"Remembering 9/11: America Will Stand Up To Any Challenge"
A decade has passed, but September 11th, 2001, remains as vivid as if it were yesterday. We each have our own recollections of where we were and what we were doing as the horrifying events began to unfold. We share the still-powerful emotions of shock, anger, and grief.
On the evening of that terrible day, members of Congress gathered on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. With tears in our eyes and sorrow in our hearts, together we sang, "God Bless America." The emotions of shock, anger, and grief were joined by unity and resolve.
Ten years later, that moment remains my most enduring memory. The sense of unity and resolve that swept over us as we sang has been our strength in the challenges we have faced ever since.
In the hours and days immediately after the attacks, the horrifying images of fire and destruction were joined by inspiring stories of bravery and self-sacrifice. More than 400 firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians gave their lives to try to save others at the World Trade Center. At the Pentagon, those safely outside rushed back into the smoke and flames to rescue their co-workers. In the skies over Pennsylvania, the flight crew and passengers on Flight 93 wrestled that plane to the ground, sparing so many others.
Across this great land, the American people reached out with compassion and generosity to the injured and the grieving families. The men and women of our armed forces formed a mighty shield to defend our lives and our freedom. The employees of our intelligence agencies came together to share data and began their relentless pursuit of Osama bin Laden and other terrorists.
Americans will never forget the nearly 3,000 innocent lives taken that day. The people of our state responded with the same compassion and generosity seen throughout the country, and added a few distinctly Maine touches. On the first Tuesday after the attacks, the Freeport Flag Ladies pledged to hold weekly vigils on their town's Main Street. Five hundred-twenty Tuesdays later, they are keeping their promise faithfully, and their selfless efforts to support the men and women of our armed forces and their families continue to grow. I joined them in Freeport this September 11th.
The American people will never forget what was lost that day and will always honor the sacrifice of those who have given so much. We in government have a further duty to do all we can to prevent future attacks, and we have done much to meet that obligation.
First and foremost, we had to ensure that our country had the tools and wherewithal to deter and detect plots and to identify those who would do us harm. When I authored the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 with Senator Joe Lieberman, our goal was to create a strong leader to coordinate the 17 separate agencies of the Intelligence Community and to change their culture from "need to know" to "need to share" so that next time the dots would be connected in time to stop an attack.
The operation that killed Osama bin Laden was the kind of successful collaboration of intelligence and operations that we envisioned in our reforms. That is not to say, however, that our work is done. As we saw in 2009 with the Christmas Day bomber and the Fort Hood attack, when information is not shared, our nation's security is placed at risk.
In addition to improving intelligence, it was essential in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 that we better protect our transportation systems, borders, and critical infrastructure. America's chemical facilities and seaports were especially vulnerable, and we took important steps to safeguard them.
Congress should extend the law I authored requiring high-risk chemical facilities to comply with federal security standards, while recognizing that owners and operators of facilities are best able to design appropriate security measures. I am working to renew the SAFE Port law that Senator Patty Murray and I authored in 2006 to better ensure that high-risk cargo containers are inspected at ports overseas before they travel to the U.S., and to provide incentives to importers to enhance the security of their cargo from point of origin to destination.
Just as important, we have worked to protect those who protect us by helping our first responders acquire vital equipment and training. Whether in our largest cities or one of the myriad small towns in rural Maine, our first responders are always on the front lines.
And we must confront evolving threats. Homegrown terrorists and cyber-terrorism -- attacks against the computer networks that are vital to our security and our economy -- are two threats that are escalating and require more work.
The attacks of September 11th did not create American unity and resolve. Rather, they revealed the enduring qualities that have been our nation's strength throughout history. Those qualities inspire my work in the United States Senate to secure our homeland against terrorism and to support all those in uniform who protect us.
I will never forget that evening on the Capitol steps. It was a brief moment in a momentous day, but it told a powerful truth - standing together and standing strong, America will always stand up to any challenge.
On the evening of that terrible day, members of Congress gathered on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. With tears in our eyes and sorrow in our hearts, together we sang, "God Bless America." The emotions of shock, anger, and grief were joined by unity and resolve.
Ten years later, that moment remains my most enduring memory. The sense of unity and resolve that swept over us as we sang has been our strength in the challenges we have faced ever since.
In the hours and days immediately after the attacks, the horrifying images of fire and destruction were joined by inspiring stories of bravery and self-sacrifice. More than 400 firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians gave their lives to try to save others at the World Trade Center. At the Pentagon, those safely outside rushed back into the smoke and flames to rescue their co-workers. In the skies over Pennsylvania, the flight crew and passengers on Flight 93 wrestled that plane to the ground, sparing so many others.
Across this great land, the American people reached out with compassion and generosity to the injured and the grieving families. The men and women of our armed forces formed a mighty shield to defend our lives and our freedom. The employees of our intelligence agencies came together to share data and began their relentless pursuit of Osama bin Laden and other terrorists.
Americans will never forget the nearly 3,000 innocent lives taken that day. The people of our state responded with the same compassion and generosity seen throughout the country, and added a few distinctly Maine touches. On the first Tuesday after the attacks, the Freeport Flag Ladies pledged to hold weekly vigils on their town's Main Street. Five hundred-twenty Tuesdays later, they are keeping their promise faithfully, and their selfless efforts to support the men and women of our armed forces and their families continue to grow. I joined them in Freeport this September 11th.
The American people will never forget what was lost that day and will always honor the sacrifice of those who have given so much. We in government have a further duty to do all we can to prevent future attacks, and we have done much to meet that obligation.
First and foremost, we had to ensure that our country had the tools and wherewithal to deter and detect plots and to identify those who would do us harm. When I authored the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 with Senator Joe Lieberman, our goal was to create a strong leader to coordinate the 17 separate agencies of the Intelligence Community and to change their culture from "need to know" to "need to share" so that next time the dots would be connected in time to stop an attack.
The operation that killed Osama bin Laden was the kind of successful collaboration of intelligence and operations that we envisioned in our reforms. That is not to say, however, that our work is done. As we saw in 2009 with the Christmas Day bomber and the Fort Hood attack, when information is not shared, our nation's security is placed at risk.
In addition to improving intelligence, it was essential in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 that we better protect our transportation systems, borders, and critical infrastructure. America's chemical facilities and seaports were especially vulnerable, and we took important steps to safeguard them.
Congress should extend the law I authored requiring high-risk chemical facilities to comply with federal security standards, while recognizing that owners and operators of facilities are best able to design appropriate security measures. I am working to renew the SAFE Port law that Senator Patty Murray and I authored in 2006 to better ensure that high-risk cargo containers are inspected at ports overseas before they travel to the U.S., and to provide incentives to importers to enhance the security of their cargo from point of origin to destination.
Just as important, we have worked to protect those who protect us by helping our first responders acquire vital equipment and training. Whether in our largest cities or one of the myriad small towns in rural Maine, our first responders are always on the front lines.
And we must confront evolving threats. Homegrown terrorists and cyber-terrorism -- attacks against the computer networks that are vital to our security and our economy -- are two threats that are escalating and require more work.
The attacks of September 11th did not create American unity and resolve. Rather, they revealed the enduring qualities that have been our nation's strength throughout history. Those qualities inspire my work in the United States Senate to secure our homeland against terrorism and to support all those in uniform who protect us.
I will never forget that evening on the Capitol steps. It was a brief moment in a momentous day, but it told a powerful truth - standing together and standing strong, America will always stand up to any challenge.
