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 Today
marks a day that will never be forgotten in American history -six years
ago, a peaceful September morning was interrupted by an unprecedented
attack on the United States that killed over 2,600 of our citizens who
were doing nothing more than going to work, flying on an airplane, or
any of those normal everyday activities that we took for granted before
terrorists shattered the safety of our borders.
Each year that has gone by since has brought with it a myriad of
emotions for me. Sadness, anger, grief, resolve – much like the emotions
of that day, they are not easy to sum up, and especially put into words.
Each anniversary also brings with it a struggle for me – how to
appropriately mark the passing of the day. How do we sum up the lives
that were lost and the families who grieve everyday for loved ones that
died? How do we recognize the loss of innocence, the recognition that
there was true evil in the world that wished to harm America and kill
innocent Americans? And how not to forget?
I think like many Americans, this mixed web of emotions I feel and the
unprecedented nature of the attacks makes it hard to find a fitting
tribute. I am certain of this however; I do not want this to mean we
forget to mark the day because we don’t know what to do. It is tough to
mark tragedy – like finding words to console a friend who lost a loved
one, we sometimes find ourselves saying nothing rather than risk saying
the wrong thing. But, I believe it is always better to take that risk,
to say something rather than to let the moment pass. The same holds true
for this anniversary.
I just finished reading an article in a magazine, a special on the
babies that were born on September 11, 2001 in the Washington, DC area,
and it reminded me that even on days of great despair, hope never leaves
us. The new lives that were born on that day continue to remind us of
that, and those babies – now kindergarteners – celebrate the anniversary
of September 11th in another way – with cake, balloons, and presents. As
they get older, they’ll learn the other meaning of their birth date, but
for now, the innocence of childhood protects them and allows us to
remember what it was like to be innocent.
September 11, 2001 has been written in the history books as a day of
tragedy for America, as it rightly should. Like the ceremony I attended
Sunday in Isle of Wight that paid tribute to first responders and their
service, communities across this nation are memorializing the day in
many different ways. Those who lost their lives that day were American
heroes, and their families continue to know unimaginable grief. We must
continue to work to protect their memories through protecting our
country and I share with you an unwavering commitment to do my best to
ensure terrorists cannot attack this country again. Let us also take the
risk to not only mark tragedy, but also remember the babies of the day
as well. Let us use it as a reminder that even on our worst days, there
are always markers of hope and a great nation such as this – as long as
there is hope and someone chasing that American dream – will find its
way.
Finding Opportunity
 Our
country is blessed to be filled with institutions that define our
national character. From the halls of Congress to houses of worship to
our nation’s schools, you can see American values reflected in our
institutions. Commitments to democracy, freedom of religion, opportunity
– these are all the principles our country was founded upon, and the
principles that have made this country the home of so many American
dreamers.
|
Virginia State University, an HBCU
in Virginia's 4th Congressional District |
Yet, even a great country has its times of great failings, and the
racial discrimination that existed for so many years in this country
that still rears its ugly head today is one of those scars that have
left an indelible mark. We can’t erase the wrong decisions that were
made, but we can celebrate today the American institutions that everyday
work to fight discrimination and provide opportunity.
One of the greatest examples of this are our nation’s Historically Black
College and Universities (HBCUs) – educational institutions defined by
the Higher Education Act of 1965 as any “historically black college or
university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission
was, and is, the education of black Americans.” HBCUs were founded on
the belief that every student in America – black or white – deserved the
opportunity to receive an advanced education, and having the tools
necessary to succeed in the competitive world economy.
Today, HBCUs have educated not only African American students, but
students of every race for over 170 years, and continue to be a source
of pride for the African American community and a symbol of great
accomplishment for the rest of the nation. HBCUs offer students the
opportunity to develop the talents and skills necessary to go on to
distinguished careers in the United States and further advance the
values for which this country stands. HBCUs currently provide an
advanced education to 14 percent of all African American students in
higher education at the 105 HBCUs around the country, despite
representing only 3 percent of higher education institutions.
That is why the President designated September 9 -15, 2007 as National
HBCU Week, publicly recognizing the significant contributions HBCUs have
made to the growth and progress in this country. In Virginia, we have
six HBCUs that serve our students, including one located in the Fourth
District – Virginia State University (VSU). As anyone knows who has
visited the campus or talked with the administrators, professors, and
students, VSU is an institution committed to providing opportunity to
every student.
The effects of colleges and universities like VSU are not only
intangible values, but also quantifiable metrics. According to the U.S.
Census Bureau, African Americans with bachelor’s degrees will earn 70
percent more than those with only high school diplomas over their
working careers, and African Americans with an advanced degree will earn
57 percent more than those with bachelor’s degrees. With HBCUs awarding
almost a quarter of all bachelor’s degrees earned by African Americans,
the contribution HBCUs make to both the individual and the overall
economy is clear. Graduates of HBCUs have gone on to be doctors,
lawyers, Nobel Prize winners, CEOs and Members of Congress, among many
other successful careers.
For my part, I will use HBCU Week as a reminder to continue my work with
my fellow Members of Congress to support HBCUs and ensure they have the
resources necessary to continue to educate American students. Recently,
Congressman Ed Towns (NY-10) and I worked to pass in the House the
Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity
Act of 2007.
This legislation would make certain that HBCUs, as well as other
Minority Serving Institutions, have the technology tools and resources
necessary to provide a cutting-edge education to their students, and
Congressman Towns – a HBCU graduate himself - and I will work to reach
an agreement with the Senate on this bill so that we can establish this
important grant program. In a world that has become increasingly global
and competitive, higher education institutions must have the tools
necessary to educate our next generation of great Americans to continue
the tradition of excellence that American industry currently maintains.
In a time when so many of our historic institutions come under continual
attack, this week honoring HBCUs becomes even more important. Let us not
destroy such valuable institutions, but rather continue to strengthen
the ability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities to define
our national character by enhancing the values and opportunities that
make this country so strong. |
