[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 13201-13204]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            REMEMBERING 9/11

  Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, on Sunday, this Nation will pause to 
remember a painful day in American history.
  On September 11, 2001, I was glued to the radio in my pickup on a 
long drive back home to Big Sandy. It wasn't until I stopped at a 
Billings restaurant that I finally saw on TV what I had heard about all 
day. The pictures were surreal.
  Although the attacks of 9/11 weren't America's first test of 
uncertainty, all of us knew this Nation would change forever.
  In the hours and days and weeks following the attacks of September 
11, 2001, Americans, neighbors, and perfect strangers joined together 
to fill the

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streets despite their differences. They poured out their support. They 
redefined the United States of America. I knew then that this great 
Nation would overcome. Events that unite us will always make us 
stronger. I was reminded of that on May 2, when Navy SEALs found and 
brought swift justice to Osama bin Laden, prompting spontaneous 
celebrations across Montana and the rest of the country.
  We must never lose sight of our ability to find common ground and 
work together on major issues that affect us all. We have much more in 
common than not, and we should never forget that. It is what built this 
country. It is what made this the best Nation on Earth, and we need to 
summon that spirit again as we work to rebuild our economy.
  Over the past decade, we have been reminded of some powerful truths 
that we can never afford to lose sight of. We can never take the 
security of this country for granted. There are and, sadly, always will 
be people out there bent on destroying what America stands for, taking 
innocent lives with them. They are always looking for the weakest links 
in our security. They are trained and well financed. But our Nation's 
troops, our intelligence agents, our law enforcement and border 
security officers are even better trained.
  I am particularly concerned about weaknesses along the Montana 
northern border with Canada. Up until recently, only a few orange cones 
in the middle of a road protected the country from terrorism. 
Unfortunately, the days when orange cones did the trick are behind us.
  I have worked on the Homeland Security Committee to improve this 
Nation's security, and things are better than they were a decade ago. 
We are still working to achieve the right mix of people, technology, 
and know-how to secure the northern border.
  We have also been reminded that America's military can achieve 
anything asked of it. This comes with a cost. Similar to so many folks 
of the greatest generation after Pearl Harbor day, hundreds of 
Montanans signed up to defend our country after 9/11. I stand in deep 
appreciation for the men and women who, in those dark hours, stood for 
our country. I thank them and their families for their service, their 
sacrifice, and their patriotism.
  In the years since 9/11, American forces have paid a tremendous price 
in Iraq and Afghanistan in lives and livelihoods. Until only a few 
years ago, veterans had to fight another battle at home trying to get 
access to the benefits they were promised. Too many veterans are still 
fighting for adequate funding and access to quality health care 
services that they have earned. As one veteran said, ``The day this 
Nation stops taking care of her veterans is the day this Nation should 
stop creating them.'' I couldn't agree more.
  Montanans are reminded that some out there are still willing to 
invade our privacy and trample on our Constitution in the name of 
security and freedom. Measures such as the PATRIOT Act, which I have 
consistently opposed, forfeit some basic freedoms. Some lawmakers 
aren't stopping there.
  In the House, a bill called the National Security and Federal Lands 
Protection Act would allow the Department of Homeland Security to waive 
laws and seize control of public lands within 100 miles of the border, 
even if that means closing off grazing lands, shuttering national 
parks, and trampling on the rights of private land owners. That would 
have an enormous impact on the whole of Montana. If bad bills such as 
that are turned into law, America loses.
  Our Constitution is a powerful document, and terrorists want nothing 
more than to watch our rights crumble away by the weight of our own 
policies. We can, and we will, remain strong. But we must do it with 
respect to our rights and freedoms.
  Today, as on Sunday, my prayers are with those Americans who have 
died at the hands of terrorists on and since 9/11 and for the tens of 
thousands of troops still on the frontlines in Afghanistan and 
elsewhere and for the families of thousands of American troops who have 
died in service to this country since that terrible day.
  My wife Charlotte and I stand with all Montanans in saying thank you 
to the members of our military, present and past, especially those who 
have come home with injuries, seen and unseen. This Nation will never 
forget your sacrifices.
  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, many of us remember exactly where we 
were on the morning of September 11, 2001. We will never forget the 
footage from New York as the towers fell, from the Pentagon as fire 
raged, and from Pennsylvania, where United flight 93 was grounded in a 
field. We questioned who would do this, if another attack was coming, 
and if we were safe in our own country anymore. The tragedy suffered by 
our nation on that day left us with important lessons to learn, 
improvements to make, and a renewed sense of urgency towards the future 
of our society and national security.
  On that Tuesday morning, we were victims of a terrible attack that 
killed 2,961 American citizens, destroyed $15 billion of property, and 
launched us into a battle we continue to fight. The actions of the 
terrorists also sparked the spirit of a nation united. It left us with 
a resolve to regroup, rebuild and recover while renewing our country's 
reputation as a world leader and symbol of freedom.
  The impacts of 9/11 were not lost on Alaskans. Although thousands of 
miles away at the moment of attack, Alaskans sprung into action to help 
their countrymen in any way possible. Some deployed to Ground Zero, 
some sponsored fundraisers or blood drives, and some to this day are 
serving their country in the ongoing operations in Afghanistan, Iraq 
and around the world.
  Today, we pay homage to our fallen heroes. On Sunday, I will join my 
fellow Alaskans in honoring those courageous first responders at the 
2011 Alaska Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony and 9/11 Remembrance 
in Anchorage. We will remember firefighters and other first responders 
who gave their lives on September 11, 2001 and since then. To them, 
emergency response was far more than a job--it was a vocation they felt 
was worth risking their lives in the face of incredible danger.
  I urge Alaskans to join with all Americans across the country to 
serve their neighbors and communities on what Congress has deemed 
Patriot Day.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, our Nation will soon observe and reflect 
on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
  A decade after vicious terrorist attacks killed thousands of innocent 
people and caused immeasurable grief to victims and survivors, America 
has shown the world that 9/11 may have changed life as we knew it, but 
it has not changed America's commitment to freedom, liberty and the 
pursuit of happiness.
  The national tragedy tapped an overwhelming sense of solidarity and 
sacrifice among Americans from across the country. Consider the 
selfless acts of courage and patriotism from the moment the hijackers 
commandeered three airplanes on that clear September morning 10 years 
ago: from the passengers aboard United flight 93, to the first 
responders who reported to the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and 
the heroes who serve on the front lines from within the Nation's 
military and from behind-the-scenes in our intelligence and 
counterterrorism operations.
  Thanks to the allegiance of public servants and private citizens, our 
men and women in uniform and our captains of commerce and industry, the 
United States of America continues to serve as a beacon of hope, 
freedom and opportunity to the rest of the world. Those who sought to 
undermine the exceptionalism of the American people underestimated the 
resiliency of the American people.
  Consider the recent protests across the globe, where after decades of 
oppression, the people of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya have thrown out 
autocratic regimes in the pursuit of self-government, economic 
opportunity, higher standards of living and personal freedoms. The 10th 
anniversary of 9/11 offers Americans and our friends around

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the world the opportunity to embrace the common threads that tie us 
together.
  For more than two centuries, the United States has attracted millions 
of newcomers to live and work in the land of opportunity. Generations 
of Americans have scaled the ladder of economic and social mobility, 
enjoyed the freedoms of press, speech and religion, and embraced the 
ups and downs of entrepreneurship, risk-taking and innovation. 
Unleashing the power of the individual has served as a catalyst for 
economic growth and prosperity for the last 235 years.
  Along the way, the United States evolved as an economic, cultural and 
military leader in the world. The 9/11 terror attacks dealt a 
devastating blow to America and all of humanity. And yet, 10 years 
later, America still stands as the shining city on the hill. Despite 
the economic downturn, America still bears the promise of better days 
ahead. Despite high unemployment and unprecedented public debt, the 
American dream still serves as the magical elixir that ultimately 
defines the Nation's resiliency and bone-deep belief in the goodness of 
America.
  That bone-deep belief in the goodness of America flows through the 
veins of those called to serve their country in the U.S. military, 
including one of Iowa's own hometown heroes who lost his life in the 
line of duty this summer. Jon Tumilson enlisted in the Navy after 
graduating from high school in 1995. A 35-year-old Navy SEAL from 
Rockford, he was one of 30 Americans killed in one of the deadliest 
attacks on U.S. forces since 9/11. My wife and I were able to pay our 
respects to this fallen Navy SEAL at his funeral in August. The long-
time Iowa Hawkeye football and wrestling fan left behind family members 
and loved ones, including his beloved Labrador retriever named Hawkeye. 
The black lab led family members into the school gymnasium for the 
service and proceeded to lie next to the casket of his owner. They say 
a picture is worth a 1,000 words. The image of Tumilson's dog lying 
next to the flag-draped casket brought three words to mind; loyalty, 
loss and love.
  I honor the memory of the many Iowans who've died in military service 
since 9/11, and all the soldiers and veterans who have served their 
country to protect U.S. national security and preserve our American way 
of life.
  May their sacrifice remind us of their bone-deep belief in America's 
goodness. We must keep their legacy and love of country close to mind 
as we work to put America back on the right track towards economic 
growth and prosperity.
  (At the request of Mr. Reid, the following statement was ordered to 
be printed in the Record.)
 Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Sunday is September 11. It will be 10 years 
after thousands perished in the worst terrorist attack the United 
States has ever seen. It was a day America lost fathers, mothers, 
sisters and brothers, and it was a day we will never forget.
  With that historic date approaching, I think that it is imperative 
that we honor the tremendous bravery of our public safety officials. 
Every day they are on the front lines in one of our Nation's most 
pressing battles--protecting our neighborhoods, our communities, and 
responding fearlessly when tragedy strikes. And it is around this time 
every year that we particularly remember their bravery in responding to 
one of the most horrific tragedies of all.
  The best way to honor our first responders is to make sure we are 
giving them the tools they need to be successful, to be safe and to do 
their job in a way that does not expose them to needless dangers. Right 
now, it is unimaginable, but we are not doing that. When it comes to 
public safety communications, these everyday heroes don't have the 
networks they need and depend on.
  Too often first responders lack the interoperable networks that are 
essential to providing an effective response in emergencies. They lack 
the ability to communicate with one another, with other agencies and 
across different city and state lines. This hampers our ability to 
respond to crisis. Whether that crisis is a terrorist attack or natural 
disaster, it puts lives in unnecessary danger.
  Shouldn't a firefighter be able to wirelessly download a floor plan 
of a burning building before running into it? Shouldn't a police 
officer be able to receive an immediate digital snapshot of a dangerous 
criminal? And shouldn't an emergency medical technician be able to 
receive life-saving medical information on a patient following an 
accident? If the average American traveler is able to wirelessly pull 
up a map to route a summer road trip why shouldn't our first responders 
be able to utilize the same type of technology to save lives?
  Far too much time has passed for Congress to not act. That is why I 
have been working, side by side with the Commerce Committee's ranking 
member, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, to pass S. 911, the Public Safety 
Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act. This bipartisan legislation would 
implement a nationwide, interoperable wireless broadband communications 
network for our first responders.
  It would set aside the 10 megahertz of spectrum known as the ``D-
block'' for public safety to support the network and help foster 
communications for our first responders across the country.
  It would also give the Federal Communications Commission the 
authority to hold incentive auctions based on the voluntary return of 
spectrum. These auctions, in turn, will provide funding to support the 
construction and maintenance of a public safety network and will free 
up additional spectrum for innovative commercial uses. In an industry 
that has created 420,000 new jobs over the past decade, this bill is 
crucial to that continued growth.
  In short, this bill marries much needed resources for first 
responders with smart commercial spectrum policy. It can keep us safe--
and help grow our economy. That is why this legislation has the support 
of every major public safety organization across the country including 
in my State of West Virginia. It is also why this bill has strong 
support from governors and mayors across the country and why we have 
the support of our President and the administration.
  This week, as we come together as a nation to remember and honor the 
lives lost on 9/11, I also urge my colleagues to support the Public 
Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act. And to those who say we 
cannot afford to do this now, I say we cannot afford not to. Because 
this effort is about saving lives. But if this reason is not compelling 
enough, it is important to know this: this legislation pays for itself. 
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and even the 
industry itself, incentive auctions will bring in revenue well above 
what funding public safety requires, leaving billions over for deficit 
reduction. This is a win-win-win.
  In closing, let me say that we have a once-in-a-generation 
opportunity to provide our public safety officials with the spectrum 
they need to communicate when tragedy strikes. And with voluntary 
incentive auctions we can pair this with funding.
  Let's seize this moment. This is not Republican, this is not 
Democrat. It is quite simply the right thing to do. Let's do something 
historic--together.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I join my colleagues in 
commemorating the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001. I remember 
that morning so vividly. It was stunningly clear and beautiful with a 
crispness in the air that hinted that fall was just around the corner. 
And then, with a sudden ferocity, the airliners crashed into the World 
Trade Center, WTC, the Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA. Barely 2 
hours elapsed between the first hijacking and the collapse of the North 
Tower of the WTC, 2 horrific hours that forever changed our Nation and 
the world.
  We mourn the lives that were lost in New York City, here in the 
Washington metropolitan area, and in Pennsylvania. The emotional trauma 
of those losses affected each and every American. Millions of us 
remained glued to our TV sets, watching unbearable images of death and 
destruction.
  We remember the 3,000 people who perished on 9/11. The attacks spared 
no

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one: Blacks, Whites, Christians, Jews, and Muslims; the young and old; 
parents, children, siblings; Americans and foreigners--all these and 
more were among the victims. The attack was not on one ethnic group, 
but on a way of life. It was an attack on our freedom and our 
dedication to its preservation.
  We honor the selfless actions of our first responders, including 
firefighters, police, paramedics, and other emergency and medical 
personnel, all of whom did not hesitate to answer the call of duty and 
demonstrated extraordinary bravery and courage in our hours of need.
  We also honor our brave service men and women who have taken the 
fight to the terrorists on foreign soil. We must never forget our 
country's solemn obligation to our service men and women, our veterans, 
and their families.
  There is no question that 9/11 and the days that followed were 
difficult ones. But they were also among our proudest ones. It brought 
out the best of the American spirit. Men and women waited in lines for 
hours to give blood, children donated their savings to help with relief 
efforts, communities sponsored clothing drives, and different faith 
groups held interfaith services.
  On 9/11 and in the days and months that followed, Americans stood 
together. Our response showed the world that Americans have an 
unquenchable love of freedom and democracy. It showed American 
resilience, vigilance, and resolve.
  Much has changed since that day in September. The 9/11 attacks 
propelled our Nation into a new kind of warfare, unlike any war we have 
ever fought. They exposed the scope, depth, and utter ruthlessness of 
the al-Qaida network. And the attacks revealed gaps in our national 
security. Evolving threats required new tools.
  I am proud of how far we have come in addressing the challenge 
presented by al-Qaida or other terrorist organizations. While our 
security networks are far from perfect, in the decade since the 9/11 
attacks, we created the Department of Homeland Security to streamline 
and better integrate the Federal departments and agencies responsible 
for protecting us. U.S. intelligence and law enforcement at all levels 
have become much more aggressive in pursuing terrorist threats at home 
and abroad. These measures have been largely successful.
  And let us remember arguably our greatest success against al-Qaida: 
President Obama's bold stroke to bring Osama bin Laden to justice. The 
raid was the result of painstaking intelligence gathering and analysis 
and thorough planning, and it was a remarkable display of our Special 
Forces capabilities and the extraordinary heroism of our men and women 
in uniform.
  The end of al-Qaida is in sight. Their future is bleak. They have far 
less global impact than they used to. They cling to an outdated and 
empty ideology, with little mainstream influence in the Muslim world. 
Indeed, the recent Arab Spring demonstrates that people in Middle 
Eastern countries--especially young people--are more interested in 
freedom and democracy than in being susceptible to al-Qaida's 
repressive ideology.
  Even as al-Qaida becomes more and more marginalized, evolving state- 
and nonstate-sponsored threats to our Nation's security persist. One of 
our greatest challenges will be securing cyberspace. The Internet has 
grown into one of the most remarkable innovations in human history. But 
it carries risks.
  Our current system allows hackers, spies, and terrorists to gain 
access to classified and other vital information. Today's cyber 
criminals, armed with the right tools, can steal our identities, 
corrupt our financial networks, and disrupt government operations. 
Tackling cybersecurity in a meaningful way will fill one of the last 
holes that exist in our national security regime.
  As our government moves to extinguish the remnant of al-Qaida and 
address new threats, we must strive to maintain a careful balance 
between protecting our Nation and protecting our civil liberties. 
Commemorating 9/11 should remind us of what makes us unique as a 
nation. Our country's strength lies in its diversity and our ability to 
have strongly held beliefs and differences of opinion, while being able 
to speak freely and not fear that we will be discriminated against by 
our government or our fellow citizens.
  After the 9/11 attacks, I went back to my congressional district and 
made three visits as a Congressman. First, I visited a synagogue and we 
prayed together. Then, I visited a mosque and we prayed together. 
Finally, I visited a church and we prayed together. On that day in 
September, Americans banded together, regardless of our personal belief 
or religion.
  My message that day was clear: we needed to condemn the terrorist 
attacks and to take all necessary measures to eliminate safe havens for 
terrorists and bring them to justice. But my other message that day was 
equally important: we cannot allow the events of 9/11 to make us 
demonize a particular religion, nationality, creed, or community. In 
these trying times, we cannot let our society succumb to the temptation 
to scapegoat one group.
  We did it before--with the Palmer Raids following World War I, the 
internment of 120,000 Japanese-American citizens during World War II, 
and the McCarthy-era witch hunts. These were shameful events of our 
history. We must strive to live up to our Nation's highest ideals and 
protect our precious civil liberties, even when doing so is difficult 
or unpopular. We must always remember how we stood united on 9/11 and 
showed the world the depth of our commitment to ``E Pluribus Unum.'' 
Out of many, one.
  Our many faiths, origins, and appearances should bind us together, 
not break us apart. They should be a source of strength and 
enlightenment, not discord and enmity. All of us belong to smaller 
communities within the larger community we call the United States. Each 
community has an obligation to the larger community to promote the 
safety and well-being of each and every one of us. There is a mutual 
self-interest in preserving and nurturing our freedom.
  September 11, 2001, was a dark day. We remember those who perished 
and mourn with those who lost family and friends. We honor those who 
responded and those who fought and continue to fight to keep us safe.
  Archibald MacLeish wrote, ``There are those who will say that the 
liberation of humanity, the freedom of man and mind, is nothing but a 
dream. They are right. It is the American dream.'' 9/11 was a 
nightmare. As horrific and cruel as it was, however, it can't 
extinguish the dream.

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