John Larson: “I rise today to mark the fourth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and to remember those who lost…”

“I rise today to mark the fourth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and to remember those who lost their lives that day, especially the residents of Connecticut and of my district. As each year passes, it becomes even more important for us to remember the victims who died on September 11, 2001 and honor those who continue to serve as the Nation's first lines of defense against acts of terrorism and disaster. Their memory should keep us vigilant against threats and thankful for the many blessings we have as citizens of this Nation. We thank the selfless firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical workers who confronted chaos and terror 4 years ago and lost their lives trying to save their fellow Americans in New York, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon. This reminder is all too vivid in the wake of the recent tragedy on the Gulf Coast caused by Hurricane Katrina. Some of the very same first responders who assisted in the time following the terrorist attacks are down in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama helping those families rebuild their lives. We owe them our eternal gratitude for their service and compassion. However, as we have seen in the Gulf Coast states, we still have much work to do to respond to threats, both from terrorists and nature. We must focus our resources as a nation to ensure that first responders can act rapidly and communicate seemlessly with Federal, State, and local officials.…”