Senate Passes Legislation to Honor Victims of 9/11 Introduced by Sens. Casey and Toomey

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Fallen Heroes of 9/11 Act last night. The bill, introduced by U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Pat Toomey (R-PA), honors victims of 9/11 by authorizing the President to award Congressional Medals to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York and the Pentagon Memorial in Virginia. 

“We must never forget the sacrifice of the victims of the September 11 attack on the United States,” Senator Casey said. “This measure will appropriately honor their bravery and serve as a reminder to us all of their valor and heroism.” 

“The events of Sept. 11 forever changed our nation, and we should honor and remember those affected by that day. These congressional medals will pay tribute to these fallen heroes and remind the American people of their tremendous sacrifices,” Senator Toomey said.

Gordon Felt, President of Families of Flight 93, said, “The Flight 93 families are deeply thankful to Senators Casey and Toomey for their outstanding work in ensuring Senate passage of the Fallen Heroes of 9/11 Act. They have been hardworking champions of this legislation who understood the importance to us of providing Congressional Gold Medals for the three memorial sites to honor the 40 fallen heroes of Flight 93 and all those who lost their lives on September 11^th, 2001. We are tremendously grateful to the Senate for their overwhelming support and to both houses of Congress for quickly moving this legislation before they recess for the year.  It is a wonderful gift in memory of our loved ones’ lives and actions.”

Under the legislation, the design of each medal shall appropriately honor the passengers and crew aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which was brought down in rural Pennsylvania near Shanksville in Somerset County; those who lost their lives in the World Trade Center, including civilians, public safety officers, emergency workers and the passengers and crew of American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175; and those who lost their lives at the Pentagon, including the passengers and crew of American Airlines Flight 77.

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