(FIFTY-FIRST DAY — Monday, May 2, 2011)

The following remarks regarding the recent victory of the United States in the War on Terrorism were ordered reduced to writing and printed in the Senate Journal:

Senator Whitmire:  Mr. President, would it be proper at this time, on behalf of the entire Senate, to show our support and appreciation for our leaders, those Navy SEALs, the CIA, and everyone involved in the operation? I know there's going to be other remarks, there's going to be a resolution, I understand. Our Lieutenant Governor is out speaking to other fallen heroes' families, our police officers. But would it be proper at this time, as a body, and maybe the press, everyone that hears our words to give a standing ovation for our servicemen, our Navy, and also recognize our own hero, Senator Birdwell? I can't imagine what his emotions are today. But could I at this time ask my colleagues, and would it be proper, Mr. President, for us to stand as a group and give a standing ovation for everyone involved in the events and the success in the last 24 hours?

(Applause)

Senator Lucio:  Thank you, Mr. President and Members. Thank you, Dean Whitmire, for the start of what I believe will be a day of remembrance for the young men and women who have died on the fight for terrorism. I know I've had a lot in my district, unfortunately, that have passed away fighting terrorism, but today I rise to thank President Barack Obama and the national security team. Over the weekend, Al Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden, was killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan. No Americans were killed or injured during the operation. Through precise, well-planned operations, our military was able to remove from the world a force of evil. President Obama has called this the most, quote, the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat Al Qaeda. I concur with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that terrorism cannot defeat us and that terrorists can make the choice to abandon Al Qaeda and participate in a peaceful political process. In 2001, bin Laden masterminded the 9-11 attacks in which nearly 3,000 people died. It was the worst domestic attack the United States had suffered since Pearl Harbor. Those who died were Americans, immigrants, and visitors; Christians, Muslims, and Jews. So, today, we are joined by many people around the world from many different backgrounds in congratulating President Obama and his administration. We also share in breathing a solemn sigh of relief. I use the word solemn in recognition of those who have died over the last decade combating Al Qaeda around the world. Remembering their sacrifice surely cuts short our celebrations, even as we celebrate the death of a monstrous person. We must also take a moment and remember in our prayers those Americans around the world who work in our international embassies. All U.S. embassies have been put on alert as they run the risk of being targets of revenge attacks. I also hope that as a nation, we can now move on and continue to promote the world of peace, tolerance, and understanding. This is a point in history from which America can move forward from the pain and anger we have experienced since 9-11. This is our moment to put to rest many of our fears. President Obama pointed this out when he said, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not and never will be at war with Islam. Indeed, bin Laden's body was buried at sea to conform with the Islamic practice of a burial within 24 hours, so while there is victory, there is also respect. Valor and sensitivity went hand in hand. This is the America which I am proud of. God bless the United States of America. Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, Members.

Senator Fraser:  Members, I, probably like you, last night, about ten o'clock as all this was unfolding, and I heard Linda scream at me from downstairs, they got Osama bin Laden. And we turned on the television and watching it unfold. And I have to tell you that as that was going, my mind continued to bring up the veterans that are in this body, as that, Senator, you know, Birdwell, Chuy, Carlos, Senator Ogden, Senator Wentworth, that those that have fought, you know, for us to make sure that we can meet in freedom today. But, I also thought a lot about the fact that Fort Hood and Dyess being in my district, I suspect, I've never seen the numbers on it, but I suspect during the War on Terror I think I probably have lost more constituents than anyone, because the Fort Hood guys were the first to, you know, ones to show up, and the losses were great. We have to always remember that this all started as an attack on our nation. They attacked our nation, and this actually gets very, very personal. We've got, as you know, a Member of this body that was on the receiving end of that first attack and has suffered through a lot of challenges, not only to stay alive, get back healthy, but then also to be here with us today. Is it, Senator Birdwell? This gets very personal, you know, this is personal to you, I don't know, and this is not about revenge, you know, this is about justice. You know, we're recognizing today, on behalf of you, the act that happened last night is reminding the rest of the world that there is still justice out there in this world. And we recognize very much that you being with us today, we're glad you're here. We appreciate the fact you served and the fact that we're recognizing that justice has been served.

Senator Patrick:  Thank you, Mr. President and Members. Last night when the news broke, the first person that I thought about was our colleague who I had the honor of meeting almost three years ago when I was then seeing a Veterans Day event in Houston, and he was the keynote speaker. And we had not met before. Little did I know we would be serving together and voting together in many cases. And I thought how it must impact you as the rest of the country celebrated the heroics of our Navy SEAL team. And something else that I had thought about, Members, is that our Navy SEAL team didn't do it the easy way. The easy way would have been to send in a missile and take out the entire compound and not put 40 Navy SEALs at risk. We know what happened in Black Hawk Down in Somalia. We know what happened four decades ago in an attempted rescue in the '70s. There was no guarantee every SEAL would come back. But those Navy SEALs put their lives on the line instead of firing a missile in. Because the President, which I think made the wise decision, wanted to be sure they had the right person, and the best way to do that was to put men on the ground to kill him or capture. And I'm sure as the events unfold over the next several days and we learn more, we'll see what an heroic mission it was. Forty minutes on the ground, and without, except a technical mishap, everyone came back alive. And so, I think we really, it speaks to who we are in America. We do it the right way. We never do it the easy way. Sometimes it's the hard way, but it's the right way, and that was the right way last night. So, Senator Birdwell, I join Senator Fraser and I know other colleagues who may or may not speak today, that we stand with you for these last 10 years and the recovery that you made and the 32 surgeries I believe that you had and what you and your family endured. And so, we hope that this is somewhat closure for you. And we're all proud to stand with you today at this moment as we are proud of America. Thank you, Mr. President.

Senator Hinojosa:  Thank you, Mr. President and Members. Today I'm so proud of our military and the courage that our soldiers showed, as you said, Senator Patrick, going in and taking out a terrorist, a symbol of evil who had no respect for human life, no respect for our families and families all over the world. And, Senator Birdwell, as a fellow veteran, let me tell you I empathize and I share your pain, but I also share your pride, and that we finally got this terrorist who caused so much damage, so much harm to the people not only of our country but to the world. And it showed that anyone, anyone who attacks our country cannot hide, because we will never tire or give up, and we'll hunt them and find them until we bring them to justice and justice has been done.

Senator Birdwell:  Thank you, Mr. President. Let me thank my fellow Members for your kind remarks, Senator Fraser, Senator Hinojosa, Senator Patrick. Last night I was doing my due diligence at about 10:30 and going through a bill book and trying to get caught up on my duties that I now have, and got a call from my chief of staff, said, turn the TV on. And that's the same way September 11th started out for my wife, Mel. There's so many things that are on my mind that I don't want to take the body's entire day here, but, Senator Fraser, you mentioned how personal it is, and that's true, it is. Not so much for me and the experience that I went through, but I think about Cheryle and Sandi and being the last person to speak to them before I stepped out, and their families and what they're feeling today, and Antoinette's family, that put their arms around Mel in the hospital waiting room, particularly when their daughter died a few days after the attack, and what was going through the other families' minds as the first survivor fell, and how many more would fall. The nature of how personal this struggle is for those that have served our nation, I think about Merlin German. Merlin was a 97 percent total body burn. He spent three years and two months in Brooke Army Medical Center's hospital before he passed away, and he passed away on his 143rd trip to the operating room. That delineates the capacity for sacrifice and suffering that is bred in the American spirit. Senator Hinojosa, you mentioned about justice, and same with Senator Patrick, Senator Fraser. And the best way to embody that difference is, as I was watching the events unfold last night and seeing Americans around the White House and at Times Square and other places and their jubilation. There's a seminal difference between the jubilation that the Americans were feeling last night and this morning from the jubilation I saw in streets in the Middle East and the tapes I saw after September 11th of the cheering crowds that the Towers had fallen and the Pentagon was burning, and that's that we had done justice to a murderer who deserved the death he got, and we were celebrating that justice was being done rather than our enemies celebrating the slaughter of innocent life. And that difference is what separates us from so many other nations out there in the world. What we celebrate and what we cherish makes us uniquely special here in the United States. Most of all, I would answer some of the questions about, is this going to bring greater retaliation? I could spend time getting into the school of advanced military studies analysis and stuff that would bore you and I don't mean to, but that's the wrong question. The question isn't whether we as a nation are making our enemies mad. The question is, what are we doing as a nation to make sure that our enemies learn never to make us mad? And last night's operation answered that question. I take great pride in having the honor to have joined you here on the floor of the State Senate to address the issues associated with our state and the challenges that face us. And I appreciate you taking this moment of pause to remember not just the events of that day, remember not just those that continue to serve, but what it means to have the defining character of an American. Thank you, Members. Thank you, Mr. President.

(Applause)

Senator West:  Senator Birdwell, thank you very much for your service. On behalf of all us in here, Democrats, Republicans, thank you very much for your service. And I would ask you at this point, if you don't mind, would you lead all of us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Old Glory is behind that post, Mr. President, can we move Old Glory out and put it in front of us all? And if you don't mind, would you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, Sir?

Senator Birdwell:  Thank you, Senator West. I would be honored to do so. Would those in the gallery please rise and those on the floor please rise. Please join me.

ALL:  I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Senator Gallegos:  I wanted to add my two cents in, and I was looking for Colonel Birdwell, but I don't see him. But I just wanted everybody to remember, not only have, what transpired last night, but, then what was said on the floor, the over 400 firefighters that got killed in, you know, that day. Colonel Birdwell, when I woke up that morning and watched TV and saw what was happening, as a former firefighter I knew that the first responders, what their job was, the standard operating procedure all over this country, and I, and the first responders it's, obviously, their job to search and rescue. And there's no doubt that I knew that they were going up and watching everybody go down and helping everybody. So I knew what, obviously, their fate was going to be. And I just wanted to, Colonel Birdwell and others here on the floor, I wanted you to know that when I saw some of the firefighters last night on the television coverage that was, especially in New York, obviously, the New York City firefighters, that we remember them also and everybody else that gave their lives and those that lost their lives in that terrible incident that happened back then. Thank you.