Rep. Pfluger's Message to Texas-11 on the 25th Anniversary of 9/11

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) delivered a message to citizens of Texas-11. He paid tribute to the nearly 3,000 Americans killed that day, thanked the first responders and service members who answered the call, and emphasized the ongoing responsibility to confront new and evolving threats.

Read a transcript of his remarks below:

"This is Congressman August Pfluger from Texas's 11th Congressional District.

"Twenty-five years ago, our nation was changed forever on September 11, 2001. On that fateful day, thousands of innocent lives were lost, and countless others were forever scarred by the events that unfolded. The terrorists responsible sought not only to destroy buildings and take lives, but to fundamentally undermine American security and the freedoms that define our way of life.  

"I was a young Air Force officer on September 11th, 2001. I had just commissioned the year before, and what I witnessed that morning reshaped the mission of my entire career. I answered the call to serve alongside thousands of my fellow Americans. Those who served and continue to serve carry forward the memory of the Americans we lost, and this day serves as a solemn reminder of why we continue to answer the call to protect freedom and democracy across the globe.

"I continue that mission as Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. It's not an abstract job for me; it's personal. Every hearing, every piece of legislation, every reform we push through arms DHS with the resources needed to ensure our intelligence agencies and law enforcement never again miss the warning signs that were missed on September 11th.

"On the twenty-fifth anniversary of 9/11, it’s more important than ever that we never forget the lives lost, the heroes who ran into danger, and our service members who answered the call to defend our country in the years that followed. And we can never forget the responsibility we all share to make sure a day like September 11th never happens again.

"God bless the victims of 9/11, their families, our first responders, service members, and the United States of America."