Congress makes NY pilgrimage

Dick Cheney praised the courage of New Yorkers

Hundreds of US politicians have taken part in a special joint session of Congress at Federal Hall in New York, to mark the anniversary of the 11 September attacks.

It is only the second occasion in modern times that Congress has met outside Washington.

Vice-President Dick Cheney joined House Speaker Dennis Hastert in presiding over the session, held in honour of more than 2,800 people who were killed when two planes were flown into the World Trade Center.

From this city's one day of horror - out of all the loss and sorrow - has come a strength... which binds us together for the mighty work that lies ahead

Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott

"One year ago, New York and New Yorkers distinguished themselves with their valour, generosity and grace," Mr Cheney said.

Although largely symbolic, many senators said the trip was a necessary statement of support for the city and its people as the 11 September anniversary approaches.

"From this city's one day of horror - out of all the loss and sorrow - has come a strength, a resolve, a determination, which from Manhattan to Mississippi, now binds us together for the mighty work that lies ahead," said Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott.

The historical significance of the session was underlined when the Reverend Daniel Coughlin, the House chaplain, delivered the invocation with the same bible used by George Washington at his first presidential inauguration.

Federal Hall was the first home of the US Congress, where members drafted the Bill of Rights.

Wreath-laying

A train carrying more than 200 members of the House of Representatives and more than 60 members of the Senate arrived in the city at 9:30 am (1330 GMT) on Friday.

New York police, supported by additional agents who had journeyed with the politicians from Washington, ensured tight security around the hall.

The session passed a resolution affirming support for New York

When the session finished, the senators attended a lunch hosted by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and then laid a wreath at Ground Zero in memory of those who died.

A joint resolution passed by both houses of Congress earlier this year authorised the New York session in "remembrance of the victims and the heroes of September 11, 2001" and in recognition of "the courage and spirit of the city of New York".

But some lawmakers had reservations about the trip, especially given the amount of business remaining to be addressed before Congress breaks up for elections.

Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia said: "I think Congress ought to be here, working.

"There's not anything that I can do by going up there. Lord knows, there's not anything more that can be said about our sorrow."

Ceremonial costs

The message of support for New York extended to its financial recovery.

Earlier on Friday, House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

New York has been struggling with multibillion dollar budget deficits since the attacks devastated the city's financial centre.

Congress has left its Washington home just once in two centuries

The non-partisan Annenberg Foundation met a request from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to donate $1m to pay for Friday's ceremonial session.

The last time Congress was based in New York, in 1789-90, meetings were sometimes held in a tavern as members discussed pensions for Revolutionary War veterans and created the State, War and Treasury Departments.

Then there were just 29,000 people living where eight million do now, but some members still complained of dirty air and "the stench".

Congress left New York for Philadelphia in 1790 and moved to its permanent home in Washington in 1800.

It has met there ever since, bar a ceremonial session in Philadelphia in 1987 on the bicentennial of the Constitutional Convention.