Remarks by President Trump at Signing of H.R. 1327, an Act
to Permanently Authorize the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund
National Security & Defense
Issued on: July 29, 2019
Rose Garden
10:09 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank
you very much. Well, thank you very
much, everybody. Please, sit down. Very important day. And we’re gathered this morning at the White
House to honor our solemn duty to America’s best, bravest, and finest, who I
know so well. In a few moments, I will
sign a bipartisan bill to fully reauthorize the 9/11 Victims Compensation
Fund. So, the 9/11 Victims Compensation
Fund is something you’ve all worked on very hard, and the day has come.
Today, we come together as one nation to support our
September 11th heroes, to care for their families, and to renew our eternal
vow: Never, Ever Forget.
Before I go further, this morning we express our deepest
sadness and sorrow for the families who lost a precious loved one in the
horrific shooting last night in Gilroy, California. While families were spending time together at
a local festival, a wicked murderer opened fire and killed three innocent citizens,
including a young child. We grieve for
their families and we ask that God will comfort them with his overflowing mercy
and grace. We’re praying for those who
are recovering right now in the hospital.
Some very, very serious injuries.
We thank the brave members of law enforcement — they never
let us down — who swiftly killed the shooter.
We reaffirm our national will to answer violence with the courage,
determination, and resolve of one American family. We will continue to work together as
communities and as citizens to stop evil, prevent violence, and protect the
safety of all Americans.
We’re joined for today’s ceremony by our wonderful Vice
President, Mike Pence. Thank you, Mike,
very much. Thank you. (Applause.)
Along with many distinguished guests.
I want to begin by recognizing a leader many of you know
very well. On September 11th, he
declared, “The city of New York and the United States of America is much
stronger than any group of barbaric terrorists…our strength and our willingness
to defend ourselves will ultimately prevail.”
And he was right. A great mayor
of the city of New York — our greatest mayor, in my opinion. Now, what do I know? (Laughter.)
Rudy Giuliani. Stand up,
Rudy. (Applause.) Great job, Rudy. Great job.
Rudy has got a lot of guts.
Thanks also to Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen for
being here. Thank you, Jeff. Thank you very much. Along with Senator Deb Fischer and
Representatives Michael Burgess, Chris Collins, Brian Fitzpatrick, Peter King,
John Joyce, Mark Meadows, and Dan Meuser.
Please stand up, fellas.
Please. (Applause.) Thank you very much. Thank you.
Thank you, Peter.
In the wake of the September 11th attacks, courageous
Americans raced into smoke, fire, and debris in lower Manhattan, the Pentagon,
and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The whole world witnessed the might and resilience of our nation in the
extraordinary men and women of the New York Fire Department and the New York
Police Department, selfless patriots of unmatched character and devotion. I grew up with them so I can tell you that’s
absolutely true. It’s always nice to
really know your subject. I know that
subject. These are great people.
We also commemorate the heroes of the Port Authority
Police. And I want to thank you all for
being here. Tremendous people. The first responders from across the country
rushed to New York and worked endless days and sleepless nights. They fought to rescue every person trapped in
the rubble, and then searched for months to find the remains of the fallen.
The love and loyalty of our 9/11 responders knew no
bounds. Today, we are deeply honored to
be in the presence of more than 60 of these exceptional heroes. They answered terror with the emotional
strength of true American warriors.
Would every 9/11 responder please stand up? Please, all you first responders. (Applause.)
Wow. Great. Thank you.
Thank you, fellas. Great-looking
group of people you are. Great-looking
group of people. Thank you very
much. You inspire all of humanity, and
you know that.
We’re also greatly moved to have with us families of our
fallen heroes. Our nation owes each of
you a profound debt that no words or deeds will ever repay. But we can and we will keep our nation’s
promise to you.
In a few moments, I will sign the 9/11 Victims Compensation
Fund. This law makes permanent the
financial support for families who lost precious loved ones as a result of
September 11th attacks. It also provides
pensions for those who are suffering from cancer and other illnesses stemming
from the toxic debris they were exposed to in the aftermath of the
attacks. Many of those affected were
firefighters, police officers, and other first responders. And I was down there also, but I’m not
considering myself a first responder.
But I was down there. I spent a
lot of time down there with you.
Since September 11th, we have lost more than 2,000 first
responders and survivors to 9/11-related cancers and illnesses. Currently, thousands of men and women are
battling cancer and other illnesses due to 9/11. We pledge to stand by the families of those
affected, today and every day. We will
stand with you.
I want to thank lawmakers in both parties for working with
common purpose to pass this vital and critical legislation.
Here with us for this signing ceremony are the three
families whose loved ones are memorialized in the title of this bill.
New York Police Department Detective James Zadroga spent
more than 450 hours serving at Ground Zero.
In 2006, James died from a lung disease.
To his father Joseph, and his daughter Tyler Ann, who join us: Detective
Zadroga’s heroism will uplift our nation forever. He won’t be forgotten. We will always remember what he did for
us. Please stand up. Please.
Please. (Applause.) Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Also present today is the family of East Meadow Volunteer
Firefighter Ray Pfeifer. I know East
Meadow very well. Great place. Great people.
For eight months, Ray worked constantly at Ground Zero. In 2017, at the age of 59, he died from
cancer.
Here with us today is Ray’s wife Caryn, his daughter Taylor,
and his son Terence, now a New York City firefighter. Please, stand up. (Applause.)
Good. Very good. Thank you.
And I know Ray must be watching over you, looking down right now from
heaven, on this beautiful Rose Garden.
Very, very proud of you. Thank
you. Thank you very much.
The third namesake of the bill is New York City Detective
Luis Alvarez. Last month, his powerful
testimony in Congress touched the heart of our nation. A few days later, he passed from this life
into eternity. We are privileged to have
with us Detective Alvarez’s brother Philip and his wife Alaine, and his sons
Tyler and Ben. Please, stand. Please.
Please. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you. Thank you very
much. Thank you very much.
I want each of you to know that America is holding you in
the arms of its wonderful, wonderful heart.
And we’re all grieving by your side.
Our whole nation prays and pays tribute to the incredible life and legacy
of Detective Alvarez — how hard he worked and how much he suffered. And we really want to thank him. He was really something. People understood it very well. It’s really great. Thank you.
We have an obligation, and it’s a sacred obligation, to the
families and first responders of 9/11.
Here with us today is Chief John Joyce, former fire chief of
the Midtown Manhattan firehouse. On
September 11th, 15 of his men raced into the ashes of hell and gave their
lives. To this day, Chief Joyce still mentors
many of their 28 children.
Chief Joyce spent seven months working at Ground Zero. In 2011, he was diagnosed with cancer. He has also endured other severe 9/11-related
illnesses. But the Chief is a fighter. He is definitely a fighter. As he says, because of this bill, he does not
have to fear for the families of his firehouse whose loved ones made the
ultimate sacrifice. Chief Joyce, you
have our everlasting gratitude. Please,
Chief. Thank you. Good.
(Applause.) Thank you,
Chief. Thank you for being here. And say hello to everybody.
To every 9/11 hero, you poured out your heart, your sweat,
your soul, and everything you had for your country. You ran toward the wreckage, into a ball of
flames, like, frankly, nobody in this country had ever seen. You searched for survivors. You went back day after day and night after
night to save lives and return the fallen to their families, to rebuild and
recover, and to show the entire world that nothing will ever break America’s
spirit.
Over the last two decades, you have endured hardship with
amazing grace and incredible grit. Through it all, you care and you work, and you
love, and you will always remember all of those great families. You lift up our communities and you remind us
all what it means to stand united as “one nation under God.”
For your entire lives, you have gone far beyond your duty to
us, and today we strive to fulfill our sacred duty to you.
We love you. We honor
you. And we thank you. God bless you all. Thank you.
(Applause.) Thank you.
Now I’m going to sign this bill into law. And I don’t know if the stage will hold it,
but if it doesn’t, we’re not falling very far.
But I’d like to ask the families and I’d also like to ask the first
responders to come up, and we’ll give — we’ll give this stage a shot. Let’s see how well built. Made in America. Let’s see how well built it is. Okay?
Come on up.
(The bill is signed.)
(Applause.) Thank
you, everybody. Thank you very much.
END
***
AND WHAT ABOUT
THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS 2004
COMPENSATION FUND,
MR. PRESIDENT?
Is the absence of this fund due to the fact that
there were no American heroes on the day of the man-made tsunami disaster... on December 26, 2004 (local time on the shores of the Indian Ocean) - it was December 25, 2004 in the USA - but only morons, fools, jerks and criminal idiots?
Is the reason for
the absence of this fund the fact that essential evidences of America's criminal
failure and the American tsunami victim list are still under wraps?
There is
nothing to be proud on this day of eternal shame, infamy and crime against humanity, the day of the human made tsunami massacre of innocent people.
Jerzy Chojnowski
Chairman-GTVRG e.V.
|
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen