Christopher Shays: “I thank my chairman of the Homeland Security Committee for yielding to me, I thank him for his sincerity, I thank him…”

“I thank my chairman of the Homeland Security Committee for yielding to me, I thank him for his sincerity, I thank him for his good work, and I thank him for reaching out to the other side of the aisle on every occasion. I am sorry he is having to deal with the criticism that he is now having to deal with. But this is close, I guess, to an election time. As chairman of the 9/11 Caucus and chairman of the National Security Emerging Threats and International Relations Subcommittee, I rise to salute and honor the 2,976 individuals who lost their lives on this fateful day, 81 who were residents of the 17 towns I am privileged to represent. I salute the first responders who did what first responders do, run into danger while those they seek to protect run out. I salute as well all who labored after the buildings imploded to first save lives and then ultimately find the body parts of those who perished. Many of these individuals, particularly those who labored on this site during the first few weeks and months breathing highly toxic air, now find their own lives at risk. May God bless them, may God bless those who perished on September 11, and may God bless this great and enduring county. I thank you very much”