H5770 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 11, 2012 

North Carolina (Mr. BUTTERFIELD) for 5 

minutes. 

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I 

rise on this solemn day in the history 

of our Nation, the 11th anniversary of 

the terror attacks on 9/11, to honor and 

pay tribute to a North Carolina State 

Trooper who was killed in the line of 

duty this past Saturday morning. It 

was a tragic incident. 

Trooper Bobby Gene DeMuth served 

the State of North Carolina proudly 

and honorably for 12 years. He was assigned to the Rocky Mount Troop C, 

District One Highway Patrol. 

Trooper DeMuth loved his work. He 

loved his work as a law enforcement officer. He protected the good of our society from the bad, and he fought to 

make North Carolina a safer place. 

Trooper DeMuth’s life was tragically 

cut short, and he was killed while in 

the line of duty. He was pursuing an individual suspected of some very serious 

crime. He was serving and protecting. 

Following a 20-mile, 30-minute highspeed pursuit that began in our capital 

city of Raleigh, and ended by the heroic effort of Trooper Bobby Gene 

DeMuth, the suspect was apprehended. 

Tomorrow, Trooper DeMuth will be 

laid to rest at Inglewood Baptist 

Church in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. It is a sad day indeed. Trooper 

DeMuth, like so many of the first responders who passed away 11 years ago, 

deserves our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for doing what only a select 

few can do, and that is to protect and 

defend the public against those who do 

it harm. 

May God bless Trooper Bobby Gene 

DeMuth, his family, and each and 

every person that puts himself in 

harm’s way to protect the greater 

good. 

f 

IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO LOST 

THEIR LIVES SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 

Tennessee (Mrs. BLACK) for 5 minutes. 

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, 11 years 

ago today, our way of life, our freedom, 

and our fellow citizens came under attack in a series of ruthless and deliberate attacks. Today, we pause to remember and honor some 3,000 people— 

moms and dads, friends and neighbors—who lost their lives on that fateful day. 

b 1010 

We honor the first responders who 

chose to run into the burning World 

Trade towers, putting their own lives 

at risk to save others, and we honor 

the lives of the heroes who fought the 

terrorists on board Flight 97 and successfully prevented the plane from hitting the White House or the U.S. Capitol. 

None of us will ever forget that day. 

None of us will ever forget where we 

were the moment that we heard that a 

plane had hit the first World Trade 

tower, and none of us will ever forget 

seeing the second hit. America was 

shaken but not broken. In those dark 

hours ahead, Americans came together 

and responded with one voice. 

Today we remember and reflect upon 

a day that brought us all together as 

Americans, a day that was our generation’s Pearl Harbor, a day that made 

all of us stop and ask ourselves what’s 

important in our own lives. While 

many of our Nation’s leaders do not 

agree on how best to run our country, 

we are all in agreement with pausing 

to honor and remember those who gave 

their lives in this senseless attack. 

Where there is freedom, there is 

strength. Terrorism will never triumph. September 11, 2001, reminded all 

of us of that, and this is a day that we 

will never forget. 

f 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 

Texas (Ms. JACKSON LEE) for 5 minutes. 

Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. 

Speaker, ‘‘My country, ’tis of thee, 

sweet land of liberty.’’ God bless America. 

I’m glad that we have songs that can 

capture our spirits and the love that 

we have for our Nation. I’m reminded 

of being a child, singing the words, 

‘‘My country, ’tis of thee.’’ I’m reminded of that day, 9/11, when Members 

of Congress gathered to stand on the 

steps of the United States Capitol to 

sing ‘‘God Bless America.’’ 

I rise today to pay tribute to Americans and a myriad of persons whose 

lives remain forever changed because 

of 9/11. We honor and mourn still those 

who fell on that day. It was the world, 

a potpourri of personalities, nationalities, languages, different descriptions, 

and life stories. It was the world that 

was in America, a country that welcomes all. 

Then, of course, there are those of us 

who are reminded of the rushing in of 

heroes and ‘‘sheroes,’’ NYPD, civilian 

volunteers, firefighters, Park Police, 

Federal workers, all in some way helping to save someone’s life, fellow office 

workers, dishwashers, restaurant workers. Some died so that others might 

live. 

I remember very clearly where I was 

here in the United States Capitol, having a meeting with one of the Cabinet 

members of the President at that time, 

deeply involved in work regarding 

small businesses, going on with the 

normal daily responsibilities, Members 

who work on legislation, constituency 

issues, and oversight over the government. 

There was a rattling outside and, of 

course, phones started ringing, with 

the technology of that time. We indicated that we were still in the meeting 

and did not answer until someone 

banged on the door and said, I don’t 

know what is happening, but you must 

get out. 

Without panic, but certainly with 

great concern, as you entered the hallways, people were rushing, rushing to 

come out of this building. As the rumors began to fly or the words began 

to fly about the White House, the State 

Department, then, of course, there was 

the billowing smoke that one could see 

from the Pentagon. It was real. It was 

something that we had never, ever 

seen. Maybe for those who had been in 

wars preceding us in far-away lands, 

but not in the 20th century on the soil 

of the United States of America, or the 

21st century. 

I stand today with great honor for 

those who died, those who died in trying to save others and those who did. I 

am grateful today that we have the opportunity to be able to say thank you, 

though sadly, to families who remain, 

to those who now stand in New York 

reading names, to those who are at the 

Pentagon who still have the piercing 

feeling of loss, and certainly those in 

Pennsylvania, the family members, the 

surrounding community. 

I am grateful that in the last couple 

of days we finally acknowledged that 

there is something to those who 

breathed the smoke, and they are now 

going to be included for the entity that 

provides health care for those who were 

impacted by 9/11 toxic smoke. It took 

us too long. I’m glad we passed legislation to help the first responders, firefighters, police, and others who suffered catastrophic illnesses after they 

went in to help those who could not 

help themselves. 

I remember drafting legislation and 

introducing legislation for the 

latchkey children, for many of us don’t 

remember that so many children were 

left at home and no one came home to 

see them on that fateful day, 9/11. Children now read the names of their parents or loved ones, grandparents. Children grew up without a family member 

because of the heinous horror, hatred, 

contempt, and violence. 

I hope this Nation on this day comes 

closer together, that we come together 

as independents, Republicans, Democrats, and nothing, that we stand as 

one Nation being able to be reminded 

of the greatest Nation in the world. 

God bless America, for I will say that 

throughout my life whatever the ups 

and downs that we may have, this 

country is great. As I travel around on 

behalf of the United States of America, 

visiting those who fought in Iraq and 

who fought in Afghanistan, I see that 

they are great because they were willing to sacrifice at the call of the Commander in Chief and the call of their 

Nation. 

Today I come on this floor to honor 

all of those who were touched by 9/11, 

and to remind all of us as Members of 

Congress and the Nation, never yield to 

the weakness that we are not great. Always our democracy, our love of God, 

makes us that. 

God bless America. 

f 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentleman from 


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