Bruce L. Braley: “as many of the new Members ran on a promise of bringing change to Washington, one of the key areas of that new direction…”

“as many of the new Members ran on a promise of bringing change to Washington, one of the key areas of that new direction was the responsibility of securing this Nation. In July of 2004, the bipartisan 9/11 Commission issued a comprehensive series of recommendations and urged this body and the leaders of this country to take prompt action to implement those recommendations and make us safer. Today, in just the second week of our majority, the Democratic House of Representatives will pass legislation that will address the 9/11 recommendations and make the American people safer and more secure. Just yesterday, the 9/11 Commission Vice Chair, Lee Hamilton, a former Member of this body, stated the bottom line is that if this bill, H.R. 1, is enacted, funded and implemented, then the American people will be safer because it carries out the recommendations of the commission. I am proud to be part of this effort to implement those recommendations, and I am proud because that was a promise made to the Members of our constituents last fall. Action on this critical issue of securing our Nation is long past due. The citizens of our great Nation are calling for change. In the area of national security, the time for change has arrived.”