Jim Sensenbrenner: “Mr. Speaker, I am not a New Yorker, but what happened at the World Trade Center in New York could have happened anyplace…”

“Mr. Speaker, I am not a New Yorker, but what happened at the World Trade Center in New York could have happened anyplace in the country, because terrorism knows no boundaries. It could have happened in Milwaukee or San Francisco or Atlanta or anyplace else. Americans throughout our land, as well as people around the world, witnessed in horror what unfolded on Tuesday morning. First one building was hit, then a second building was hit, then both of the buildings collapsed, and there were hundreds or thousands of people who were in them. But over and above everything, the public safety officers in New York, the firefighters and the police officers, were unflinching in doing their duty, which was to try to save lives and to protect property. Over 200 of them are now reported as missing and presumed dead. It is our responsibility to make sure that the families of the fallen receive the benefits that the Federal Government has extended to them for over 30 years as quickly and as promptly as possible. This bill is the right thing to do.”