Rogers: 'We will always overcome adversity'

Rep. Mike Rogers

By: U.S. REP. MIKE ROGERS, R-ALA.

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, life in America changed forever.

It was a day filled with shocking, evil acts and horrific scenes as planes struck important buildings in big and iconic cities across the northeast. Another plane was brought down by the heroic actions of its passengers in a rural Pennsylvania field.

It remains a day that stays at the forefront of my mind as I work to serve you here in Washington. As we reach the 10th anniversary of the tragedies of 9/11, I hope all of us across East Alabama and America will reflect on that devastating day, remembering the families of the almost 3,000 lives lost that day at the Twin Towers in lower Manhattan, that rural field in Pennsylvania and the Pentagon in our nation's capital.

I hope we all remember the swelling pride for the U.S.A. that was evident across the country.  American flags dotted every downtown and every front porch. Since those attacks on United States soil, strengthening our national security has remained a top priority for America.

The Department of Homeland Security was formed after the 9/11 attacks and the experience of traveling — particularly by airplane — has changed significantly. The debate continues today on what exactly should be the screening process for air passengers and what kinds of intelligence are Transportation Security Administration officials looking for as they screen the public.

In 2005, I joined the House Homeland Security Committee. Today, as the chairman of the Transportation Security subcommittee, my focus remains on increasing the security of our traveling public and working to ensure that commerce moves as freely and safely as possible in the air, on trucks and buses, in pipelines and on our railroads. In these uncertain economic times, we must not lose our focus on keeping our nation safe from those who wish us harm.

Our country has gone through many challenges over the past decade, but just as the American people have proved in decades past, we are a resilient people and resilient country, and we will always overcome adversity. A decade later, let's continue to pray for our country and honor the innocent Americans who lost their lives in the attacks on Sept. 11. Let's also continue to pray for Americans serving overseas in uniform, and for their safe and speedy return home.

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, represents Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.