It is hard to believe it has been 14 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when the wounds are still fresh on the minds of many Americans.

I was reminded of this today when I was in the House Financial Services Committee hearing room attending a meeting with fellow Committee members. 

At exactly 8:46 AM (the time the first plane hit the World Trade Center), over the emergency annunciator that rings throughout the entire Capitol Complex, the House Sargent at Arms called for a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims of September 11, 2001. 

It was an emotional moment, one that conjured up deep feelings of sadness, but also an incredible sense of pride in our country. I was sad thinking about the tremendous loss of life, including my former colleague Neil Levin, who was hosting a breakfast at Windows on the World at the top of the North Tower. And, I couldn’t help but to take pride in our first responders who risked their own lives to save their fellow Americans, in Tom Burnett and the other brave heroes aboard Flight 93, and in our Nation's ability to heal in wake of the tragedy.

In the days following the attacks on Washington and New York, Americans from all across our great country stood together in unity to demonstrate to the world our strength as a people.

Our enemies’ motivations were clear: an act of war intended to rip the fabric of this Nation. But like so many times before, the American people overcame a great tragedy with the kind of resolve that no other nation in world history has ever possessed. Our strength as a people was more crippling to our enemies than their senseless attack was to us.

As time moves on, we can never forget what transpired on the morning of September 11, 2011, and we forever have an obligation to those lost to honor their memory by continuing to make America the example for liberty and democracy throughout the world.

Sincerely,

Representative French Hill

“This Administration has a terrible habit of bypassing the Legislative Branch to impose its will on the American people. In an attempt to avoid this very situation with a potential Iranian Nuclear Deal, four months ago, Congress passed the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act. It was supported by 177 House Democrats and was signed into law by the President. There is no ambiguity in the bill’s language; the State Department was required to turn over the entire nuclear agreement, including any agreements made between Iran and other parties. The President failed comply with the law and once again is prepared to move forward with a major policy without Congressional approval.

“I do not understand how any member of Congress can agree to support a nuclear deal with such high stakes without having seen the deal in its entirety. This is extremely irresponsible, and I encourage my Democratic colleagues to stand with the Republicans and demand that the secret side deals be released so that we can do our jobs and fully review all the contents of the proposed nuclear deal.”