TURNER STATEMENT ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS

TRENTON – Today, Senator Shirley K. Turner, D-Mercer, issued the following statement on the seventh anniversary of the September 11 attacks, in which nearly 3,000 civilian lives were lost when terrorists flew hijacked planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A fourth plane was brought down by passengers in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania:

“My heart goes out to the many families around the Garden State who today mourn the loss of loved ones who died during the shocking and tragic September 11 attacks, as well as those families who are dealing with the health consequences due to subsequent exposure to Ground Zero.

REDD STATEMENT ON ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS

CAMDEN – State Senator Dana Redd, D-Camden and Gloucester, issued the following statement regarding the seventh anniversary of the September 11 attacks, in which terrorists flew hijacked planes into the World Trade Center and Pentagon. A fourth plane was brought down by passengers near Shanksville, Pennsylvania before it could reach its target:

“Today, families across America will mourn the single largest attack on American soil in history. September 11, 2001 was a shock to so many of us who could never imagine such a devastating attack on our friends, family members, neighbors and fellow Americans.

SARLO STATEMENT ON ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS

WOOD-RIDGE – Senator Paul A. Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic, issued the following statement regarding the seventh anniversary of the September 11 attacks, in which terrorists hijacked planes and used them to attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A fourth plane crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers rushed the cockpit in order to thwart the terrorists’ plans:

“Seven years ago, the world we knew changed dramatically. The myth of American invulnerability was shattered when our enemies from across the globe launched a deadly assault on American soil. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the September 11 attacks, with thousands more injured.

Proposes Bill to Prohibit Terror Regimes Access to Port Authority Property

Reacting to media reports that the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran intended to lay a wreath at the World Trade Center site next week, Senator Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen) has directed that legislation be drafted to direct the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to establish protocols that would prohibit authority property or facilities from being accessed by any representative of a government that is on the United States State Department list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.

MEASURE URGING WORLD TRADE CENTER INSURERS TO SETTLE CLAIMS RECEIVES FINAL APPROVAL
Implores Insurers of World Trade Center to Settle Insurance Claims From Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001

(TRENTON) - The General Assembly today passed legislation Assemblyman Mike Panter and Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman sponsored strongly urging the insurers of the World Trade Center to fairly and expeditiously settle claims related to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

DORIA-GILL BILL URGING INSURERS TO SETTLE WTC CLAIMS APPROVED

TRENTON - A resolution sponsored by Senators Joseph V. Doria and Nia H. Gill which would urge the insurance industry to quickly and fairly settle any outstanding insurance claims stemming from the World Trade Center terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 was approved today by the Senate by a vote of 36-0.

"September 11, 2001 changed the world as we know it, and we're still feeling the impact more than five years after the despicable attacks occurred," said Senator Doria, D-Hudson. "As a resident and mayor of a city overlooking the New York skyline, we're reminded every day of what was taken from us on that fateful date - not just in terms of a recognizable landmark, but also the thousands of lives lost to terrorism. While I don't think America will ever fully heal from the September 11 terrorist attacks, we're beginning to pick up the pieces, and move on in this new world."

"The insurance industry knows the price we paid for freedom on September 11, having lost so many who worked in the World Trade Center," said Senator Gill, D-Essex and Passaic, the Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee. "However, even in grief, America's spirit is resilient, and we want to return to some sense of normalcy. While insurance claims for the World Trade Center property remain unresolved, we cannot move ahead with the healing process."

DORIA-GILL BILL URGES INSURERS TO SETTLE WORLD TRADE CENTER CLAIMS

TRENTON - A resolution sponsored by Senators Joseph V. Doria and Nia H. Gill which would urge the insurance industry to quickly and fairly settle any outstanding insurance claims stemming from the World Trade Center terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 was approved today by the Senate Commerce Committee by a vote of 4-0.

"While I understand that the September 11 terrorist attacks were a traumatic, unforeseen, world-changing event, Americans are trying to pick up the pieces and adapt to our new world," said Senator Doria, D-Hudson. "In Bayonne, where I serve as Mayor, we never could have imagined a New York skyline without the Twin Towers. More than five years later, the tragedy isn't lessened one bit, but the people of the region are resilient, and we need to return to whatever sense of normalcy can be achieved."

"The insurance industry was impacted by the events of September 11, but so was the rest of the nation," said Senator Gill, D-Essex and Passaic, the Chair of the Commerce Committee. "My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones in the horrific terrorist attacks, and it is totally unacceptable to subject the families to an extended delay in uncertainty of whether their insurance providers will settle claims. We can never bring closure, but we can ensure that insurance companies live up to their commitments."

DORIA-SACCO BILL TO EXTEND WTC SCHOLARSHIP TO SURVIVING FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO DIED BECAUSE OF EXPOSURE TO SITE SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON - A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph V. Doria and Nicholas J. Sacco to extend eligibility for the New Jersey World Trade Center Scholarship Program to the children and spouses of those who died due to exposure to the attack site was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.

"The signing of this bill sends the message that we stand firmly behind the brave men and women who lost their lives in rescue efforts following the attacks on September 11," said Senator Doria, D-Hudson. "Despite the dangers, New Jersey's first responders answered the call, heading across the river into a war zone of twisted steel, fire and debris, where even breathing the air was toxic - a fact that we unfortunately didn't know until it was too late. For the surviving family members of those who lost their lives to help save others, we have a moral obligation to help, and I'm glad the State of New Jersey is willing to meet that obligation."

ASSEMBLY PANEL OK'S MEASURE URGING WORLD TRADE CENTER INSURERS TO SETTLE CLAIMS
Implores Insurers of World Trade Center to Settle Insurance Claims from Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee today released legislation Assemblyman Mike Panter and Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman sponsored strongly urging the insurers of the World Trade Center to fairly and expeditiously settle claims related to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

MEASURE TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR KIN OF RESPONDERS
WHO DIE FROM 9/11-RELATED ILLNESSES BECOMES LAW

(TRENTON) -- Legislation Assembly members Pamela R. Lampitt, Fred Scalera, Mike Panter, and Patrick J. Diegnan sponsored to provide college scholarships to surviving family members of New Jerseyans who die from illnesses caused by exposure to the 9/11 terrorist attack sites has been signed into law by Governor Jon S. Corzine.