John Hope Bryant: “It has been a long and difficult 36 hours since the first airplane crashed into the tower of the World Trade Center…”

“It has been a long and difficult 36 hours since the first airplane crashed into the tower of the World Trade Center yesterday. I rise in support of this motion, as has practically every Member of this House today, to show the resolve of this body that we will finish what the terrorists began yesterday. Make no mistake about it, the surprise attack that we had yesterday was the product of cowards, outlaws within a civilized world. Hijacking airplanes containing innocent men, women and children and crashing them into an office building at a time when large numbers of workers were present were the pathetic acts of insane minds, illegitimate by any standard. Those responsible for this attack, especially those aiders and abettors, will feel the full power of the United States and her citizens. I join with the President, Congress, world leaders, and the American people in blanket condemnation of all involved in this ruthless conspiracy. And as more facts develop and become known, we must also recognize those in the airplanes, some known, such as Tom Burnett and others, some forever unknown, who tried to prevent yesterday's heinous crimes and mitigated those crimes and became heroes in doing such, as well as recognizing the hundreds and hundreds of heroes now working to save lives both in New York and here at the Pentagon. The United States will not stand for terrorism on its soil and we will join together to fight it.”