Congress to Preserve 9/11 Survivor Stories for Future

Twenty-five years after September 11th, Congress wants to make sure survivors' voices are never forgotten.

Representative Tom Kean Jr. introduced the 9/11 Legacy Preservation Act this week, a bipartisan effort with Virginia Representative Don Beyer. The bill directs the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress to create an oral history program collecting video and audio recordings from people who survived the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The program would capture personal stories directly from those who were there. These recordings would join the Library of Congress archives, preserving them for students, researchers, and families for generations to come.

Kean, whose New Jersey district lost hundreds of residents on 9/11, emphasized why firsthand accounts matter. "For families across our state, that day still has a name, a face, an empty chair at the table," he said in a statement.

The congressman also introduced companion legislation to honor SEAL Team Six with a Congressional Gold Medal. That bill recognizes the special operations unit that brought Osama bin Laden to justice in 2011.

Both measures enjoy bipartisan support. Representatives from Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts joined as co-sponsors, reflecting how deeply 9/11 touched communities nationwide.

The Ripple Effect

The oral history program does more than preserve memories. It creates a living archive that future generations can access when the attacks become distant history rather than lived experience.

Students born after 2001 are now in college. In another 25 years, few survivors will remain to share their stories in person. These recordings ensure that the human experience of that day survives in the voices of those who lived it.

The initiative joins other preservation efforts already underway. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York has collected thousands of artifacts and testimonies, while the Library of Congress has documented first responder experiences.

Kean is also co-sponsoring resolutions commemorating the anniversary and recognizing New Jersey first responders. Together, these measures fulfill what he calls America's responsibility: to tell the story with honesty and ensure every generation understands what happened.

Congress is expected to consider the legislation in coming months as the nation approaches the quarter-century mark since the attacks.