Bob Menendez: “I represent Newark International Airport where United Airlines Flight 93 departed before crashing in Pennsylvania on…”

“I represent Newark International Airport where United Airlines Flight 93 departed before crashing in Pennsylvania on September 11. I also represent the families of over a hundred victims who lost their lives in the attack on the World Trade Center. I have consoled enough families who were the victims of terrorist attacks, and I do not want there to be a reason to console anymore. I ask my colleagues, if God forbid, a plane is blown up by a device that could have been prevented by the deployment of these bomb detection devices, explosive detection devices, had TSA met its requirements or had we kept TSA's feet to the fire, who among us wants to go and console those families? Who among us wants to go and tell them that we delayed? Who among us wants to say that in expectation of some new technology that has not been approved yet, that we waited? I do not and I do not know anybody here who does, and that is why in the first round in our Select Committee on Homeland Security, my amendment was approved striking this language.”