I began the morning of September 11, 2001, meeting with Appropriators in the office of House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt in the U.S. Capitol building.  Around 9:00 a.m., one of Mr. Gephardt aides interrupted the meeting to give him a note.  None of us in the room had any inkling of the enormity of the situation of which we were being apprised.  The meeting was slow to disband and when it did, I headed out of the Capitol on the way back to my office on the Hill. Only when I looked up to see plumes of smoke coming from the Pentagon and heard what sounded like three explosions did the gravity of the situation begin to sink in.

            Each of us will always remember the minute details of our lives on the morning on September 11, 2001.  The shock.  The horror.  The inability to grasp the unthinkable.  Collectively our nation’s disbelief changed to anger.  My district office, which remained open throughout the crisis, felt the pain of Sixth District residents as the phones began to ring with demands of an immediate and appropriate response.  Some called for a declaration of war.  Others cried as they sought some solace from the horror unfolding around them. 

            Although we are unable to assuage the overwhelming grief of families directly affected by this tragedy, Congress has moved quickly to relieve as much of their financial burden as possible.  Two days after these unscrupulous terrorists rocked our nation, we unanimously passed legislation that will eliminate the tax burden on victims and their families. 

            Public safety officers, who have been heroic figures throughout this difficult time, have also suffered the largest single day losses in history.  Section 2201 of the Tax Code already provides a more than 50% estate tax reduction for Members of the armed forces who are killed while serving in combat.  We extended this provision to cover these heroic individuals who were killed as a result of Tuesday’s attack or who die as a result of injuries sustained in the aftermath.  These brave men and women, who gave their lives in an effort to save others, will also be relieved of any Federal income tax obligations this year.

            Another provision we unanimously approved, exempts from federal income taxes immediate compensatory relief to the families of passengers on the four doomed airplanes, and any payments made by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a result of these acts. 

In the latest developments, the House has also begun to address the question “where do we go from here?”  We have passed a $40 billion supplemental appropriations bill to meet the urgent needs required because of this tragedy.  And a resolution has received Congress’ blessing to authorize the use of force as a part of the nation’s response to this tragedy.

Finally, my colleagues and I are calling on all Americans to display American flags - at half-mast if possible - at their homes, businesses, schools and places of worship for 30 days.  Such will provide a physical tribute from coast-to-coast in memory of those we lost, and publicly demonstrate our solidarity and resolve as a nation. 

            Although I will always remember the horror of September 11, 2001, I will also remember the enormous courage, compassion and patriotism exhibited in the minutes and hours immediately following the attacks.  It is what will enable our great nation to rise above this insidious invasion.   We will not allow one day of terror and destruction to undermine all that is good and proper about this country.  The indomitable spirit of America will survive.

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