Kay Bailey Hutchison: “on September 11, 2001, our lives were changed irrevocably. It is a day none of us will forget, a day where each of us…”

“on September 11, 2001, our lives were changed irrevocably. It is a day none of us will forget, a day where each of us will remember exactly where we were when we heard our nation had been attacked and our freedom had been assaulted. We lost so many innocent civilians in New York and so many dedicated military personnel in Washington, DC. The amendment I am introducing today deals with the military. Each of them has made a choice: to defend our Nation, its freedom, and its principles. On September 11, we were reminded of how real that sacrifice is, and how critical those contributions are. We all witnessed the destruction of innocent people and American landmarks. These evil acts did not destroy our spirit, our faith, or our hope. And they will never destroy our freedom--because Americans are resilient, and our men and women in uniform brave. It is why, in my career in public service, I have dedicated myself to supporting and defending these noble men and women and their families who serve our Nation in the Armed Forces. Their courage, their work, and their efforts are important, honorable, and inspiring. We have only just started to deal with the greatest loss to our country since Pearl Harbor; only started to uncover the lasting effects of this heinous evil, and once again our military has been among those directly hit. In the months ahead we will respond and those who serve will put their lives on the line.”