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For Immediate Release
September 11, 2006 |
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Shays Statement on Fifth
Anniversary of September 11th
Washington, D.C. – On the fifth anniversary of the
attacks of September 11th, Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT)
today remembered the 2,976 victims and called for action to
complete implementation of the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations.
“Five years ago, we lost 2,976 lives in a coordinated
attack on our soil, 81 of whom were residents of the 17 towns
now in the Fourth District,” Shays said. “Today
we remember each one of those men and women who lost their
lives, and their family and friends who still mourn their
loss today.”
“Today is a day to look back in reflection, and to
also look forward to the job that is still left to be done,”
Shays continued. “We are safer than we were before September
11th as a result of our strengthening the intelligence system
and improving coordination between and among the intelligence
agencies. But we are still not safe. The 9/11 Commission made
41 thoughtful recommendations for change, but the 9/11 Public
Discourse Project graded the government on implementation
of its recommendations, issuing a failing, near-failing or
average grades for actions on 27 of those recommendations.
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and I introduced legislation
to ensure implementation of the remaining recommendations,
and as Co-Chair of the 9/11 Commission Caucus, I am committed
to working for full implementation of these critical reforms.”
Shays and Maloney introduced H.R. 5017, the Ensuring Implementation
of the 9/11 Commission Report Act, which addresses each of
the recommendations and holds the appropriate agency accountable
for reporting to Congress on its actions. Click here
to see the 9/11 Public Discourse Project report card.
Click here to read a summary
of H.R. 5017.
The bill is endorsed by 9/11 Commissioners Tom Kean and Lee
Hamilton, Voices of September 11th Co-Founder and Director
Mary Fetchet and Carrie Lemack, daughter of Judy Larocque
and Co-Founder of Families of September 11th. Click here
to read the Commissioners’ endorsement letter.
Shays held 20 hearings on terrorism before 9/11 and has conducted
over 90 oversight
hearings on issues related to terrorism as Chairman
of the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats
and International Relations. He supported the creation of
the 9/11 Commission, co-founded the bipartisan 9/11 Commission
Caucus and worked extensively with families of September 11th
victims to successfully shepherd the Intelligence
Reform legislation through Congress.
Contact: Sarah Moore, 202/225-5541
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