Steve Israel: “Yesterday many of the people of my district in New York were struck by tragedy. We lost family and friends, firefighters…”

“Yesterday many of the people of my district in New York were struck by tragedy. We lost family and friends, firefighters and police, loved ones and heroes. One of those heroes is Ray Downey of Deer Park, the New York City Fire Department's Chief of Special Operations Command. Ray responded to the attack on the World Trade Center and is still missing. His family still has hope, but they need our prayers. For all of our families, we offer prayers. For Mayor Giuliani and Governor Pataki we offer thanks. And for the cowards who committed this crime, we submit our resolve. Today is a day of mourning, a day of outrage. But it is also a day when we all come together. In this hallowed Congress, which we thought might be under attack just yesterday, we stand proudly today. Our nation has seen bloodshed, but we are not bowed. We have seen disaster, but not defeat. Our American democracy, built by Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Lincoln will not be weakened by cowardly terrorists. Today the world sees the true greatness of America in the people giving blood, in the emergency workers clearing the rubble and saving lives, in the clergy fostering faith. And at the right time, at the right place, these terrorists will see the true strength of America as well.”