Federal News Service - Introduction of Legislation to Implement the 9/11 Commission's Reccommendations

Federal News Service

HEADLINE: PRESS CONFERENCE RE: INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO IMPLEMENT THE 9/11 COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS

PARTICIPANS: HOUSE MINORITY LEADER NANCY PELOSI (D-CA); REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT MENENDEZ (D-NJ); REPRESENTATIVE STENY HOYER (D-MD); REPRESENTATIVE JANE HARMAN (D-CA); AND REPRESENTATIVE JIM TURNER (D-TX)

LOCATION: HOUSE RADIO/TV GALLERY, THE CAPITOL, WASHINGTON, D.C.

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REP. HOYER: Thank you very much, Leader. I am pleased to join Leader Pelosi in urging the cosponsorship and full participation across the political spectrum in the introduction, consideration and passage, after due deliberative opportunities are given, to the recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission. Every American ought to know that every Democrat, and I believe every Republican, particularly as we are about to observe the third anniversary of the loss of 3,000 of our fellow citizens in the largest attack on America's homeland, certainly in the last two centuries. The fact of the matter is that we ought to come together in a very bipartisan way as the commission did.

The commission was unanimous. Leaders of both parties, some who had been elected to high office, came together, deliberated after extensive hearings, and put together a piece of legislation to enhance America's security, to enhance the safety of every American and our homeland. It is incumbent upon us and the Congress of the United States to show the same kind of bipartisanship and the same kind of resolve in responding to the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission that they displayed in their deliberations and in producing their product. It is time to act, to act decisively, and to act in a bipartisan fashion.

The majority leader has put forward a very ambitious time schedule for undertaking this effort. The fact is that if we do not pursue it in a bipartisan fashion, the American public nor the Congress will be as confident of the product as they ought to be.

Again, I applaud the leader for her leadership in bringing us back last month to say that we ought to use every hour, every day, every week that was available to us to take this important responsibility.

Unfortunately, although hearings were held, significant deliberations by the Congress itself were not held. But there is still time, and we need to utilize that time.