WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Nathan Deal (GA-9) took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to speak in full support of HJ RES 61, expressing the Sense of the Congress regarding the terrorist attacks launched against the United States on September 11, 2001. Congressman Deal's remarks:

Today is a day of words. Words of outrage at the unspeakable horror of yesterday. We know that no words will provide the balm to heal the losses, but we reach out our arms to embrace the injured and the families of the dead. Today is a day of words, but tomorrow is a day of action.

For those who committed these acts, you don't know what you have unleashed. Perhaps you look at the United States and see us argue with each other along political, regional and racial lines and believe we are weak and divided. You are wrong! We are a large family that can fuss and fight, but we are still family. Yesterday you came into our front yard and murdered innocent members of our family. In doing so, you shocked our conscience, but that shock has turned into a growing rage. For terrorists and those who aid and abet them - "Hell hath no furry like American anger!"

I propose that this Congress add a provision to every foreign operations appropriations bill that before any nation or organization receives one penny of American aid, the President must certify that they have cooperated in apprehending these murderers and have further cooperated in fighting terrorism around the world.

If this was done in the name of religion, do not mistake the fact that we call ourselves a Christian nation as a signal of weakness. Perhaps we have followed the New Testament admonition of turning the other cheek in the past when you have bombed our ships and our embassies. But today, we turn to the Old Testament and read the passage of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". Since we are speaking in religious terms, let me make it perfectly clear to these criminals by using an old Southern religious phrase - "You've Got Hell to Pay!"

Congressman Nathan Deal
September 12, 2001