LARSON URGES CONGRESS TO IMMEDIATELY ACT TO IMPLEMENT 9/11 COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 11, 2004LARSON URGES CONGRESS TO IMMEDIATELY ACT TO IMPLEMENT 9/11 COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS
Co-Sponsors Legislation to Make Recommendations LawWASHINGTON, D.C. - Following yesterday's special meeting of the Democratic Caucus with the Chairmen of the 9/11 Commission, Congressman Larson today announced that he will co-sponsor legislation that would enact the commission?s recommendations into law. Larson also called for a full and open debate on the comprehensive legislation to improve national security and prevent terrorist attacks, in order that a bill can be sent immediately to the President for his signature without further delay.
?We now know we were not as safe as we should have been on September 11th,? said Larson. ?Because of the historic, bipartisan work of the 9/11 Commission, we are ready to take the necessary steps to focus our efforts, improve our security, and ensure that this type of attack never happens again.?
?Many of these recommendations are not new,? continued Larson. ?Now that the 9/11 Commission has done its job, we need to do ours. That is why I am proud to co-sponsor legislation that embodies the commission's recommendations in their entirety. This bill will help us get the process started, consider the commission's recommendations in a full and open debate, and allow us to act without delay. Time is too short to act in a piecemeal fashion.?
?As we go forward, we cannot afford to have partisanship in how we discuss the safety of the American people,? said Larson. ?We cannot afford to delay the decisions that we make in the Congress to minimize the risks associated with terrorism. That is why I think the Republican Leadership should put partisan politics aside and return from vacation, so we can take the first step towards quickly and carefully implementing the 9/11 Commission's recommendations.?
?The time to act is now! The families of the victims have waited tirelessly for three years. Congress owes them the respect of a swift and decisive response. We do not ask our troops to pause or go slow, and neither should Congress.?
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