WASHINGTON — Rep. Steve Chabot described terrorist attacks on the nation's financial and military targets Tuesday as a “declaration of war” that must be quickly avenged.

        “We must use every investigative and military resource at our disposal to find and bring to justice the individuals or governments responsible for these reprehensible crimes,” said Mr. Chabot, R-Ohio, a member of the House International Relations Committee.

        “This has a bigger impact than Pearl Harbor,” said Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Kentucky. “They attacked two places of the utmost importance to us, our financial center and our military center. That sends a message that it is an all-out war.”

        Mr. Bunning said the United States must aggressively pursue finding whoever planned the attacks.

        “This is an open declaration of war by the terrorists that don't like our position that we have taken on Israel and have decided to retaliate against not just the government, but the American people and the innocent people who died,” he said.

        Soon after hijacked airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon outside the capital, the top leaders in Congress were escorted to safety. Lawmakers and their staffs were asked to leave the Capitol and nearby congressional office buildings.

        Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, said it is difficult to comprehend the gravity of the damage or the death toll since the United States never has been subject to a terrorist attack of this magnitude during peacetime.

        “This is war,” Mr. DeWine said. “This is an unprovoked attacked aimed directly at the United States.

        “We're going to have to respond accordingly,” he said. “We're going to have to make it plain that we are not going to tolerate other countries harboring terrorists.”

        Rep. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, was at the White House during the first news reports of airplane crashes in New York. He was in a car on his way back to Capitol Hill when he saw smoke in the sky from the Pentagon.

        “It's a cowardly and vicious attack not only on our country but on our way of life,” the Terrace Park Republican said.

        Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, said the attacks underscored the nation's vulnerability to terrorists. The senator said the first priority was to comfort the victims and their families and then to pursue the individuals or groups responsible.

        “They are the victims of an act of war against all Americans,” he said. “We must provide the resources our country needs to guarantee that attacks like this will not happen in the future.”

        Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Congress would work with the president.

        “I'm confident President Bush will work to punish those responsible for these unconscionable acts,” said the West Chester Republican. “We will work in Congress to support the president and restore peace to the United States.”

        Rep. Ken Lucas, D-Ky., called the attacks “the worst nightmare you could imagine.

        “We will find out who did this and they shall pay,” Mr. Lucas said. “This terrible event will bring us together as Americans. We will be united and we will prevail.”

        Reporter Patrick Crowley contributed.

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