Relating to the Terrorist Attacks Against the United States on September 11, 2001

Floor Speech

RELATING TO THE TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 -- (House of Representatives - September 08, 2005)

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Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the fourth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and to remember those who lost their lives that day, especially the residents of Connecticut and of my district.

As each year passes, it becomes even more important for us to remember the victims who died on September 11, 2001 and honor those who continue to serve as the Nation's first lines of defense against acts of terrorism and disaster. Their memory should keep us vigilant against threats and thankful for the many blessings we have as citizens of this Nation.

We thank the selfless firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical workers who confronted chaos and terror 4 years ago and lost their lives trying to save their fellow Americans in New York, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon. This reminder is all too vivid in the wake of the recent tragedy on the Gulf Coast caused by Hurricane Katrina. Some of the very same first responders who assisted in the time following the terrorist attacks are down in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama helping those families rebuild their lives. We owe them our eternal gratitude for their service and compassion.

However, as we have seen in the Gulf Coast states, we still have much work to do to respond to threats, both from terrorists and nature. We must focus our resources as a nation to ensure that first responders can act rapidly and communicate seemlessly with Federal, State, and local officials.

Terrorists still remain a threat to our Nation and other free and democratic societies. We were all shocked and saddened by the bombings in London on July 7, 2005. The images we saw in London that day were all too familiar to the images we will never forget from 4 years ago. Our deepest sympathies went out to our friends in Great Britain who have stood so strongly by the United States in our war on terror. These bombings and the memories of September 11 further strengthen our convictions to defeat terror throughout the world.

As Congress works to reauthorize the PATRIOT Act, our immediate response to the terrorist events that stunned our Nation, we must learn from the subsequent 4 years that have passed. To curtail the freedoms of Americans in the name of fighting our enemies would be a disservice to the memory of September 11 and every American who has given their life or put themselves in harm's way to defend this Nation and its people.

As we pause to reflect this September 11 and remember those whose lives were lost that day, let us also remember the things that make our Nation great: our freedom, our liberty and our democracy. These memories will give us the will to be better citizens and build a stronger nation.

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