Nadler Introduces 9/11 Memorial Resolution

Resolution expresses the support of the House for the construction of a permanent memorial at the
World Trade Center site by the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) yesterday introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives expressing the body’s support for the construction of a permanent memorial at the World Trade Center site.  New York State’s entire House delegation joined Congressman Nadler in cosponsoring the resolution.

“The construction of a permanent 9/11 memorial is an endeavor that everyday Americans care about deeply,” Congressman Nadler said.  “This resolution makes clear that the House of Representatives feels just as strongly.”

Supporters hope the resolution will build support for the memorial effort and assist the Foundation in its fundraising and public information efforts.

“The House of Representatives recognizes the importance of establishing a national memorial at the World Trade Center site, as the highest honor the Nation can confer to commemorate and mourn the events of February 26, 1993, and September 11, 2001,” the resolution states, “and supports the efforts of the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation to build a permanent memorial at the World Trade Center site.”

The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation has selected a design for the memorial and has founded the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation to begin the fundraising and construction processes.  The resolution introduced yesterday communicates the House’s support for the project.

The full text of the resolution appears below. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RESOLUTION

Recognizing the importance of establishing a national memorial

at the World Trade Center site to commemorate

and mourn the events of February 26, 1993, and September

11, 2001.

Whereas on February 26, 1993, terrorists detonated a bomb

in the basement of the World Trade Center in an attempt

to destroy the building, killing six and wounding hundreds;

Whereas on September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four civilian

aircraft, causing two of them to crash into the twin

towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a

third into the Pentagon, and a fourth in rural southwest

Pennsylvania;

Whereas nearly 3,000 people were killed at the World Trade

Center site in the most lethal terrorist attack ever committed

against the United States;

Whereas the attack on the World Trade Center resulted in

great destruction and damage to homes, churches,

schools, and commercial and retail buildings, causing the

loss of approximately sixty thousand jobs and many businesses

in Lower Manhattan, and wounding incalculable

numbers of citizens of New York;

Whereas the human and emotional toll of this attack has

been deeply and profoundly felt in New York, by Americans

across the United States, and people throughout the

world;

Whereas the attacks united Americans with all good citizens

of the world, regardless of political, ethnic, or religious

persuasion or affiliation;

Whereas in the months and years since the historic events of

February 26, 1993, and September 11, 2001, hundreds

of thousands of people have visited the World Trade Center

site to mourn the dead, to pay tribute to the heroic

action and sacrifice of the firefighters, police, emergency

personnel, and other responders, and to attempt to understand

the nature of this attack on the United States;

Whereas many citizens, family members, local residents and

businesses, professional organizations, State and local officials,

and constituencies around the Nation and the

world are deeply interested in the successful planning and

rebuilding process at the World Trade Center site;

Whereas a broad and deep consensus has emerged in the

United States that this is a sacred site that cannot be

forgotten and must be honored;

Whereas the site of the World Trade Center requires the

highest form of national recognition;

Whereas the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation has

been established to create a permanent memorial at the

site to honor the victims and heroes of the attacks;

Whereas Presidents Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, George

H.W. Bush, and William J. Clinton serve as Honorary

Members of the Board of the Foundation to support its

mission, underscoring the wide support of the effort to

build a permanent and appropriate memorial at the

World Trade Center site;

Whereas in April 2003, the Lower Manhattan Development

Corporation launched the largest design competition in

history for the creation of a permanent memorial, with

designs submitted by 5,201 individual participants from

63 nations and 49 States; and

Whereas after a distinguished 13-member jury reviewed every

submission, on January 6, 2004, the jury announced the

winning memorial design, Reflecting Absence by architect

Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker:

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

Cosponsors include all members of the New York House delegation: Gary Ackerman (D-5th),  Timothy Bishop (D-1st), Sherwood Boehlert (R-24th), Joseph Crowley (D-7th), Eliot Engel (D-17th), Vito Fossella (R-13th), Brian Higgins (D-27th), Maurice Hinchey (D-22nd), Steve Israel (D-2nd), Sue Kelly (R-19th), Pete King (R-3rd), Randy Kuhl (R-29th), Nita Lowey (D-18th), Carolyn McCarthy (D-4th), John McHugh (R-23rd), Michael McNulty (D-21st), Carolyn Maloney (D-14th), Gregory Meeks (D- 6th), Major Owens (D-11th), Charles Rangel (D-15th), Thomas Reynolds (R-26th), José Serrano (D-16th), Louise Slaughter (D-28th), John Sweeney (R-20th), Edolphus Towns (D-10th), Nydia Velázquez (D-12th), Jim Walsh (R-25th), and Anthony Weiner (D-9th).

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