September 11, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5771 

Oregon (Mr. BLUMENAUER) for 5 minutes. 

Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, we 

return to Capitol Hill, ending the summer recess with strong conflicting 

emotions. Today is the 11th anniversary of 9/11, the horrific attacks that 

rocked the Nation and were especially 

poignant for us on Capitol Hill. 

As representatives of the government 

we had sworn to uphold and defend, 

these senseless, despicable acts exposed 

a real vulnerability. We all remember 

what we felt as we were watching the 

Twin Towers collapse, the plane crashing into the Pentagon, and then yet another plane going down in a lonely field 

in Pennsylvania, destined for us here 

on Capitol Hill. 

People came together in an outpouring of support for one another and 

for our Nation. There was a sense of resolve, unparalleled at any time since 

the cowardly attacks on Pearl Harbor. 

The response of the government since 

then, however, has been somewhat 

mixed. We have protected the United 

States so far against any repeat attack, but at great cost. We have 

thrown money at the problem. We have 

had significant bureaucratic overreach, 

particularly in terms of personal liberties. We will be paying the costs of 

the horribly misguided war in Iraq for 

generations to come. 

After an original, terrific response 

routing the Taliban in Afghanistan, we 

took our eye off the ball. We allowed 

Osama bin Laden almost another decade of life and mischief. Later, we were 

sucked back into Afghanistan on the 

terms of the Taliban and al Qaeda, not 

on our terms. 

Now, this is not merely a Republican 

problem, although George Bush and 

Republicans were in charge and made 

some of the worst mistakes. There was 

much bipartisan support for the excesses. 

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To this day, there is bipartisan confusion about the best path forward to 

protect the Nation while protecting 

civil liberties and the budget for the 

situation today and not the conditions 

of September 10, 2001. My wish for Congress and for the candidates span out 

on the campaign trails, is that we 

mark this anniversary with a commitment to allow a little common sense 

and good will to enter into the political 

discourse. 

This can be an emotional job. I was 

thinking about the emotions that I expressed, having a chance 15 years ago 

to go through the hectoring and interfering military on Aung San Suu Kyi’s 

compound in Burma, where she was 

held under house arrest by the dictatorship. My son, daughter, and I spent 

an amazing afternoon with this extraordinary woman. I could scarcely 

imagine then, what will happen next 

week when we will be awarding that 

courageous woman the Congressional 

Medal of Honor here in the Capitol and 

then she will return to Burma as a 

member of their nation’s parliament. 

The success of this woman, together 

with the steely resolve of the American 

public after 9/11, ought to give us all 

pause and, hopefully, a renewed commitment to do our job right. Since 9/11, 

the challenges and circumstances have 

evolved. We have greater challenges in 

terms of security, climate instability, 

natural disaster, and our own economic 

vulnerability. It’s a tall order to deal 

with them; but, hopefully, we will all 

be inspired by the example of Aung San 

Suu Kyi standing up to the Burmese 

dictatorship and ultimately gaining a 

measure of success—and, of course, by 

the American public in their response 

to horrific attacks of 9/11. 

It’s time today, for the politicians to 

do their job: to listen, to speak the 

truth, and to lead. 

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SMART SECURITY: LEADING WITH 

OUR COMPASSION, NOT OUR 

MILITARY FIREPOWER 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 

California (Ms. WOOLSEY) for 5 minutes. 

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, a few 

minutes from now, Members of the 

House and the Senate will head to the 

Capitol steps. We’re going to the Capitol steps for a moment of remembrance to honor those who were killed 

in the attacks on September 11, 2001— 

September 11, 2001, a day that will forever be seared into the memory of 

American citizens and the world. 

Eleven years later, Mr. Speaker, 

spouses still grieve; children still feel 

the void; parents are still devastated 

by the loss of their children. It was a 

tragedy for individual families and for 

the entire Nation. One of the lingering 

tragedies of that day is that it led to 

policy decisions with terrible consequences that we’re still living with 

today. Over the last decade-plus, violence and mayhem have just led to 

more violence and mayhem. 

Our continued military occupation of 

Afghanistan has not brought the stability. It has not brought security. It 

has not brought a strong democracy to 

that country. Afghanistan remains one 

of the poorest and most dangerous 

places on Earth. The Taliban has not 

been driven into oblivion. The terrorist 

threats continue. And according to a 

New York Times article this past 

weekend, even U.S. commanders are 

admitting that the Taliban remains 

‘‘resilient’’ while al Qaeda is ‘‘evolving’’ and ‘‘adapting.’’ 

Mr. Speaker, while we in the House 

adjourned for the month of August, 

there was no recess for our troops. In 

fact, since we were last in session, another 60 U.S. servicemembers died in 

Afghanistan. Countless more suffered 

wounds to the body and to the brain. 

And then there are the Afghan civilians, many of them children, who are 

being killed every single day. How do 

we tell the families of these children 

that this is all for a good and just 

cause? We can’t. 

Mr. Speaker, it’s time to stop conducting national security policy on the 

principles of revenge and retaliation 

and on the false hope that we are making it better. The right way to secure 

and ensure security is to put America’s 

best foot forward, to lead with our 

compassion and not our military 

power. 

That’s what my SMART Security 

platform is all about. It puts development and diplomacy front and center, 

and it makes war a last resort. It is 

based on a commitment to improving 

the lives of Afghan people, alleviating 

power, creating economic opportunity, 

rebuilding infrastructure, improving 

education, and attacking public health 

problems in that area. 

We can’t do this with the military 

surge. We can only do it with a civilian 

surge—a surge of experts, of aid workers, of technical experts, from engineers to midwives. Of course, our development agencies are doing this kind of 

work, and they’re doing the best they 

can possibly do, but not nearly the 

scale that’s necessary to make this 

possible. Compared to billions of dollars every month that we spend on the 

war, we’re investing just a tiny fraction of that on humanitarian work that 

is so badly needed. 

Public opinion has turned dramatically against this war, and yet our 

most visible leaders continue to lag behind the people that elected them. The 

President of the United States says he 

will end this war in 2014, which is a 

good goal, but it is not nearly soon 

enough. His opponent, on the other 

hand, in the most important speech of 

his life a few weeks ago, didn’t see fit 

to even mention Afghanistan—not even 

once. 

So, Mr. Speaker, when we gather on 

the steps of the Capitol, as I bow my 

head, it will be in remembrance of 

those who died 11 years ago today, and 

it will also be with a fervent prayer of 

hope that we can honor their memory 

by finally ending the war in Afghanistan and finally bringing our troops 

home. 

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REMEMBERING 9/11 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentleman from 

Kansas (Mr. YODER) for 5 minutes. 

Mr. YODER. Mr. Speaker, 11 years 

ago today, Americans found themselves 

under attack. We watched with shock 

and horror as hijacked passenger airplanes were flown both into the World 

Trade Center towers and the Pentagon. 

We all remember what we were doing 

that Tuesday morning when 2,996 innocent Americans were killed in those 

tragic and unthinkable acts. We also 

remember the heroic actions of the 

passengers aboard United Flight 93, 

who courageously fought the hijackers 

on their plane and, sacrificing their 

own lives, ultimately saved countless 

others. Courage and bravery have long 

been traits demonstrated by our fellow 


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H5772 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 11, 2012 

Americans, from declaring our country’s independence to fighting alongside our allies abroad in the name of 

freedom and liberty. Americans, 

though, are also resilient. We band together, we pick each other up when 

we’re knocked down, and we endure. 

In Kansas, we are extremely proud of 

the men and women in our military 

that serve our country and defend our 

freedom and liberty around the globe. 

Their willingness to pay the ultimate 

sacrifice for their country—their true 

heroism—is known firsthand only to a 

small number, but is yet, sadly, far, far 

too common. 

The 3rd District of Kansas lost two 

such heroes this summer as a result of 

combat operations in Afghanistan. 

Army Sergeant Mike Knapp was deployed out of Joint Base LewisMcChord out of Washington State. He 

was killed in mid-May while bravely 

serving his country, only 3 days before 

he was scheduled to return home to 

Overland Park, Kansas. 

Also, Private First Class Cale Miller, 

deployed out of Joint Base LewisMcChord, lost his life in early June 

when an improvised explosive device 

detonated near his vehicle. He was a 

2007 graduate of Olathe Northwest, 

where he was a member of both the 

football and track teams. It breaks my 

heart each and every time I learn the 

news of a soldier who has lost his life 

so our country can continue to live in 

freedom. 

As we remember this day, the 11th 

anniversary of September 11, Mr. 

Speaker, we remember it by honoring 

all those innocent lives lost on that 

tragic day. We also remember the first 

responders, the firefighters, and the policemen who charged the burning buildings to save lives, ultimately giving up 

their own in the process. 

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Let us also recall the steely resolve 

of American patriotism and unity as 

our country courageously responded 

against the terrorists responsible for 

this tragedy. 

On this day, let us also honor and 

support all veterans who have served 

our country. We pay tribute to those 

fellow Americans who serve in our 

military, protecting us and ensuring 

acts, such as those of 11 years ago, 

never happen again. Our message of 

thanks is one that cannot be spoken 

strongly enough. To those who serve, 

those who lose their lives defending our 

country, and the families and friends 

who support them, we are eternally 

grateful. 

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RECESS 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair 

declares the House in recess until noon 

today. 

Accordingly (at 10 o’clock and 31 

minutes a.m.), the House stood in recess. 

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AFTER RECESS 

The recess having expired, the House 

was called to order by the Speaker at 

noon. 

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PRAYER 

The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick 

J. Conroy, offered the following prayer: 

Loving and gracious God, we give 

You thanks for giving us another day 

and for a safe return to Washington. 

Bless the Members of this assembly 

as they set upon the important work 

that faces them. Help them to make 

wise decisions in a good manner and to 

carry their responsibilities steadily, 

with high hopes for a better future for 

our great Nation. 

May they be empowered by what 

they have heard during their home district visits to work together. May the 

energy they have derived from respective party conventions be merged into 

a common sense of hope for our great 

Nation. 

On this day, which has become a day 

of national mourning, help us to remember as well the renewed sense of 

national courage and resolve that we 

need to work toward a better future. 

May we all be inspired by the heroism 

of so many 11 years ago to be the best 

that we can be this day. 

May all that is done today in the people’s House be for Your greater honor 

and glory. 

Amen. 

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THE JOURNAL 

The SPEAKER. The Chair has examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and announces to the House 

his approval thereof. 

Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved. 

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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

The SPEAKER. Will the gentleman 

from South Carolina (Mr. WILSON) 

come forward and lead the House in the 

Pledge of Allegiance. 

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina led 

the Pledge of Allegiance as follows: 

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the 

United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, 

indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 

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ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER 

The SPEAKER. The Chair will entertain up to 15 requests for 1-minute 

speeches on each side of the aisle. 

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SARA ELIZABETH LOW 9/11 

TRIBUTE 

(Mr. CRAWFORD asked and was 

given permission to address the House 

for 1 minute.) 

Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, September 11, 2001, is a day that will forever be etched in our Nation’s memory. 

Today marks the 11th anniversary of 

the tragic terrorist attacks on the 

World Trade Center, Pentagon, and the 

crash of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. 

Nearly 3,000 innocent people lost their 

lives that day. 

For one family in my district, the 

tragedy of September 11 hits close to 

home. Batesville native Sara Elizabeth 

Low was a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11, the plane that 

hit the north tower of the World Trade 

Center 11 years ago today. Sara was 

just 29 years old, and she loved her job 

as a flight attendant. 

The community of Batesville, Arkansas, may be small in population, but 

today they are enormous in heart and 

in remembrance of the life Sara Low 

lived. For 6 years now, the Batesville 

community has held a 5K run to remember Sara, and a memorial now 

stands in her honor at the junior high 

school. 

Today, my thoughts and prayers are 

with Sara’s parents, Mike and Bobbie 

Low, and all those in Batesville who 

were blessed to know her. May God 

bless the memory of Sara Low and all 

those who lost their lives on September 

11, 2001. 

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IN REMEMBRANCE OF SEPTEMBER 

11, 2001, TRAGEDY 

(Mr. CROWLEY asked and was given 

permission to address the House for 1 

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) 

Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I 

rise today in remembrance of those 

who lost their lives on September 11, 

2001, 11 years ago today. 

For the Nation, September 11 marks 

the day that the course of history in 

the United States was changed forever. 

For New Yorkers, 9/11 was the day our 

great city suffered a grievous blow, 

leaving behind a hole in the heart of 

lower Manhattan, and an even bigger 

hole in all of our hearts. 

While many of the structures destroyed or damaged by the attacks are 

being rebuilt or renewed, the families 

who lost their loved ones can never replace the husbands, the wives, the fathers, the mothers, the brothers, the 

sisters, and the children who perished. 

We can also never replace the brave 

first responders who rushed in to the 

burning buildings, giving their lives for 

others. 

Not one single day goes by that families don’t think of their loved ones who 

were lost, and we must ensure that 9/ 

11’s sacrifices are never, ever forgotten. 

Today, we stand together in honoring 

their memory and saluting their courage, which they so richly deserve. 

Johnny, we miss you. 

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WE WILL NEVER FORGET 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 

(Mr. WILSON of South Carolina 

asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) 


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