On Friday, September 6th the U.S. Congress held an historic special session in the city that was the first capital of our new nation - New York. It was an idea first proposed on the editorial page of the New York Daily News and then enthusiastically and successfully championed by the dean of New York's Congressional delegation, Charles Rangel.

It was the first time in more than 200 years that Congress met in New York City. Their visit here sent a strong message to the rest of the nation and to our allies and our enemies: the spirit of this City, and the spirit of this country, remain unshaken. We are as united today as we were when the first Congress met in Lower Manhattan in 1789-because our commitment to freedom has never been stronger.

After September 11th, the entire nation-including President Bush and both houses of Congress-stood by New York in our darkest hour. In a tremendous bi-partisan show of support, the federal government approved more than $21 billion in emergency assistance to New York City. Those funds have been instrumental in New York's recovery from September 11th attack. They have helped us accomplish the unprecedented clean up of the World Trade Center site, rebuild our infrastructure, and encourage the ongoing commercial and residential revival of Lower Manhattan.

For New Yorkers, hosting this special session of Congress was a chance to say "thank you" for that assistance and to report on the tremendous progress it has permitted us to make. It was also an opportunity to say "thank you" to the people of America, through their Senators and Representatives, for the tremendous outpouring of support that has flooded New York during the last year.

Ordinary Americans responded to September 11th as if their own communities had been attacked. They sent aid in the form of food, equipment and volunteers, and also gave New York City emotional and moral support beyond value. Friday's hosting of Congress was a way for New York to say that we know America was there for us when we needed them-and that we'll be there for the rest of America if it needs us.

In helping New York, Americans showed the world their basic goodness. They also showed that they understand the true meaning of September 11th. Our nation is founded on a set of beliefs: the right to express your opinion… the right to worship God in your own way… the right to live free of fear. The attack on the World Trade Center was an attack on those freedoms. And Americans will never - ever-permit our liberties to be destroyed.

President Bush has rightly said that our nation is engaged in a battle between fear and freedom. By convening in New York, Congress demonstrated to all New Yorkers, and to the entire world, that fear can never prevail as long as freedom is strong.