Letter to J. Dennis Hastert
September 7, 2006
The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker
United StatesHouse of Representatives
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Speaker:
Earlier this week, I wrote to you urging that the resolution commemorating the 5th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, which will be considered next Tuesday by the House, reflect the solemnity of the anniversary. My request, and my continuing hope, is that this resolution avoid any semblance of partisan politics, and toward that end, I suggested that we model this year's resolution on the version approved by the House last year on a nearly unanimous basis.
The draft resolution that you sent to my office last evening unfortunately injects controversial political issues into a subject that must remain free of partisan and political rhetoric. While properly reflecting the outrage of our nation over the attacks of September 11th and praising both U.S. and foreign law enforcement officials who have investigated and thwarted potential terrorist attacks, the draft text contains several sections praising the work of the Congress and referencing legislation that was highly controversial on a bipartisan basis.
It is inappropriate, in this solemn and commemorative resolution, to reference legislation which generated bipartisan opposition and controversy. Inclusion of these sections introduces an unwelcome and totally unnecessary partisan tone to a resolution that must be above politics. This is not a time to praise Congress; it is time to offer our sympathies to the families of those who suffered losses on September 11th.
I continue to offer the resources of my office to work together with your staff to craft a 9/11 resolution that expresses our deep sympathies to the families of those who lost loved ones and which reasserts our bipartisan commitment to protecting the American people, combating international terrorism, and providing real security and American leadership throughout the world.
Sincerely,
Nancy Pelosi
House Democratic Leader
http://democraticleader.house.gov/press/releases.cfm?pressReleaseID=1779