Steny Hoyer: “it is no mere coincidence that this legislation, which will implement the recommendations of the bipartisan 9/11…”

“it is no mere coincidence that this legislation, which will implement the recommendations of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission, is designated as House Resolution No. 1 in this new Congress. Our first and highest responsibility as Members of this Congress is to protect the American people, to defend our homeland, and to strengthen our national security. The fact is, our Nation today, 5/2 years after the attacks of September 11th, is still not as safe as it should and must be. As Tom Kean, the former Republican Governor of New Jersey and cochair of the 9/11 Commission observed just a few months ago, "We're not protecting our own people in this country. The government is not doing its job." That is the former Republican Governor of New Jersey, the cochair of the Commission. Today, however, through this important legislation, this House will take a vital step forward in protecting our people and our Nation. We have taken steps, there is no doubt about that. We have taken steps together in a bipartisan way, but we have not taken all the steps we could take.”