John Boehner, September 9, 2006

Five years after September 11, 2001, the terror attacks of that Tuesday morning remain fresh in our minds. Most of the nearly 3,000 who perished were regular folks going about their regular business; others were the first heroes of the War on Terror, climbing the stairs of the twin towers to help evacuate trapped workers or administering first aid to those on the scene. Among the victims of that fateful day were individuals who at one time lived, worked, or went to school right here in southwest Ohio.

Five years later, we’ve made significant progress in confronting those who would attack us again. When he addressed Congress in the days following the attacks, President Bush said, “Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done.” We have, without a doubt, followed through. Unlike the previous strikes by al Qaeda – against our embassies, the U.S.S. Cole, and so on – September 11 wrought a broad and global response.

Congress acted swiftly in approving the USA PATRIOT Act, legislation providing law enforcement with the tools necessary to prevent another attack. We authorized and the President waged two conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, liberating more than 50 million people and crushing despotic regimes with links to terrorist activity and a thirst for weapons of mass destruction.

We’ve engaged in a dramatic effort to secure our ports and borders, with legislation on the way that will provide more border patrol agents, additional fencing and surveillance, and enhance state and local law enforcement authority. We have more work to do, but our progress has been steady and measurable.

The U.S Department of Justice has convicted 253 defendants on terror-related charges. And our intelligence agencies and law enforcement, working together, have disrupted more than 150 terrorist threats and cells in America, including plans to attack targets on both coasts using hijacked aircraft, and plans to blow up apartment buildings in the U.S.

When America awoke that Tuesday morning it wasn’t so much that our world had changed -- rather, it was a tragic reminder that the world is full of evil. And it is another reason why the House will vote next week on legislation authorizing military tribunals for terrorists, such as alleged September 11 mastermind, Khalid Shaikh Mohammad. We are designing a system that not only brings these terrorists to justice, but that gives the President the tools he needs to continue preventing terrorist plots before they happen.

Five years later we remember and honor the lives of the 2,996 victims of September 11th. Please keep in your prayers the many moms, dads, children, and grandparents who died that day. Wave to a police officer, give a firefighter a pat on the back, and salute the bravery and sacrifice of rescue workers, EMT personnel, and first responders. And please continue to keep America’s sons and daughters in uniform in your thoughts and prayers; many of them are on the other side of the world -- sacrificing so much, so very far away from home.

One of the last lines in the Battle Hymn of the Republic goes, “As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free.” I can think of no better tribute to those who perished in the merciless attacks of September 11 or in the five years since than to do just that: to live and fight for the freedoms we cherish, and for which they’ve given their lives.

Congressman John Boehner is the House Majority Leader. Boehner, a Republican, represents Ohio's Eighth Congressional District, which includes Miami, Butler, Preble, Darke, and Mercer Counties.