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CONGRESS WATCH
Margo Turner
Terrorists responsible for the diabolical attack of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in northern Virginia on the early morning of Tuesday, Sept. 11, did more to rouse patriotism among Americans than they could ever imagine. Nowhere was American pride so inspiring than when a large group of senators and representatives from all political parties in Congress assembled on the steps of the Capitol Building the night of the attack.
As their colleagues stood shoulder to shoulder behind them, House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle (D-S.D.) vowed that Congress will do all within its power to prevent another heinous, vicious action American soil. Just as the group was about to disperse, someone began singing "God Bless America." The rest of the group joined in. Each stood tall and pride as they sang the first verse of the song.
Debate over spending measures for the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, took a back-seat to a joint resolution (S.J. Res. 22) adopted by both chambers of Congress the day after the attack. The resolution condemns the terrorists and sponsors for the attacks and commends the "heroic actions of the rescue workers, volunteers and state and local officials who responded to these tragic events with courage, determination and skill." All Americans will "stand united as our nation begins the process of recovering and rebuilding in the aftermath of the tragic acts."
Unity and patriotism reverberated throughout the country. People hoisted American flags up flagpoles, placed them on car aerials and waved them proudly on street corners and wherever else they could to attract attention. Many stores soon ran out of American flags and quickly reordered the flags.
On Capitol Hill, members from both houses of Congress wasted no time in responding to the terrorist attacks. On the floor of the Senate on Sept. 12, Republican leader Trent Lott (Miss.) vowed: "We will take whatever action is necessary in Congress, working with the administration, working as the American team to stop this kind of terrorism. Whatever we call it, we must put ourselves in a war footing. We must make up our minds we're going to fight this scourge of the world. We have come together."
Over two days, the Senate and House crafted a $40 million emergency-spending bill to provide federal, state and local funds for rescue and cleanup efforts in New York City and northern Virginia. President Bush immediately signed the bill on Thursday, Sept. 13.
The next day, Bush authorized Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfield to call up 50,000 National Guard and Reserve troops to assist with "home defense" operations in New York City and northern Virginia. The president also approved the request by military planners to call up 35,500 reservists for home defense operations. They include 13,000 from the Army; 13,000, Marines; 10,000, Air Force; 3,000 Navy, and 2,000 Coast Guard.
That same day, Bush and first day Laura Bush joined mourners for a prayer service at the National Cathedral in Washington to mark the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance. Among those attending were former Presidents Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and George Bush, former Vice Al Gore Jr., congressional leaders and members from the diplomatic corps and military. As a security precaution, Vice President Dick Cheney remained at the presidential retreat at Camp David in Maryland, where he was moved to two days after the attacks.
In his address at the prayer service, Bush pointed out that "Americans do not yet have the distance of history, but our responsibility to history is already clear: answer these attacks and rid the world of evil."
Bush said Americans feel what President Franklin D. Roosevelt called "the warm courage of national unity." It can be found in prayer services and candlelight vigils and the waving of American flags, Bush noted.
"America is a nation full of good fortune, with so much to be grateful for, but we are not spared from suffering," Bush said. "In every generation, the world has produced enemies of human freedom. They have attacked American because we are freedom's home and defender, and the commitment of our fathers is now the calling of our time."
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