Remembering 9/11

Statement

More than 30 people from the 10th District were killed on 9/11. Shortly thereafter, a 10th District constituent became the first American killed in Afghanistan. Just two weeks ago, another 10th constituent was killed Afghanistan.

9/11 always will be remembered as a dark day in American history and my heartfelt sympathy goes out to all the families who lost loved ones that day or in the war against terrorism. Those who have perished will never be forgotten.

While we have made great progress in the war on terrorism, we cannot afford to let down our guard. We have learned over the last two decades that the terror threat is persistent, and constantly evolving.

I closely followed the issue of terrorism with the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993 and throughout the 1990s with the deadly attacks against our embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, where yet other 10th District constituents were killed.

In 1998 I authored legislation creating the National Commission on Terrorism, also known as the Bremer Commission. I highlighted the threat from Osama bin Laden in my introductory remarks. Unfortunately, this landmark report was ignored by both the Clinton Administration and the Bush Administration, until after the 9/11 attacks.

In September 2001, I served as chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee that funds the FBI and I worked closely with Director Robert Mueller and his leadership team over the next four years to transform the FBI's mission to deal with the terrorist threat and create its national security division.

I am now again chairman of that subcommittee and receive regular briefings on terrorism and the new and growing threat posed by domestic radicalization. I frequently visit the National Counterterrorism Center, which is located in the area.

There have been more than 43 "homegrown jihadist terrorist plots and attacks since 9/11," including 22 plots or attacks since May 2009, according to the Congressional Research Service. As U.S. government officials, law enforcement and community leaders seek to understand and combat this emerging challenge, we must foster partnerships with peaceful and law-abiding Americans of the Muslim faith and not allow their voices to be drowned out.

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