REMARKS FOR
THE HONORABLE
NORMAN Y. MINETA
SECRETARY OF
TRANSPORTATION
ALL HANDS WITH
FAA, TSA AND USCG EMPLOYEES
ATLANTIC CITY,
NJ
AUGUST 23, 2002
1:45
Good afternoon. Congressman
LoBiondo, Admiral Collins and honored guests, thank you all for coming today.
While the traveling
public notes the apparent safety and security practices at our nation’s
airports, we know that much more goes on behind the scenes.
And, today we want to recognize that aviation safety and security starts
with the hard work done by all of you.
This often times
isn't readily apparent, but everything you do here helps save lives by making
our national transportation system safe, secure, reliable and efficient.
The testing you do
at your labs, the policies that are developed right here and the countless hours
of hard work you spend long before any piece of equipment is deployed or any
practice put in place, is what makes us safe when we travel.
The September 11th terrorist attacks forced our
nation to think anew. We have all
been required to work harder and smarter than ever before.
I want to personally thank each of you,
for your part in helping return our nation’s transportation systems
back to full operations.
I am very proud of the DOT employees who performed
brilliantly from the very first hours of that terrible day.
Thanks to all the folks at the FAA, who have given
sustained efforts since September 11th to ensure aviation safety and
security –- from the FAA controllers across the country who responded so
efficiently and calmly to my order to close down America’s airspace for the
first time ever, to the technical center employees still so intimately involved
in aviation security initiatives, and finally to the Federal Air Marshals who
willingly risk much to assure safe and secure flights in our airspace.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and
thank Anne Harlan, Director, of the William J. Hughes FAA Technical
Center, for your continuing leadership and dedication to our mission.
To everyone in the aviation world, from the screeners at
the airports, to the pilots and flight crews, the additional law enforcement
personnel, and everyone behind the scenes who worked at a high level of
dedication and teamwork, you have my thanks.
And there were others called to action on September 11th.
As always, the Coast Guard was ready to serve - Semper Paratus.
Within hours of the attack, the Coast Guard had cutters,
small boats, and helicopters on the scene supporting disaster relief operations,
and providing maritime anti-terrorism and force protection in the vicinity of
New York Harbor.
A few months later, the employees in our newly established
Transportation Security Administration dove into action to assist in keeping all
forms of transportation safe and secure.
Collectively, all of you have served the country well.
You have gone, and are still going,
above and beyond the call of duty.
Over the last 11 months, America has witnessed so many acts
of heroism that they have become almost commonplace. And still, the efforts put forth by all of you
here stand out.
On behalf of President Bush, and Vice President Cheney, I extend our nation’s heartfelt
gratitude for what you are doing. Thanks
for all of your efforts.
I have never felt prouder to be Secretary of
Transportation, than I have, by working with great Americans such as yourselves
through this unfortunate period.
I wish I could tell you that you can slow the pace of your
efforts, but I cannot. Our
nation has entered into a new era in the history of transportation, an era in
which one of our most cherished freedoms –
the basic freedom of mobility –
has been challenged.
Today, I am asking all of you, the dedicated men and women
of this Department, to further our efforts in meeting this challenge and
assuring the American people of the safety and security of our transportation
system.
Those who brought down one of America’s proudest
buildings, also believed they could bring down our faith in our transportation
systems.
We are emphatically proving them wrong;
thanks to all of you.
The mission of the DOT has never been more vital than it is
today. Based on the
efforts I have seen put forth in the last 11 months, I know we are an agency
equal to the challenge.
As the anniversary of September 11th nears, it
is only natural that our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends
of those who lost loved ones to those horrendous acts.
Again, thanks a million for all your efforts and your dedication to the DOT family. Keep up the good work.
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