We Will Never Forget

We Will Never Forget
On September 11th, we come together to remember and to reflect with reverence and with respect. On the anniversary the thoughts of our nation remain with the innocent Americans we lost, their families and loved ones, with the first responders who arrived on the scene to rescue others in danger and stayed at ground zero to search for survivors and remains. Our solemn pledge remains clear: to never forget those who perished on 9/11, to always give voice to those silenced forever 11 years ago, and to draw inspiration from the families of the victims.

As we unite to remember the events of that faithful day, we also send thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of Ambassador Stevens and the three other Americans killed in a vicious and heinous attack against the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi. As we mourn the loss of the Americans in Benghazi, we pay tribute to all of the men and women standing their post abroad on behalf of our values and our partnerships across the globe.

Congresswoman Pelosi joins her colleagues on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building at a ceremony commemorating the 11th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Standing Up for Women
Eighteen years ago, Democratic majorities in the House and Senate passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and helped ensure that no victim of domestic violence has to suffer in silence. In the years since, domestic violence has decreased by more than 50%. Twice, in the intervening years, we have come together in a bipartisan way to reauthorize and strengthen this law. This year, our colleagues in the Senate acted similarly – passing a strong bill with a bipartisan vote of 68-31 – including the support of every single woman in the Senate.

In sharp contrast, House Republicans continue to support a controversial bill that will weaken the protections we give to those who suffer domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. This legislation fails vulnerable people including: members of the LGBT community, Native American women, and immigrant victims. There should be no special exceptions to this law; all people deserve to be protected from domestic violence. Congress must work to pass this critical legislation now.

Hispanic Heritage Month
During Hispanic Heritage Month we celebrate a fundamental truth: the Hispanic dream is the American dream. Hispanics enrich our nation with their commitment to family and faith, education and work. This month, we celebrate their contributions as part of the rich tapestry of our nation.

To honor the character of America, we must pass comprehensive immigration reform. In 2010, in one of our proudest moments, Democrats passed the DREAM Act in the House of Representatives. Even though the legislation received a majority vote in the Senate, it did not meet the Senate’s 60-vote requirement. I remain committed to working with President Obama and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in Congress to enact the DREAM Act into law.

Please feel free to forward this information to your family and friends. To learn more about these efforts, to express your views, or to sign up for email updates, please visit my website. I am also on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NancyPelosi.