Q&A: Never Forget 9/11

Q&A: Never Forget 9/11

With U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley

Q: What's your message on the anniversary of 9/11?

A: This year marks 24 years since 19 hijackers boarded four commercial airliners in the early morning hours on Sept. 11, 2001, to commit acts of terror on U.S. soil. The terrorists commandeered the airplanes to launch suicide attacks against symbolic targets on the eastern seaboard of the United States. They targeted the headquarters of the U.S. financial system and the U.S. military to disrupt American society and inflict fear among the American people.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed. First responders ran into an inferno as they raced to save lives in the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. After the Pentagon was struck, civilian passengers aboard United Flight 93 heroically prevented the hijackers from potentially slamming into the U.S. Capitol, the iconic seat of the people's branch in the nation's capital. These unthinkable crimes shocked the world, but the terrorists failed their mission. Instead of changing our way of life, they strengthened an indivisible bond of solidarity in communities across our country.

Those coming of age on 9/11 join generations before them who experienced a defining moment in U.S. history. Moments that create an enduring connection among neighbors and strangers, alike. For example, previous generations of Americans never forgot where they were and what they were doing when Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941, or when JFK was assassinated in 1963, followed nearly five years later by Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. A generation of school kids watched in disbelief when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded after liftoff in 1986. In the aftermath of these national tragedies, the resilience of Americans shined bright. This uniquely American trait has guided our nation throughout its nearly 250-year history. E pluribus unum, our national motto, means "out of many, one." The resilience of Americans after 9/11 gives me hope. No matter the challenge or crisis, America thrives when Americans work together and stand with our allies. The Oct. 7 attacks in Israel in 2023 are a solemn reminder we must stand vigilant against terrorist organizations and state sponsors of terror. On the anniversary of 9/11, take a moment with your families to honor the memory of those who were killed, celebrate the heroes who risked it all to save others and thank the veterans and service members who answered the call to serve in uniform.

Q: What prompted your longstanding efforts to combat terrorism and help victims of terror seek justice?

A: I've served on the Senate Judiciary Committee since my first term in the U.S. Senate and led a decades-long effort to ensure terrorists and their financial enablers who target Americans abroad are held accountable in the U.S. courts. During my first term, members of the Palestine Liberation Front murdered U.S. citizen Leon Klinghoffer aboard an Italian cruise ship. My Anti-Terrorism Act of 1992 (ATA) established a framework for victims to seek damages from those who assisted or were responsible for acts of international terrorism that harmed or killed Americans. This landmark law put terrorist organizations and their financial pipelines on notice to keep their hands off Americans. In 2016, I successfully led efforts to reverse President Obama's veto of my bipartisan Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act to give victims of terror their day in court. However, federal courts dismissed lawsuits by Americans and their families, allowing terrorists to walk away scot-free. In 2019, I led bipartisan passage of the Promoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act to ensure the courthouse doors remain open to American victims of international terrorism, as well as their families.

Lower court rulings continued to undermine congressional intent, gutting access to justice for American victims of terrorism. In January, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a big victory to hold international terrorists accountable. Its ruling upheld the constitutionality of my law to empower victims of terror to seek justice in U.S. court. The high court's decision sends a clear message that foreign terrorists who harm Americans can expect to feel the full weight of the U.S. justice system.

During the Biden administration, I raised the alarm about its open border policies that put national security at risk, including its failure to properly vet Afghan evacuees. My oversight showed suspected terrorists were allowed to enter the United States and roam free for years. We must never forget the lessons of 9/11. As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I'll never stop working to protect U.S. interests and the lives of Americans at home or abroad from terrorist organizations.

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