Expressing the Sense of the House of Representatives Regarding the Terrorist Attacks Launched Against the United States on September 11, 2001
Floor Speech
EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING THE TERRORIST ATTACKS LAUNCHED AGAINST THE UNITED STATES ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 -- (House of Representatives - September 11, 2008)
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Mr. SOUDER. Madam Speaker, it has been 7 years since the terrorist attacks that took the lives of over 3,000 men, women, and children. I join with my colleagues to offer sincere condolences to the families of the victims. We must never forget these tragic events; they have left a wound that will never heal.
I also rise to remember and honor the first responders who acted with bravery and heroism on that day and during the recovery period. During one of the worst tragedies our Nation has faced, we witnessed the most remarkable acts of self-sacrifice, courage, and compassion. It is a testament to the American spirit.
Since 9/11, we have taken steps to help anticipate and deter future attacks and prepare for a quick and effective response following an emergency. One benchmark of the progress made is the absence of further acts of terrorism on U.S. soil during the past 7 years. This has not been an accident.
The men and women serving in our Nation's Armed Forces are pursuing terrorists overseas and warrant our utmost respect and appreciation for their faithful service. Additionally, the 216,000 employees of the Department of Homeland Security deserve our gratitude for their efforts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to gather and analyze intelligence, coordinate with State and local law enforcement, harden our borders, secure our transportation systems, and enforce the laws.
We all recognize that our foes are extremely determined and patient; even now they are looking to exploit our open and free society to carry out additional attacks. Our resolve must be even stronger to detect, deter, and respond. There is much more work to do to bolster our security and counter changing threats.
Today is a day to renew our commitment to improve our intelligence capabilities, secure our borders, support our first responders in communities large and small, and intensify our vigilance.
While the attacks occurred in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania, the Nation felt the reverberations and stood together in unprecedented unity. I urge my colleagues to put aside partisan differences and make the security of our Nation and the well-being of our military personnel fighting the war on terrorism top priorities.
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