Schmidt recalls the lessons of 9/11 on the 25th anniversary of the disaster

Friday marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 hijackings, the destruction of the World Trade Centers in New York City and downing of a jetliner in rural Pennsylvania.

On Friday morning, Kansas 2nd District Congressman Derek Schmidt was a guest on the KZRG Morning Newswatch.

Derek Schmidt said the day marks a quarter century of lasting shock and security lessons about the risks of forgetting the dangers of history.

“All of us who are old enough to have lived through it have the day seared in our minds,” Schmidt said.

He said for most Americans who were adults or older children at the time, the day is crystal clear.

”I remember exactly where I was. I remember who I was with. I remember how it felt when the news first came through,” Schmidt said. “I remember the weather and how clear it was that day.  I remember the shock that everybody felt especially when we realized this wasn't just a random accident, but an attack on America's homeland.”

Schmidt emphasized the enduring impact of the day and its significance for national security.  But he warned younger generations about the risk of forgetting history

“The old expression, those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it, I think is apt here at the end of the day,” Schmidt said. 

“This was an attack by radical Islamic terrorists who were bent on killing Americans and continuing a clash with Western civilization that has deep roots in world history.  Those who think that is just history that will not happen, cannot happen again, are just mistaken.”

Schmidt said for the nation, it was a learning experience.

“We recall what that meant and the decisions we made subsequent to that, many of which were correct, some of which in hindsight should have been different. It all helps us be sure we keep the country safe and that we don't make ourselves vulnerable in that way again.’

Congressman Schmidt also talked about the current state of the beef market. He said that President Trump’s 90-day beef import plan is little more than a short-term fix.

“I think the current import plan is ill advised and we've told the administration that,” Schmidt said. “I understand their motivation, which is to try to get beef prices down at the food counter and that is an admirable goal but this isn't going to accomplish that.”

“This sort of short term government intervention is an effort to manipulate market prices.  It almost never works.  When government tries to set prices in the marketplace, it is never a good idea.”

Schmidt also said he opposes a $5,000 “Trump dividend” check, citing the national debt exceeding $40 trillion and the risk of further expanding government spending.