Date: 2016-09-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. today. on the steps of the House. we sang "God Bless America." Standing on those steps some 15 years ago. the searing memory comes back againthe horrific bloodshed. the dividing of families. the loss of lives. the pain. and the tragedy. To those remaining loved ones. I offer my deepest sympathy. And to America: we will never forget. I am grateful that we passed S. 2040 today. the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act. The reason is. our citizens should never be denied the right to enter courts and to petition for justice. As well. the pain needs to be eased. I want to thank those firstresponders. I visited Ground Zero. I have felt that pain. Every year. I think it is important for Americans to understand that we must remember to give honor and respect to those fallen and recognize the values of this Nation. As this legislation makes its way. I am committed to working with the administration in ensuring that all is well. It is important to note today. as we sang "God Bless America." we honored those families still in pain by passing S. 2040. Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act. God bless America. Mr. Speaker. I rise to join my colleagues in recognizing and commemorating the 15th anniversary of the attacks on our homeland on This Sunday will mark the 15th year since that day our nation faced the greatest loss of life on U.S. soil from an enemy attack since the attack on Pearl Harbor. The years that have passed since that day have not dimmed my memory or diminished my resolve to see an end to terrorism not only in the United States. but around the world. As a Member of Congress and a senior Member of the Committees on Homeland Security and the Judiciary. both of which deal with national security issues. I have long been committed and engaged in efforts to develop policies that anticipate and respond to new and emerging challenges to the security of our nation and the peace and safety of the world. I will never forget September 11. 2001 when 2.977 men. women and a children were murdered by 19 hijackers who took commercial aircraft and used them as missles. I stood on the East Front steps of the Capitol on September 11. 2001. along with 150 members of the House of Representatives and sang "God Bless America. September 11. 2001 remains a tragedy that defines our nations history. but the final chapter will be written by those who are charged with keeping our nation and its people safe while preserving the way of life that terrorists seek to change. I visited the site of the World Trade Center Towers in the aftermath of the attacks and grieved over the deaths of so many of our men. women. and children. I want to thank and commend the work of our first responder community on that day and every day since September 11 for their efforts to protect their communities and our nation from acts of terrorism. I watched as thousands of first responders. construction workers. and volunteers worked to recover the remains of the dead. and removed the tons of debris. while placing their own lives and health at risk. The men and women who worked at "Ground Zero" were called by a sense of duty to help in our nations greatest time of need since the bombing of Pearl Harbor. There is unfinished work for those first responders who were injured or suffered illnesses during and after the September 11. 2001 attacks. September 11 will forever remain a part of our national memory and for those who serve in Congress a clarion call to be vigilant against those who would do our nation harm. To respond to the medical needs of the thousands of people who became ill from exposure to the toxic environment at Ground Zero. Congress passed the James Zadroga September 11 Care Act (9/11 Care Act). which provides rescue and recover workers with health care to treat the conditions that resulted from their exposure to toxic dust after the terror attack. Under the leadership of President Obama. Bin Laden was found and killed. President Obama accepted. and succeeded in the mission to bring justice to those responsible for the carnage of September 11. 2001. Today. let us remember those who perished on this awful day 14 years ago. and rededicate ourselves to honoring their sacrifice by doing all we can to protect our homeland and all who dwell peaceably therein.