[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 100-101]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            TERRORIST ATTACK

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, throughout the history of the United 
States of America, we have had a remarkable alliance with the nation of 
France. It bears remembering and repeating that the French stood by our 
side when America was fighting for its independence from Great Britain. 
The French were honored in many ways for that alliance and help, 
including, as I recall, a portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette which 
hangs in the U.S. House of Representatives to this day.
  That was not the only time by any means that the French have stood 
with us and we have stood by their side. It happened during World War 
I, World War II, and many times after that. Through the NATO alliance 
and in many other ways, we have worked with the people of France for 
common goals and common purpose, and that is why we were so saddened 
this morning to learn of the news that was reported by the Tribune:

       Masked gunmen shouting ``Allahu akbar!'' stormed the Paris 
     offices of a satirical newspaper Wednesday, killing 12 people 
     before escaping. It was France's deadliest terror attack in 
     at least two decades.
       With a manhunt on, French President Francois Hollande 
     called the attack on the Charlie Hebdo weekly . . . ``a 
     terrorist attack without a doubt.'' He said several other 
     attacks have been thwarted in France ``in recent weeks.''
       France raised its security alert to the highest level and 
     reinforced protective measures at houses of worship, stores, 
     media offices and transportation. Top government officials 
     were holding an emergency meeting and Hollande planned a 
     nationally televised address in the evening. Schools closed 
     their doors.
       World leaders including President Barack Obama and German 
     Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the attack, but supporters 
     of the militant Islamic State group celebrated the slayings 
     as well-deserved revenge against France.

  This event in Paris recalls what we lived through not that long ago 
when the United States--on September 11, 2001--was attacked by 
terrorists and more than 3,000 innocent Americans lost their lives in 
New York, in Washington, and in the countryside of Pennsylvania. Many 
of us recall that at that moment--that sad, awful moment--people around 
the world rallied to

[[Page 101]]

stand with the United States in our grief and in our determination for 
justice. We particularly remember that the people of France did that, 
and they spoke out in one voice saying they were going to be by our 
side in this battle against terrorism. I think it is appropriate today 
that we follow suit, that we join in that same spirit. ``A ce moment 
tragique, nous sommes tous Parisiens, nous sommes tous Francais.''
  Let us all work together not only to bring justice to this horrible 
situation--this attack on free press in France--but let us also work 
together to bring an end to terrorism in our time. We can work with our 
allies and friends in France to achieve that goal.

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