[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21289]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                REMEMBERING THE 9/11 ATTACKS ON AMERICA

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                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 9, 2009

  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, this week we pause to remember the nearly 
3,000 Americans who lost their lives in New York, Pennsylvania, and at 
the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. There are no words that I or any of 
us can say that will take away the pain and grief of those who lost 
family members and friends during the attacks. Thousands from my 
district were among those who lost those dear to them at the World 
Trade Center. The memory of that terrible day remains fresh in the 
minds of those who live or work in New York City and Washington.
  This year also marked the tragic passing of Beverly Eckert, who lost 
her husband Sean on 9/11 and who subsequently co-founded the Voices of 
September 11th advocacy organization, which played a critical role in 
pushing for the creation of the 9/11 Commission. Beverly was one of the 
passengers on Continental Airlines flight 3407, which crashed near 
Buffalo on February 12, 2009.
  Today, we still owe Beverly Eckert and everyone else touched by the 
9/11 attacks what we promised them: that we would reform our 
governmental institutions to help prevent future attacks and that the 
perpetrators of 9/11 would be brought to justice. Some progress has 
been made in making our country less vulnerable to future terrorist 
attacks, but much work remains to be done.
  Our rail system is still needlessly vulnerable to the kinds of 
attacks that rocked London, Madrid, and Mumbai over the last several 
years. We have yet to screen 100 percent of the cargo entering our 
ports of entry and our ``no fly lists'' continue to contain the names 
of innocent Americans who are routinely detained for no legitimate 
reason while our porous borders remain a potential pathway for 
terrorists to enter our country. I will continue my work to eliminate 
these holes in our defenses and to press for changes in our foreign and 
defense policy that will help us to remove Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda 
as a threat to our people.
  As we remember those who have died and seek to honor our commitments 
to them and their survivors, people all across America now can take 
part in a new way to honor the memory of those who perished on 9/11.
  Earlier this year, the Congress passed and President Obama signed 
into law the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (Public Law 111-13). 
In addition to tripling national service volunteerism opportunities to 
250,000 for everyone from students to retirees, this bipartisan law 
designated September 11 every year as a National Day of Service and 
Remembrance. I encourage all Americans to use September 11 to honor the 
victims and heroes of the 9/11 tragedy by serving their neighbors and 
communities.

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