What happened?

More than 200 members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats together, are backing a resolution to mark 25 years since the September 11 attacks killed 2,977 people.

House Resolution 1511 honors the victims, recognizes the first responders and service members who answered the call after the attacks, and reaffirms that the United States will never forget that day. The measure was introduced by Rep. Andrew Garbarino, a Republican from New York, and has drawn 114 Democratic cosponsors and 104 Republican cosponsors.

Why Does it Matter to Me?

The September 11 attacks touched nearly every American family, directly or indirectly. Thousands of first responders and people who lived or worked near Ground Zero in lower Manhattan were exposed to toxic dust and debris when the towers fell, and many are still dealing with health consequences today.

The Never Forget the Heroes Act, signed into law in July 2019, fully funded the Victim Compensation Fund to cover all eligible claims from those harmed by the attacks.

Both sides, now

There is no meaningful opposition on record. The resolution draws support from across the political spectrum, with prominent names from both parties signing on. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, is a cosponsor. So are Rep. Daniel Goldman, a New York Democrat, and Rep. Michael Lawler, a New York Republican.

The measure is symbolic, not a spending bill, which makes broad agreement easier to reach. Congress has no vote scheduled on it yet. The resolution is still awaiting action in committee, meaning House leadership would need to bring it to the floor before any vote can happen.

The House Intelligence Committee has been working on related ground. Led by Rep. Elise Stefanik, the committee held a hearing in July as part of a year-long review of the 9/11 Commission Report's recommendations, examining threats that have emerged in the 25 years since the attacks.

What happens next?

The resolution must clear a House committee before it can get a full floor vote. No hearing or markup date has been announced. Supporters may push for a vote before the September 11 anniversary passes.

---

Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article