Patriot Day: Fact Sheet
Updated September 3, 2021
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
R44178
Patriot Day: Fact Sheet
n 2001, P.L. 107-89 designated September 11 as Patriot Day to honor the individuals who lost
their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001.
I The law asks the President to issue an annual Proclamation for Patriot Day that directs the
U.S. flag be flown at half-staff and a moment of silence be observed.
The terrorist attacks, which claimed nearly 3,000 lives, involved four civilian airplanes hijacked
by 19 members of the Al Qaeda terrorist network. The first two airplanes were crashed into the
twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. The third plane struck the Pentagon.
The fourth crashed in southwestern Pennsylvania (near Shanksvil e) after passengers tried to take
control of the aircraft.
Patriot Day is not a federal holiday.
In 2009, P.L. 111-13 also designated September 11 as the “National Day of Service and
Remembrance.”
This fact sheet is designed to assist congressional offices with work related to Patriot Day
observances. It contains links to CRS products, sample speeches and remarks from
the Congressional Record, presidential proclamations, and selected historical resources.
Legislation
P.L. 107-89. Amending Title 36, United States Code, to designate September 11 as Patriot Day,
December 18, 2001
P.L. 111-13. Serve America Act, April 21, 2009
CRS Reports and Products
CRS In Focus IF10227, The September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks: Reauthorization of Health and
Injury Compensation Programs, by Sarah A. Lister
CRS Report RL34726, In Re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001: Claims Against Saudi
Defendants Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), by Jennifer K. Elsea
CRS Report R45969, The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), by Scott D.
Szymendera
Sample Congressional Speeches and Recognitions
Members of Congress may make floor statements, issue press releases, or enter Extensions of
Remarks into the Congressional Record to recognize Patriot Day. The following are some recent
examples that may be of assistance in preparing such statements:
Representative Elissa Slotkin, “Slotkin Statement on Anniversary of September 11th Attacks,”
press release on Representative Slotkin’s website (September 11, 2020)
Representative Glenn Thompson, “Commemorating the 18th Anniversary of the September 11
Attacks,” remarks in the House, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol.165 (September 11,
2019), pp. H7599-H7600
Representative Kevin Yoder, “Remembering and Honoring Victims of September 11, 2001
Attacks,” remarks in the House, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 164 (September 6,
2018), pp. H7881-H7882
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Patriot Day: Fact Sheet
Senator Charles Schumer, “Remembering September 11,” remarks in the Senate, Congressional
Record, daily edition, vol. 163 (September 11, 2017), p. S5086
Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen, “15th Anniversary of September 11, 2001,” remarks in the
House, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 162 (September 8, 2016), p. H5205
Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, “In Remembrance of the 14th Anniversary of September 11,
2001,” Extension of Remarks, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 161 (September 11,
2015), pp. E1272-E1274
Senator Richard Durbin, “Remembering 9/11,” remarks in the Senate, Congressional Record,
daily edition, vol. 160 (September 11, 2014), pp. S5552-S5553
Senator Mitch McConnel , “Remembering 9/11,” remarks in the Senate, Congressional Record,
daily edition, vol. 159 (September 11, 2013), pp. S6338-S6339
Representative Ted Poe, “9-11-01—11 Years,” remarks in the House, Congressional Record,
daily edition, vol. 158 (September 11, 2012), p. H5769
Representative Rush Holt, “Remembering 9/11,” Extension of Remarks, Congressional Record,
daily edition, vol. 158 (September 11, 2012), p. E1480
Representative Joe Heck, “Reflections on September 11,” remarks in the House, Congressional
Record, daily edition, vol. 157 (September 9, 2011), pp. H6037-H6040
Presidential Proclamations
Some recent proclamations commemorating Patriot Day from the Compilation of Presidential
Documents include the following:
Presidential Proclamations—Donald J. Trump
Presidential Proclamations—Barack H. Obama (2009-2016)
Presidential Proclamations—George W. Bush (2002-2008)
Historical Resources
Resources that provide information on the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks include the
following:
Commemorative Joint Meeting of the Congress of the United States: In Remembrance of the
Victims and Heroes of September 11, 2001, held on September 6, 2002 (House Document No.
107-285). Pages 305-313 list the names of the victims of the terrorist attacks.
The 9/11 Commission Report—the report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon
the United States, an independent, bipartisan commission created to prepare a complete account
of the circumstances surrounding the terrorist attacks.
Important speeches commemorating 9/11
Bearing Witness to History—Descriptions of objects in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of
American History collection that document and preserve the material record of the attacks. The
objects include scanned images of newspaper and magazine covers reporting on the events. The
site also includes stories of the curators who collect and maintain the objects.
September 11 Digital Archive—the archive uses electronic media to collect, preserve, and present
the history of September 11, 2001, and its aftermath. It includes Frequently Asked Questions.
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Patriot Day: Fact Sheet
Memorials
9/11 Memorial & Museum
The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial
Flight 93 National Memorial
9/11 Memorials by State and 9/11 Memorials by Country (maintained by VOICES of September
11). (CRS has not determined if this list is comprehensive.)
Author Information
Audrey Celeste Crane-Hirsch
Reference Librarian
Disclaimer
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shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and
under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should n ot be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
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