Rep. Pat Meehan: We are Safer Than on 9/11

Congressman Patrick Meehan says the United States is safer than it was eleven years ago when terrorists unleashed the deadliest attack on American soil in U.S. History.

Meehan's political history is tied to 9/11 and the aftermath of the attacks. He was one of several U.S. Attorneys appointed by President George W. Bush. It took the attacks of 9/11 for the U.S. Senate to finally move to confirm Meehan and several other U.S. Attorney nominees whose appointments had been held up by Capitol Hill politics. They were confirmed within six days of the attacks.

Once in office Meehan, who had previously served as the District Attorney for Delaware County, set up an anti-terrorism task force to help coordinate responses to attacks in Southeatern Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley.

Meehan, a freshman Republican, is Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.

He issued the following statement regarding the 11^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks:

“Today marks 11 years since the September 11^th attacks on our country. It is my hope that not just on the anniversary of 9/11, but every day, we will remember the innocent lives lost - and their loved ones who were left without fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.

“We should make a special remembrance of the first responders, the passengers of Flight 93, and all the heroes who ran in to danger so that others might live. They have the eternal thanks of a grateful nation.

“In the 11 years since 9/11, we have made great progress. Today we are safer and that credit is due largely to our law enforcement, first responders, military and intelligence community who tirelessly work to secure our great nation. And although we are safer, the threat of terrorism remains. We must be vigilant and never become complacent."