Political Quotes

“As I come here to the floor tonight, we all recognize that today is September 11, a date that will never sound the same, a date that now means something totally different than it did prior to 2001. We have seen the continued recognition of those lives lost. We saw it in New York today. We saw it in Pennsylvania. We saw it at the Pentagon. We saw the flag unfurled. I give special recognition to my good friend, Senator Brian Birdwell, a State Senator from the State of Texas. A dear friend, Senator Birdwell was perhaps the individual closest to where the airplane hit the Pentagon in 2001, and he survived. Senator Birdwell was burned across every part of his body. He was hauled out, taken to the hospital. He didn't think he was going to make it. He was praying. Assuming that he was leaving, he was saying good- bye to his family. He survived. He is a great patriot. Mr. Speaker, if you have a chance, look up his video called ``I Am Second.'' Senator Brian Birdwell tells the story--it is about 7 to 10 minutes, I think--and it is well worth your time. It is a testament to his faith, and it is a testament to his patriotism. It is a testament to all those who went through those terrible attacks that day. Those of us who remember them, we remember them personally, closely. We had friends who were affected, and it reminds us, of course, of what happens when we leave our country wide open for attack.…”