Never Forget

Floor Speech

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Mr. KENNEDY. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman D'Esposito for bringing this Special Order to the floor here this evening.

Today, we gather together to commemorate the deadliest attack on our Nation's soil. On the morning of September 11, 2001, extremist al-Qaida terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in a plot to undermine our Nation's security and our spirit of democracy. As a result, 2,977 people did not return home to their loved ones.

This unspeakable act of terror left a deep scar in the psyche of New Yorkers, Americans, and people around the globe.

In New York, we continue to mourn our native sons and daughters who were lost that day and join the Nation in commemorating those lost as well as the resilience of a city and Nation that never yielded to the terror inflicted upon us.

We also honor the first responders who were deeply impacted, hundreds of whom were killed in the wake of the attack, running selflessly into the face of danger as they fought tirelessly to help more people escape.

More than 20 years later, our brave first responders and survivors are still combating the severe health complications stemming from their heroism on 9/11 and in the weeks and months that followed. Congress must continue to support their recovery, and we must do everything in our power to stop terrorism at home and abroad.

We have not forgotten nor will we ever forget the tragic events of September 11, 2001. God bless the souls that we lost that day. God bless the survivors and the families that have carried on and persevered in their loved one's memory, and God bless America.

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