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REMARKS BY THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC
LEADER IN ANTI POLICY.
LIVE COVERAGE HERE ON C-SPAN.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.]
THE HOUSE WILL BE
IN ORDER.
THE PRAYER WILL BE OFFERED BY
OUR CHAPLAIN, FATHER COUGHLIN.
CHAPLAIN COUGHLIN: WITH THE SON
NATION.
COME LET US BLESS THE LORD AT
ALL TIMES.
THAT PRAISE ALWAYS BE ON OUR
LIPS.
IF THE LORD IS YOUR BOAST, BE
HUMBLE, LISTEN AND BE MOVED.
GLORIFY THE LORD WITH ME.
TOGETHER LET US REVERENCE THE
HOLY NAME.
WHEN IN DIFFICULTY WE LOOK FOR
THE LORD, THEN FROM ALL OUR
TERRORS WE WERE SET FREE.
WHEN MOST VULNERABLE WE CALLED
OUT TO THE LORD AND WE WERE
RESCUED FROM ALL OUR
DIFFICULTIES.
SO REV RENS THE LORD WITH ALL
THE SAINTS FOR THOSE WHO REVERE
THE LORD WILL LACK NO BLESSING.
IN THE MIDST OF EVERYTHING, LET
US SEEK THE LORD, BOTH NOW AND
FOREVER.
AMEN.
THE CHAIR HAS
EXAMINED THE JOURNAL OF THE LAST
DAY'S PROCEEDINGS AND ANNOUNCES
TO THE HOUSE HIS APPROVAL
THEREOF.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 1 OF RULE 1
THE JOURNAL STANDS APPROVED.
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE
LED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO,
MR. KUCINICH.
PLEASE JOIN THE
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AS WE RECITE
THE PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT
STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM TEXAS RISE?
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TO
OFFER A PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION
AND DID FOR ITS IMMEDIATE
CONSIDERATION.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE
RESOLUTION.
HOUSE RESOLUTION 33.
RESOLVED THAT THE FOLLOWING
NAMED MEMBERS BE AND ARE HEREBY
ELECTED --
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE RESOLUTION BE
CONSIDERED AS READ AND PRINTED
IN THE RECORD.
OBJECTION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
RESOLUTION IS AGREED TO AND THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID ON
THE TABLE.
WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THE
RESOLUTION READ IF POSSIBLE.
OBJECTION IS HEARD.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE
RESOLUTION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN
WITHDRAWS THE OBJECTION ON THE
RESOLUTION -- AND THE RESOLUTION
IS AGREED TO.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA RISE?
MADAM SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT IT SHALL
BE IN ORDER AT ANY TIME IN THE
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JANUARY 12,
2011, TO CONSIDER IN THE HOUSE
WITHOUT INTERVENTION OF ANY
POINT OF ORDER A RESOLUTION
RELATED TO RECENT EVENTS IN
TUCSON, ARIZONA, IF OFFERED BY
THE SPEAKER OR HIS DESIGNEE.
OBJECTION.
SUCH RESOLUTION
SHALL BE DEBATABLE FOR SIX HOURS
BY THE MAJORITY LEADER AND THE
MINORITY LEADER OR THEIR
RESPECTED DESIGNEES AND THE
CONSIDERED AS ORDERED ON SUCH
RESOLUTION AND ANY PREAMBLE
THERETO FINAL ADOPTION WITHOUT
INTERVENING MOTION.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I ASK FOR THE
RESOLUTION AND ASK FOR ITS
IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION IN THE
HOUSE.
HOUSE
RESOLUTION 32.
WHEREAS ON JANUARY 8, 2011, AN
ARMED GUNMAN OPENED FIRE AT A
CONGRESS ON YOUR CORNER EVENT
HOSTED BY REPRESENTATIVE
GABRIELLE GIFFORDS OF TUCSON,
ARIZONA, KILLING SIX AND
WOUNDING AT LEAST 14 OTHERS.
WHEREAS CHRISTINA TAYLOR GREEN,
DOROTHY MORRIS, JOHN ROHL, AND
GABRIEL ZIMMERMAN LOST THEIR
LIVES IN THIS ATTACK.
WHEREAS CHRISTINA TAYLOR GREEN,
A 9-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER OF JOHN
AND ROXANNE GREEN, WAS BORN ON
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, AND WAS A
THIRD GRADER WITH AN AVID
INTEREST IN GOVERNMENT WHO WAS
RECENTLY LEBLINGTED TO THE
STUDENT COUNCIL IN MESA VERDE
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WHEREAS DOROTHY MORRIS ATTENDED
THE JANUARY 8 EVENT WITH GEORGE,
HER HUSBAND OF OVER 50 YEARS,
WITH WHOM SHE HAD TWO DAUGHTERS
AND WHO WAS ALSO CRITICALLY
INJURED AS HE TRIED TO SHIELD
HER FROM THE SHOOTING.
WHEREAS JOHN ROHL, A
PENNSYLVANIA NATIVE WHO WAS 63
YEARS OLD, BEGAN HIS
PROFESSIONAL CAREER AS A BAILIFF
IN 1972, WAS APPOINTED TO THE
FEDERAL BENCH IN 1991 AND BECAME
A CHIEF JUDGE FOR THE DISTRICT
OF ARIZONA IN 2006 AND WAS A
DEVOTED HUSBAND TO HIS WIFE,
MARIE, FATHER TO HIS THREE SONS
AND GRANDFATHER TO HIS FIVE
GRANDCHILDREN.
WHEREAS PHYLLIS, A PROUD MOTHER
OF THREE, GRANDMOTHER OF SEVEN,
A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER FROM NEW
JERSEY, WAS SPENDING THE WENTER
IN ARIZONA AND WAS A 79-YEAR-OLD
CHURCH VOLUNTEER AND A NEW YORK
GIANTS FAN.
WHEREAS DORWAN, A VOLUNTEER AT
THE MOUNTAIN AVENUE CHURCH OF
CHRIST, IS CREDITED WITH
SHIELDING HIS WIFE, A LONG-TIME
FRIEND WHOM HE MARRIED WHILE
THEY WERE IN THEIR 60'S WHO WAS
ALSO INJURED IN THE SHOOTING.
WHEREAS GABRIEL MATTHEW
ZIMMERMAN WHO WAS 30 YEARS OLD
AND ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED SERVED
AS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY
OUTREACH TO REPRESENTATIVE
GABRIELLE GIFFORDS AND WAS A
SOCIAL WORKER BEFORE SERVING
WITH REPRESENTATIVE GIFFORDS.
WHEREAS REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLE
GIFFORDS WAS THE TARGET OF THIS
ATTACK AND REMAINS IN CRITICAL
CONDITION AT THE ARIZONA
HOSPITAL.
WHEREAS 13 OTHERS WERE ALSO
WOUNDED IN THE SHOOTING,
INCLUDING RON BARBER AND PAMELA
SIMON, BOTH STAFFERERS TO
REPRESENTATIVE GIFFORDS AND
WHEREAS SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS,
INCLUDING PATRICIA MOSH, AMPLY
-- ARMY COLONEL BILL BADGER,
RETIRED, WHO WAS ALSO WOUNDED IN
THE SHOOTING, ROGER
SCHULLINGBURG, AND DANIEL
HERNANDEZ JR. HELPED APPREHEND
THE GUNMAN AND ASSIST THE
INJURED, THEREBY RISKING THEIR
LIVES FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS
AND SHALL BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR
BRAVERY.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
THAT THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, ONE, CONDEMNS
IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS
THE HORRIFIC ATTACK WHICH
OCCURRED AT THE CONGRESS ON YOUR
CORNER EVENT HOSTED BY
REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLE
GIFFORDS IN TUCSON, ARIZONA, ON
JANUARY 8, 2011.
TWO, OFFERS ITS HEARTFELT
CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES,
FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES OF THOSE
WHO WERE KILLED IN THE ATTACK.
THREE, EXPRESSES ITS HOPE FOR
THE RAPID AND COMPLETE RECOVERY
OF THOSE WOUNDED IN THE
SHOOTING.
FOUR, HONORS THE MEMORY OF
CHRISTINA TAYLOR GREEN, DOROTHY
MORRIS, JOHN ROHL, PHYLLIS,
DORWAN AND GABRIEL ZIMMERMAN.
FIVE, APPLAUDS THE BRAVERY AND
QUICK THINKING EXHIBITED BY
THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO PREVENTED
THE GUNMAN FROM POTENTIALLY
TAKING MORE LIVES AND HELPED TO
SAVE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
WOUNDED.
SIX, RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF
THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO RACED
TO THE SCENE AND THE HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONALS WHO ATTENDED TO
THE VICTIMS ONCE THEY REACHED
THE HOSPITAL.
WHOSE SERVICE AND SKILL SAVED
LIVES.
SEVEN, REAFFIRMS THE BEDROCK
PRINCIPLE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
AND REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
WHICH IS MEMORIALIZED IN THE
FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE
CONSTITUTION AND WHICH
REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLE
GIFFORDS HERSELF READ IN THE
HALL OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES ON JANUARY 6,
2011, OF THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE
PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE AND TO
PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A
REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.
EIGHT, STANDS FIRM IN ITS BELIEF
IN THE DEMOCRACY OF WHICH ALL
CAN PARTICIPATE IN WHICH
INTIMIDATION AND THREATS OF
VIOLENCE CANNOT SILENCE THE
VOICES OF ANY AMERICAN.
NINE, HONORS THE SERVICE AND
LEADERSHIP OF REPRESENTATIVE
GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, A
DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THIS
HOUSE, AS SHE COURAGEOUSLY
FIGHTS TO RECOVER AND, TEN, WHEN
ADJOURNING TODAY, SHALL DO SO
OUT OF THE RESPECT TO THE
VICTIMS OF THIS ATTACK.
PURSUANT TO THE ORDER OF THE
HOUSE TODAY, THE RESOLUTION
SHALL BE DEBATABLE FOR SIX
CONTROLLED BY THE MAJORITY
LEADER AND THE MINORITY LEADER
OR THEIR DESIGNEES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR.
CANTOR, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA, MR. PASTOR, EACH WILL
CONTROL THREE HOURS.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD ONE
MINUTE TO THE SPEAKER OF THE
HOUSE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO, THE SPEAKER
OF THE HOUSE, IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
MADAM SPEAKER, MY
COLLEAGUES TODAY, WE ARE CALLED
HERE TO MOURN.
AN UNSPEAKABLE ACT OF VIOLENCE
HAS TAKEN SIX INNOCENT LIVES AND
LEFT SEVERAL MORE, INCLUDING OUR
COLLEAGUE, GABRIELLE GIFFORDS,
BATTLING FOR THEIRS.
THESE ARE DIFFICULT HOURS FOR
OUR COUNTRY.
AMONG THE FALLEN IS GAVE
ZIMMERMAN, A MEMBER OF
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS' STAFF, A
PUBLIC SERVANT OF THE HIGHEST
CALIBER, ONE OF OUR OWN.
AND EVEN IN OUR SHOCK, WE ARE
COMPOSED AND DETERMINED TO
FULFILL OUR CALLING TO REPRESENT
OUR CONSTITUENTS.
THIS IS THE GREAT CAUSE FOR
WHICH GAVE GAVE HIS LIFE.
WE SWORE AN OATH TO UPHOLD THE
CONSTITUTION AND AT THE TIME OF
THE ATTACK, HE WAS ENGAGED IN
THE MOST SIMPLE AND DIRECT OF
DEMOCRATIC RITUALS.
LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE.
LISTENING TO HIS NEIGHBORS.
THE BRUTALITY THAT SHATTERED
SATURDAY MORNING'S CALM WAS
DEVASTATING BUT BRIEF.
BRAVERY AND QUICK THINKING
PREVENTED A LARGER MASSACRE.
TURNING INNOCENT BYSTANDERS INTO
HEROES.
THE SERVICE AND SKILL OF FIRST
RESPONDERS AND MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS SAVED LIVES.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ARE
NOW WORKING TO ENSURE SWIFT
JUSTICE.
LOOK TO TUCSON RIGHT NOW AND
YOU'LL BE REMINDED THAT
AMERICA'S MOST PLENTIFUL SOURCE
OF WEALTH AND STRENGTH IS HER
PEOPLE.
WE'RE THANKFUL, SO THANKFUL,
THAT GABBY IS STILL WITH US AND
WE'RE THANKFUL THAT TWO OF HER
STAFFERS WHO WERE ALSO WOUNDED,
RON BARBER AND PAM SIMMONS, ARE
WITH US AS WELL.
IN HER STEADY, GABBY'S STAFF HAS
PRESSED ON, OPENING FOR BUSINESS
MONDAY MORNING, RIGHT ON
SCHEDULE.
AND THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO
FAITHFULLY SERVED THE PEOPLE OF
ARIZONA'S EIGHTH DISTRICT HAVE
SIGNALED THAT NO ACT, NO MATTER
HOW HEINOUS, WILL STOP US FROM
DOING OUR DUTY AND BEING AMONG
THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
AND TO ALL THE DEDICATED
PROFESSIONALS THAT WE RELY ON TO
MAKE THIS INSTITUTION WORK, TO
EACH OF YOU, THANK YOU FOR WHAT
YOU DO.
AND TO GABBY'S STAFF AND THEIR
FAMILIES, PLEASE KNOW THAT OUR
HEARTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO
EACH OF YOU.
THIS BODY HAS YET TO FULLY
REGISTER THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS
TRAGEDY.
WE FEEL A LITANY OF UNWANTED
EMOTIONS THAT NO RESOLUTION
COULD POSSIBLY CAPTURE.
WE KNOW THAT WE GATHER HERE
WITHOUT DISTINCTION OF PARTY,
THE NEEDS OF THIS INSTITUTION
HAVE ALWAYS RISEN ABOVE
PARTISANSHIP.
AND WHAT THIS INSTITUTION NEEDS
RIGHT NOW IS STRENGTH.
WHOLLY AND UPLIFTING STRENGTH.
THE STRENGTH TO GRIEVE WITH THE
FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN, TO PRAY
FOR THE WOUNDED AND TO CHART A
WAY FORWARD NO MATTER HOW
PAINFUL AND DIFFICULT IT MAY BE.
TODAY IS NOT A CEREMONY, BUT
TRAGEDY THAT STIRS US TO RENEW
OUR COMMITMENT TO FAITHFULLY
FULFILL OUR OATH OF OFFICE.
AND LET US NOT LET THIS INHUMAN
ACT FRIGHTEN US INTO DOING
OTHERWISE.
THE FREE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS IS
THE LIFE BLOOD OF OUR DEMOCRACY
AS PRESCRIBED BY THE FIRST
AMENDMENT, THE BEACON OF FREE
EXPRESSION THAT CONGRESSWOMAN
GIFFORDS RECITED IN THIS WELL
JUST DAYS AGO.
THESE RIGHTS HAVE NOT BEEN
HANDED DOWN BY DICTATE, THEY'VE
BEEN PRESERVED AND PROTECTED
THROUGH GENERATIONS OF HARD
SACRIFICE AND COMMITMENT.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE THAT
UNFINISHED WORK.
WE WILL DO IT FOR CHRISTINA
TAYLOR GREEN, DOROTHY MORRIS,
PHYLLIS SHANK, DORWAN, ORDINARY
CITIZENS WHO DIED PARTICIPATING
IN THEIR DEMOCRACY, AND WE WILL
DO IT FOR JUDGE JOHN AND WE'LL
DO IT FOR GAVE ZIMMERMAN.
AND WE WILL DO IT, GOD WILLING,
WITH GABRIELLE GIFFORDS.
OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN BUT OUR
SPIRIT IS NOT.
THIS IS A TIME FOR THE HOUSE TO
LOCK ARMS IN PRAYER FOR THE
FALLEN AND THE WOUNDED AND
RESOLVE TO CARRY ON A DIALOGUE
OF DEMOCRACY.
WE MAY NOT HAVE ALL THE FINAL
ANSWERS BUT WE ALREADY HAVE THE
ANSWER THAT MATTERS MOST.
THAT WE ARE AMERICANS AND WE'LL
MAKE IT THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT
PERIOD.
WE WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD.
GOD BLESS THIS HOUSE.
GOD BLESS THIS CONGRESS.
AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD ONE
MINUTE TO THE MINORITY LEADER,
MS. PELOSI.
THE THE
MINORITY LEADER, IS RECOGNIZED
FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MADAM SPEAKER.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR
YIELDING.
EXTEND MY CONDOLENCES TO HIM,
MR. PASTOR, THE SENIOR MEMBER OF
THE ARIZONA DELEGATION, AND ALL
OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ARIZONA
DELEGATION.
MADAM SPEAKER, I'M PLEASED AND
SADDENED GREATLY SADDENED TO
JOIN THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE,
MR. BOEHNER, IN COMING TOGETHER
IN SADNESS TODAY TO SHARE OUR
PRAYERS AND INDEED OUR HOPES FOR
THOSE WHO HAVE LOST SO MUCH
BECAUSE OF THE TRAGEDY IN
ARIZONA INVOLVING OUR COLLEAGUE,
CONGRESSWOMAN GABBY GIFFORDS.
HER STAFF AND INNOCENT
BYSTANDERS.
WORDS ARE INADEQUATE AT A TIME
LIKE THIS, BUT NONETHELESS I
HOPE IT IS A COMFORT TO THOSE
WHO ARE -- LOST LOVED ONES, OR
INJURED ON SATURDAY THAT SO MANY
PEOPLE MOURN THE LOSSES BUT ALSO
PRAY FOR THE SURVIVORS AND CARE
FOR THEM AT THIS VERY DIFFICULT
TIME.
I THINK THE RESOLUTION IS -- ITS
DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED AND
THE CONTEXT WITH WHICH IT
HAPPENED IS AN EXCELLENT
RESOLUTION AND I HOPE PEOPLE
WILL READ IT, PRAY OVER IT, AND
BE GRATEFUL THAT WE HAD THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON IT.
TODAY WE WILL SAY MANY PRAYERS
FOR OUR COUNTRY AND FOR THE
VICTIMS OF THIS HORRIFIC
WE THINK OF OUR COLLEAGUE,
CONGRESSWOMAN GABBY GIFFORDS,
FIGHTING TO RECOVER AND THE 14
OTHERS WHO WERE INJURED,
REMEMBER THE SIX WHO WERE
KILLED.
THERE NAMES ARE MENTIONED AND
THEY ARE DESCRIBED IN THE
RESOLUTION.
THE SPEAKER HAS MENTIONED THEIR
NAMES, BUT I THINK ACKNOWLEDGING
THEM BEARS REPETITION.
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE DEATH OF
THE 9-YEAR-OLD CHRISTINA TAYLOR
GREEN, RECENTLY BEEN ELECTED TO
THE STUDENT COUNCIL IN HER
SCHOOL, MESA VARE DAY ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL?
-- VERDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL?
THE UNBEARABLE GRIEF OF JOHN AND
ROCKS AN -- ROXANNE GREEN.
DOROTHY MORRIS MARRIED FOR MORE
THAN 50 YEARS TO HER HIGH SCHOOL
SWEETHEART AND MOTHER OF TWO.
FEDERAL JUDGE JOHN ROLL WHO HAD
JUST COME FROM MASS.
WHICH HE ATTENDED EVERY DAY.
PHYLLIS SCHNECK, MOTHER OF
THREE, GRANDMOTHER OF SEVEN, AND
GREAT GRANDMOTHER.
AND I KNOW THE NEW YORKERS ARE
GLAD TO HEAR SHE'S A GIANTS FAN.
SNOWBIRD IN ARIZONA CARRYING
THAT DEDICATION WES.
DORWAN STODDARD, DIED SHIELDING
HIS WIFE, MARY, SHIELDING HIS
WIFE, MARY.
AND HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN THE
RESOLUTION AND WE HAVE MOURNED,
CONGRESSWOMAN GABBY GIFFORDS
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH
GABRIELLE MATTHEW ZIMMERMAN.
ZIMMERMAN.
ONE OF HIS CO-WORKERS SAID GAVE
FOR THE LIVING.
SOME WHO PROTECTED OTHERS, WONG
MEMBER, PHYLLIS, WHO GRABBED THE
FUEL MAGAZINE OF AMMUNITION OF
THE KILLER AS HE ATTEMPTED TO
RELOAD.
JUST THINK HOW MANY MORE WE
COULD HAVE LOST.
ROGER SULZGEBER AND JOSEPH
ZIMUDEO, AND DANIEL HERNANDEZ
JR., 20 YEARS OLD AN INTERN WHO
HAD JUST BEEN ON THE JOB FOR
FOUR DAYS WHEN HE HEARD
GUNSHOTS, HE RAN TOWARD THEM,
RAN TOWARD THEM, AND ATTENDED TO
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS, HELPING
TO STAUNCH HER BLEEDING WITH HIS
OWN HANDS.
PRAY FOR THE RECOVERY OF OTHER
MEMBERS OF CONGRESSWOMAN
GIFFORDS STAFF, RON BARBER, PAM
SIMON, AND THE ENTIRE GIFFORDS
STAFF FOR CARRYING ON.
THOSE HEROES AT THE SCENE WERE
JOINED BY FIRST RESPONDERS FROM
COUNTY AND MUNICIPALITIES,
ARRIVING JUST THREE MINUTES
AFTER THE FIRST 9-1-1 CALL AND
PERFORMED EXCELLENTLY AND IN
DOING SO SAVED LIVES.
WE ALSO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE
SKILLED PROFESSIONALS AT
ARIZONA'S UNIVERSITY MEDICAL
CENTER WHOSE ROLE IS ONGOING.
HEALING THE VICTIMS OF THIS
TRAGEDY.
TONIGHT THE UNIVERSITY
COMMUNITY.
TO ACKNOWLEDGE TOGETHER
SATURDAY'S TRAGEDY.
PROMPTLY THIS IS CALLED
TOGETHER WE THRIVE, TUCSON AND
TOGETHER WE THRIVE, TUCSON AND
AMERICA, WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO GRIEVE AND IT WILL BE A
DEMONSTRATION OF OUR STRENGTH.
STRENGTH IN COMMUNITY.
A STRENGTH IN COMMUNITY THAT
WAS DEMONSTRATED LAST SATURDAY,
A STRENGTH IN COMMUNITY THERE
THAT IS ONGOING.
TUCSON DEMONSTRATED ITS
STRENGTH ON SATURDAY WHEN THE
CITY WAS FULL OF HEROES,
ORDINARY CITIZENS, VICTIMS,
FIRST RESPONDERS COMING
TOGETHER IN THE SPIRIT OF
COMMUNITY.
MADAM SPEAKER, OUR COLLEAGUE,
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS, WAS THE
PRIMARY TARGET OF COWARDLY ACT,
AND AS SHE RECOVERS, WE HONOR
HER AS A BRILLIANT AND
COURAGEOUS MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
SHE BROUGHT TO CONGRESS AN
INVIGORATION, THINKING OF NEW
GENERATION OF NATIONAL LEADERS.
A BUSINESSWOMAN, STATE
LEGISLATOR, SHE CAME TO
CONGRESS FULL OF IDEAS, AND WE
WILL LONG CONTINUE TO BE
BLESSED BY THEM, LOOK FORWARD
TO WHEN SHE IS PRESENT WITH US
ON THE FLOOR.
SHE HAS SPOKEN OUT COURAGEOUSLY
AND LED BOLDLY WHEN THE TIMES
DEMANDED IT.
IT'S ESPECIALLY TRAGIC THAT
THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AND
THOSE WHO WERE WOUNDED HAD COME
TOGETHER AS THE RESOLUTION
PRESENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN AN
ACTIVITY THAT REFLECTS THE BEST
OF OUR DEMOCRATIC TRADITION.
A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE,
GABBY GIFFORDS, HER STAFF
HEARING DIRECTLY FROM THE MEN
AND WOMEN SHE REPRESENTS.
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IS FOUNDED
ON OUR COMMITMENT TO A CONTEST
OF IDEAS NOT VIOLENCE.
POLITICAL DISAGREEMENT AND
DISSENT MUST NEVER VIOLATE OUR
NATION'S VALUES AS EXPRESSED IN
THE CONSTITUTION, OF FREE
EXPRESSION, SPEECH, AND
PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY.
GABBY SPOKE TO THAT RIGHT HERE
FROM THE FLOOR LAST WEEK.
IN THIS HOUR OF ANGUISH, WE
SEEK RENEWED COMMITMENT TO
HOPE, TO CIVILITY, TO PEACE
AMONG THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IN OUR -- MANY OF OUR CHURCHES
WE SING ON SUNDAY AND OTHER
DAYS OF THE WEEK, LET THERE BE
PEACE ON EARTH AND LET IT BEGIN
I GUESS WITH US, BUT WITH ME.
WITH EACH OF US, WITHIN EACH OF
US.
SPEAKING AS ONE HOUSE TODAY,
COMING TOGETHER, PEACE WITH US,
WE OFFER OUR THOUGHTS AND
SUPPORT, OUR PRAYERS TO THE
HEALTH OF OUR COLLEAGUE, GABBY,
CONGRESSWOMAN GABRIELLE
GIFFORDS, AND ALL OF THE
INJURED.
WE SHARE THE STORIES, THE
HEROES OF THE TRAMDY, AND MOURN
THOSE WHO PERISHED.
LET THEIR ACTIONS AND THEIR
MEMORIES BE A BLESSING TO OUR
COUNTRY.
WE DON'T KNOW WHY GOD SAW THIS
TO BE NECESSARY, BUT LET THIS
BE SOMETHING THAT WE CHERISH AS
AN OPPORTUNITY AS WE MOURN THE
HEARTBREAKING HORROR OF IT ALL.
THIS RESOLUTION IS FITTING
TRIBUTE, GREAT RESOLUTION,
PLEASE READ IT AGAIN AND AGAIN,
CARRY THOSE NAMES IN YOUR
HEART.
REMEMBER EACH OF THESE PEOPLE
BECAUSE OF, AGAIN, A TRAGIC
ACCIDENT TOOK LIVES, WOUNDED
PEOPLE, IN THE FREE EXPRESSION
OF IDEAS.
MAY THIS RESOLUTION REMIND US
OF THE URGENT NEED TO UPHOLD
OUR DEMOCRATIC VALUES, TO TREAT
ONE ANOTHER WITH COURTESY AND
WITH RESPECT, AND TO ACT AS
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS HAS
ALWAYS DONE AND ALWAYS DO, IN A
MANNER THAT REFLECTS THE BEST
OF AMERICAN LEADERSHIP.
AS OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO
OUT TO THE FAMILIES OF ALL WHO
WERE AFFECTED, I WANT TO CALL
SPECIAL ATTENTION TO COMMANDER,
CAPTAIN MARK KELLY, GABBY'S
HUSBAND, WHO HAS BEEN A SOURCE
OF STRENGTH TO ALL OF US IN
THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
WE PRAY FOR HIM.
WE THANK HIM FOR HE -- FOR HIS
AND GABBY'S SERVICE TO OUR
COUNTRY.
GOD TRULY BLESSED AMERICA WITH
THEIR LEADERSHIP, WITH THEIR
SERVICE.
AND WITH THEIR LOVE FOR EACH
OTHER.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
TIME.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THIS WEEK MOST
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE WILL
GATHER BRIEFLY HERE IN
WASHINGTON, BUT OUR HEARTS AND
SPIRITS WILL BE IN ARIZONA.
THE UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDY IN
TUCSON LAST SATURDAY CAME AS A
COMPLETE SHOCK, CASTING A PALL
OVER THE ENTIRE NATION.
WITH THIS RESOLUTION WE JOIN
300 MILLION AMERICANS AND
MILLIONS OF OTHERS AROUND THE
WORLD IN SHOWING OUR SOLIDARITY
WITH CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS AND
THE REST OF THE VICTIMS.
GABBY SERVES ARIZONA'S EIGHTH
DISTRICT WITH DISTINCTION AND
THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP AND WE
ARE ALL PRAYING FOR HER SPEEDY
RECOVERY.
SATURDAY'S COWARDLY CRIME WAS
MORE THAN JUST AN ATTACK ON
DOZENS OF INNOCENT AMERICANS AT
A GROCERY STORE.
IT WAS AN ATTACK OF THE VERY
ESSENCE OF DEMOCRACY AND
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
AN ASSAULT ON THE OPEN EXCHANGE
OF IDEAS BETWEEN LEGISLATORS
AND THE PEOPLE TO WHOM THEY ARE
ACCOUNTABLE.
THIS RESOLUTION HONORS THE
MEMORY OF CHRISTINA TAYLOR
GREEN, DOROTHY MORRIS, JUDGE
JOHN ROLL, PHYLLIS SCHNECK,
ZIMMERMAN.
THE -- GABRIEL ZIMMERMAN.
IT REPRESENTS A BROAD AMERICAN
PUBLIC, YOUNG AND OLD, MEN,
WOMEN, AND CHILD, FRIENDS,
BROTHERS, SISTERS, AND CHILDREN
THEY WILL BE MISSED.
BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.
THIS INEXPLICABLE CRIME REMINDS
US THERE IS EVIL IN THE WORLD.
YET AS WE LOOK FOR LIGHT IN A
THICKET OF DARKNESS, OUR NATION
HAS DRAWN INSPIRATION FROM THE
BRAVERY AND QUICK THINKING
SCENE.
WERE IT NOT FOR THEIR EFFORTS,
THERE LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN
MANY MORE VICTIMS.
THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT,
PRAYER, AND SOLIDARITY ALSO
REMINDS US THAT AMERICA IS A
COUNTRY OF COMPASSION,
COMMUNITY, AND EMPATHY.
WE WILL STAND WITH THE VICTIMS
AND THEIR FAMILIES AND PRAY AND
MOURN WITH THEM AS THEY COPE
WITH THIS HORRIFIC TRAGEDY.
MADAM SPEAKER, I ALSO WANT TO
OFFER MY THOUGHTS OF COMFORT TO
GABBY GIFFORDS' STAFF AND WANT
THEM TO KNOW THAT OUR HEARTS
HANG HEAVY AND OUR THOUGHTS AND
PRAYERS ARE WITH THEM.
AS THEY TRY AND PERSEVERE
THROUGH THIS VERY DIFFICULT
TIME.
MADAM SPEAKER, I'D ALSO LIKE TO
ADD MY THANKS TO THE BRAVE LAW
ENFORCEMENT THAT HAS HELPED OUR
NATION OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
DAYS AND EVERY DAY.
THE LAW ENFORCEMENT UNDER THE
DIRECTORSHIP OF DIRECTOR
MUELLER, THE F.B.I., THE LOCAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT IN ARIZONA, AND
FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE MOST
ESPECIALLY THE CAPITOL BLISS
AND -- CAPITOL POLICE AND THE
OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS
AND SERGEANT AT ARMS THEMSELVES
THAT THEY ARE DOING EACH AND
EVERY MINUTE AS WE TRY TO COPE
WITH THIS TRAGEDY.
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS RESOLUTION
AFFIRMS THE POINT ALL OF US
WANT TO MAKE, OUR HEARTS ARE
HEAVY, WE MOURN WITH THE
VICTIMS, AND I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT IT.
MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD MY
REMAINING TIME TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ARIZONA, MR. FLAKE, AND
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT HE
TIME.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
MILLION PASTOR: I YIELD FOUR --
I YIELD FOUR
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MARYLAND, MR. HOYER.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FOUR MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA FOR
YIELDING.
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS WEEK WE
PAUSE THE WORK OF THE HOUSE TO
MOURN THE LOSS OF LIVES OF SIX
OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS.
ONE OF THOSE BORN ON THAT DAY
OF TRAGEDY AND CARNAGE WHEN
THOUSANDS WERE SLAIN AND
EQUALLY -- IN AN EQUALLY
INDISCRIMINATE, HEINOUS ACT OF
HATE.
CITIZENS SHOT DEAD ON SATURDAY
IN TUCSON IN PURSUIT OF THE
RIGHT TO PEACEABLY ASSEMBLE.
THE AMENDMENT WHICH GABRIELLE
GIFFORDS READ ON THIS FLOOR.
WE COME AS WELL TO HONOR THOSE
WHO RISKED THEIR LIVES TO SAVE
OTHERS.
TO PRAY FOR THE LIVES OF THE
WOUNDED.
AND TO PRAY FOR OUR COLLEAGUE
AND FRIEND, CONGRESSWOMAN
GABRIELLE GIFFORDS.
TODAY THIS TELLBLE OF
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY -- TELL
IS -- TEMPLE OF REPRESENTATIVE
DEMOCRACY IS A SADDER PLACE.
BUT REPRESENTATIVE GIFFORDS'
INTELLIGENCE AND TOUGHNESS, HER
PUBLIC SPIRIT AND HER CHARM
WILL, GOD WILLING, AND WITH THE
EXTRAORDINARY MED EDCAL CARE SHE
IS RECEIVING -- MEDICAL CARE SHE
IS RECEIVING, SOON RETURN TO
THIS BODY.
AND AGAIN BE A PRACTITIONER AND
A MODEL FOR THE PRINCIPLES OF
CIVIL DEBATE AND THOUGHTFUL
DELIBERATION ON WHICH THIS
TEMPLE IS FOUNDED.
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS WAS
ATTACKED DOING THE WORK THAT IS
THE HEART OF DEMOCRACY AS HAS
BEEN SO ELOQUENTLY OBSERVED BY
OUR SPEAKER, MR. BOEHNER.
LISTENING TO HER NEIGHBORS,
LISTENING TO THOSE WHO SENT HER
HERE TO WASHINGTON TO REFLECT
THEIR VIEWS.
EACH ONE OF US HAVE DONE THAT
WORK, EACH ONE OF US HAS COME
BACK BEARING THEIR FEARS AND
THEIR HOPES, THEIR CONVICTIONS
AND THEIR VISIONS FOR THE
FUTURE.
SOME OF COURSE ARE EVERYDAY
HOPES, SOME ARE MATTERS OF LIFE
AND DEATH.
BUT IN EACH CASE WE BRING THESE
HOPES HERE AND SPEAK TO OUR
NEIGHBORS AS BEST WE CAN.
THAT IS WHAT CONGRESSWOMAN
GIFFORDS WAS DOING.
WE DO NOT KNOW, OF COURSE, THE
SPECIFIC MOTIVE WHICH LED THE
PERPETRATOR OF THIS CRIME TO
ACT.
NOR CAN WE DRAW CONCLUSIONS AS
TO SPECIFIC CAUSES.
BUT IT SEEMS TO ME IT IS A TIME
FOR US TO REFLECT ON THE
HEIGHTENED ANGER BEING PROJECTED
ON OUR PUBLIC DEBATE.
AND THE DAILY DENIGRATION OF
THOSE WITH WHOM WE DISAGREE AND
IT IS APPROPRIATE THEREFORE THAT
THE WRENCHING, SHOCKING,
SENSELESS VIOLENCE OF THAT DAY
COMPEL US TO REFLECT ON OUR OWN
REPRESENT -- RESPONSIBILITY TO
TELL PER OUR WORDS -- TEMPER OUR
WORDS AND RCHT THOSE WITH WHOM
WE DISAGREE.
LET THE FAILURE TO DO SO GIVE
INCITEMENT TO THE ANGRIEST AND
MOST UNSTABLE AMONG US.
LET US SPEAK FOR OUR NEIGHBORS
IN A SPIRIT OF UNITY.
NOT A FALSE AND SHALLOW UNITY,
NOT A UNITY THAT WISHES AWAY OUR
DIFFERENCES OR OUR DISCORDS, BUT
A UNITY FOUNDED ON OUR REVERENCE
FOR OUR DEMOCRACY'S MOST
PRECIOUS, MOST FRANL ILGIFT, ITS
POWER -- FRAGILE GIFT, ITS POWER
TO RESOLVE WITHOUT VIOLENCE OUR
QUESTIONS.
IN A MUCH DARKER TIME THAN OURS,
FROM THE EDGE OF A GREAT WAR,
PRESIDENT LINCOLN ADDRESSED
THESE WORDS TO THE MEN AND WOMEN
WHOM EVEN IN THE WAR'S DEPTHS HE
REFUSED TO SEE AS ANYTHING OTHER
THAN HIS FELLOW AMERICANS, HE
SAID THIS, WE ARE NOT ENEMIES
BUT FRIENDS.
WE MUST NOT BE ENEMIES, THOUGH
PASSION MAY HAVE STRAINED, IT
MUST NOT BREAK OUR BONDS OF
AFFECTION.
THERE ARE IN EVERY SOCIETY AND
IN EVERY CULTURE AND EVERY
NATION THOSE WHO REFLECT THAT
CEDE -- CREED, BUT IF WE LOVE
OUR COUNTRY, IF WE HONOR OUR
OATH TO COUNTRY, CONSTITUTION
AND TO OUR NATION OF LAWS, WE
MUST LIVE BY THOSE WORDS.
THERE IS PERHAPS NOTHING WE CAN
DO THAT WILL PREVENT THE
MINDLESS VIOLENCE COMMITTED BY
THE FEW.
BUT WE CAN AND MUST APPEAL TO
THE BEST INSTINCTS OF THE MANY,
TO THE FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN WE
EXTEND OUR SYMPATHY.
TO THE SURVIVORS WE EXTEND OUR
PRAYERS FOR A FULL AND SPEEDY
RECOVERY.
AND TO OUR COLLEAGUE, TO OUR
BELOVED COLLEAGUE, GABBY, WE
EXTEND OUR LOVE, OUR HOPES FOR
HER EARLY RETURN TO THE CHAMBER
AND OUR RANKS.
ALL OF US IN THIS TIME HAVE COME
TOGETHER, REACHED OUT TO ONE
ANOTHER, COMFORTED ONE ANOTHER
AND LIFTED ONE ANOTHER UP.
MAY THAT SENTIMENT NOT PASS
QUICKLY FROM THIS BODY OR FROM
THIS COUNTRY.
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR.
FLAKE.
MADAM SPEAKER, I WANT
TO THANK SPEAKER BOEHNER AND THE
LEADERSHIP ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE FOR BRINGING THIS
RESOLUTION TO THE FLOOR.
THIS IS INDEED CONGRESS AT ITS
BEST.
NONE OF US WILL EVER FORGET THE
FEELING WE HAD WHEN WE HEARD THE
NEWS OF THE SHOOTING LAST
SATURDAY, ONE OF THE VICTIMS OF
WHICH WAS OUR DEAR FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE, GABRIELLE GIFFORDS.
A FEW HOURS AFTER THE NEWS
BROKE, I WAS IN ATTENDANCE AT
THE PRESS CONFERENCE IN TUCSON
AT THE MEDICAL CENTER, AMID THE
TURMOIL AND THE ANGUISH OF THE
OCCASION THERE WERE AUDIBLE
EXPRESSIONS OF JOY AND RELIEF IN
THAT ROOM AND AROUND THE COUNTRY
WHEN THE DOCTOR ANNOUNCED THAT
GABBY COULD LISTEN AND RESPOND.
GABBY'S PROGRESS OVER THE PAST
FEW DAYS HAS BEEN MEASURED IN
MUCH THE SAME MANNER.
THE SQUEEZE OF A HAND, THE
RAISING OF TWO FINGERS, A THUMBS
UP SIGN.
EACH GESTURE LETTING US KNOW
THAT SHE HEARS, THAT SHE IS
LISTENING AND RESPONDING.
THESE TRAITS, LISTENING AND
RESPONDING, HAVE DEFINED
LEGISLATER.
LET ME GIVE BUT ONE EXAMPLE BORN
OF ANOTHER TRAGEDY JUST 10
MONTHS AGO.
LONG-TIME ARIZONAN KNOWN TO
PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THOSE HE
FOUND IN NEED WAS MURDERED ON
HIS RANCH NEAR ARIZONA'S
SOUTHERN BORDER.
FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN ARIZONA
WERE UNDERSTANDABLY ALARMED.
GABBY LISTENED AND RESPONDED
OVER AND OVER SHE CONTACTED AND
VISITED THOSE AFFECTED,
REASSURING THEM THAT HELP WAS ON
SHE CONVENED MONTHLY CONFERENCE
CALLS FOR THE FARMING AND
RANCHING COMMUNITIES INVOLVING
THE BORDER PATROL, IMMIGRATIONS
AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AND
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER
FEDERAL AGENCIES, EACH MONTH
BROADENING THE CIRCLE TO INCLUDE
MORE STAKEHOLDERS.
WE LEARNED OF HER EFFORTS IN
DELEGATION MEETINGS HERE IN
WASHINGTON WHERE SHE ENLISTED
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT LAST AUGUST.
MUCH AS A RESULT OF GABBY'S
PERSISTENT EFFORTS, THE CONGRESS
ACTED, PROVIDING UNPRECEDENTED
THE AREA.
GABBY LISTENED, SHE RESPONDED
AND IN THE END CONGRESS
RESPONDED AS WELL.
WE ARE RESPONDING HERE TODAY BY
GIVING THANKS FOR THE SERVICE OF
FEDERAL JUDGE JOHN ROLL AND GAVE
ZIMMERMAN FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE
THEY HAVE RENDERED.
WE ARE RESPONDING TODAY BY
RECOGNIZING THE HEROIC
LIFE-SAVING EFFORTS OF PEOPLE
LIKE DANIEL HERNANDEZ WHO
DELIVERED AID TO CONGRESSMAN
GIFFORDS, THOSE WHO TACKLED THE
GUNMAN, TO DORWIN STODDARD, WHO
SHIELDED HIS WIFE FROM THE
GUNFIRE, SELFLESSLY GIVING HIS
OWN LIFE THAT SHE MIGHT LIVE.
WE ARE RESPONDING TODAY BY
JOINING JOHN AND ROXANNE GREEN
IN MOURNING THE LOSS OF THEIR
9-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER CHRISTINA,
AS WELL AS THE FRIENDS AND
FAMILIES OF DOROTHY MURRAY AND
PHYLLIS SCHNECK.
WE IN THE ARIZONA DELEGATION ARE
PROUD OF THE WONDERFUL STATE
THAT WE TOGETHER WITH MORE THAN
SIX MILLION OF OUR FRIENDS AND
NEIGHBORS CALL HOME.
ARIZONA IS DEFINED NOT BY THE
ACTIONS OF A LONE, CRAZED
GUNMAN, BUT BY THE HEROISM AND
BRAVERY OF THOSE WHO LEFT US ON
SATURDAY.
AND THOSE LIKE OUR FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE GABRIELLE GIFFORDS WHO
WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD US IN THE
FUTURE.
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR.
I YIELD THREE
MINUTES TO THE LEADER OF THE
CAUCUS, MR. LARSON.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CONNECTICUT IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, THANK
YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
SHAKE PEER -- SHAKESPEARE TELLS
US IN "OTHELLO, THAT WHEN AIGO
WHISPERS MISTRUTHS IN THE EAR OF
OTHELLO, SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL
DIES.
SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL DIED IN
TUCSON, ARIZONA, THIS PAST
SATURDAY.
PEOPLE WHO CAME TO AN EVENT TO
HEAR THEIR CONGRESSWOMAN SPEAK,
ONE LITTLE GIRL, 9 YEARS OLD,
ALL BEAUTIFUL, ALL CELEBRATING
THE GREAT BEAUTY AND MANLESTY OF
OUR DEMOCRAT -- MAJESTY OF OUR
DEMOCRACY PASSED ON THAT DAY.
WHO KNOWS WHAT MISTRUTHS WERE
BOUNCING AROUND IN THE HEAD OF
THE ASSASSIN, WHO COULD KNOW
THAT?
BUT SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL DIED.
DEMOCRACY DIED JUST A LITTLE
THAT DAY.
BUT BEAUTY HAS A WAY OF COMING
BACK.
IT RESIDES IN PEOPLE LIKE
GABRIELLE GIFFORDS.
SHE EPITOMIZES ALL THAT IS GOOD
AND RICH ABOUT SERVING IN THE
UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
FROM HER VERY DEMEANOR, TO HER
GRACIOUSNESS, TO THE WAY SHE
CARRIED HERSELF IN COMMITTEE
WITH HER LEGISLATION AND HOW SHE
HELD FORTH WITH HER CONSTITUENTS
IN AN ACCOUNTABLE MANNER THAT
HAS BECOME SO MUCH A FABRIC OF
OUR DEMOCRACY, OUR CONGRESS ON
THE CORNER.
SHE TRULY IS A BEAUTIFUL PERSON
AND THAT BEAUTY HAD OTHERS
RESPONDING THAT DAY WITH ACTS OF
REMEMBER WISM THAT HAVE ALREADY
BEEN RECOUNTED ON -- HEROISM
THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECOUNTED
ON THIS FLOOR, AND THAT BEAUTY
LIES IN STATE WITH HER HUSBAND
BY HER SIDE AND WITH THE FERVENT
PRAYERS OF A NATION AND HOPE,
KNOWING AND FEELING CONFIDENT
THAT SHE WILL RETURN FROM THIS
AWFUL INCIDENT AND BE BACK HERE
WITH US, GRACING US WITH HER
BEAUTY AND DIGNITY AND VISION
AND PURPOSE.
ONE OF HER LAST REMARKS WAS, IN
SPEAKING TO MR. TROY GRAYSON,
DIRECTOR OF HARVARD INSTITUTE OF
POLITICS, WAS TO SAY, I WOULD
LOVE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN
DO TO PROMOTE CRITICISM,
CENTRISM AND MODDERISM.
I THINK WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO TONE DOWN OUR RHETORIC
AND THE PARTISANSHIP THAT EXISTS
HERE.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA,
THERE -- MR. FLAKE.
I YIELD SUCH TIME AS
HE MAY CONSUME TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ARIZONA, MR. FRANKS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR SUCH TIME AS HE
MAY CONSUME.
AND I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE TRAGEDY THIS
WEEK IN ARIZONA HAS BEEN A
REMINDER TO ALL OF US OF THE
BREVITY AND DELICATE NATURE OF
THIS EARTHLY LIFE.
IT IS MY PRAYER THIS MORNING
THAT GOD WOULD GRANT ALL OF THE
VICTIMS NAMED IN THIS RESOLUTION
AS WELL AS THE GRIEVING FAMILIES
AND LOVED ONES WHO ARE MOURNING
THE LOSS OF THE SIX PRECIOUS
LIVES THAT WERE TAKEN THAT DAY
THE COMFORT, THE PEACE AND THE
RESTORATION THAT ONLY HE CAN
GIVE.
MADAM SPEAKER, IT HAPPENS THAT
THE ONLY ONE OF THOSE VICTIMS
THAT I KNEW WELL PERSONALLY WAS
OUR OWN GABBY GIFFORDS.
MADAM SPEAKER, GABBY AND I ARE
FROM DIFFERENT PARTIES AND ON
PAST AND HAPPIER DAYS, MANY IN
ARIZONA WOULD OFTEN JOKE ABOUT
THE DIFFERENCES IN OUR POLITICS.
BUT I CAN TESTIFY TO YOU THIS
MORNING, MADAM SPEAKER, THAT IN
THE FOUR YEARS THAT I HAVE KNOWN
GABBY GIFFORDS, THERE HAS NEVER
BEEN ONE UNKIND OR EVEN TERS
WORD PASSED BETWEEN US.
GABBY GIFFORDS IS A PRECIOUS,
WARM, CARING, DECENT HUMAN BEING
WHOSE WARMTH AND CHARM TOUCHED
THE HEARTS OF ALL WHO KNOW HER.
AND THE TESTIMONY OF HER LIFE
AND WORK IS PROOF THAT TRUE
TOLERANCE IS NOT IN PRETENDING
THAT WE HAVE NO DIFFERENCES.
IT IS BEING KIND AND DECENT TO
EACH OTHER IN SPITE OF THOSE
POIGNANT COINCIDENCE THAT ONLY
DAYS BEFORE THE TRAGEDY WE ALL
LISTENED TO GABBY GIFFORDS AS
SHE STOOD AT THIS VERY PODIUM
AND READ THE WORDS OF THE
CONSTITUTION'S FIRST AMENDMENT
WHICH PROTECTS THE RIGHT OF THE
PEOPLE TO PEACEABLY ASSEMBLE.
AND THEN ONLY DAYS LATER, MADAM
SPEAKER, AS SHE WAS EXERCISING
THAT RIGHT AND FAITHFULLY DOING
HER JOB AS A MEMBER OF THE
UNITED STATES CONGRESS, ONE
BEREST OF HEART HUMAN COMPASSION
AND RESPECT FOR INNOCENT HUMAN
LIFE MINDLESSLY SHATTERED HER
LIFE AND THE LIVES OF SO MANY
OTHERS AROUND HER.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE LAST WORDS I
HAD WITH GABBY GIFFORDS WERE
SPOKEN NOT 10 FEET FROM THIS
PODIUM WHEN WE EXCHANGED SIMPLE
WITH YOU GENUINE AND HEARTFELT
WORDS AND BEST WISHES FOR THE
NEW YEAR AND THE NEW CONGRESS.
MADAM SPEAKER, I WILL TELL YOU
THAT WHEN I HEARD THE NEWS OF
THIS TRAGEDY AND THE FALSE
REPORT THAT GABBY HAD DIED, I
FELT SUCH AN OVERWHELMING SENSE
OF GRIEF IN MY SOUL TO THINK
THAT THOSE WERE THE LAST WORDS
I WOULD EVER SPEAK TO HER.
AND IT WAS A REMINDER TO ME,
MADAM SPEAKER, OF THE BREVITY
AND PRESHNESS OF HUMAN LIFE AND
FREEDOM AND JUST HOW IMPORTANT
IT REALLY IS FOR EACH OF US TO
SEIZE EVERY MOMENT AND TO SPEAK
KIND AND LOVING WORDS TO EACH
OTHER WHILE WE STILL CAN.
SO, MADAM SPEAKER, IT IS MY
PRAYER THAT GOD WOULD COME --
WOULD COMFORT THE GIFFORDS
FAMILY AND ALL OF THE VICTIMS
OF THIS HORRIBLE TRAGEDY AND
HOLD THEM CLOSELY IN HIS ARMS
AS ONLY HE CAN AND THAT HE
WOULD SOMEDAY VERY SOON RETURN
A SMILING GABBY GIFFORDS TO
THIS CHAMBER AND TO ALL OF US.
AS CLEAR EYED AND AS WHOLE AS
WHEN SHE LEFT US.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR.
PASTOR.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO REVISE
AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I WOULD ALSO JOIN
MY COLLEAGUE FROM ARIZONA, JEFF
FLAKE, IN THANKING THE
LEADERSHIP AND BRINGING THIS
RESOLUTION HERE THIS MORNING.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT
REPRESENTATIVE GIFFORDS STAFF
IS IN THE GALLERY WITH US THIS
MORNING.
SO WE WANT TO WISH THEM THE
BEST.
MADAM SPEAKER, IT IS WITH GREAT
SADNESS I RISE TODAY TO PAY
TRIBUTE TO SIX INNOCENT AND
PRECIOUS ARIZONANS WHO, WHILE
PARTICIPATING IN A PUBLIC
EVENT, DESIGNATED TO STRENGTHEN
OUR DEMOCRACY, SO TRAGICALLY
LOST THEIR LIVES IN A SENSELESS
ACT OF VIOLENCE LAST SATURDAY.
I ALSO WANT TO PAY TRIBUTE TO
THOSE 14 ARIZONANS, INCLUDING
OUR DEDICATED AND BELOVED
COLLEAGUE, AND MY PERSONAL
FRIEND, GABBY GIFFORDS, WHO
WERE WOUNDED.
THESE AMERICANS ALL DEDICATED
TO FREEDOM AND ALL LOVING OUR
COUNTRY SO MUCH THAT THEY CHOSE
TO USE THEIR SUNDAY MORNING TO
PARTICIPATE IN A PUBLIC EVENT
TO MAKE THEIR GOVERNMENT
BETTER.
RECOVERING AT DIFFERENT PACES
AND WITH UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT
NEEDS, THE CITY OF TUCSON, PIMA
COUNTY, AND THE ENTIRE STATE OF
ARIZONA ASSIST AND WELCOME
THESE BRAVE HEROES BACK TO OUR
COMMUNITIES ONCE THEY HAVE REEF
COVERED.
GABBY CONTINUES TO FIGHT,
LITERALLY FIGHT, EVERY MINUTE,
FOR HER LIFE.
AND WE ARE ALL REACHING TOWARD
OUR GOD IN PRAYER,
CONTEMPTATION, --
CONTEMPLATION, AND WHISPERS, IN
A UNIFIED EFFORT TO BRING ABOUT
A QUICK RECOVERY AND RETURN TO
US HERE IN THIS HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
THOSE WHO PERISHED, DOROTHY
MORRIS, GABE ZIMMERMAN,
CHRISTINA TAYLOR GREEN, DORWAN
STODDARD, AND JOHN ROLL WILL BE
MISSED BY THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR
COLLEAGUES, THEIR FRIENDS, AND
ALL ARIZONANS.
PHYLLIS SCHNECK WAS DESCRIBED
BY HER NEW JERSEY HOMETOWN
PAPER AS A LIFELONG
CONSERVATIVE.
YET SHE WAS THERE TO SEEK GABBY
BECAUSE SHE ADMIRED HER.
THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF
SOMEONE WHO WANTED TO STEP
BEYOND THE CURRENT VITRIOL IN
MODERN DAY POLITICS AND BRING
US TOGETHER.
DOROTHY MORRIS WAS MARRIED TO A
FORMER MARINE CORPS PILOT WHO
WAS ALSO WOUNDED AND
RECOVERING.
WE ALL KNOW THE PATRIOTISM AND
LOVE OF COUNTRY EVERY SPOUSE OF
A MARINE EXHIBITS.
AND SHE WAS NO EXCEPTION.
GABE ZIMMERMAN WAS ONE OF US.
GABBY.
IT IS SAID HE LITERALLY LIVED
TO SERVE HIS COMMUNITY.
SADLY HE PERISHED BUT HE
PERISHED FULFILLING HIS CALLING
AND DOING WHAT HE LOVED,
HELPING THE PEOPLE OF HIS TOWN.
CHRISTINA TAYLOR GREEN WAS JUST
START HER POLITICAL CAREER.
SHE HAD JUST BEEN ELECTED TO
HER SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL AND
WANTED TO COME SEE AT THE
HIGHEST LEVEL.
SHE WANTED TO SEE A PRO SO SHE
CAME TO SEE GABBY.
SHE WAS A SPECIAL LITTLE GIRL
WHO KEPT REACHING FOR THE STARS
AND POLITICS, DANCE, BASEBALL,
AND WHATEVER HER HEART DESIRED.
DORWAN STODDARD DIED SHIELDING
HIS WIFE WHO WAS ALSO WOUNDED
BUT EXPECTED TO RECOVER.
FOLLOWING THEIR REGULAR
SATURDAY OUTING, DORWAN BROUGHT
HIS WIFE TO GABBY BECAUSE
REPORTEDLY SHE WANTED TO TELL
GABBY WHAT A GOOD JOB SHE WAS
DOING.
HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS WHO
WERE RECONNECTED AFTER MANY
YEARS APART, THEY WERE A PILLAR
OF THEIR CHURCH COMMUNITY AND
WE KNOW MAZIE WILL CONTINUE ON.
SADDENED AND BURDENED, BUT
HOPEFULLY NOT BROKEN.
FINALLY, JUDGE ROLL, HAD BEEN
WORKING WITH GABBY AND SEVERAL
OF US IN THE DELEGATION FOR THE
PAST SEVERAL MONTHS TRYING TO
MAKE THE COURTS IN ARIZONA MORE
EFFICIENT AND MORE RESPONSIVE
TO BOTH THE VICTIM AND THE
ACCUSED.
I KNEW HIM TO BE A FAIR,
DEDICATED, CHARMING
PROFESSIONAL AND LOYAL PERSON.
HE LOVED HIS FAMILY, HE LOVED
HIS PROFESSION, HE LOVED HIS
JOB, HIS COMMUNITY, AND HIS
COUNTRY.
ARIZONA AND THE NATION WILL BE
A DIFFERENT PLACE WITHOUT HIM.
AGAIN I'M ENCOURAGED BY THE
REPORTS CONCERNING ALL THE
WOUNDED.
THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE THE
PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE STRENGTH
OF ARIZONANS AND ALL AMERICANS.
THEY WILL RECOVER, WE PRAY, AND
THEY WILL NOT SHY FROM
CONTINUING TO SERVE THEIR
COMMUNITY.
THIS IS MOST TRUE FOR GABBY.
GABBY IS A SPECIAL PERSON AMONG
US HERE IN CONGRESS.
WE ALL KNOW THAT.
WE ALL LOVE HER PATRIOTISM, HER
BIPARTISANSHIP, HER WILLINGNESS
TO LEARN, HER DEDICATION TO
GIVE, HER COMPASSION FOR HER
JOB, AND FOR EACH OF US.
AND HER SPIRIT TO CONTINUE
STRIVING TO MAKE THE EIGHTH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF
ARIZONA AND AMERICA A BETTER
PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK.
HOPEFULLY IT WON'T BE MUCH
LONGER UNTIL WE SEE HER HERE,
HER SMILING FACE WITH US AGAIN
DOING WHAT SHE LOVED AND
WORKING HARD FOR THE PEOPLE OF
OUR COUNTRY.
OUR PRAYERS GO TO GABBY, ALL
VICTIMS, AND THE FAMILIES OF
THE DECEASED.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
SUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR.
SCHWEIKERT.
MR. SPEAKER, IT
IS WITH HEAVY HEART THAT I COME
TO THE FLOOR TODAY TO OFFER
THESE THOUGHTS ON THIS TRAGIC
EVENT THIS PAST SATURDAY
OUTSIDE TUCSON.
THAT TOOK THE LIVES OF JOHN M.
ROLL, CHRISTINE TAYLOR GREEN,
DORWAN STODDARD, DOROTHY
MORRIS, GABE ZIMMERMAN, AND
PHYLLIS SCHNECK AND GRAVELY
INJURED OUR COLLEAGUE,
CONGRESSWOMAN GABBY GIFFORDS.
IT WAS JUST LAST WEEK THAT MY
WIFE AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO VISIT WITH GABBY IN
STATUTORY HALL BEFORE THE
CEREMONIAL SWEARING-IN.
AND AS SO MANY OF YOU KNOW, OUR
INTERACTIONS WITH HER WERE
GRACIOUS, ENERGETIC, AND SHE
WAS WILLING TO HELP US AS WE
WERE SETTING UP OUR FRESHMAN
WE TOOK A FEW PHOTOS, WE TALKED
ABOUT WAYS WE COULD WORK
TOGETHER, AND OF COURSE WE
ENGAGED IN THE BANTER AND
TEASING OF ARIZONA'S FASTE
RIVALRY, A.S.U. VS. U. OF A.
GABBY TAKES ENORMOUS PRIDE IN
THE JOB IN REPRESENTING THE
COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHERN
ARIZONA.
AND MY WIFE AND I SEND OUR
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO MARK
DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE GIFT
MARK GENEROUSLY SHARES WITH ALL
OF US HERE IN WASHINGTON AND
BACK IN ARIZONA.
IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT NOT TO
FORGET THE INDIVIDUALS WHO LOST
THEIR LIVES OR WHO WERE INJURED
WHILE THEY WERE EXERCISING
THEIR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE AND
HAVE A SAY IN THIS REPUBLIC.
INDEED, THEY BECAME VICTIMS
WHILE EXERCISING A FUNDAMENTAL
RIGHT THAT HAS SERVED AS A
BACKBONE OF THIS COUNTRY SINCE
ITS FOUNDING.
A RIGHT OUR NATION'S FOUNDERS
SACRIFICED SO DEARLY FOR.
JUST AS THE VICTIMS THIS LAST
SATURDAY HAVE TRAGICALLY ALSO
SACRIFICED FOR.
WE ARE STUNNED BY THE TRAGEDY,
BUT WE REMAIN RESOLUTE IN OUR
COMMITMENT TO ASSEMBLE
PEACEFULLY, ENGAGE CIVILLY IN
THE TYPES OF DISCOURSE THAT ARE
FUNDAMENTAL TO MAINTAINING THIS
REPUBLIC.
ALTHOUGH WORDS MAY NOT
SUFFICIENTLY CAPTURE THE SORROW
AND GRIEF WE ARE EXPERIENCING,
PARTICULARLY IN ARIZONA, JOYCE
AND I SEND OUR THOUGHTS, OUR
PRAYERS TO GABBY, MARK, ROCKS
AN, -- ROXANNE, AND JOHN GREEN,
THE PARENTS OF LITTLE CHRISTINE
TAYLOR GREEN, AND THE LOVED
ONES OF JUDGE ROLL, DORWAN
STODDARD, DOROTHY MORRIS, GABE
ZIMMERMAN, PHYLLIS SCHNECK, THE
COMMUNITY OF TUCSON AND
SOUTHERN ARIZONA, ALL
ARIZONANS, THIS NATION.
OUR HEARTS ARE HEAVY BUT OUR
PRAYERS ARE WITH ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
I YIELD BACK ANY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO.
MR. KUCINICH.
THE
RECOGNIZED.
WE ARE ONE AS WE
PAY TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSWOMAN
GIFFORDS AND ALL THE OTHER
VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN TUCSON.
OUR GATHERING REFLECTS THE
TRUTH OF AMERICA'S FIRST MOTTO
WHICH IS ABOVE THIS CHAMBER,
EPLURIBUS UNUM, OUT OF MANY WE
ARE ONE.
IT IS VITAL THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE
OUR ONENESS.
NOT JUST AS A CONGRESS, BUT AS
A NATION AND AS A WORLD.
IN THAT APPRECIATION FOR
ONENESS WE FIND HUMAN SYMPATHY,
COMPASSION, AND LOVE.
IT IS AN AWARENESS OF THE
IMPERATIVE OF HUEMAN UNITY
WHICH CAN BRING US TO THE
THRESHOLD OF UNDERSTANDING, OUR
POWER TO BRING AN END TO THE
VIOLENCE WHICH IS CONSUMING OUR
LOVED ONES.
IT IS AN AWARENESS OF THE
IMPERATIVE OF HUMAN UNITY WHICH
CAN HELP US TO CREATE A NEW
AMERICA.
WHERE THE PRESENCE OF VIOLENCE
IS UNDERSTOOD AS A CHALLENGE TO
BE MET NOT AS AN UNYIELDING
TRUTH OF THE HUMAN CONDITION TO
BE ACCEPTED.
OUR HEARTS ARE OPEN NOW AS WE
RECOGNIZE THE VICTIMS.
SO LET US BE OPEN TO A NEW
DIRECTION WHERE WE AND THIS
NATION CAN TAKE AN ORGANIZED
APPROACH TO DEAL WITH THE
CAUSES OF VIOLENCE NOT JUST THE
EFFECTS.
WE ARE ONE WITH OUR SISTER,
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS, AND ALL
THE OTHER VICTIMS.
LET US CONTINUE TO BE ONE WITH
EACH OTHER AS WE STRUGGLE TO
BRING LIGHT TO THIS MOMENT OF
DARKNESS.
YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ARIZONA, MR. QUAIL --
QUAYLE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA FOR
YIELDING.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY IN
SUPPORT OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 32,
AND TO HONOR THE VICTIMS OF THE
SENSELESS ACT OF VIOLENCE THAT
TOOK PLACE IN TUCSON ON
SATURDAY.
ALL ARIZONANS AND ALL AMERICANS
MOURN THE SIX SOULS THAT LOST
THEIR LIVES.
THEY WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
THEY WERE MODEL CITIZENS,
ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THEIR
COMMUNITY AND WITH THEIR
GOVERNMENT.
JUST CHATTING WITH THEIR
REPRESENTATIVE ON A SATURDAY
MORNING.
THAT, MR. SPEAKER, PEACEFUL
DISCOURSE AND PARTICIPATION, IS
A PRECIOUS PART OF OUR SOCIETY
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
MAKES OUR COUNTRY GREAT.
WE MUST NOT ALLOW AN ACT OF
VIOLENCE TO INHIBIT THE
PREEXCHANGE OF THOUGHTS AND
CONCERNS -- FREE EXCHANGE OF
THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS.
THE SIX THAT LOST THEIR LIVES
DIED BECAUSE THEY LOVED
THEY WANTED TO BE INVOLVED IN
THE PROCESS.
IN RECENT DAYS WE HAVE HEARD
THEIR INSPIRING STORIES FROM
FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WONDER
WHAT THE FUTURE HAD IN STORE
FOR THEM.
THEY ARE THE FRIENDS,
NEIGHBORS, AND COLLEAGUES THAT
OUR COMMUNITIES DEPEND UPON.
MR. SPEAKER, WE PRAY FOR OUR
FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE,
CONGRESSWOMAN GABBY GIFFORDS,
THAT SHE SURVIVED HER COUNTS IS
A MIRACLE, BUT NO SURPRISE TO
THOSE WHO KNOW HER AND ADMIRE
HER SPIRIT, DETERMINATION, AND
CONVICTION.
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS WAS A DO
YOUR JOB TO THE BEST OF HER
SHE WASN'T IN AN ORR NATE
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ROOM ON
THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.
SHE WAS BACK HOME ON THE
SIDEWALK OF A SUPERMARKET
LISTENING TO THE CONCERNS OF
HER CONSTITUENTS.
THAT, TOO, MR. SPEAKER, IS WHAT
MAKES THIS COUNTRY GREAT, THAT,
TOO, MUST NEVER CHANGE.
IN OUR GREAT STATE OF ARIZONA,
THERE'S MUCH TO MOURN AFTER
SATURDAY'S TRAGEDY.
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THERE ARE
ALSO MANY THINGS THAT HE LIST
GREAT PRIDE -- ELICIT GREAT
PRIDE.
WE'RE PROUD OF THE BRAVE
CIVILIAN AND PROFESSIONAL FIRST
RESPONDERS WHOSE QUICK RESPONSE
TIME AND DECISIVE ACTION
PREVENTED MORE LOSS OF LIFE AND
GREATER INJURY.
WE'RE PROUD OF THE AMAZING WORK
PERFORMED BY THE SURGEONS AND
MEDICAL TEAMS AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF ARIZONA MEDICAL CENTER.
WHOSE SKILL AND EXPERTISE SHINED
DURING TRYING TIMES.
AND ABOVE ALL, MR. SPEAKER, WE
ARE PROUD OF THE SIX WHO
PERISHED AND OF CONGRESSWOMAN
GIFFORDS, ALL OF WHOM WERE
SIMPLY DOING THEIR DUTY AS GOOD
AMERICANS.
THEY AS ACTIVE CITIZENS AND SHE
AS THEIR WORTHY REPRESENTATIVE.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN.