Lynn C. Woolsey: “A few minutes from now, Members of the House and the Senate will head to the Capitol steps. We're going to the Capitol…”

“A few minutes from now, Members of the House and the Senate will head to the Capitol steps. We're going to the Capitol steps for a moment of remembrance to honor those who were killed in the attacks on September 11, 2001--September 11, 2001, a day that will forever be seared into the memory of American citizens and the world. Eleven years later, Mr. Speaker, spouses still grieve; children still feel the void; parents are still devastated by the loss of their children. It was a tragedy for individual families and for the entire Nation. One of the lingering tragedies of that day is that it led to policy decisions with terrible consequences that we're still living with today. Over the last decade-plus, violence and mayhem have just led to more violence and mayhem. Our continued military occupation of Afghanistan has not brought the stability. It has not brought security. It has not brought a strong democracy to that country. Afghanistan remains one of the poorest and most dangerous places on Earth. The Taliban has not been driven into oblivion. The terrorist threats continue. And according to a New York Times article this past weekend, even U.S. commanders are admitting that the Taliban remains ``resilient'' while al Qaeda is ``evolving'' and ``adapting.'' Mr. Speaker, while we in the House adjourned for the month of August, there was no recess for our troops. In fact, since we were last in session, another 60 U.S. servicemembers died in Afghanistan.…”