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Floor Speech
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Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, 24 years ago today, September 11, 2001, started off like any other day in New York City. The weather was beautiful. People were out and about. It was primary day, and people were lining up to vote. Then, in an instant, everything changed.
At 8:46 a.m., Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. There was chaos and confusion. Seventeen minutes later, flight 175 crashed into the South Tower. The reality of what was happening became clear: This wasn't a horrific accident. America was under attack. New York City was Ground Zero.
The course of American history was changed forever. Twenty-four years later, not a day has passed that I haven't thought about the people we lost that day, including three friends of mine: a guy I played basketball with in high school, a businessman who helped me on the way up, a firefighter I did blood drives with around the city. May their memories be a blessing.
I still think about the scenes when I arrived at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the attack the day after. The putrid smell of dead, burned flesh was in the air. I remember the rows upon rows of people holding up makeshift signs with photos of their missing loved ones because no one knew who was alive and who wasn't: Have you seen my brother Bill? Have you seen my daughter Mary? The anguish on their faces stays in my mind to this day. They are the kind of heart-wrenching images that will stay with me for a lifetime.
While 9/11 was America's darkest hour, I also saw New Yorkers in our finest moments. There were countless acts of kindness by strangers to help each other. In the midst of the tragedy that the world saw, the true strength of America and New York came through. The next day, I called on every American to display the flag on their clothes, outside their homes as a sign of solidarity. And ever since that day, I wear this flag on my lapel. Every time I look at it, I think of those who were lost. It is a small but constant reminder of our sacred promise: Never, never forget.
``Never forget'' especially means honoring the countless brave first responders who ran toward danger, not away from it, to save lives. In our darkest hour, these heroes--police officers, firefighters, EMTs, so many others--risked their lives--construction workers--to rescue others. Many of the finest first responders became sick because of the toxins in the air. Many were diagnosed with rare, deadly cancers and diseases, and many--far too many--succumbed to their illnesses, including my great friend Ray Pfeifer. May he rest in peace.
That is why I have fought to secure nearly $1.71 billion for the World Trade Center Health Program to help sick first responders get the care they need. Sadly--sadly--it has been such a struggle to get that money.
It has been a difficult few months for many 9/11 first responders and others now sick due to exposures at Ground Zero. Cuts to this program are wrong, immoral, and I have fought in a bipartisan way, with fellow Republicans and Democrats, to oppose them.
I have also fiercely opposed the firing of thousands of HHS staffers who support the World Trade Center Health Program. The heroes who rushed to their towers, the families who have lost loved ones and have sick loved ones don't deserve this kind of chaos, uncertainty, and uncaringness. They don't deserve to have their treatment put on hold because of a backlog or because of disorganization.
I repeat. This is not a Democratic or Republican issue. Taking care of 9/11 families is an American issue to its core.
One of the best ways to never forget is ensuring the World Center Trade Center Health Program is fully funded, is fully staffed, and is fully operational.
So may God bless--God bless--the memories of those who perished on 9/ 11. May God bless all of our first responders and families.
The ACTING PRESIDING pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The Senate will observe a moment of silence.
(Moment of silence.)
May we never, never forget the memories of those whom we lost.
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