Congress united in outrage, resolve for justice
Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, September 12, 2001
The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — With anger, grief and a few tears, Congress brushed aside partisan squabbles Wednesday and united behind a declaration of outrage and resolve to strike back against those responsible for Tuesday’s unprecedented terrorist attacks on the United States.
After evacuating their offices just 24 hours before, when it seemed possible that the Capitol might come under air assault, lawmakers flocked back to work Wednesday morning in what leaders described as a message to the world that the seat of American democracy will not be cowed by terrorism.
Leaders of both parties, who two days ago were sniping over taxes, spending and missile defense, joined in sponsoring a resolution condemning the attacks and vowing support for President Bush and his "determination … to punish the perpetrators of these attacks as well as their sponsors."
The resolution, which also declared Wednesday as a "national day of unity and mourning," was approved 100-0 by the Senate. The House approved the resolution later in the evening.
Senators, who normally straggle in and shout or whisper their votes from anywhere in the chamber, voted from their desks, standing as their names were called — a practice reserved for the most solemn occasions.
The message from both parties in the House and Senate was the need for national cohesion.
"The world should know that the members of both parties, in both houses, stand united" in response to the tragedy, said Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., in an emotional opening speech to his colleagues.
Speaking with equally intense emotion, Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., said: "We must … find a way to come together and make sure that this kind of heinous, vicious action will not happen again in America."
Barely contained anger swept through speech after speech. "I say to our enemies, we are coming," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. "God may show you mercy. We will not."
