
nation and our will as individuals to right the great wrong that had 
been done to us. Today, 5 years later, we stand united, still strongly 
committed to putting an end to the threat of terrorism, wherever it 
appears. We didn't start this battle, but our Armed Forces will, once 
again, put an end to it.
  Five years ago the world stood still, and it was changed forever. The 
ripples begun on September 11 continue to have repercussions that draw 
us back to that day almost constantly. As we remember the events of 
that dark, sad day, we pause to remember all those who lost their 
lives, especially their families and their loved ones. Our thoughts and 
prayers are constantly with you. We remember the fireman, police and 
rescue squads who responded to the sites of the attacks and performed 
with great bravery. The concern they showed for others and the 
sacrifices they made to try to save anyone they could will never be 
forgotten. And, we remember our servicemen and women who stand guard 
around the world, defending our precious freedoms and our way of life. 
We owe them all a debt we will never be able to repay for the 
sacrifices they continue to make on our behalf.
  Today we rededicate ourselves to the work that must be done to make 
our Nation stronger, safer and more secure so that our world will be a 
better place for us all to live. It will be difficult and it will 
require us all to play a part in the effort to rid the world of the 
threat of terror. It will ultimately be the legacy we will leave to 
those who will follow us--a world in which everyone is able to live in 
peace and freedom and without fear.
  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, five years after the terrorist attacks 
of September 11, we still feel the pain and loss of that terrible day. 
We will always honor the memory and spirit of those who lost their 
lives and those who gave their lives for others.
  Our Nation's most enduring values were attacked on that day. We have 
a responsibility to those who died, to their families, and to the first 
responders who answered the call of duty without hesitation, to never 
forget and to never let this tragedy be repeated. Together we have a 
responsibility to all Americans to keep our Nation secure and our 
citizens safe.
  Yet, 5 years after our cities were attacked, America is still not as 
secure as it should be. We must take the hard lessons from that 
devastating attack and confront the new challenges of a changing world. 
We must continue fighting for the tough, smart policies that will make 
our communities safer.
  We have a lot of work ahead of us. Our vast transportation systems 
remain vulnerable. Our borders are porous.
  To protect America, we must secure our ports, improve intelligence 
oversight, share information effectively, and allocate resources based 
on risk. We must fully implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations, 
improve nuclear material tracking, and strengthen our diplomacy around 
the world. We must deliver better support to our first responders to 
help them do their jobs.
  In the aftermath of September 11, our Nation came together. Five 
years later, we must remember those we have lost, their courage and 
brave spirits, and once again, move forward together to better protect 
our communities and defend the freedom we cherish.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
innocent Americans who were killed in the terrorist attacks of 
September 11, 2001. I ask that we commemorate the emergency responders 
who provided relief in the aftermath of the attacks. I finally ask that 
we salute our brave men and women in uniform who have volunteered to 
serve their country in this time of need.
  I offer my condolences to the family of Al Marchand from Alamogordo, 
NM, a flight attendant on United Airlines flight 175 and one of the 
first casualties on this horrific day. Since that day, many New 
Mexicans have volunteered to serve their country by entering the ranks 
of our Armed Forces. Some lost their lives in this war to protect our 
way of life. I will ask that the attached Associated Press article 
containing the names of these proud soldiers be printed into the 
Congressional Record. I also will pay tribute to LTC Marshall A. 
Gutierrez and LCpl Shane P. Harris, the two most recent casualties from 
New Mexico in the ongoing global war on terror.
  Five years have passed since al-Qaida terrorists struck our homeland. 
The images and shock of that day are still with me. To this day, I am 
saddened by our losses, but I am also heartened by all the heroic acts 
of our citizens in what was the most shocking attack on our homeland. 
In the months following the attacks, our brave soldiers toppled the 
regime in Afghanistan that provided a base of operations for the 
terrorists who carried out the 2001 attacks. We helped that country 
establish a democratic government and are working with allies in NATO 
to bring peace and stability to a country that has spent much of its 
recent history in the strife of civil war.
  One of the important lessons political and military leaders learned 
from the 2001 terrorist attacks was that America cannot stand by idly 
as threats to its security develop far from our shores. This required 
our intelligence and law enforcement agencies

[[Page 17659]]

to work with friends and allies around the world and with each other to 
gather actionable intelligence that would help us disrupt terrorist 
plots at home and abroad. To help consolidate our domestic defense 
system, the Congress created the Department of Homeland Security. The 
Department of Homeland Security was organized to prevent attacks within 
the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and to 
minimize the damage and assist in the recovery from terrorists attacks 
in America. The Congress also followed the recommendations of the 
National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, the 9/
11 Commission. and passed historic legislation that reformed the 
agencies that make up our intelligence community. While these reforms 
were important and necessary, the disruption of a recent plot to hijack 
planes flying from London to the United States shows us that our 
enemies are still bent on bringing terror into our cities.
  Many of my fellow citizens from the State of New Mexico have 
contributed to strengthening our defenses in the global war on terror. 
An urban rescue team traveled from New Mexico to Virginia to help 
recover survivors from the ruins at the Pentagon. Sandia and Los Alamos 
National Laboratories helped identify the strains of anthrax that were 
found in Government office buildings shortly after the terrorist 
attacks. They helped develop a biological threat detection system that 
was deployed at the 2002 Winter Olympics, the 2004 Summer Olympics, and 
in locations around our Nation's Capital. The national labs have also 
been at the forefront in developing tools to detect and dispose of 
materials that can be used as a ``dirty bomb'' or other weapon of mass 
destruction. Finally, the National Infrastructure and Analysis Center--
NISAC--is being used to develop response strategies for government 
officials and first responders for large and complex crises.
  Over the past 5 years, we have learned a good deal more about how the 
attack was planned and executed, and we have spent countless man hours 
and resources to make our Nation safer. We can be proud of the fact 
that we have worked to implement most of the 9/11 Commission 
recommendations. We are more prepared as a Nation for these types of 
dangers than we were prior to September 11, 2001. But this is a 
struggle that will not end with the same clarity and decisiveness of 
battles past. So as we continue to adjust to the new sense of normal, I 
hope all Americans take time to reflect on the events of September 11, 
2001, honor those who have fallen, and rededicate themselves for the 
struggle ahead.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the article to which I 
referred be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

     [From the Associated Press State & Local Wire, August 8, 2006]

              New Mexicans Killed in Iraq and Afghanistan

                       (By the Associated Press)

       A list of New Mexico soldiers and Marines killed in Iraq 
     and Afghanistan:
       Killed in Iraq:
       Army Spc. Jose Zamora, 24, of Sunland Park, killed Aug. 6, 
     2006 when a roadside bomb exploded near the Humvee he was 
     riding in during combat operations in Baghdad. Zamora was a 
     combat engineer assigned to the 2nd Brigade Troop Battalion, 
     2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division from Fort 
     Campbell, Ky.
       Army Sgt. Leroy Segura Jr., 23, of Clovis, killed Aug. 4, 
     2006 from injuries suffered in a Humvee accident in 
     Habbaniyah, Iraq. Segura, a 2001 graduate of Clovis High 
     School, was assigned to the 362nd Engineer Company, 54th 
     Engineer Battalion.
       Army Pfc. Rick Salas Jr., 21, of Roswell, killed March 7, 
     2006 when the vehicle he was in was hit by an improvised 
     explosive devise and overturned in Mosul, Iraq. He was 
     assigned to the Army's 37th Armored Regiment, C Company.
       Army Cpl. Jesse Zamora, 22, of Las Cruces, killed Feb. 3, 
     2006 during his second tour of duty when he was hit by a 
     piece of shrapnel from a roadside bomb near his Humvee in 
     Beiji, Iraq. Zamora, a 2002 graduate of Mayfield High School, 
     was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry 
     Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, stationed at Fort 
     Campbell, Ky.
       Army Sgt. Clifton Yazzie, 23, of Fruitland, killed Jan. 20, 
     2006 during his second tour of duty when a roadside bomb 
     exploded near his Humvee in Al Huwijah. Yazzie, a 2001 
     graduate of Kirtland Central High School, was a member of the 
     101st Airborne Division.
       Army Spc. Vernon R. Widner, 34, of Truth or Consequences, 
     killed Nov. 17, 2005, near Beiji, Iraq, when the Humvee he 
     was in was struck by an Iraqi-driven vehicle. Widner, on his 
     second tour of Iraq, was a member of the 101st Airborne 
     Division, 3rd Special Troop Battalion 3rd Brigade Combat 
     Team, stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky.
       Army Pfc. Mario A. Reyes, 19, of Las Cruces, killed Nov. 7, 
     2005, near Baghdad when a car bomb blew up while he was on 
     patrol. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored 
     Cavalry Regiment from Fort Carson, Colo.
       Marine Lance Cpl. Chad Robert Hildebrandt, 22, of Springer, 
     a 2003 graduate of Maxwell High School, killed Oct. 17, 2005, 
     in Rutba, Iraq, after being shot in the head during his 
     second tour in Iraq.
       New Mexico National Guard Sgt. Marshall A. Westbrook, 43, 
     of Farmington, a member of the Albuquerque-based 126th 
     Military Police Company, killed Oct. 1, 2005, in Baghdad 
     after being struck in the head by shrapnel from an explosive 
     device.
       Army Cpl. Lyle Cambridge, 23, of Shiprock, a 2000 graduate 
     of Aztec High School, killed July 5, 2005, in Baghdad when an 
     improvised explosive device detonated near the vehicle in 
     which he was riding. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd 
     Armored Cavalry Regiment based at Fort Carson, Colo.
       Air Force Special Forces 1st Lt. Jeremy Fresques, 26, a 
     1997 graduate of Farmington High School, killed May 30, 2005, 
     when an Iraqi single-engine plane crashed near Jalula, about 
     80 miles northeast of Baghdad.
       Reserve Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan Grant, 23, of Pojoaque, 
     killed May 11, 2005, when the amphibious assault vehicle he 
     was in was hit by an explosive device.
       Army Staff Sergeant Joseph Rodriguez, 25, Las Cruces, 
     killed Jan. 28, 2005, when an improvised explosive struck his 
     vehicle in south Baghdad.
       Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Adlesperger, 20, 
     Albuquerque, a rifleman killed Dec. 9, 2004, during fighting 
     in the Anbar province.
       Army Spc. Jeremy E. Christensen, 27, Albuquerque, killed 
     Nov. 27, 2004, when a homemade bomb was detonated near his 
     patrol vehicle in Ad Duilayah, Iraq.
       Army Spc. Christopher A. Merville, 26, Albuquerque, killed 
     Oct. 12, 2004, when his unit came under fire during combat 
     operations in Baghdad.
       Marine Sgt. Moses D. Rocha, 33, Roswell, shot Aug. 5, 2004, 
     during fighting in Najaf on his second tour of duty.
       Army Sgt. Tommy L. Gray, 34, Roswell, a tank mechanic 
     killed Aug. 3, 2004, when he was caught between two vehicles 
     in his motor pool in Taji.
       Marine Lance Cpl. Aaron Austin, 21, Lovington, killed April 
     26, 2004, in Fallujah during his second tour in Iraq.
       Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher Ramos, 26, Albuquerque, 
     killed April 5, 2004, from hostile fire in Anbar province 
     during his second tour of duty.
       Army Spc. James ``Heath'' Pirtle, 27, La Mesa, a graduate 
     of Carlsbad High School, killed Oct. 4, 2003, when the 
     Bradley fighting vehicle he was in was hit by a rocket-
     propelled grenade in Assadah.
       Killed in Afghanistan:
       Army Sgt. Robert P. Kassin, 29, who moved to Clovis as a 
     teenager, died July 16, 2006, near Larzab, Afghanistan, when 
     his platoon came under fire. He was with the 2nd Battalion, 
     4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain 
     Division, Fort Polk, La.
       Air Force Maj. Steven Plumhoff, 33, stationed with Kirtland 
     Air Force Base's 58th Special Operations Wing, killed Nov. 
     23, 2003, when his MH-53J Pave Low helicopter crashed near 
     Bagram, Afghanistan.
       Air Force 1st Lt. Tamara Long Archuleta, 23, of Belen, co-
     pilot of an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, killed when the 
     helicopter crashed in Afghanistan on a mercy mission on March 
     23, 2003.
       Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher James Speer, 28, of 
     Albuquerque, died Aug. 7, 2002, after being wounded in an 
     ambush on July 27 in the east of Afghanistan.
       Senior Airman Jason Cunningham, 26, a Carlsbad native who 
     also lived in Farmington and Gallup, killed March 4, 2002, 
     while rescuing wounded troops in Marzak, Afghanistan.
  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, 5 years ago, the Nation woke up to a crisp 
and sunny fall day and went to bed in a world forever changed. We lost 
so much that day--3000 lives, a skyline, a sense of safety in our 
homes, our comforting ignorance of the stark face of evil. Since 9/11, 
we have tried to heal, to remember with honor those we lost. And we 
have tried to make real the false security we felt that crisp September 
morning before the first plane hit.
  We have--and will continue to--debate what America has become since 
9/11. We need to figure out if we are safer, if we have sacrificed too 
much

[[Page 17660]]

freedom for security, if we have paid too little to bolster the first 
responders, if we have fought the wrong war in Iraq, if we haven't done 
the right work in Afghanistan. These questions should and must be 
answered.
  But today, we need to put aside our considerable differences and 
recall the common, deep wound every American suffered on 9/11. Our 
sorrow, anger, and shock were not partisan; we were united in our 
outrage and unified in our resolve. As we remember today who and what 
we lost on 9/11, we must also remember the love we share for who and 
what we are in America. That is what was attacked that September 
morning--and that is what can bring us together to build a more secure 
America.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, today marks the fifth anniversary of the 
vicious attack on America by al-Qaida terrorists. Despite the passage 
of time, Americans still vividly recall with enormous pain and sorrow 
that dark and somber day.
  We honor the nearly 3,000 innocent Americans who lost their lives 
that day. We recall the brave firefighters and first responders who 
sacrificed their lives so that others could live.
  We vividly remember the images on television of the Twin Towers 
crumbling before our eyes. We could see from our office windows the 
plume of smoke rising from the Pentagon, and we realized that but for 
the grace of God and courage of the passengers on flight 93, the 
Capitol buildings and many of us could have met that same fate.
  We recall the pledge by all Americans that this type of attack will 
never, ever occur again. We recall how all of us in Congress came 
together in common purpose.
  And we recall the enormous outpouring of support from the entire 
world, which stood by us and reassured us, saying so eloquently, 
``Today, we are all Americans.''
  More than 200 sons and daughters of Massachusetts perished in that 
tragedy. I will ask that their names be printed in the Record. Today, 
more than ever, our thoughts and prayers are with them and their 
families and friends whose lives were changed forever on that tragic 
day.
  Although their loved ones will never be brought back, I hope the 
words of Abraham Lincoln will provide a measure of solace on this 
anniversary--``We here highly resolve that those dead shall not have 
died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of 
freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, and for the 
people, shall not perish from the earth.''
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the list of names to 
which I referred to be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

     =Stephen G. Adams
     Gertrude ``Trudi'' Alagero
     Anna S. W. Allison
     Barbara Arestegui
     Myra Aronson
     Japhet Aryee
     Garnet ``Ace'' Bailey
     Christine Johnna Barbuto
     Mark Lawrence Bavis
     Graham Berkeley
     David W. Bernard
     Mark Bingham
     Jeffrey D. Bittner
     Susan Leigh Blair
     Kelly Booms
     Carol Bouchard
     John B. Cahill
     Michael R. Canty
     Christoffer M. Carstanjen
     Neilie Anne Heffernan Casey
     William Caspar
     Swarna Chalasani
     Stephen Cherry
     Geoffrey William Cloud
     Jeffrey D. Collman
     Kevin P. Connors
     Jeffrey William Coombs
     John ``Jay'' Corcoran
     Fredrick John Cox Jr.
     Tara Kathleen Creamer
     Thelma Cuccinello
     Patrick J. Currivan
     Dorothy deAraujo
     Gerald F. DeConto
     Manuel Del Valle Jr.
     Gerard P.Dewan
     Simon Dhanani
     David DiMeglio
     Donald A. DiTullio
     Alberto Dominguez
     Jamie Lynn Fallon
     Lisa Fenn Gordenstein
     Alexander M. Filipov
     John R. Fisher
     RichardFitzsimons
     Carol Flyzik
     Alan Friedlander
     Paul J. Friedman
     Karleton Douglas Beye Fyfe
     Thomas Edward Galvin
     Douglas Gardner
     Peter A. Gay
     Linda George
     Edmund Glazer
     Lynn Catherine Goodchild
     Peter M. Goodrich
     Douglas A. Gowell
     Andrew Curry Green
     Francis Grogan
     Philip Guza
     Paige Farley Hackel
     Maile Hale
     Carl Hammond
     Peter Burton Hanson
     Sue Kim Hanson
     Christine Lee Hanson
     Gerald Hardacre
     Melissa Harrington Hughes
     Eric Hartono
     John C. Hartz
     Peter P. Hashem
     James E. Hayden
     Robert J. Hayes
     Roberta Bernstein Heber
     Edward R. Hennessy, Jr.
     Noberto Hernandez
     Todd R. Hill
     Cora Hildalgo Holland
     Herbert Wilson Homer
     John Nicholas Humber
     William Christopher Hunt
     Waleed Joseph Iskandar
     Jason K. Jacobs
     Ariel L. Jacobs
     Aaron J. Jacobs
     Robert A. Jalbert
     Amy Nicole Jarrett
     John Jenkins
     Joseph Jenkins Jr.
     Charles E. Jones
     Jennifer Lynn Kane
     Robin L. Kaplan
     Robert M. Kaulfers
     Richard Keane Jr.
     Barbara A. Keating
     Ralph F. Kershaw
     Brian Kevin Kinney
     David P. Kovalcin
     Kathryn L. LaBorie
     Judy Larocque
     Janis Lasden
     Robert G. LeBlanc
     Dong Lee
     Joseph A. Lenihan
     Jeffrey LeVeen
     Daniel Lewin
     Sara Low
     Sean P. Lynch
     Marianne MacFarlane
     Susan McAleney Mackay
     L. ``Neil'' Mariani
     Karen Martin
     Joseph Mathai
     Margaret Mattic
     Kevin M. McCarthy
     Ruth McCourt
     Juliana Valentine McCourt
     Michael Gregory McGinty
     Thomas F. McGuinness Jr.
     Gavin McMahon
     Deborah Medwig
     Christopher Daniel Mello
     Stuart Todd Meltzer
     Raymond Joseph Metz III
     Martin P. Michelstein
     Craig J. Miller
     Antonio Montoya
     Carlos ``Beto'' Montoya
     Laura Lee Defazio Morabito
     Christopher M. Morrison
     Brian Joseph Murphy
     Mildred Rose Naiman
     Shawn M. Nassaney
     Laurie Olsen Neira
     Renee Tetreault Newell
     Kathleen Ann Nicosia
     Robert Norton
     Jacqueline Norton
     John Ogonowski
     Leah E. Oliver
     Seamus O'Neal
     Betty Ann Ong
     Jane M. Orth
     Marie Pappalardo
     Robert ``Bob'' Pattison
     Nicholas Thomas Pecorelli
     Todd D. Pelino
     Berinthia Berenson Perkins
     Jean Peterson
     Dennis J. Pierce
     Everett ``Marty'' Proctor III
     Carrie Beth Progen
     Sonia Puopolo
     Patrick J. Quigley IV
     David E. Retik
     Venesha Richards
     Fred Rimmele, M.D.
     Waleska Martinez Rivera
     Isaias Rivera
     Stephen L. Roach
     Raymond J. Rocha
     Laura Rockefeller
     Jean D. Roger
     Philip ``Phil'' Rosenzweig
     Richard Barry Ross
     Michael Craig Rothberg
     James M. Roux
     Jessica Leigh Sachs

[[Page 17661]]

     Rahma Salie
     Jesus ``JR''-Sanchez
     Matthew Carmen Sellitto
     Robert M. Shearer
     Kathleen Shearer
     Antoinette Sherman
     Jane Louise Simpkin
     Heather Smith
     Diane Bullis Snyder
     Timothy C. Stout
     Edward W. Straub
     Madeline Amy Sweeney
     Brian David Sweeney
     Kevin T. Szocik
     Leonard (Lenny) Taylor
     Michael Theodoridis
     Eric ``Rick'' Thorpe
     Alicia N. Titus
     Amy E. Toyen
     Daniel Trant
     Mary Trentini
     Jim Trentini
     Tyler Ugolyn
     Michael Augustine Uliano
     Kenneth E. Waldie
     Meta Fuller Waller
     Stephen Ward
     William Michael Weems
     John J. Wenckus
     Peter M. West
     Maudlyn A. White
     Candace Lee Williams
     Christopher R. Zarba Jr.

                          ____________________