Schumer Floor Remarks on the Act of Terror in New York
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today delivered remarks on the Senate floor regarding the recent act of terror that killed 8 and injured at least 11 in New York City. Below are his remarks:
I rise this morning with a heavy heart. A city – my dear city of New York - no stranger to terrorism was once again its victim yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon, a man deliberately drove a rented truck into groups of pedestrians and cyclists, killing 8 and injuring about a dozen more. Some of the injured were schoolchildren. These people were biking or walking home; enjoying a brisk and beautiful autumn day. It’s just tragic – it leaves a hole in your stomach.
Our hearts go out to the victims and their families and we wish all the injured a full and speedy recovery. We are also grateful – deeply grateful – to the NYPD and the first responders, especially Officer Ryan Nash, 29 years old, who was the first on the scene. He reacted quickly and decisively to bring down the attacker and bring him into custody. Who knows how much worse the tragedy would have been without his actions.
As one of the thousands of New Yorkers who regularly ride on the path where this attack took place -- in the last month I’ve ridden on it twice -- it hits close to home. My daughter went to the school near the scene, Stuyvesant High School, and she used the bike path I-don’t-know-how-many times. This is our territory. Our home.
These attacks are meant to confuse and terrorize. But as the world learned after 9-11, and will learn again: New York doesn’t scare easy. New Yorkers are resilient. We will bounce back. We won’t let these terrorists get their way or affect our way of life—we will never let terror prevail.
And true to form -- something that made my heart swell with pride -- the New York City Halloween parade marched on last night. Thousands of school kids went right into Stuyvesant today. The terrorists cannot stop us. They cannot change our way of life. We love New York, we love America. That bond holds us together.
Now, Mr. President, I’ve seen the tweets.
After September the 11th, one of the first things that President Bush did was invite Senator Clinton and me to the White House, where he pledged to do whatever was in his power to help our city. President Bush, in a moment of national tragedy, understood the meaning of his high office and sought to bring our country together.
President Trump, where is your leadership?
The contrast between President Bush’s actions after 9-11 and President Trump’s actions this morning could not be starker. Again, President Trump, where is your leadership?
I’d say in closing: I have always believed that immigration is good for America, I believe it today. President Trump, instead of politicizing and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy, should be bringing us together and focusing on the real solution – anti-terrorism funding – which he proposed to cut in his most recent budget.
I’m calling on President Trump to rescind his proposed cuts to this vital anti-terrorism funding immediately.
Our city relies on this funding to track potential terrorists and snuff out attacks. The NYPD, who bravely and quickly responded to the scene yesterday and brought the mayhem to an end, depends on this anti-terrorism funding to keep our city safe, day-in and day-out.
So, again, I’m calling on the President to rescind his proposed cuts to this vital anti-terrorism funding immediately. Instead of dividing, instead of politicizing, do something real Mr. President. Restore these funds. Now.
