Statement of U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) Supporting the Passage of the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007

Washington, DC – Congressman Kendrick B. Meek issued the following statement supporting the passage of the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007, legislation which Congressman Meek co-sponsored.

“The 9/11 Commission produced a bipartisan series of recommendations to safeguard this nation and its citizens.  The Republican-led Congress and the Bush Administration failed to implement these proposals for years, yet claimed to represent the national security interests of this country.

“Under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi, Democrats will implement real security reforms to protect the U.S. homeland as recommended by the 9/11 Commission.

“As a former captain in the Florida Highway Patrol, I am pleased that this legislation ensures communications interoperability so that first responders can talk to each other in an emergency.  On September 11th, we saw the tragic consequences of failed interoperability, when firefighters and police officers could not communicate as they rushed toward the burning World Trade Center towers.

“The passage of today’s legislation is a credit to the perseverance of Homeland Security Committee Chairman, Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS).  Though he was confronted with numerous roadblocks by Republicans in Congress, Chairman Thompson did not yield, and the passage of the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007 is a great accomplishment that he and all Democrats should celebrate.

Congressman Kendrick B. Meek represents Florida’s 17th Congressional District which includes parts of Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

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