[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12157]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING THE 
 TERRORIST ATTACKS LAUNCHED AGAINST THE UNITED STATES ON SEPTEMBER 11, 
               2001, ON THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THAT DATE

  Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Oversight and Government Reform, Committee on Homeland Security, 
Committee on the Judiciary, Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, Committee on Armed Services, Committee on Foreign 
Affairs, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, be 
discharged from further consideration of House Resolution 842, and ask 
for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 842

       Whereas, on September 11, 2001, while Americans were 
     attending to their daily routines, terrorists hijacked four 
     civilian aircraft, crashing two of them into the towers of 
     the World Trade Center in New York City, a third into the 
     Pentagon near Washington, DC, and a fourth was prevented from 
     also being used as a weapon against America by brave 
     passengers who placed their country above their own lives;
       Whereas thousands of innocent Americans were killed and 
     injured as a result of these attacks, including the 
     passengers and crew of the four aircraft, workers in the 
     World Trade Center and in the Pentagon, rescue workers, and 
     bystanders;
       Whereas the crewmembers of United Flight 175, American 
     Flight 11, American Flight 77, and United Flight 93 acted as 
     first responders, reporting the first intelligence of a war 
     the United States did not know it was fighting and 
     sacrificing their own lives to protect the United States and 
     the lives of countless others;
       Whereas 15 years later the country continues to, and shall 
     forever, mourn their tragic loss and honor their memory;
       Whereas these attacks destroyed both towers of the World 
     Trade Center, as well as adjacent buildings, and seriously 
     damaged the Pentagon;
       Whereas these attacks were by far the deadliest terrorist 
     attacks ever launched against the United States, and, by 
     targeting symbols of American strength and success, were 
     intended to assail the principles, values, and freedoms of 
     the United States and the American people, intimidate our 
     Nation, and weaken its resolve;
       Whereas memorials have been constructed to honor the 
     victims of these attacks at the Pentagon, in Shanksville, 
     Pennsylvania, and on the World Trade Center grounds, so that 
     Americans and people from around the world can visit to mourn 
     those lost and to pay tribute to the heroic action and 
     sacrifice of those who have served our communities and our 
     country in the years since the attacks;
       Whereas 15 years after September 11, 2001, the United 
     States continues to fight terrorists and other extremists who 
     threaten America and her friends and allies;
       Whereas successive Congresses have passed and President 
     Bush and President Obama have signed numerous laws to assist 
     victims of terrorism, protect our Nation, combat terrorism at 
     home and abroad, and support the members of the Armed Forces 
     who courageously defend the United States;
       Whereas by the tireless efforts of our intelligence, 
     military, and law enforcement professionals, the United 
     States has been able to significantly degrade the al Qaida 
     network, by taking into custody or killing senior al Qaida 
     leaders, operational managers, and key facilitators, and owes 
     a debt of gratitude to the focused and persistent efforts of 
     all those personnel involved in the removal of Osama bin 
     Laden;
       Whereas the terrorist attacks that have occurred around the 
     world since September 11, 2001, remind us of the hateful 
     inhumanity of terrorism and the ongoing threat it poses to 
     freedom, justice, and the rule of law;
       Whereas United States law enforcement and intelligence 
     agencies and allies of the United States around the world 
     have worked together to detect and disrupt terrorist networks 
     and numerous terror plots since September 11, 2001;
       Whereas the Nation is indebted to the brave military, 
     intelligence, law enforcement, and civilian personnel serving 
     in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere in advancement of United 
     States national interests;
       Whereas thousands of families have lost loved ones in the 
     defense of freedom and liberty against the tyranny of terror; 
     and
       Whereas the passage of 15 years has not diminished the pain 
     caused by the senseless loss of nearly 3,000 persons killed 
     on September 11, 2001: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes September 11 as a day of solemn 
     commemoration;
       (2) extends again its deepest sympathies to the thousands 
     of innocent victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist 
     attacks, and to their families, friends, and loved ones;
       (3) honors the heroism and the sacrifices of United States 
     military and civilian personnel and their families who have 
     sacrificed much, including their lives and health, in defense 
     of their country;
       (4) credits the heroism of first responders, law 
     enforcement personnel, State and local officials, volunteers, 
     and others who aided the victims of these attacks and, in so 
     doing, bravely risked their own lives and long-term health;
       (5) expresses thanks and gratitude to the foreign leaders 
     and citizens of all nations who have assisted and continue to 
     stand in solidarity with the United States against terrorism 
     in the aftermath of the attacks on September 11, 2001, and 
     asks them to continue to stand with the United States against 
     international terrorism;
       (6) commends the military and intelligence personnel 
     involved in the removal of Osama bin Laden;
       (7) reasserts its commitment to opposing violent extremism 
     arrayed against American interests and to providing the 
     United States military, intelligence, and law enforcement 
     communities with the resources and support to do so 
     effectively and safely;
       (8) vows that it will continue to identify, intercept, and 
     disrupt terrorists and their activities;
       (9) reaffirms that the American people will never forget 
     the sacrifices made on September 11, 2001, and will never bow 
     to terrorist demands; and
       (10) declares that when Congress adjourns today, it stands 
     adjourned out of respect to the victims of the terrorist 
     attacks.

  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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