Political Quotes

“this morning I want to discuss a proposal which I think is important in light of the tragic events that unfolded on September 11, 2001. As all of us now understand, the communications infrastructure in New York, Washington, DC, and indeed the whole country, was severely challenged that day. Wireless telephone networks were severely overloaded and crashed. Wireless Internet access was suspended. Telephone lines were cut, and communications for people literally in communities around the east coast of the United States came to a standstill. Even the immediate communication needs of rescue workers, victims, families, and aid groups were a huge struggle to coordinate. Survivors often couldn't let family members know they were safe, and families of victims had no immediate central clearinghouse to find information or file missing person reports. The hospitals were inundated with searches, requests for help, and offers of aid but with no way to match them to each other. Even some of this country's premier aid organizations that have done such a marvelous job helping rescue workers, survivors, and victims' families faced immediate and severe challenges with respect to information technology infrastructure. The New York Times drew a conclusion with which I strongly agree. They said: There needs to be new ways to set up emergency information systems. That is what I would like to propose this morning.”