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 prin-
ciples and values of the American people, to intimidate 
the Nation and its allies, and to weaken the national re-
solve; 
Whereas the United States remains steadfast in its deter-
mination 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 al- 
Qaeda and the Taliban, which the President and Con-
gress 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 at-
tacks 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 inno-
cent 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 ter-
rorism 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 na-
tion, any people, or any faith; 
(6) recognizes the heroic service, actions, and sac-
rifices of United States personnel, including members of 
the United States Armed Forces, the United States in-
telligence 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 ac-
tions are appropriate to identify, intercept, and defeat 
terrorists, including providing the United States Armed