US Rep Michael Honda issued the following statement on May 2, 2011, in response to the death of Osama bin Laden:

"The death of Osama Bin Laden is a pivotal moment in our nation’s history and in Barack Obama’s legacy as president, one that carries with it the opportunity to bring much-needed closure to the thousands of families who lost loved ones on 9/11, as well as the opportunity to bring much-needed closure to the war in Afghanistan. President Obama, his national security team, and the military and intelligence personnel involved showed incredible perseverance and dedication to their mission. As a nation, we must seize this moment to heal from the past harm done to our homeland and ensure that no further harm is done to our troops by bringing them home."

"The attacks orchestrated by Osama Bin Laden are what took us to Afghanistan in the first place; now, given his death, which occurred under President Obama’s mandate, we have an opportunity to drawdown our presence and ultimately transform the way in which we are waging this war.  Bin Laden’s death reminds us that when tackling threats to U.S. security by actors who are increasingly agile, mobile and amorphous, a heavy military, air and navy footprint is not only ineffective in dealing with guerilla-like warfare but also financially unsustainable."

"The way forward, then, is to recognize that policing, intelligence and negotiations —all critically underfunded and underdeveloped in Afghanistan and Pakistan — are what work best in undermining and dismantling threats of this nature. Additionally, we must recognize that in order to protect vulnerable populations from further instability, particularly the populations at the receiving end of Bin Laden’s recruitment strategies, we must make every effort to address their basic human needs – a priority made pointedly clear as protests continue throughout the region over lack of basic services, corrupt political leadership and non-inclusive government.  This is President Obama’s moment, one we must support as we work together to bring security to our country and theirs."