WASHINGTON – Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL), Chairman of the House Republican Conference, has issued the following statement on the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks:

“Today, we take a moment to pause and pray with those whose loved ones lost their lives on September the 11th. This day will always belong to them.

“The sights and sounds of September the 11th still echo loudly for all Americans. Seven years on, the shock and grief we felt can still be easily recalled, but so can the acts of courage and compassion that formed the foundation of our resolve. The police, firefighters, and first responders who rushed into burning buildings, risking – and in many cases, giving up – their own lives to save others. The citizens who lined up for miles to give blood, the communities that held candlelight vigils, the school gymnasiums that became assembly sites for care packages.

“September 11th affords us the opportunity to renew our commitment to defend against all enemies the homeland we love and the values we hold dear. In doing so, we also keep faith with the brave patriots who wear the uniform of the United States in Iraq, Afghanistan, and all around the globe.”