Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-09-15

REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11TH

TaxesCrime & Justice

Context

On 2026-09-15, Representative Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ-4) delivered a floor speech titled "REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11TH" in the House.

Full Text

REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11TH

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E918] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11TH ______ HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH of new jersey in the house of representatives Tuesday, September 15, 2026 Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, last week, a mournful Nation marked the 25th Anniversary of September 11th. I include in the Record my remarks offered at the Monmouth County 9/11 Memorial Ceremony in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey. Thank you, Commissioner Director Arnone, for your very eloquent remarks. Commissioner Ross Licitra, our emcee, thank you. Amy Harigel--that rendition of the national anthem on this very, very somber day just lifts all of our spirits. That was very beautifully done. Thanks to Rev. Sparks for his moving invocation, and Jessica Cappadona, thank you--that was a really powerful witness of why we must educate the next generation about 9/11. You know, 25 years later, all of us solemnly remember those who lost their lives and the pain suffered by nearly 3,000 individuals--including 147 people from Monmouth County--who were murdered by radical jihadists and the anguish endured by their families and their friends both then and now. We remember and honor the courageous first responders running up the stairs of burning buildings with total disregard for their own safety, attempting to save others at the expense of their own lives. We honor the first responders who have suffered and died from illnesses related to the rescue and recovery efforts in the aftermath of 9/11. According to the World Trade Center Health Program, an estimated 400,000 people were exposed to toxic contaminants in New York. 96,000 people have been diagnosed with physical and mental health conditions as a result of the exposure to the dust, the smoke, the debris, and the traumatic events of 9/11. Over 9,000 people have died after 9/11 itself with illnesses directly linked to the attack. You know, it's widely believed that Flight 93 was headed to Washington. A mention was made earlier about how it was brought down by the courageous men on that flight, especially Todd Beamer from Cranbury who said ``Let's roll!'' And they brought down that plane and they stopped what would have been another horrific attack . . . we thought it was going for the Capitol. You know, a member of my staff, Kathy Wisniewski, who was then a Howell resident, lost her husband Alan on 9/11. Alan was an associate director for Sandler O'Neill Investment, and his office was on the 104th floor of the South Tower. His last phone call before the plane hit was to say, ``Hey, honey, I'm okay.'' And then he died. Through Kathy and their children, as well as from many of the survivors who are here, including the Jersey Girls who helped get the 9/11 Commission--it was going nowhere until they said, ``We have to know the who, what, when, where, why, of all of this, so it never happens again.'' And of course, that 9/11 Commission was headed so ably and so effectively by Tom Kean, our former governor. And that was the blueprint for what we do in follow-up. What happened, what led up to it, and what do we need to do to mitigate the possibility of this ever happening again? As we remember the victims, every one of us need to seriously recommit ourselves to persevering prayer; a sense of reconciliation, yes; but also support for effective intelligence gathering and law enforcement to better interdict violence in all of its ugly manifestations. Mention has been made a couple times--and Jessica, thank you for doing this again--about the young people--and Tom, you said it as well: the 9/11 Memorial and Museum reminds us that 100 million Americans were too young to remember that day that, as they put it, changed our city and nation forever. It is our shared promise made 25 years ago never forget, those who were born after 9/11, to learn the significance and the enduring legacy. As we commemorate this anniversary, a new generation will learn about the unimaginable loss that was experienced by so many and the inspiring stories of bravery, compassion, unity, and service that we witnessed that will ripple through the decades. Thank you to the Monmouth County Commissioners for so effectively bringing us together to remember, and to pray that it never happens again, and do everything we can to help those who have suffered so much. Thank you. ____________________

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REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11TH Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E918] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11TH ______ HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH of new jersey in the house of representatives Tuesday, September 15, 2026 Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, last week, a mournful Nation marked the 25th Anniversary of September 11th. I include in the Record my remarks offered at the Monmouth County 9/11 Memorial Ceremony in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey. Thank you, Commissioner Director Arnone, for your very eloquent remarks. Commissioner Ross Licitra, our emcee, thank you. Amy Harigel--that rendition of the national anthem on this very, very somber day just lifts all of our spirits. That was very beautifully done. Thanks to Rev. Sparks for his moving invocation, and Jessica Cappadona, thank you--that was a really powerful witness of why we must educate the next generation about 9/11. You know, 25 years later, all of us solemnly remember those who lost their lives and the pain suffered by nearly 3,000 individuals--including 147 people from Monmouth County--who were murdered by radical jihadists and the anguish endured by their families and their friends both then and now. We remember and honor the courageous first responders running up the stairs of burning buildings with total disregard for their own safety, attempting to save others at the expense of their own lives. We honor the first responders who have suffered and died from illnesses related to the rescue and recovery efforts in the aftermath of 9/11. According to the World Trade Center Health Program, an estimated 400,000 people were exposed to toxic contaminants in New York. 96,000 people have been diagnosed with physical and mental health conditions as a result of the exposure to the dust, the smoke, the debris, and the traumatic events of 9/11. Over 9,000 people have died after 9/11 itself with illnesses directly linked to the attack. You know, it's widely believed that Flight 93 was headed to Washington. A mention was made earlier about how it was brought down by the courageous men on that flight, especially Todd Beamer from Cranbury who said ``Let's roll!'' And they brought down that plane and they stopped what would have been another horrific attack . . . we thought it was going for the Capitol. You know, a member of my staff, Kathy Wisniewski, who was then a Howell resident, lost her husband Alan on 9/11. Alan was an associate director for Sandler O'Neill Investment, and his office was on the 104th floor of the South Tower. His last phone call before the plane hit was to say, ``Hey, honey, I'm okay.'' And then he died. Through Kathy and their children, as well as from many of the survivors who are here, including the Jersey Girls who helped get the 9/11 Commission--it was going nowhere until they said, ``We have to know the who, what, when, where, why, of all of this, so it never happens again.'' And of course, that 9/11 Commission was headed so ably and so effectively by Tom Kean, our former governor. And that was the blueprint for what we do in follow-up. What happened, what led up to it, and what do we need to do to mitigate the possibility of this ever happening again? As we remember the victims, every one of us need to seriously recommit ourselves to persevering prayer; a sense of reconciliation, yes; but also support for effective intelligence gathering and law enforcement to better interdict violence in all of its ugly manifestations. Mention has been made a couple times--and Jessica, thank you for doing this again--about the young people--and Tom, you said it as well: the 9/11 Memorial and Museum reminds us that 100 million Americans were too young to remember that day that, as they put it, changed our city and nation forever. It is our shared promise made 25 years ago never forget, those who were born after 9/11, to learn the significance and the enduring legacy. As we commemorate this anniversary, a new generation will learn about the unimaginable loss that was experienced by so many and the inspiring stories of bravery, compassion, unity, and service that we witnessed that will ripple through the decades. Thank you to the Monmouth County Commissioners for so effectively bringing us together to remember, and to pray that it never happens again, and do everything we can to help those who have suffered so much. Thank you. ____________________