(OVERLAND PARK, KAN.) – Congressman Dennis Moore (Third District-KS) urged President Bush to call for Congress’ immediate return to the nation’s Capitol in order to begin implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. The report says the threat to our country is great and there is an urgency to implement the Commission’s recommendations.

“If the threat to our country and our people is as urgent and real as found by the Commission – and I believe it is – Congress should immediately return to Washington and begin its work to adopt measures which will protect our people and our country,” Moore said in a letter to the President and congressional leadership sent last Friday. “The worst thing that could happen is if – God forbid – we have another incident, and we have not done all we can do to prevent it.”

On July 22, 2004, the 9/11 Commission handed down its report on the threat of terror in our country. This followed 20 months of hearings by the bipartisan commission. The report issued 41 recommendations to help prevent future terrorist attacks, including details of a global strategy and government reorganization necessary to implement that strategy. It cited the need to attack terrorists and their organizations; prevent the continued growth of Islamic terrorism; and protect and prepare for terrorist attacks.

On July 22, the same day the Commission issued its report, Congress left town for its annual August recess. The House is scheduled to reconvene on September 7, 2004.

“Mr. President, I respectfully ask that you call Congress to immediately return to our nation’s Capitol to begin this important work,” Moore said. “This should not be about Republicans or Democrats. I hope we will remember the unity we all felt following the attacks on September 11. Partisan politics was not important. We were all Americans. We are all Americans.”

Moore is taking several steps to ensure Congress quickly consider the reforms that could help prevent future terrorist attacks in the United States. He will return to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, August 10, to discuss the 9/11 Commission’s work with Thomas H. Kean, Chairman of the 9/11 Commission, and Lee H. Hamilton, Vice-chairman of the Commission.

On August 23, 2004, Moore will attend a House Committee on Financial Services hearing to discuss further steps that need to be taken to impede terrorist financing and money laundering in light of the 9/11 Commission Report.

Moore serves as a member of the 9/11 Commission Caucus, a bipartisan group of legislators who have endorsed the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations and are working for their speedy approval.