Bennie Thompson: “Madam Speaker, we are here today considering this bill for one reason: To protect America from terrorism and from those…”

“Madam Speaker, we are here today considering this bill for one reason: To protect America from terrorism and from those who advocate hate and violence against our Nation and its values. Let's be clear. The bill before us today does not contain Democratic or Republican ideas on how to protect our Nation. It contains American ideas. Madam Speaker, it contains ideas formulated by the 9/11 Commission, a bipartisan group of Americans chosen for their wisdom, expertise and love of country; Americans who we tasked to tell us what happened on September 11, 2001, and how to avoid it happening again. That is why we are here today. I hope my colleagues will put rhetoric and political games aside to do right by the American people, to do right by those whose lives were affected by 9/11, including those whose memories we honor. I have heard and read a lot of excuses about fulfilling the recommendations, Madam Speaker. On one hand, many of my colleagues across the aisle have publicly said for months they already fulfilled the recommendations. In the past week they have accused the Democratic leadership of presenting a bill that doesn't fulfill the recommendation and leaves gaps. Madam Speaker, I am a bit baffled. Did the Republicans fulfill or not fulfill the recommendations? I think we all know the answer, and that is why we are here today.”