Kevin Brady: “on behalf of the caring families and communities in the Eighth Congressional District, and on behalf of the members of…”

“on behalf of the caring families and communities in the Eighth Congressional District, and on behalf of the members of the Texas Task Force One, the Urban Search and Rescue Team from Texas A&M University who were swiftly deployed to help New York, I rise to pledge our help, our support, and our prayers. Today we come together to reinforce America's resolve, to state our unqualified support for the President in this time of crisis. We come here also for the very real purpose of trying to show those dearest and nearest to the victims of yesterday's terrorist attack that their deep sense of loss is shared by a Nation. Of loved ones suddenly taken, we hope that in some small way we can help further the sense of a life well fulfilled, a time on Earth well spent, and joyous days to come in a glorious place waiting eagerly for us; of loved ones yet to be found, we pray and hope. Years from now, the vision of September 11, 2001, will mean something different to every eye that sees it. It is a dark day, and to paraphrase the poet Alfred Tennyson, the heavens must surely have filled with shouting at the sheer evil that man plunged upon innocent man. Here on Earth we shouted as well. By any measure, yesterday's attack was a declaration of war on our country, on our shores, and we must act accordingly. In the coming days, our challenge is to aid and comfort the fallen friends while showing the world that America is absolutely unbowed.”