H. Res. 1420 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

September 11, 2008. 

Whereas on the morning of September 11, 2001, terrorists 

hijacked and destroyed four civilian aircraft, crashing two 

of them into the towers of the World Trade Center in 

New York City and a third into the Pentagon outside 

Washington, DC; 

Whereas the passengers and crew aboard United Flight 93 

acted heroically to prevent the terrorist hijackers from 

taking additional American lives, by crashing the plane in 

Shanksville, Pennsylvania and sacrificing their own lives 

instead; 

Whereas thousands of innocent men, women, and children 

were brutally murdered in the attacks of September 11, 

2001; 

Whereas 7 years later, the United States still mourns their 

loss and honors their memory; 

Whereas by targeting symbols of American strength and 

prosperity, the attacks were intended to assail the principles and values of the American people, to intimidate 

the Nation and its allies, and to weaken the national resolve; 

Whereas the United States remains steadfast in its determination to defeat, disrupt, and destroy terrorist organi-
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zations and seeks to harness all elements of national 

power, including its military, economic, and diplomatic 

resources, to do so; 

Whereas Congress passed and the President signed numerous 

laws to assist victims of terrorism, protect our Nation, 

combat terrorism at home and abroad, and support, in 

the field and upon return, the members of the Armed 

Forces who courageously defend the United States; 

Whereas the terrorist attacks that have occurred around the 

world since September 11, 2001, remind us all of the 

hateful inhumanity of terrorism and the ongoing threat 

it poses to freedom, justice, and the rule of law; 

Whereas the United States has worked cooperatively with the 

nations of the free world to capture and punish terrorists 

and remains committed to building strong and effective 

counterterrorism alliances; 

Whereas immediately following September 11, 2001, the 

United States Armed Forces moved swiftly against alQaeda and the Taliban, which the President and Congress had identified as enemies of the United States; 

Whereas in doing so, brave servicemen and women left loved 

ones in order to defend the Nation; and 

Whereas 7 years later, many servicemen and women remain 

abroad, defending the Nation from further terrorist attacks and continuing to battle al-Qaeda and the Taliban: 

Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) recognizes September 11 as a day of solemn 

commemoration; 
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(2) extends its deepest condolences again to the 

friends, families, and loved ones of the innocent victims 

of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; 

(3) honors the heroic service, actions, and sacrifices 

of first responders, law enforcement personnel, State and 

local officials, volunteers, and others who aided the innocent victims and, in so doing, bravely risked and often 

sacrificed their own lives; 

(4) expresses 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; 

(5) asserts in the strongest possible terms that the 

war on terrorists and terrorism is not a war on any nation, any people, or any faith; 

(6) recognizes the heroic service, actions, and sacrifices of United States personnel, including members of 

the United States Armed Forces, the United States intelligence agencies, the United States diplomatic service, 

and their families, who have sacrificed much, including 

their lives and health, in defense of their country against 

terrorists and their supporters; 

(7) vows that it will continue to take whatever actions are appropriate to identify, intercept, and defeat 

terrorists, including providing the United States Armed 
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Forces, the United States intelligence agencies, and the 

United States diplomatic service with the resources and 

support to effectively and safely accomplish this mission; 

and 

(8) reaffirms that the American people will never 

forget the sacrifices made on and since September 11, 

2001, and will defeat those who attacked our Nation 

through our shared determination, spirit, and embrace of 

democratic values. 

Attest: 

Clerk.