Date: 2016-02-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. as a senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committees Subcommittee on Crime. Terrorism. Homeland Security. and Investigations. I rise in support of H.R. 3036. the "National 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center Act." This bill will designate the National September 11 Memorial located at the World Trade Center site in New York City. New York. as a national memorial. H.R. 3036 authorizes the Secretary of Interior to award a grant in an amount not to exceed $25 million each fiscal year to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation for the operation and maintenance of the memorial. Finally. the bill requires the National September 11 Memorial and Museum to report annually to the Interior Secretary and Congress on (1) the amount of grant funds expended. (2) the purpose for which the funds were used. and (3) any other information the Secretary may require. As a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security since its creation. and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime. Terrorism and Homeland Security. I strongly support this resolution. I will never forget September 11. 2001. a day on which I stood on the East Front steps of the Capitol on September 11. along with 150 Members of the House of Representatives. singing "God Bless America." September 11. 2001 remains a tragedy that defines our Nations history since that fateful day for many reasons. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks that killed 2.977 men. women. and children. At the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan. 2.753 people were killed when hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were intentionally crashed in the North and South towers. Of those who perished during the initial attacks and the subsequent collapses of the towers. 343 were New York City firefighters. another 23 were New York City police officers and 37 others were officers at the Port Authority. The victims ranged in age from two to 85 years. At the Pentagon in Washington. 184 people were killed when hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building. Near Shanksville. Pennsylvania. 40 passengers and crew members aboard United Airlines Flight 93 died when the plane crashed into a field. It is believed that the hijackers crashed the plane in that location. rather than their unknown target. after the passengers and crew attempted to retake control of the flight. The act of those passengers to stop the hijackers likely saved the lives of thousands of their fellow Americans that day. The heroic work done by the first responders who rushed into the burning Twin Towers and the Pentagon saved lives. We will forever remember the first responders who lost their lives in the line of duty on This Nation shall forever be grateful for the selfless sacrifice shown that day. That is why the National September 11 Memorial and Museum is so important. The National September 11 Memorial at the World Trade Center remembers and honors the thousands of innocent lives lost during the September 11th attacks. and the attacks of This Memorial is a testament to the triumph of human dignity over human depravity and affirms an unwavering commitment to the fundamental value of human life.