[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced a resolution in the United States Senate calling for the declassification of all remaining documents relating to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks upon the United States. Tens of thousands of pages of documents from the Department of Justice and other agencies relating to the September 11 attacks currently remain classified even though their contents are critical for a full public understanding of these attacks and could reveal unknown connections between terrorists and foreign nations.

“America was attacked on 9/11, and it changed our country forever. Too many families in Connecticut had a loved one taken from them that day, and experienced pain and loss that no one should ever have to face. We’re introducing this resolution because those families deserve every answer we can give them,” Murphy said.

“We must hold accountable any and all foreign governments who aided and abetted the heinous 9/11 terror attacks. This bipartisan effort is about justice and truth—finally granting the families of 9/11 victims access to evidence they need to have their fair day in court,” Blumenthal said. “It is my hope that the government will yield to the moral force and political pressure this resolution embodies— declassifying and releasing thousands of documents that have been shrouded in secrecy for 17 years. Any reason for secrecy has long passed for the sources and methods involved in most of this evidence, and there is profound national interest in supporting these courageous families and deterring future attacks.” said Blumenthal

“Americans—New Yorkers—have been waiting long enough for thousands of pages of 9/11 documents to be declassified by the federal government. Keeping these documents under lock and key is a disservice to the families of so many brave and innocent men and women who lost their lives on that horrific day. Today’s push rightfully demands that these remaining documents be released once and for all,” said Schumer.

“Nearly 17 years have gone by since our country was attacked on September 11th, 2001, but the families of 9/11 victims are still being kept in the dark about many of the details surrounding the attacks,” said Gillibrand. “These families deserve transparency and answers from their government, and that’s why I am proud to support this resolution to declassify all of the remaining documents to the greatest extent possible related to the 9/11 attacks. I urge my colleagues to support this effort, and I will continue to do everything I can in the Senate to honor the victims of 9/11 and their families.” said Blumenthal 

“As the Senator from the state with the second most victims on September 11th, 2001, I have and will always support victims of terrorism in their pursuit of justice,” said Menendez. “Seventeen years after the attacks, we still have a profound moral obligation to help survivors and the families of victims seeking to hold accountable the perpetrators of the worst terrorist attacks in U.S. history. I am proud to join my colleagues in this effort to appropriately declassify all remaining 9/11 documents to ensure we remain unwavering in our pledge to never forget that fateful day that changed the world.” said Blumenthal 

The full text of the resolution is available here and copied below.

Urging the release of information regarding the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks upon the United States.

Whereas tens of thousands of pages of documents relating to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks upon the United States remain classified by the Federal Government;

Whereas the contents of these documents are necessary for a full public understanding of the events and circumstances surrounding the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks;

Whereas the decision to maintain the classified status of many of these documents prevents the people of the United States from having access to information about the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, including the involvement of certain foreign governments in the attacks; and

Whereas the people of the United States and the families of the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks deserve full and public disclosure of the events surrounding the attacks: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that—

(1) documents related to the events of September 11, 2001, should be declassified to the greatest extent possible; and

(2) the survivors, the families of the victims, and the people of the United States deserve answers about the events and circumstances surrounding the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks upon the United States.

 

-30-