[silence] [silence] majority leader . Today we open the session with a moment of silence. We remember all those lost 16 years ago on september 11th, 2001. The day that changed our nation in profound ways. It wrenched our hearts with grief and opened our eyes from afar but it could neither extinguish what unites us or the common humanity that defines us as a nation. It could not stop First Responders to rushing in and stop americans from donating to strangers in need or volunteering their time to help. It could not stop the people of our country from being who they are. Kind, caring, passionate. It is the same spirit we see again in response to hurricane harvey. Same spirit that is giving hope to those in the path of Hurricane Irma. Although the full extent of irmas impact will not be known for some time but it is clear it is causing widespread damage and a massive undertaking. Our thoughts are with those in the areas affected by irma. We are again prepared to play our role in recovery and put a critical down payment on Disaster Relief and if more assistance is required because of irma we are ready to do what is needed. What is most important is the knowledge of our American People and First Responders will be there to reach out to do whatever a needed to help. That is especially true on a day like today. We will never forget the thousands of innocent lives taken from us 16 years ago. We will never forget the heroism our First Responders and compassion of your neighbors or forget the thousands of men and women who stood guard to protect us every day since. Our Service Members voluntarily put their liebz line on the line to protect us and we must keep our commitment to them. Today we begin to debate on the National Defense authorization act. The bill that allows congress to authorize resources, capabilities and pay benefits that our men and women in uniform need to perform their mission. Congress has acted every year to fulfill the responsibility by passing the Defense Authorization bill. We will have our opportunity to do so again this week. This will signal us with more that need to be successful all across the global. After years of failed policy this year will make strides toward keeping america safer and do so by rebuilding the military and invest in modernation and restore readiness by restoring Missile Defense and responding to sovereignty threats and by revising group morale with a pay increase they deserve and continued to perform for the benefits they and their families rely on. I think it is fair to say no senator understand the importance of this legislation quite like senator mccain, the chairman of the Armed Services committee. His commitment to our nations heroes is unveiling which is why he returned to the sen ate and s we begin considering this bipartisan Defense Authorization, members from both sides have and ultimately we will work foofind consensus so we can pass this critical legislation without further delay. Mr. President. Democratic leader. 16 years ago today my city, our country, changed forever. On september 11th, 2001 our country was attacked, World Trade Center towers fell, and a smoke rising from an empty field in pennsylvania reminds us that as catechismic as the attack was the con spespirators had greate destruction planned. Husbands calling wives and wives calling their husbands and folks in search of brothers and sisters and neighbors and colleagues and we will never forget the next day, mr. President. President bush provided planes so senator clinton and i could fly back to new york. Lined up outside before you enter the grounds where the twin towers were were hundreds of People Holding signs with pictures. Have you seen my father jim . Have you seen my daughter mary . That stays with me forever. More than 3,000 souls were taken with us. A guy i played basketball with in high school. A business man who helped me on my way up. A firefighter who i did blood drives with. It was one of the bloodiest days in american since the civil war. I called on americans to wear the flag as a sign of solidarity. I have worn this flag every day since in rembrance of those who were lost. Those brave souls who tried to rush to the towers to find those who still might be alive. God willing i will wear it every day of my life for the rest of my life. September 11th was one of those before and after moments. Nothing was the same since. We were awakened to a new manner of evil that had previously been beyond our imagination. But on this day we solemnly remember what was taken from us and lets remember what they day revealed about us. Three days after the attack we val valued heroism because it was everywhere. Police and Union Workers searched undaunted in dust and smoke, through fire and ash for citizens who might still be alive trapped in the rubble. Average americans pulled the wounded to safety. Folks from coast to fauxes lined up for blood drives and pulled their money for donations. I will never forget the picture of the man who owned the shoe store two blocks north of the tower was giving out shoes to everybody because they had rushed to get out of the tower and didnt have any. Just a small act of charity and selflessness repeated over and over again because those acts are deep in the american soul. Mr. President , this morning i came from the 9 11 memorial in new york city where once there were mighty tours and now there are two deep scars in the earth. Allaround the memorial new york is alive and thriving and the days after they wrote it off and said no one will live south of canal or chambers street. Companies will flee and new yorks greatest days are over. But we new yorkers are a tough breed. We rebuilt. Came back stronger. On this day we should always remember that beside our distinctive spirit of independence, resilience and uncommon heroism are also essential parts of the american character. I do have to say how proud i am of my city. Downtown is bustling. 50,000 people live there who didnt live there before. It is a new inarea. Businesses relocated. Bin laden is gone and the evil men with him are gone. We thrive. God bless america. On irma, as Hurricane Irma continues to bucket florida our thoughts and prayers are with the people of florida. I and the Democratic Caucus stand ready to work with the majority leader and hisco caucu to provide them with the resources they need just as we were able to speedily pass an aid package after harvey i expect we will come together to support and rescue Recovery Efforts in light of irma and other disasters particularly the fires out west. On ndaa, finally mr. President , this week we will begin consideration of the National Defense authorization act as we do each year. There are hundreds of amendments that have been filled. A lot of issues to consider. We democrats want to work in a constructive and productive manner to process as many of these amendments as possible and work through even the most difficult of issues. I know chairman mccain and Ranking Member reed have an excellent working relationship and a great deal of respect for one another. I hope they can build a strong management package that is acceptable to both sides. I yield the floor and note the absence of a quorum. We will continue our special honoring those lost on september 11th, 2001 in just a moment. But first a look at tomorrow on the cspan networks. The Foreign Affairs committee looks at the options in managing the increasing intention with north korea. We will be there live on cspan 3 and online and streaming on the free radio app. And across the capitol the Senate Health labor and Pension Committee will be looking at ways to increase state flexibility in the individual Health Insurance market. Live coverage begins at 10 00 a. M. Eastern online at cspan. Org. In new york city sit a ceremony was held at the 911 memorial on the 16th anniversary. The ceremony included reading the names of each victim on the World Trade Center, pentagon and flight 93. This runs about three and half hours