Jones, Lynch, and Massie Host Press Conference on Resolution to Declassify 28 Pages in the Joint Inquiry Report on the 9/11 Attacks

Press Release

Yesterday, Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3), Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (MA-8), and Thomas Massie (KY-4) hosted a press conference to highlight H. Res. 428, a resolution they have introduced to call on President Barack Obama to declassify 28 pages of the Joint Inquiry into Intelligence Activities Before and After the Terrorist Attacks of September 2001 that were initially classified by President George W. Bush and have remained classified under President Barack Obama. The resolution states that declassification of the pages is necessary to provide the American public with the full truth surrounding the tragic events of September 11, 2001, particularly relating to the involvement of foreign governments.

"This week we mark the thirteenth anniversary of the horrific 9/11 terrorist attacks that robbed so many Americans of husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters," said Congressman Jones. "I introduced H. Res. 428 because the American people deserve to know what the contents of the 28 pages of the Joint Inquiry report on the 9/11 attacks contain. I have read these pages and can say that they do not pertain to national security, but the contents are critical to our foreign policy moving forward. H. Res. 428 calls on President Obama to declassify these 28 pages, and I urge him to do so. The American people deserve to know what led to the tragic attacks on September 11, 2001."

"We owe it to the families of the innocent victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks and to the American public to provide a full accounting of the circumstances surrounding the tragedy of September 11th, 2001. It is important to recall that 28 pages of the 9/11 Joint Congressional Inquiry, a bipartisan, bicameral congressional inquiry, continue to be classified and withheld from the public," said Congressman Lynch. "It may have been a matter of national security to classify these pages in 2002, but it is now a matter of public interest and good government to release them in 2014. After reviewing the 28 pages, I believe that they can be declassified without harming U.S. intelligence sources and methods and that the information contained therein can be instructive in framing our anti-terrorism policy going forward."

"If avoiding another 9/11 is going to be the justification for involving us in more wars in the Middle East, then the American people need a complete picture of what enabled 9/11," said Congressman Massie. "The declassification of these 28 pages will reshape our foreign policy in the Middle East. Based on my reading of the documents, I am confident that making these 28 pages public would enhance, not harm, national security. I look forward to continue this effort with Congressman Jones and Congressman Lynch and urge my colleagues to read the pages and cosponsor H. Res. 428."

Also speaking at the press conference were family members of 9/11 victims, including Terry Strada, co-chair of 9/11 Families United for Justice Against Terrorism and widow of Tom Strada (1 WTC victim), along with her children Kaitlyn and Justin Strada; Matt Sellitto, father of Matthew Sellitto (1 WTC victim); Abraham Scott, widower of Janice Scott (Pentagon victim); Emanuel Lipscomb (WTC survivor); Ellen Saracini, widow of Victor Saracini (pilot of United Airlines Flight 175, which crashed into 2 WTC).

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