Almost 19 months ago, as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, our U.S. Customshouse at 6 World Trade Center was destroyed. Thankfully, and most importantly, none of our employees were lost that day. Ultimately, our loss of a building - although felt by all of the nearly 800 Customs employees who went to work there everyday - pales in comparison to the thousands of innocent lives lost in those attacks.

However, the destruction of our house, of our building at 6 WTC, forced us to seek alternative space so we could resume operations of the Customs Service as quickly as possible. And we did. Thanks to leaders like John Martuge and Sue Mitchell and others, within hours, the men and women of Customs were back in operation. We were scattered around the City and the New York area - and still are - but we never missed a beat.

Coincidentally, today, the Commission of Governor Kean to investigate the 9-11 terrorist attacks has its first public hearing right here at the old Customhouse.

9-11 affected all Americans, and we grieve with the families who lost loved ones in the attacks here in New York and Washington. We will never forget. And we will bring those responsible to justice.

As I think of why we are here today, I am also reminded that on the morning of 9-11, U.S. Customs went to the highest level of alert at the borders and ports of entry of our country. And on that morning, the highest priority of U.S. Customs became preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering our country.

That remains our priority mission - and now, as the new and renamed agency, Customs and Border Protection, of the Department of Homeland Security, we will be even more effective and focused on that priority mission, as well as on our traditional trade and other functions.

And so, now, today, it is with great pride that I announce our return to our prior home in lower Manhattan - the U.S. Custom House here at Bowling Green.

Before this building was built in the late 1800s, Bowling Green was the site of the original Customhouse for the Port of New York and the offices of the Collector of Customs. So, U.S. Customs was at this site going back to 1799. We - Customs - were at this site for nearly 175 years, from 1799 to 1973, when we moved to the new U.S. Customs House for New York at 6 WTC, an 8-story building just north of the North Tower.

This building - the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Customhouse at Bowling Green - was completed in 1907. It was the home of U.S. Customs in New York for 66 years, from 1907 to 1973. For a few years after that, the building remained unused and empty, and there was a danger of it being taken down. But - thankfully - efforts to preserve and restore the building prevailed.

One of the key advocates of preserving this building was Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who, sadly, passed away last Wednesday. Not only was Senator Moynihan one of the great intellects of our government, he also took a great interest in preserving buildings like this one. It was as he was walking up the stairs to this building that he asked an aide why it was that it was called "Customhouse" instead of "Customshouse." The aide contacted our Historic Preservation Officer to ask her. Some research by her revealed that the term actually dates all the way back to biblical times. We're most grateful for the efforts of Senator Moynihan and others who helped save this historic building.

This room that we're in is the Customs Collector's reception room. And that room is the ornate office of the Collector Customs for the Port of New York. It's really beautiful, isn't it? As a matter of fact, I've been thinking it might make a very nice office for the Commissioner of Customs!

Although our return here today is a poignant reminder of the tragedy of September 11th, it is also a reminder of the rebuilding and recovery efforts taking place throughout lower Manhattan.

We are committed to recreating a presence for U.S. Customs - now U.S. Customs and Border Protection - in lower Manhattan. This is the start of that effort.

In this building, Customs and Border Protection will have 8 employees, from our Office of Field Operations, and our Office of Public Affairs. Indeed, Janet Rapaport, of our Public Affairs Office in New York, is here with us today. We will also have a recruiting office here for people to get information on applying for positions with CBP.

The presence of Customs and Border Protection personnel in this building will provide the trade with a place to go in lower Manhattan to present work to Customs, and to get their questions answered. It will make it easier for members of the trade located in lower Manhattan to do business with us.

I want to thank Senator Schumer and Governor Pataki for their support of our efforts to restore operations in New York, and for being leading forces in the lower Manhattan recovery efforts.

I also want to thank the General Services Administration for their support in our efforts to regain a presence in lower Manhattan, and for their assistance in rebuilding space for us here in this building.

I would also like to recognize the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation for its support of re-development of lower Manhattan.

As we continue our efforts to regain a presence in lower Manhattan, we look forward to working with LMDC and GSA, as well as with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Let me conclude by saying this is a an important event for the trade community, it's an important event for CBP, and it's an important event for me as Commissioner. I am thrilled that we are back here in lower Manhattan, and I am committed to continuing to our efforts to reestablish a presence here.

Thank you.