On the recordSeptember 11, 2012
Mr. President, 11 years ago this morning, September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 of our citizens lost their lives in a senseless act of terrorism that would change the course of America forever. That fateful Tuesday morning changed the way we think about life in America. It changed the way we travel. It changed the way we govern. It changed all of our lives, with some, of course, sacrificing much more than others. From the first responders who ran into the crumbling buildings and wreckage 11 years ago today to the Navy Seals who brought bin Laden to justice, to the thousands of men and women in uniform who continue to defend our freedom, countless Americans and their loved ones have served and sacrificed in the fight against terrorism for now more than a decade. The tragic events of September 11 have also resulted in a more vigilant Nation and a more prepared and proactive defense and security operation for the American people. The attack highlighted several vulnerabilities across State and Federal Government that had been ignored for too long, and many of those have been addressed and remedied. In the aftermath of this tragedy, Congress put aside political partisanship and worked together with the administration and its departments to strengthen our national security and intelligence efforts. Yet today we face another major potential attack on our country different from those we faced before, but just as dangerous and threatening.…





