We have not forgotten

Statement

In a calculated attack unlike any America had ever known, on September 11, 2001, terror swept across our skies. Nine years ago, an evil force, employing nineteen hijackers, destroyed 2,977 innocent lives. The unsuspecting victims were hardworking businessmen and women, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, police officers, military personnel, and citizens from more than ninety countries. Nine years later, we have not forgotten, and we understand for better and for worse, our nation will never be the same.

In the years following the coordinated attacks on 9/11, the United States has been embroiled in a war against Islamic extremists. We continue to fight to provide stability in the Middle East was well as worldwide. Our nation has made great strides on all fronts, including the elimination of key Al Qaeda leaders and operatives, and the interception of communications that have foiled terrorist plots at home and abroad. Still, America faces threats from terrorist networks around the world. While no major attacks have been successfully carried out in recent years, the Christmas Day and Times Square bombing attempts reveal that we still have dangerous enemies who actively pursue means to harm and kill Americans.

Those failed attempts revealed severe gaps in our intelligence gathering processes. Few people could agree with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano's statement that "'the system worked" after the bomb on a U.S. airliner last Christmas failed to detonate. Instead, most Americans wondered how the bombing suspect escaped placement on the "Terrorist Screening Database" and the "No-Fly List." Unsettling questions also arose following the failed bombing attempt in Times Square. Some members of Congress mentioned we were lucky that these bombers were unsuccessful. However, we cannot simply rely on luck when it comes to matters of our national security.

As a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, several of my colleagues and I have worked to ensure the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the agencies within its jurisdiction remain vigilant against all foreign and domestic threats. Hearings pertaining to the attempted bombing attacks have yielded lessons learned on how to best prevent future terrorist attempts. Our committee is working with DHS, the Department of Defense, and the intelligence community to better understand how these terrorist networks function. In addition, we are working on ways to better prevent radicals from entering the United States and the promotion of radicalization within our own borders.

As a nation, we must continually adapt to the ever changing tactics of our enemies. Secure borders and intelligence sharing are critical components to ensuring successful homeland security missions. We must also commit to guarding ourselves from becoming too comfortable and taking our freedom for granted. It is critical we fully support our men and women in uniform who are taking the fight to our enemies to better protect us at home. As American philosopher Thomas Paine once said, "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." For civilians, this means encouraging the members of our military forces and their families; for the federal government, providing our troops with the equipment and training necessary to complete their mission and return home safely.

Indeed, we are not the same nation we were before September 11. The enormous loss we endured that day united us as a people and revealed to the entire world that we are stronger, more resilient, and more resourceful than our enemies ever gave us credit. We will continue to stand for freedom for centuries of anniversaries to come.

Source