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COMMITTEE AGAIN SOON AND I WOULD
LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT
FEDERAL JUDGE ROLL.
SHE WAS WITH CONGRESSWOMAN
GIFFORDS --
I YIELD 30 SECONDS.
JUDGE ROLL WAS WITH
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS TO PRESS
FOR FUNDING TO RELIEVE
OVERCROWDING ON HIS DISTRICT.
JUDGE ROLL HAD BEEN A LIFETIME
SERVANT OF HIS COMMUNITY, 63
YEARS OLD AND AS JUSTICE JOHN
ROBERTS SAID, JUDGE ROLL'S DEATH
IS A SOMBER REMINDER OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF RULE OF LAW AND
THE SACRIFICES OF THOSE WHO WORK
TO SECURE IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE
OTHER VICTIMS.
I WON'T NAME THEM AND I DO NOT
KNOW THEM PERSONALLY, BUT I
EXPRESS MY SYMPATHY AND
CONDOLENCES TO THEIR FAMILIES
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
.
MY TIME.
I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
FLORIDA.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF
THIS RESOLUTION.
THE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS OF
FLORIDA'S SECOND CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT I DELIVER, OUR HEARTS
ARE BROKEN OVER THE EVENTS OF
SAT.
WE WANT TO DELIVER TODAY OUR
THOUGHTS ESPECIALLY TO THOSE
FAMILIES WHO LOST THEIR LOVED
ONES, THE SIX FAMILIES WHO WERE
TODAY MEMORIALIZING THEM AND
PLANNING THOSE DETAILS.
YOU KNOW, I ALSO WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT I EXPRESS MY
APPRECIATION FOR THE SHORT TIME
THAT I HAD A PRIVILEGE OF
SPEAKING WITH REPRESENTATIVE
GIFFORDS.
YOU KNOW, LAST THURSDAY, SHORTLY
AFTER WE WERE SWORN IN, I WALKED
JUST OUTSIDE THE FLOOR AND SHE
MET ME OUTSIDE AND SHE EXTENDED
HER HAND TO ME AND SHE SAID,
HELLO, SHE SAID, I'M GABBY
GIFFORDS.
SHE SAID, YOU
MUST BE NEW.
I SAID, WELL, I AM NEW.
I'M STEVE SOUTHERLAND.
SHE SAID, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I SAID, FLORIDA.
SHE SAID, WELL LET ME INTRODUCE
HELP YOU.
YOU TO SOME PEOPLE THAT WILL
AND SHE WALKED
DOWN THE HALL AND OUT TO THE
STEPS AND SHE INTRODUCED ME TO
NUMEROUS, NUMEROUS FLOOR STAFF.
I DID NOT HAVE ANY OTHER
ENCOUNTER WITH HER EXCEPT FOR
THAT FIVE-MINUTE BRIEF TIME AND
ON SATURDAY WHEN I LEARNED OF
THE EVENTS THAT HAD OCCURRED IN
TUCSON, IT WAS WITH HORROR THAT
I GOT HOME AND I TURNED ON THE
TELEVISION AND I REALIZED THAT
IT WAS THAT WONDERFUL, SWEET
PERSON WHO WITH KINDNESS AND
GENTLENESS INTRODUCED ME TO THE
STAFF.
AND SO IT IS WITH A BURDENED
HEART TODAY THAT I WANT THOSE IN
THIS CHAMBER AND THE PEOPLE OF
AMERICA TO KNOW THAT THE
CITIZENS OF FLORIDA'S DISTRICT
TWO ARE HEART BROKEN AS WELL.
WE ARE PRAYING FOR EACH AND
EVERYONE AFFECTED AND I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE GO FROM HERE
TO CONTINUE IN HONOR OF THOSE
WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIFE AND
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED, TO
CREATE A MORE PERFECT UNION,
THAT WE WORK HARD TO SECURE THE
BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY, FOR THAT
IS HOW WE WILL BE KNOWN BY THE
WORLD, NOT BY OUR SECURITY, NOT
BY OUR POLICY, BUT BY THE
CIVILITY, BY THE LOVE WE SHOW
AND CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
THAT WILL MAKE US A SHINING CITY
ON A HILL AND THAT'S WHAT I'M
COMMITTED TO DOING.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
I'M PLEASED TO YIELD
TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF
MASSACHUSETTS, MR. MCGOVERN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK HERE TODAY.
AS HAS BEEN SAID OVER AND OVER,
GABRIELLE GIFFORDSES IS A SMART,
GOISTED -- GIFTED, AND
COMPASSIONATE MEMBER OF
CONGRESS.
IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE HER
COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND.
AND ARIZONA IS PRIVILEGED TO BE
REPRESENTED BY A PERSON OF HER
CALIBER.
MY WIFE LISA AND I PRAY FOR HER
RECOVER AND OUR THOUGHTS ARE
WITH HER, HER FAMILY, HER
FRIENDS AND HER COMMUNITY AS
THEY COME TOGETHER IN THE
AFTERMATH OF THIS TERRIBLE ACT
OF VIOLENCE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING GABBY
BACK HERE WHERE SHE BELONGS ON
THIS FLOOR, ADVOCATING ON BEHALF
OF HER CONSTITUENTS.
I SERVED IN THIS HOUSE FOR MANY
YEARS AS A CONGRESSIONAL AIDE
AND SINCE I'VE BEEN ELECTED TO
CONGRESS I'VE COME TO APPRECIATE
EVEN MORE THE GENEROUS AND
SELFLESS SERVICE OF OUR STAFFS.
SO I AM ESPECIALLY TOUCHED AND
GRIEVED BY THE *** OF GABE
ZIMMERMAN WHO SERVED AS GABBY'S
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
FOR THOSE WHOSE LIVES WERE LOST,
CHRISTINA TAYLOR GREEN, DOROTHY
MORRIS, JUDGE JOHN ROLL, PHYLLIS
SCHNECK AND DORWIN STODDARD WHO
IS RELATED TO ONE OF MY OWN
STAFF, MY SYMPATHY, CONDOLENCE
AND PRAYERS WITH THEIR LOVED
ONES.
I BELIEVE SO VERY STRONGLY THAT
WE HERE IN THIS HOUSE AND ALL OF
US AS AMERICANS MUST COME TOTE
AND TRANSFORM THIS TRAGEDY INTO
SOMETHING POSITIVE AND HOPEFUL.
WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY THAT IS TOO
TOE LARIZED AND WE LIVE IN --
POLARIZED.
IF THIS HORRIBLE ACT OF VIOLENCE
RESULTS IN ALL OF US BECOMING
MORE CIVIL TO ONE ANOTHER AND
TAKING A MORE CAREFUL LOOK AT
THE WORDS AND IMAGERY WE USE
WHEN TALKING TO AND ABOUT ONE
ANOTHER AS WE DEAL WITH
DIFFICULT AND CONTROVERSIAL
POLICY DEBATES, IF IT RESULTS IN
CONCRETE WAYS TO BEGIN TO
REVERSE THIS CULTURE OF
VIOLENCE, THEN OUR NATURE WILL
TRIUMPH OVER THIS PAIN AND LOSS.
TODAY IS A TIME TO GRIEVE, TO
MOURN, TO EXPRESS SYMPATHY.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY IN THE
AFTERMATH OF THIS TRAGEDY, TOO
MANY OF THE OLD FIGHTS
RESURFACED.
THE LEFT BLAME THE RIGHT, THE
RIGHT BLAME THE LEFT.
EVERYBODY BLAME THE MEDIA.
OP EDS WERE WRITTEN AND BILLS
WERE INTRODUCED.
BUT, MADAM SPEAKER, NONE OF THAT
LOST.
WILL BRING BACK THOSE WHO WERE
NONE THAT HAVE WILL PUT A
9-YEAR-OLD GIRL BACK AT THE
BREAKFAST TABLE WHERE SHE
BELONGS.
LIKE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ON
MONDAY I PARTICIPATED IN A
NATIONAL MOMENT OF SILENCE.
THE BEST THING ABOUT THAT MOMENT
WAS THAT FOR JUST A MINUTE OR
TWO THE NOISE STOPPED.
WE PAUSED AND WE REFLECTED.
AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN DO MORE
OF THAT IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS
AHEAD.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, IT
IS MY PLEASURE NOW TO YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN WHO HAS
RETURNED FROM NEW MEXICO, MR.
PEARCE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW MEXICO, MR.
PEARCE, IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
MADAM SPEAKER, IT'S MY DISTINCT
HONOR TO RISE TODAY AND CALL
CONGRESSWOMAN GABBY GIFFORDS NOT
ONLY A COLLEAGUE BUT A FRIEND.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING
WITH THIS FINE LADY FROM ARIZONA
ON SEVERAL INITIATIVES,
BEGINNING VERY EARLY IN HER
FIRST TERM.
THE DISTRICTS THAT WE SERVE ARE
VERY SIMILAR.
SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO, SOUTHERN
ARIZONA, WE SHARE THE SOUTHERN
BORDER, WE HAVE ISSUES OF PUBLIC
LAND, PUBLIC ACCESS, RESOURCES.
SO MANY OF OUR PERSPECTIVES
ORIGINATE FROM THE SAME SORT OF
DISTRICT.
I GOT TO KNOW GABBY JUST IN THE
FIRST MONTH HERE IN FEBRUARY.
WE WENT TOGETHER TO IRAQ TO
VISIT SOLDIERS.
TOGETHER WE'D SIT DOWN AND VISIT
WITH YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO
WERE DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY, WHO
WERE FIGHTING FOR THE FREEDOM OF
THE IRAQIS THERE AND WE JUST
GREW A COMMON BOND IN THE
SERVICE AND THE RECOGNITION OF
THOSE WHO WERE SERVING IN EVEN
CIRCUMSTANCE.
MORE O'A MORE DIFFICULT
WE FOUND THE OPPORTUNITIES TO
WORK ACROSS THE AISLE ON SEVERAL
ISSUES JUST AFTER WE RETURNED
AND THAT'S THE STRONG MEMORIES
THAT COMPEL ME TODAY TO STAND UP
AND SAY THAT I'VE GROWN TO
RESPECT AND ADMIRE THE EFFORTS
OF THIS COURAGEOUS YOUNG WOMAN
AS SHE SERVED HERE IN CONGRESS.
AS WE SAW THE UNFORESEEABLE AND
TRAGEDY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS
PAST WEEKEND, WE REALIZED THAT
THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT
FACE US ALL AND I WOULD
RECOGNIZE RIGHT NOW THAT
GABRIELLE GIFFORDS DECIDED TO DO
HER JOB NO MATTER THE RISK.
SHE SERVED WITH COURAGE,
DETERMINATION, WITH OPENNESS AND
FORTH RIGHTNESS TO HER
CONSTITUENTS THAT SHOULD BE A
MODEL TO ALL OF US.
I KNOW THAT SHE IS AN
INSPIRATION FOR ME TODAY AS SHE
STRUGGLES TO REGAIN HER HEALTH
AND TO REGAIN HER POSITION HERE
SERVING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT MANY
OF GABRIELLE GIFFORDS'
INITIATIVES IN THE PAST.
IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TODAY TO LEND
MY SUPPORT TO THIS RESOLUTION.
I PRAY FOR HER SPEEDY RECOVERY
AND FOR THE RECOVERY OF THOSE
INJURED ON THAT FATEFUL DAY.
I PRAY FOR THE COMFORT OF THOSE
WHO LOST LOVED ONES.
MAY GOD BLESS GABRIELLE
GIFFORDS.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
MADAM SPEAKER, AT
THIS TIME I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK,
MRS. MALONEY.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK, MRS.
MALONEY, IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
MADAM SPEAKER, LIKE SO MANY OF
MY COLLEAGUES, I KNEW GABRIELLE
GIFFORDS TO BE A WARM AND CARING
FRIEND.
A RISING STAR IN THE HOUSE WITH
A MORAL COMPASS AS SURE AS IT IS
TRUE.
THAT IS WHY SHE CONVENIENTLY --
RECENTLY SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE
RISING TIDE OF HATE SPEECH IN
OUR COUNTRY.
AND THE LACK OF CIVILITY IN OUR
POLITICAL PROCESS.
WHILE IT MAY BE TOO EARLY TO
COME TO ANY CONCLUSIONS ABOUT
THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE RECENT
TRAGIC EVENTS, IT IS NEVER TOO
LATE TO REFLECT ON LESSONS WE
HAVE LEARNED FROM EARLIER SUCH
TRAGEDIES AND TAKE THEM TO
HEART.
GUNS KILL AND THOSE WHO
GRAMMARIZE GUN PLAY DO NO
SERVICE TO HUMANITY.
WORDS MATTER AND THOSE WHO USE
INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC TO ACHIEVE
CHEAP POLITICAL GAIN WOUND OUR
COUNTRY AND WEAKEN THE TIES THAT
BIND US.
DEMOCRACY TRIUMPHS, THE
FUNDAMENTAL WISDOM THAT HAS
DISTINGUISHED OUR NATION AND LED
HER TO GREATNESS RESIDES IN OUR
UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SETTLE
DISPUTES WITH BALLOTS, NOT
BULLETS.
MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT
TO CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS.
I HOPE FOR HER SWIFT AND
COMPLETE RECOVERY.
AND TO HER FAMILY AND TO ALL THE
FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF
THE VICTIMS OF THAT TRAGIC
EVENT.
AS WE APPROACH THE OBSERVANCE OF
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY, LET US
RECALL THE WORDS OF ROBERT
KENNEDY THAT WERE SAID ON THAT
TRAGIC DAY SO MANY YEARS AGO.
AND I QUOTE, LET US DEDICATE
OURSELVES TO WHAT THE GREEKS
WROTE SO MANY YEARS AGO, TO TAME
THE SAVAGENESS OF MAN AND MAKE
GENTLE THE LIFE OF THIS WORLD.
GET WELL SOON, GABBY, WE NEED
YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR STRENGTH,
YOUR COURAGE.
YOU'RE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND YOU
ARE IN OUR PRAYERS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I'D LIKE TO YIELD
TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MR. PLATTS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR GOT INS -- FOR
TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
I THANK THE DISTINGUISHED
SPEAKER.
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA TO
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE IN HUMBLE
YIELDING -- FOR YIELDING TO ME.
AND SOLEMN SUPPORT FOR HOUSE
RESOLUTION 32.
I ALSO RISE TO EXPRESS MY
HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO OUR
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO, MR.
BOEHNER, AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE
DEMOCRATIC ALIKE.
HOUSE LEADERSHIP, REPUBLICAN AND
THE THOUGHTFUL AND COMPASSIONATE
MANNER IN WHICH THEY HAVE UNITED
THE MEMBERS OF THIS GREAT
INSTITUTION IN PRAYERFUL SUPPORT
FOR OUR BELOVED COLLEAGUE AND
FRIEND, CONGRESSWOMAN GABRIELLE
GIFFORDS, AND ALL OF THE VICTIMS
OF THE JANUARY 8 ATTACK IN
TUCSON, ARIZONA, IS SINCERELY
APPRECIATED.
MADAM SPEAKER, AS WITH ALL
AMERICANS, I WAS DEEPLY SADDENED
AND HORRIFIED UPON LEARNING OF
THE SENSELESS AND VIOLENT ATTACK
ON CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS,
MEMBERS OF GABBY'S STAFF AND
CITIZENS OF ARIZONA'S EIGHTH
DISTRICT.
THIS ACT OF VIOLENCE WAS AN
UNTHINKABLE ATTACK ON A
DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT AND HER
CONSTITUENTS.
IT WAS ALSO AN ATTACK ON ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT CORNERSTONES
OF OUR FORM OF REPRESENTATIONAL
DEMOCRACY, THE DUTY OF ELECTED
OFFICIALS TO REACH OUT TO THE
CITIZENS THEY SERVE.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE NOT
ALLOW THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF
JANUARY 8 TO PREVENT ELECTED
OFFICIALS FROM FULFILLING THIS
DUTY, TO REMAIN IN CLOSE CONTACT
WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND WELL
GROUNDED IN THEIR CONCERNS.
ON BEHALF OF MY WIFE LESLIE AND
OUR FAMILY AND ALL RESIDENTS OF
PENNSYLVANIA'S 19TH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, I OFFER
OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO THE
FAMILIES, THE FRIENDS AND THE
CO-WORKERS OF THOSE WHO WERE
TAKEN FROM US IN THIS ATTACK.
PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU AND ALL THE
VICTIMS OF THIS TERRIBLE TRAGEDY
ARE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.
MAY GOD WATCH OVER YOU AS HE
CONTINUES TO WATCH OVER OUR
GRIEVING NATION.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
MADAM SPEAKER, AT
THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
WISCONSIN, MS. BALDWIN.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM WISCONSIN, MS.
BALDWIN, IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING AND THANK
YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I RISE TO EXPRESS MY THOUGHTS
AND OFFER MY PRAYERS AND THOSE
OF MY CONSTITUENTS FOR MY FRIEND
AND COLLEAGUE, GABBY GIFFORDS,
WHO LIES CRITICALLY WOUNDED AND
FOR HER STAFFER, GABE ZIMMERMAN,
FOR THE PRECIOUS PATRIOT
TAYLOR GREEN, FOR
DOROTHY MORRIS, JUDGE JOHN ROLL,
PHYLLIS SCHNECK AND DORWIN
STODDARD WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN
THIS SENSELESS TRAGEDY.
AND TO THEIR FAMILIES.
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TOO GO
OUT TO THE OTHER INNOCENT
VICTIMS OF THIS TRAGEDY,
INCLUDING CONGRESSIONAL STAFFERS
RON BARBER AND PAMELA SIMON AND
THEIR FAMILIES.
AND OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO
ALL THOSE BRAVE SOULS WHO
RESPONDED VALIANTLY AND QUICKLY,
PREVENTING EVEN MORE DEATHS AND
INJURY.
AND TO THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA WHO
LOVE THEIR STATE AND OUR
DEMOCRACY, TO YOU WE EXPRESS OUR
SOLIDARITY.
GABBY, AS WE ALL KNOW, IS ONE OF
THE NICEST, MOST DECENT,
DEDICATED, CONCERNED AND
COMPASSIONATE REPRESENTATIVES IN
THIS BODY.
THE FACT THAT SHE AND HER STAFF
WERE GUNNED DOWN WHILE DOING
THEIR JOBS, DOING EXACTLY WHAT
IS REQUIRED IN A DEMOCRACY,
MAKES THIS TRAGEDY EVEN MORE
UNFATHOMABLE.
AND SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE
IMPACT OF THIS TRAGEDY ON OUR
DEMOCRACY.
WE CANNOT HAVE A WELL
FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY WITHOUT
AMPLE INTERACTION AND DISCOURSE
BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
AND THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY THIS
TRAGEDY INVITES US TO EXAMINE
THE WAY WE CONDUCT BUSINESS ON
ALL LEVELS.
AND I HOPE OUT OF THIS TRAGEDY
COMES A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO
CIVILITY.
I APPLAUD SPEAKER BOEHNER AND
SPEAKER PELOSI FOR SETTING THE
RIGHT TONE.
WE HAVE A MOMENT NOW TO LOOK
PROSPECTIVELY AT HOW WE DEBATE
ISSUES OF GREAT IMPORT.
I HOPE -- MR. BRALEY: AN
ADDITIONAL FEW SECONDS.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
HOW CAN WE
PROVIDE --
PEOPLE NEED TO
DIFFER WITHOUT DEMONIZING
OTHERS.
PEOPLE REACH DIFFERENT
CONCLUSIONS OF IMPORTANT TOPICS
OF OUR TIME BUT EACH OF US LIKE
GABBY SEEKS OFFICE BECAUSE WE
WANT TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR
THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT.
WE WANT A BETTER AMERICA.
DWABBY -- GABBY, KEEP FIGHTING
THE GOOD FIGHT.
WE NEED YOU AND AMERICA NEEDS
YOU.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLELADY FROM TENNESSEE.
THE
THE GENTLELADY FROM IS
RECOGNIZED.
OUR THOUGHTS
AND PRAYERS ARE WITH ALL OF
THOSE VICTIMS, WITH THEIR
FAMILIES, AND WITH OUR
COLLEAGUE GABBY GIFFORDS.
SHE WAS DOING WHAT WE ALL DO,
HEARING THE CONCERNS OF HER
CONSTITUENTS AND I THINK WE ALL
KNOW AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE IN
THIS CHAMBER ARE MORE VISIBLE
AND MORE ACCOUNTABLE THAN EVER
BEFORE.
ON SATURDAY A MADMAN, A
MONSTER, ATTEMPTED TO
ASSASSINATE OUR BELOVED
COLLEAGUE.
SHE WAS SHOT IN THE LINE OF
DUTY, THE DUTY OF LISTENING TO
SO SHE COULD MORE EFFECTIVELY
REPRESENT THOSE CONSTITUENTS.
IT WAS A DUTY SHE AND MANY OF
US DO LOVE AND TREASURE THAT
CONSTITUENTS.
INTERACTION WITH OUR
TODAY MORE SO THAN EVER AS
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE CALLED
TO THAT DUTY, WE REALIZE THAT
IT GOES WITH US WHEREVER WE GO.
EVERY TRIP TO THE GROCERY
STORE, TO CHURCH, TO A SOCCER
GAME CAN TURN INTO A TOWN HALL
MEETING, THAT ACCESSIBILITY FOR
THOSE WHO COUNT ON US TO MAKE
THE DECISIONS IS SOMETHING WE
CANNOT GIVE UP.
EVEN THE PAST WEEK'S EVENTS
HAVE DEVASTATED US, WE MUST NOT
COMPOUND THE TRAGEDY BY BEING
DETERRED FROM THOSE DUTIES.
THE SHOOTING OCCURRED ON
SATURDAY AND ON SUNDAY I KEPT A
PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED DISTRICT
APPOINTMENT AT FORT CAMPBELL.
THAT ARMY POST IS HOME TO THE
101ST AIRBORNE WHEN THEY ARE
NOT DEPLOYED AS THEY CURRENTLY
ARE IN AFGHANISTAN.
THESE PUBLIC SERVANTS KNOW WHAT
THE SENSELESS LOSS OF AN
HONORED FRIEND, COLLEAGUE, EVEN
A HERO FEELS LIKE.
THEY ALSO KNOW BETTER THAN
ANYONE ELSE THAT SERVICE IS
OFTEN MOST VALUABLE WHEN IT IS
PERFORMED IN THE FACE OF FEAR,
UNCERTAINTY, OR HOSTILITY.
SO MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE
ASKED, WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR
HOW WE AS MEMBERS CARRY OUT OUR
JOBS.
AND I THINK WE ALL WILL BE MORE
CAREFUL WHEN WE UNDERTAKE OUR
DUTIES.
WE KNOW WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE,
NOT ONLY FOR OUR OWN SAFETY,
WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
SAFETY OF OUR STAFF, OUR
CONSTITUENTS WHO BRING ISSUES
TO US AND IN THIS I HOPE OUR
SERVICE DOES CREDIT TO THE MEN
AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I GRANT THE
GENTLELADY AN ADDITIONAL 20
SECONDS.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
AN ADDITIONAL 30 SECONDS.
I HOPE IT --
GOD BLESS GABBY
GIFFORDS AND THE STAFF AND
OTHER INNOCENT VICTIMS.
BLESS THIS HOUSE AND OUR GREAT
NATION.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS,
MR. DOGGETT.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED TWO
MINUTES.
OUR COLLEAGUE
GABBY GIFFORDS WAS DOING WHAT
SHE DOES SO WELL, WHAT EVERY
MEMBER DOES, LISTENING TO HER
CONSTITUENTS IN AN OPEN PUBLIC
FORUM, YOUNG AND OLD, AMERICANS
OF ALL POLITICAL PHILOSOPHIES
GATHERING TO MEET WITH HER.
THIS IS THE VERY TYPE OF
NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE HOURS THAT
SO MANY OF US HOLD.
I'VE HELD MANY OF THEM
THROUGHOUT CENTRAL SECONDS AND
THIS IS THE VERY TYPE OF
OPENNESS THAT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO
OUR DEMOCRACY AND CRITICAL TO A
SOCIETY THAT RECOGNIZES THAT
CHANGE IS ACHIEVED THROUGH
BALLADS, NOT BULLETS.
LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, ANOTHER
DISTURBED INDIVIDUAL EXPRESSED
HIS ANGER BY CRASHING HIS
AIRPLANE INTO A BUILDING IN
AUSTIN, TEXAS, THAT HOUSED
I.R.S. EMPLOYEES, CAUSING GREAT
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.
INCREDIBLY, A FACE BOOK PAGE
WAS ERECTED QUICKLY IN HIS
HONOR.
WHAT I SAID THEN I WOULD
RE-EMPHASIZE TODAY, WE MUST
TURN DOWN THE VOLUME ON HATE TO
DISCOURAGE MORE SUCH HARMS.
DEBATE, VIGOROUS DEBATE, IS AT
THE VERY HEART OF OUR
DEMOCRACY.
SOMETIMES IT IS HEATED AND
STRONGLY WORDED.
SUCH STRONG DISCOURSE HELPS US
TO SET AMERICA'S COURSE.
BUT VIOLENCE IS NOT DISCOURSE,
IT IS THE BASIS OF OUR
DEMOCRACY.
VIOLENCE CAN KILL A HUMAN BEING
BUT IT CANNOT KILL THE TRUTH.
IN A FREE AND OPEN MARKET OF
IDEAS, TRUTH WILL ULTIMATELY
PREVAIL.
IN THE WORDS OF DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR. WHOSE LIFE AND
WORK WE CELEBRATE THIS VERY
MONTH, I BELIEVE THAT UNARMED
TRUTH AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
WILL HAVE THE FINAL WORD IN
REALITY.
THAT IS WHY WHITE TEMPORARILY
DEFEAT -- RIGHT IS TEMPORARILY
DEFEATED THAN EVIL TRIUMPHANT.
WE PRAY FOR THOSE LOST AND THE
MANY WHO STILL SUFFER FROM THIS
GREAT TRAGEDY.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. LUNGREN, MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA,
MR. FITZPATRICK.
THE
GENTLEMAN MR. FITSPATRICK IS
RECOGNIZED.
I HAD THE
HONOR OF PERSONALLY MEETING
REPRESENTATIVE GIFFORDS FOR THE
FIRST TIME JUST LAST WEEK HERE
IN THE CHAMBER AND ALTHOUGH MY
SERVICE IN THE HOUSE IS THUS
FAR ONLY OVERLAPPED EVER SO
BRIEFLY WITH HERS, GABBY'S
ATTITUDE OF SERVICE AND SPIRIT
OF COMMITMENT TO THOSE THAT SHE
REPRESENTS WAS IMMEDIATELY
APPARENT.
REPRESENTATIVE GIFFORDS WAS
PRACTICING ONE OF THE MOST
BASIC AND IMPORTANT DUTIES A
MEMBER OF CONGRESS WILL HAVE,
MAKING HERSELF AVAILABLE TO
CONSTITUENTS WHEN A GUNMAN
VICIOUSLY AN INEXPLICABLY
AATTACKED HER AND 19 OTHERS.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND
EXPLANATION FOR THE TRAGIC
EVENT.
WHEEL AN EXPLANATION WILL A--
WHILE AN EXPLANATION WILL
ALLUDE US, WE CAN FIND COMFORT
IN THIS RABBI'S WORDS.
THIS PAST MONDAY EVENING BEFORE
A TOWN HALL MEETING IN BUCK'S
COUNTY, THE RABBI PRAYED AND
PRAYED THE DISASTER IN ARIZONA
SERVES AS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR
OUR COUNTRY AND SERVES AS A
ALL.
MORE LOVING ATMOSPHERE FOR US
AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE ALL
AMERICANS AND RISE AND FALL
TOGETHER.
I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THE
RESOLUTION.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
MADAM SPEAKER, AT
THIS TIME I'M HAPPY TO YIELD
TWO MINUTES TO THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEWOMAN FROM
HAWAII.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
I RISE TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES
IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION
AND SUPPORT MYSELF WITH THE
ELOQUENT AND HEARTFELT
EXPRESSIONS OF CONDOLENCES AND
COMFORT FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
AND TO HEAR THE WONDERFUL
STORIES ABOUT GABBY TOLD ON
THIS FLOOR HELP CAPTURE THE
WARMTH AND HUMANITY THAT IS
GABBY GIFFORDS.
THE SHOCK, HORROR AND TEARS
THAT FOLLOW THE UNFOLDING OF
THE TERRIBLE YOUTH IN ARIZONA,
IT'S LIKE JUST YESTERDAY.
HERE WAS GABBY ON THE FIRST DAY
AFTER WE FINISHED VOTES TO MEET
WITH HER CONSTITUENTS WITH ON
THE CORNER.
AN EVENT MANY OF US DO IN OUR
OWN DISTRICTS.
SHE WAS JOINED BY HER STAFF AND
A LARGE NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS
WHO WANTED TO TALK WITH HER
INCLUDING A THIRD GRADER SO
EXCITED TO MEET WITH HER
CONGRESS PERSON WHO HAD JUST
BEEN ELECTED TO AN OFFICE IN
HER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I SEND MY CONDOLENCES ON BEHALF
OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF HAWAII,
TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO
LOST LOVED ONES IN THIS
SENSELESS ACT OF VIOLENCE, AND
I'M GOING TO SAY THEIR NAMES
AGAIN BECAUSE THEY MUST NOT BE
FORGOTTEN.
JOHN ROLL, 63, CHIEF JUDGE FOR
THE U.S. DISTRICT OF ARIZONA.
GABRIEL MASTER ZIMMERMAN, 30,
MASTER DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY
OUTREACH.
CHRISTINA TAYLOR-GREEN, 9 YEARS
OLD, BEAUTIFUL, BRIGHT GIRL WHO
SHOULD HAVE HAD A CHANCE FOR A
FULL LIFE.
DORTHY MURRAY, 76, WHOSE
HUSBAND WAS CRITICALLY INJURED
TRYING TO PROTECT HER DURING
THE SHOOTINGS.
PHYLLIS SCHECK, 79, MOTHER OF
THREE, GRANDMOTHER OF SEVEN,
DORWIN STODDARD, 76, WHO
SHIELDED HIS WIFE WHO WAS ALSO
WOUNDED.
OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH THOSE WHO
ARE STRUGGLING TO RECOVER FROM
THEIR INJURIES, INCLUDING OUR
DEAR FRIEND AND MY CLASSMATE
GABBY.
GABBY'S HUSBAND, MARK KELLY,
AND ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF
THE VICTIMS.
WE ARE ALL ONE FAMILY, AS WE
SAY IN HAWAII, UNITED IN OUR
COLLECTIVE AGGRESSIVE AND
PRAYERS.
I WAS LISTENING TO N.P.R. THIS
MORNING AND LEARNED THE EVENING
BEFORE THIS TERRIBLE TRAGEDY --
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
I YIELD THE
GENTLELADY AN ADDITIONAL 30
SECONDS.
PUT
THE GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS
EXPIRED.
GABBY REACHED OUT
TO A REPUBLICAN OF HER STATE TO
TALK TO HIM ABOUT WAYS THAT WE
BOTH, WE ALL COULD TONE DOWN
THE POLITICAL RHETORIC AND
PARTISANSHIP AND AT THIS POINT
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT DROVE THE
GUNMAN TO COMMIT THIS HORRIBLE
ACT OF VIOLENCE, REGARDLESS
WHETHER HIS ACTIONS HAVE A
CAUSAL CONNECTION WITH AN
INCREASING I HAD NEGATIVE TONE
OF OUR POLITICAL DISCOURSE, I
THINK THIS TRAGEDY SHOULD GIVE
US ALL PAUSE TO REFLECT.
JUST AS WE HAVE ALL COME
TOGETHER TODAY TO HONOR THE
VICTIMS OF THIS TRAGEDY, I
BELIEVE WE CAN HONOR GABBY BY
GOING FORWARD WITH THE
HEIGHTENED COMMITMENT TO
RESPECT EACH OTHER, LISTEN TO
EACH OTHER'S POINTS OF VIEWS
AND COME UP WITH POLICIES THAT
WILL STRENGTHEN OUR NATION.
WE MUST GO FORWARD TOGETHER.
THE
EXPIRED .
THE GENTLEWOMAN'S TIME HAS
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLELADY FROM
NEW YORK, DR. H A, YWORTH.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR
TWO MINUTES.
I RISE TO HONOR
THOSE OF THE ATROCIOUS ATTACK.
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS AND HER
STAFF ARE CONSTANTLY IN THE
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS OF HER
COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE.
AS A MOTHER I'M PROFOUNDLY
SADDENED BY THE LOSS OF THE
YOUNGEST VICTIM, CHRISTINA
TAYLOR-GREEN.
SHE WAS ONLY 9 YEARS OLD.
SHE BELONGED TO HISTORY AT THE
BEGINNING OF HER LIFE AND SHE
BELONGS TO HISTORY AT THE END
OF HER LIFE.
SHE WAS BORN ON SEPTEMBER 11,
2001, AND CHRISTINA WAS ACUTELY
AWARE OF THE IMPACT THAT DAY
HAD ON OUR NATION, BUT SHE
ALWAYS FOUND THE POSITIVES AND
HOPEFUL IN THAT DREADFUL EVENT.
SHE WOULD OFTEN TELL PEOPLE SHE
WAS BORN ON A HOLIDAY, AND SHE
SAID IT WAS A HOLIDAY BECAUSE
IT GAVE HOPE TO SAY THAT AND
GAY.
PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER ON THAT
SHE WORE RED, WHITE AND BLUE
AND SHE WAS VOCAL ABOUT HER
AMERICAN.
PATRIOTISM AND PRIDE TO BE AN
IN ADDITION TO BEING EXTREMELY
PATRIOTIC, CHRISTINA WAS AN
INQUISITIVE AND MATURE YOUNG
LADY WHO RECENTLY TAKEN AN
INTEREST IN THE MOST
FUNDAMENTAL OF AMERICAN RIGHTS,
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
SHE HAD JUST BEEN ELECTED TO
HER OWN STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND
SHE WAS ATTENDING SATURDAY'S
EVENT TO MEET HER CONGRESSWOMAN
AND LEARN MORE ABOUT
GOVERNMENT.
AS WE DWREEVE FOR -- AS WE
GRIEVE FOR HER LOSS, IT'S
IMPORTANT TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE
MODEL YOUNG CITIZEN CHRISTINA
WAS AND HONOR HER MEMORY.
AS ADULTS, WE CAN ALL LEARN
FROM CHRISTINA'S POSITIVE
OUTLOOK ON LIFE, LOVE OF
COUNTRY, AND PARTICIPATION IN
GOVERNMENT.
EVEN DURING THESE DARK AND
PAINFUL TIMES, WE SHOULD TAKE
SOLACE IN KNOWING THAT WITH
CHILDREN LIKE CHRISTINA GROWING
UP IN OUR SOCIETY, OUR NATION
HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE.
THANK YOU AND WITH THAT I YIELD
BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
I'M DELIGHTED
TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO MRS.
CAPPS.
MRS.
CAPPS IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
I THANK MY
COLLEAGUE FROM IOWA.
I RISE TO SUPPORT HOUSE
RESOLUTION 32 TO HONOR GAVEDS
AS SHE RECOVERS FROM HER
INJURIES AND PAY TRIBUTE TO
THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AND
THANK THOSE WHO ALSO LOST THEIR
LIVES.
THIS IS A DEVASTATING WEEK FOR
.
ALL OF US IN CONGRESS.
THE VIOLENCE IN TUCSON HAS
INFRINGED UPON OUR SENSE OF
SAFETY AND DECENCY.
IT HAS ALSO LEFT US GRIEVING FOR
A COLLEAGUE, FOR HER STAFF, FOR
THE SIX AMERICANS WHO LOST THEIR
LIVES LAST SATURDAY AS RECITED
BY MY COLLEAGUE FROM HAWAII JUST
NOW.
REPRESENTATIVE GIFFORDS, GABBY,
TO SO MANY OF US, IS TRULY A
TREASURED MEMBER OF THIS BODY.
SHE'S A GIFTED LEGISLATOR,
FREQUENTLY LEADING HER
COLLEAGUES ON ISSUES LIKE SOLAR
ENERGY, SPACE ENDEAVORS,
VETERANS HEALTH CARE AND
PRECOMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION
REFORM.
BUT GABBY IS ALSO KNOWN AROUND
CAPITOL HILL AS A SMART,
GENEROUS AND UNFAILINGLY
DEDICATED SERVANT AND FRIEND.
SHE'S THE ONE WHO WOULD BE
HELPING TO PLAN A BABY SHOWER
FOR ONE OF HER COLLEAGUES, TO
REACH ACROSS THE AISLE TO LEND A
SUPPORTING HAND TO A COLLEAGUE
IN NEED OF ADVICE, OR TO TAKE
TIME TO OFFER A HAND TO A
STAFFER AFTER A LONG DAY AT
WORK.
I ALSO THINK OF GABBY AS A
UNIQUE AND ALL TOO RARE
REPRESENTATIVE IN THIS CONGRESS.
SHE PREFERS CONSIDERATE AND
DETAILED DEBATE OVER HARSH AND
ANGRY RHETORIC.
SHE CHOOSES HER WORDS
THOUGHTFULLY AND HAS SPOKEN OUT
AGAINST VIOLENT LANGUAGE AND THE
CONSEQUENCES SUCH CARELESS ACTS
CREATE.
SO I WOULD ARGUE THAT IF WE
REALLY WANT TO PAY TRIBUTE TO
GABBY HERE TODAY, MAY HER
SERVICE NOT BE AN EXCEPTION TO
THE RULE.
WE IN THIS CHAMBER HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE EVERY DAY BY
THE WORDS WE ARE SPEAKING TODAY.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE SORROW OF
MANY YEARS TO COME.
SATURDAY'S TRAGEDY WILL ECHO FOR
AS WE PRAY AND TAKE STOCK OF
THIS TRAGEDY, I'M ALSO CONCERNED
BY THE EASE WITH WHICH A CLEARLY
TROUBLED YOUNG MAN COULD OBTAIN
A FIREARM.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS INCIDENT
ALSO ILLUMINATES A SERIOUS GAP
IN OUR MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM.
ONE WHERE FAR TOO MANY ILL
PEOPLE SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS.
THE PRICE FOR THESE FAILINGS IS
ALL TOO OFTEN PAID AS IN THIS
CASE BY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
WE OWE IT TO THE VICTIMS OF THIS
HORRIFIC TRAGEDY TO IMPROVE OUR
MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM.
COULD I ASK FOR AN ADDITIONAL 30
SECONDS, PLEASE?
AT THIS TIME I YIELD
30 SECONDS ADDITIONAL TO THE
GENTLEWOMAN.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU.
WE OWE IT TO THE VICTIMS OF THIS
HORRIFIC TRAGEDY TO IMPROVE THE
MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM AND IN
ADDITION TO ADDRESS GUN
VIOLENCE.
WE CAN DO BETTER.
LET US RESOLVE TO DO SO.
LIKE EVERYONE HERE IN COUNT --
AND COUNTLESS AT HOME, I AM
PRAYING FOR GABBY'S RECOVERY,
FOR HER CONSTITUENTS WHO LOST
THEIR LIVES AND FOR OUR COUNTRY.
LET US ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION
TODAY IN HONOR OF OUR BELOVED
FRIEND GABBY AND THE VICTIMS OF
THIS SENSELESS TRAGEDY.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, AT
THIS TIME I DO NOT BELIEVE I
HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS.
I WOULD INTEND TO CLOSE ON THIS
SO I WOULD RESERVE MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD
TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA, MR. SHERMAN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
SHERMAN, IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
WE COME TOGETHER
TODAY AS A NATION TO MOURN THOSE
WHO DIED IN ARIZONA AND TO PRAY
FOR THE FULL RECOVERY OF THOSE
STILL LYING IN HOSPITAL BEDS IN
TUCSON.
GABBY GIFFORDS HAS CAPTURED THE
LOVE AND ADMIRATION OF THIS
ENTIRE COUNTRY.
AS AMERICA HAS COME TO KNOW HER
THROUGH NEWS REPORTS, JUST AS WE
HAVE COME TO KNOW HER OVER THE
LAST FOUR YEARS.
AS THE MOST CLITEFUL AND
ENGAGING MEMBER OF THIS HOUSE --
DELIGHTFUL AND ENGAGING MEMBER
OF THIS HOUSE AND AS A WOMAN WHO
BROUGHT INTELLIGENCE AND
DETERMINATION TO THE SERVICE OF
THIS COUNTRY.
THE LAST TIME I HAD A CHANCE TO
SPEND TIME WITH GABBY WAS JUST
SIX DAYS AGO.
WE WERE HERE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.
AS IT HAPPENS WE SAT NEXT TO
EACH OTHER AS WE WAITED OUR TURN
TO BE ASSIGNED A PORTION OF THE
CONSTITUTION.
TO BE READ.
WE HAD A CHANCE TO LISTEN TO
EACH PASSAGE, TO SPEAK BRIEFLY
ABOUT SOME OF THE SALIENT
PROVISIONS AND AS THEY GOT DOWN
THE LINE TO WHERE WE WERE
SITTING IT BECAME APPARENT THAT
GABBY WOULD BE CALLED UPON TO
READ THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION AND THAT I WOULD BE
CALLED UPON TO READ THE
CONSIDERABLY LESS AUGUST THIRD
AMENDMENTS.
FOR JUST A SELFISH INSTANCE, I
WONDERED WHY LUCK COULDN'T HAVE
BEEN JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT, IF
WE HAD BEEN SITTING JUST ONE
SEAT OVER, THEN I COULD HAVE
STOOD HERE AND TALKED ABOUT
FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND FREEDOM
OF SPEECH.
BUT PROVIDENCE HAD DETERMINED
OTHERWISE, HAD DETERMINED THAT
GABBY GIFFORDS SHOULD STAND ON
THIS FLOOR AND HAVE THE HONOR OF
READING THE FIRST AMENDMENT, AN
AMENDMENT THAT IS BEST KNOWN FOR
ITS EARLIER CLAUSES BUT WHICH
ENDS WITH THE WORDS THAT
ENSHRINE THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE
PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE AND TO
PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A
REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.
THE DAY AFTER SHE READ THOSE
WORDS AT THIS PODIUM SHE FLEW
HOME TO ARIZONA SO SHE COULD
STAND IN FRONT OF A SAFEWAY
INTENDING TO MEET PEOPLE
PEACEABLY ASSEMBLED AND TO
LISTEN TO THEM PETITION FOR A
REDRESS OF THEIR GRIEVANCES.
I ASK THE GENTLEMAN FOR ANOTHER
30 SECONDS.
I WOULD YIELD AN
ADDITIONAL 30 SECONDS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR AN
ADDITIONAL 30 SECONDS.
I WAS RELIEVED
YESTERDAY WHEN DOCTORS SAID THEY
WERE CONFIDENT THAT THE ASSASSIN
HAD NOT TAKEN GABBY'S LIFE.
AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT THAT
ASSASSIN DID NOT TAKE FROM OUR
PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO PEACEABLY
ASSEMBLE AND TO TELL THEIR
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES THEIR
IDEAS AND, YES, THEIR
GRIEVANCES.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TWO YEARS
FROM NOW AND TWO YEARS AFTER
THAT AND TWO YEARS AFTER THAT,
TO SITTING HERE ON THIS FLOOR
WITH GABBY AND WAITING UNTIL SHE
IS CALLED UPON TO READ THE FIRST
AMENDMENT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
CONTRARY TO MY
PREVIOUS STATEMENT, I DO HAVE
ANOTHER SPEAKER AND AT THIS TIME
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TENNESSEE, DR. ROE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE, DR.
ROE, IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THIS
RESOLUTION AND I JOIN MY
COLLEAGUES IN DENOUNCING THE
HORRIFIC ATTACK THAT OCCURRED
AGAINST ONE OF OUR OWN THIS PAST
WEEKEND AND TOOK THE LIFPKES OF
SIX INNOCENT PEOPLE -- LIVES OF
SIX INNOCENT PEOPLE, INCLUDING A
STAFF MEMBER, GABE ZIMMERMAN,
AND A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL
9-YEAR-OLD CHILD.
WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS AND ALL
THOSE WHO WERE INJURED AND THE
FAMILIES OF THE DECEASED.
AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WE HAVE
TWO RESPONSIBILITIES AFTER SUCH
AN ATTACK.
FIRST, WE MUST VOW THAT WE WILL
NEVER LET THE WORK OF A MAD MAN
STOP US FROM DOING OUR WORK ON
BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
AND SECONDLY WE WILL MAKE IT
CLEAR TO ALL THAT WHILE WE HAVE
DISAGREEMENTS, WE ARE ALL STILL
AMERICANS AND WE RESPECT EACH
OTHER.
WORDS MATTER.
AND WHEN WE SHOW AMERICANS THAT
WE CAN DISAGREE SUBSTANTIVELY
AND RESPECTFULLY WE BRING OUR
ENTIRE COUNTRY CLOSER TOGETHER
AND SHOW THE WORLD WHY AMERICA
IS THE GREATEST FORCE FOR GOOD.
AND AS A SONG "ANGELS," WE PLACE
THEM IN THE ARMS OF ANGELS AND
MAY GOD BLESS THIS FAMILY AND
THESE PEOPLE WHO ENDURED THIS
HORRIFIC EVENT.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR.
MORAN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR.
MORAN, IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
I THANK THE VERY
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM
IOWA.
MADAM SPEAKER, GABBY GIFFORDS IS
A WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING AND A
TREASURED COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND.
BUT THIS RESOLUTION, AS
IMPORTANT AND APPROPRIATE AS IT
IS, STOPS SHORT OF ANY
COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO PREVENT
THIS TYPE OF TRAGEDY FROM
HAPPENING AGAIN.
IT HAPPENED BECAUSE OF A
COMBUSTIBLE MIX OF, ONE, A
HIGHLY CHARGED ANTIGOVERNMENT
POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT, TWO, EASY
ACCESS TO WEAPONS WHOSE ONLY
PURPOSE IS TO KILL LARGE NUMBERS
OF OTHER HUMAN BEINGS, AND,
THREE, MENTAL ILLNESS.
NOT TOO LONG AGO ANOTHER
MENTALLY ILL PERSON USED THE
SAME KIND OF WEAPON TO KILL 32
INNOCENT PEOPLE ON THE VIRGINIA
TECH CAMPUS.
IN RESPONSE WE PASSED
LEGISLATION EVENTUALLY THAT
ENABLED STATES TO PROVIDE THE
NAMES OF PEOPLE THAT THEY JUDGED
WERE TOO MENTALLY IMBALANCED --
UNBALANCED TO BE BUYING GUNS AND
PROVIDE THOSE NAMES TO THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CRIMINAL
BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM.
WE AUTHORIZED $250 MILLION TO
ENABLE THEM TO DO THAT.
BUT SINCE THEN WE HAVE
APPROPRIATED EACH YEAR LESS THAN
10% OF THAT AMOUNT.
AND AS A RESULT OF THE 2.6
MILLION PEOPLE THAT THE STATES
KNOW SHOULD BE DISQUALIFIED FROM
BUYING FIREARMS, LESS THAN 20%
ARE ACTUALLY ON THAT LIST AND SO
DISQUALIFIED.
IN FACT, LESS THAN 4% OF
ARIZONANS WHO THE STATE KNOWS
SHOULD BE DISQUALIFIED FROM
PURCHASING FIREARMS ARE ACTUALLY
ON THAT LIST AND UNABLE TO
PURCHASE THOSE FIREARMS.
SO PERHAPS WE COULD CONSIDER
FOLLOWING UP ON THIS RESOLUTION
WITH SOME CONCRETE STEPS TO
PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING
AGAIN.
I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROTECT
ONE'S INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS.
BUT A LITTLE 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL
SHOULD ALSO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO
VISIT WITH HER CONGRESSWOMAN,
SECURE IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HER
CONGRESS HAS THE COURAGE TO TAKE
REASONABLE STEPS TO PROTECT HER
AND OUR COUNTRY FROM SUCH
SENSELESS VIOLENCE.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD TWO MINUTES AT THIS TIME
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY,
MR. COURTNEY.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM KENTUCKY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE HORROR OF
SATURDAY'S BLOODSHED IN ARIZONA,
THE SENSELESS LOSS OF LIFE AND
THE COWARDLY ATTACK ON GABBY
GIFFORDS HAS RAISED FOR MANY
AMERICANS THE QUESTION OF
WHETHER WE AS NATION HAVE LOST
OUR WAY.
MANY WONDER IF AN ACT SO BENIGN
AS GABBY'S EFFORT TO LISTEN TO
HER NEIGHBORS IN THE EIGHTH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF
ARIZONA CAN BE THE TARGET OF
SUCH VIOLENCE, WHETHER THERE IS
HOPE IN A FUTURE FOR OUR
DEMOCRACY.
ONE VOICE FROM OUR RECENT PAST
SUGGESTS THAT THERE STILL IS
HOPE FOR THAT FRAGILE IDEAL.
ON APRIL 4, 1968, SENATOR ROBERT
KENNEDY SPOKE IN INDIANAPOLIS,
INDIANA, SHORTLY AFTER THE
SLAYING OF MARTIN LUTHER KING,
AT A TIME WHEN POLITICAL
VIOLENCE RACKED OUR NATION.
THIS IS WHAT HE SAID.
WE HAVE TO MAKE AN EFFORT IN THE
UNITED STATES, WE HAVE TO MAKE
AN EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND, TO GET
BEYOND THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.
HE THEN SAID, MY FAVORITE POET
ONCE WROTE, EVEN IN OUR SLEEP
PAIN WHICH CANNOT FORGET FALLS
DROP BY DROP UPON THE HEART
UNTIL IN OUR OWN DESPAIR AGAINST
OUR WILL COMES WISDOM THROUGH
THE AWFUL GRACE OF GOD.
HE CONCLUDED THAT WHAT WE NEED
IN THE UNITED STATES IS NOT
DIVISION, WHAT WE NEED IS NOT
HATRED, WHAT WE NEED IS NOT
VIOLENCE AND LAWLESSNESS, IT IS
LOVE AND WISDOM AND COMPASSION
TOWARD ONE ANOTHER.
GABBY GIFFORDS' WORK AT THAT
TUCSON SHOPPING MALL ON JANUARY
8 AND ALL THOSE PRESENT AND ALL
THOSE VICTIMIZED BY A COWARD'S
BULLETS WERE AFFIRMING SENATOR
KENNEDY'S VISION THAT PEACEFUL
DIALOGUE AND UNDERSTANDING IS
THE TRUE CALLING OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, NOT DIVISION AND
VIOLENCE.
AS ONE WHO ENTERED CONGRESS WITH
GABBY, WITH THE CLASS OF 2006, A
TIGHT KNIT GROUP THAT HAS MET
EVERY WEDNESDAY OVER THE LAST
FOUR YEARS, IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR
TO WATCH HER ON THE ARMED
SERVICES COMMITTEE ADVOCATING
FOR THE AIR FORCE AND FOR
MILITARY FAMILIES.
EVEN DURING THE LAME DUCK
SESSION SHE WAS A LEADER IN
ENACTING THE G.I. BILL PATCH
WHICH WILL MAKE SURE THAT GUARD
AND RESERVISTS WILL NOT BE LEFT
OUT FROM THE G.I. BILL'S
EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS.
SHE IS AN EXTRAORDINARY PERSON
WHO THIS COUNTRY NEEDS IF WE ARE
GOING TO OVERCOME THE MANY
CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE TODAY.
MR. SPEAKER, I STRONGLY SUPPORT
PASSAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION --
MADAM SPEAKER, WHICH IS AN
AMPLEATION THAT WE WILL NOT
SURRENDER OUR WAY OF LIFE TO THE
FORCES OF LAWLESSNESS AND HATE.
ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF
EASTERN CONNECTICUT I WANT TO
EXPRESS OUR YOU A AND REVERENCE
TO THE EXAMPLES OF -- AWE AND
REVERENCE TO THE EXAMPLES OF
EXCELLENCE THAT GABBY AND THE
PEOPLE OF TUCSON DISPLAYED LAST
SATURDAY.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I'M
PROUD TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, MRS. HOMES
NORTON.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
A GUNMAN HAS UNDERESTIMATED THE
WILL AND UNDAUNTED BRAVERY OF
GABBY GIFFORDS.
TRAGICALLY WE HAVE LOST GABE
ZIMMERMAN, HER DIRECTOR OF
COMMUNITY OUTREACH, HER
CONSTITUENTS, JUDGE JOHN ROLL,
CHRISTINA TAYLOR GREEN, PHYLLIS
SCHNECK, DOROTHY -- DORWIN
STODDARD AND DOROTHY MORRIS.
ALL OF WHOM WERE ENGAGED IN THE
VERY CIVIC ACTIVITIES WE MOST
ENCOURAGE.
ALONG WITH 13 OTHERS WHO WERE
GIFFORDS.
INJURED ALONG WITH CONGRESSWOMAN
TOGETHER THESE AMERICANS HAVE
BROUGHT THIS HOUSE TOGETHER AS
NEVER BEFORE FOR A MUCH-NEEDED
TIME OF REFLECTION.
I AM HEARTBROKEN FOR ALL WHO
WERE IN THE LINE OF FIRE AND FOR
THEIR FAMILIES.
I FOCUS NOW ON GABBY BECAUSE I
CANNOT GET HER OUT OF MY
CONSCIOUSNESS.
I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HER
FEARLESSNESS IN THE DAYS BEFORE
THE ATTEMPT ON HER LIFE, FOR
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO CIVIL
DISCOURSE IN OUR COUNTRY RATHER
THAN FOR HER OWN SAFETY CAN
GABBY'S SELFLESSNESS AND HER
CONCERN FOR OUR COUNTRY GIVE US
THE FORTITUDE TO FOLLOW HER
EXAMPLES IN ASSUMING THAT IT IS
NOT THE SAFETY OF MEMBERS THAT
IS AT RISK.
DO WE DARE TO FOLLOW GABBY IN
HER SEARCH FOR WAYS TO BE AT
ONCE RESOLUTE AND RESPECTFUL,
REMARKABLE COURAGE AND
DETERMINATION HAVE MADE
GABRIELLE GIFFORDS THE LIVING
MANIFESTATION OF WHAT MEMBERS OF
THIS INSTITUTION AND THE
CITIZENS OF OUR GREAT COUNTRY
.
WANT TO BE.
MAY GABRIELLE GIFFORDS' WORDS
PROVE AS CONTAGIOUS AS HER
AT THE SAME TIME DOZENS ARE IN
MOURNING FOR THOSE KILLED IN
THE SENSELESS SLAUGHTER.
INCLUDING JUDGE JOHN ROLL AND
OUR OWN GABE ZIMMERMAN.
CONGRESSWOMAN'S GIFFORDS
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC OUTREACH.
WE JOIN THEM IN A GRIEVING
PROCESS THAT IS PAINFUL BEYOND
WORDS.
TO THOSE FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY
THAT OF GABE'S WHO REACHED OUT
IN GABBY'S VOICE EACH AND EVERY
DAY, WE WEEP FOR YOUR LOSS AND
KNOW OF THE CONSTANT ACHE LEFT
IN YOUR HEARTS BY THE SUDDEN
LOSS OF THOSE YOU LOVE.
AND WE ARE BLESSED TO JOIN YOU
IN THE CELEBRATION OF THEIR
LIVES.
AND AS WE MOURN THOSE WHO WERE
LOST, WE TRIUMPH WITH EQUAL
EMOTION IN MIRACLES, BY THE
MERCY OF GOD AND THE SWIFT
HANDS OF OUR MEDICAL HEROES,
GAVEDS -- GIFFORDS THOSE THOSE
MURDERED HAVE BEEN SAVED.
I WONDERED A QUESTION EACH OF
TIMES.
US MAY HAVE WONDERED DOZENS OF
HOW CAN ANYONE HATE OR SEEK TO
HARM THIS WONDERFUL PUBLIC
SERVANT.
THIS BEAUTIFUL PERSON WHO HAS
NEVER SPOKEN ACROSS WORD NOR
SHOWED A DOWN CAST EXPRESSION
THROUGHOUT HER TIME IN THIS
GREAT HOUSE.
THOSE THESE ANSWERS ARE
PAINFULLY SLOW IN COMING, I
PRAY HER RETURN TO THE WARM
EMBRACE OF HER FAMILY WILL BE
SWIFT.
MORE SELFISHLY, BECAUSE SHE IS
MY FRIEND AND BECAUSE I SEE IN
HER THE PURE HEART OF A
SERVANT, I PRAY SHE WILL RETURN
TO THIS CHAMBER AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE, TO CONTINUE HER WORK
FOR THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA WHOM
SHE SO TREASURES.
GABBY KNOWS AT THE CORE THAT
SHE IS AN ORDINARY LADY CALLED
TO AN EXTRAORDINARY MISSION.
GABBY, YOU ARE CHAMPION AMONG
CHAMPIONS, A FRIEND AMONG
FRIENDS, AND A FIGHTER AMONG
FIGHTERS FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
WE ALL ARE PULLING FOR YOU.
GET WELL SOON.
WE CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE YOU BACK.
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
AT THIS TIME I
YIELD MYSELF AS MUCH TIME AS
I'M ABOUT TO CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS
BODY IS --
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS
BODY IS NUMB.
WE FORGET WE'RE A FAMILY, A
DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY AT TIMES
BUT WE ARE A FAMILY AND WE ALL
GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
WE ALL HAVE A COMMON PASSION
FOR THE VALUES OF THIS COUNTRY
FIRST PLACE.
THAT BROUGHT US HERE IN THE
AND THAT IS A REMARKABLE STORY
WE HEARD UNFOLDING ABOUT OUR
GOOD FRIEND GABBY GIFFORDS
SINCE THIS HORRIBLE TRAGEDY
FIRST TOOK PLACE.
ALL OF US IN THIS BODY SHARE A
UNIQUE SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY
FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR DEAR
FRIEND, HER COURAGEOUS STAFF
AND THE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE WHO
SHOWED UP TO PARTICIPATE IN
DEMOCRACY AT THAT SAFEWAY IN
TUCSON ON SATURDAY.
AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF US HAD
THIS SHARED EXPERIENCE OF
HORROR ON SATURDAY AS WE
WATCHED THESE HORRIBLE IMAGES
APPEAR IN FRONT OF OUR EYES.
I WANT TO TAKE TIME BRIEFLY TO
TALK ABOUT MY GOOD FRIEND
GABBY, AND IT'S IRONIC ON THIS
DAY WHEN OUR PRESIDENT IS IN
TUCSON, HONORING THE MEMORY OF
THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AND
THOSE STRUGGLING TO PUT THEIR
LIVES BACK TOGETHER THAT MY
CONNECTION WITH GABBY AND
PRESIDENT OBAMA GO BACK TO THE
EXACT SAME DAY, IT WAS
SEPTEMBER 29 OF 2006 WHEN GABBY
AND I WERE BOTH CANDIDATES FOR
CONGRESS, WE MET AT AN EVENT
AND THERE WERE THINGS ABOUT HER
THAT LEAP OFF THE PAGE
IMMEDIATELY.
IT WAS HER PASSION, WHY SHE WAS
RUNNING.
IT WAS HER FEARLESSNESS, AND IT
WAS THAT SMILE YOU HEARD PEOPLE
TALKING ABOUT THAT COULD LIGHT
UP A ROOM.
AND WE GOT TALKING ABOUT EACH
OTHER AND WHAT WE HAD IN
COMMON, AND I LEARNED THAT HER
BROTHER ALEX GIFFORDS HAD BEEN
A PLACEKICKER AT IOWA STATE
UNIVERSITY WHERE I GRADUATED
FROM COLLEGE AND WHERE I WAS AN
BRUCE.
UNKNOWN WALK-ON UNDER EARLE
AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
AND I HAVE IN MY OFFICE THIS
LITTLE PRINT OF IOWA STATE
UNIVERSITY AT BERKSHIRE HALL
GABBY GAVE FROM ME SHE GOT FROM
HER BROTHER ALEX BECAUSE SHE
KNEW THIS WAS IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND THIS LITTLE PICTURE IS AN
EMBLEM OF WHAT AN AMAZING HUMAN
BEING GABBY GIFFORDS IS BECAUSE
SHE WAS ALWAYS THINKING MORE OF
HER FRIENDS MORE THAN SHE WAS
OF HERSELF.
I GOT ON A RED EYE AFTER FIRST
MEETING GABBY GIFFORDS AND FLEW
BACK TO MY DISTRICT AND MET AN
UNKNOWN SENATOR FROM MY
DISTRICT WHO JUST GOT ELECT PD
NAMED BARACK OBAMA FOR THE VERY
FIRST TIME.
THAT'S WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THIS
COUNTRY.
IT'S THESE RANDOM MEETINGS THAT
WE HAVE WITH AMAZING PEOPLE
FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WHO
WE MEET ON THE HOUSE FLOOR,
MANY OF WHOM CAME IN, ONE OF
THE LARGEST CLASSES IN RECENT
MEMORY.
YOU HEARD THEM COME TO THE
FLOOR TODAY AND TALK ABOUT
SOMEONE THEY BARELY KNEW OR MAY
HAVE MET BRIEFLY OR DIDN'T KNOW
AT ALL.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT BINDS US
TOGETHER IS THE SPIRIT, THE
HISTORY OF THIS CHAMBER, AND
WHAT IT HAS MEANT AS THE
PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
AND THAT IS WHY IT IS INCUMBENT
ON ALL OF US TO TAKE AWAY AS A
LESSON FROM THIS TRAGEDY A
RENEWED SENSE OF RESPECT FOR
EACH OTHER AND THE COMMON
PURPOSE THAT BROUGHT US ALL
HERE TOGETHER IN THE SPIRS
PLACE.
I TALKED ABOUT HOW WE ARE A
FAMILY.
EVERY THANKSGIVING OUR FAMILY
HAS A TRADITION OF WATCHING A
MOVIE CALLED "HOME FOR THE
HOLIDAYS" ABOUT A VERY
DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY AND THE
STAR OF THAT MOVIE IS HOLLY
HUNTER.
AND IN ONE OF THE CLOSING
MOMENTS OF THIS MOVIE, WHICH
LIKE ALL GOOD MOVIES MAKES YOU
LAUGH, MAKES YOU CRY, AND MAKES
YOU THINK, HOLLY HUNTER'S
FATHER IS DOWN IN A BASEMENT
WATCHING OLD HOME MOVIES AND
HE'S TALKING TO HER ABOUT ONE
MOMENT IN HIS LIFE THAT TOOK
FIVE SECONDS AND MADE ALL THE
DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD AND HIS
RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS DAUGHTER.
AND HE SAID, YOU WERE FEARLESS.
FEARLESS.
THAT IS MY FRIEND GABBY
GIFFORDS.
SHE IS FEARLESS IN WHAT MAKES
THIS JOB WORTH HAVING.
AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO HER AND ALL
THE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
AND WHO SHOWED UP AT THAT TOWN
HALL MEETING BECAUSE THEY CARE
ABOUT THIS COUNTRY TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE GOING FORWARD IN HOW
WE TALK TO EACH OTHER AND HOW
WE CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER.
AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT
MONDAY, WE SHOULD REMEMBER WHAT
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. TAUGHT
US, THAT THE MORAL ARC OF THE
UNIVERSITY IS -- UNIVERSE IS
LONG BUT IT BENDS TOWARDS
JUSTICE.
WE HAVE A COLLECTIVE DUTY, ALL
OF US, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
BEND THAT ARC SOONER AND
QUICKER SO THAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE REALIZE THAT WE ARE ALL
IN THIS TOGETHER AND THAT THIS
IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE FOR A
REASON.
I WANT TO THANK MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR EXTREME
SENSITIVITY AND THEIR DEVOTION
TO THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION
AND WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK
MY COLLEAGUE FROM CALIFORNIA
FOR HELPING US PUT THIS
RESOLUTION TOGETHER TODAY, AND
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I RISE IN
ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT OF H.
RECENT 32.
-- H..RES.32.
I AM NOT AS SOME WHO COME TO
THE FLOOR A CLOSE PERSONAL
FRIEND OF GABBY GIFFORDS, BUT
I, AS OTHERS, HAVE BEEN UNDER
HER SPELL HERE.
I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH
HER ON OCCASIONS IN AN INFORMAL
SETTING.
AND I MIGHT MENTION IN EACH OF
THOSE OCCASIONS SHE REMINDED ME
SHE USED TO BE A REPUBLICAN.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS HER
WAY OF THINKING MAYBE WE CAN
HAVE A RAPPORT.
YOU DIDN'T NEED THAT WITH HER
BECAUSE OF HER OPENNESS AND HER
SMILE.
BUT IT WAS INTERESTING.
AND SHE ALWAYS DID IT WITH A
SMILE AND SHE ALWAYS DID IT
WITH AN INVITATION TO ENGAGE
WITH HER THAT IS THE MARK OF
HER.
WE PRAY.
ALL OF US TOGETHER.
THAT SHE AND THOSE OTHERS
GRIEVEOUSLY WOUNDED, WILL HAVE
A SPEEDY AND FULL RECOVERY.
WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST
THEIR LIVES.
WE PRAY FOR THIS INSTITUTION.
THAT WE WILL TAKE THE CORRECT
LESSONS OUT OF THIS TRAGEDY.
AND WHEN I USE THE WORD
"TRAGEDY" IT'S A TRAGEDY ON THE
SIDE OF THOSE WHO WERE ATTACKED
ATTACKED .
IN THE INSTITUTION THAT WAS
IT IS, HOWEVER, THE PRODUCT OF
A CRIMINAL ACT AND WE SHOULD
UNDERSTAND THAT.
MADAM SPEAKER, IT IS ALWAYS --
IT IS ALWAYS WITHIN OUR POWER
TO EITHER TAKE THE PROPER
LESSONS FROM A PARTICULAR
INSTANCE, TO DISCARD THEM, TO
THINK DEEPLY ABOUT THEM OR
THINK OF THEM SUPERFICIALLY.
I BELIEVE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE
DEDICATED THIS ENTIRE DAY TO
TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT
LESSONS OUT OF THAT AND TO GIVE
PROPER RESPECT TO THOSE WHO
SUFFERED IN THIS TRAGEDY IS
EVIDENCE OF THE FACT THAT WE
WERE -- WE WILL ATTEMPT TO TAKE
THE PROPER LESSONS OUT OF THIS.
ONE IS, OF COURSE, THAT THIS IS
THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
IF YOU READ THE CONSTITUTION,
ARTICLE 1, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS
MEANT TO BE THE CLOSEST TO THE
PEOPLE OF ANY OF THE FEDERAL
INSTITUTIONS.
WE ALL IN A REAL SENSE, NO
MATTER WHERE WE COME FROM, ARE
INSTITUTIONALISTS IN THAT WE
LOVE THIS INSTITUTION.
WE FOUGHT IN MANY WAYS TO GET
HERE.
BUT WE HONOR ONE ANOTHER BY
SHOWING RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER
AND WE HONOR OUR CONSTITUENTS
AS WELL.
SPEAKER BOEHNER HAS SAID, AN
ALL.
ATTACK ON ONE IS AN ATTACK ON
THAT IS TRUE.
PERHAPS SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS
AGO, THE WRITER, THE POET JOHN
DUNN SAID IT BEST, HE SAID, NO
MAN IS AN ISLAND ENTIRE OF
ITSELF, EVERY MAN IS A PIECE OF
MAIN.
THE CONTINENT, A PART OF THE
IF A CLOUD BE WASHED AWAY BY
THE SEA, EUROPE IS THE LESS AS
WELL AS IF A PRONINTORY WERE AS
IF A MANNER OF THY FRIENDS OR
OWN WERE.
ANY MAN'S DEATH DIMINISHES ME
BECAUSE I AM INVOLVED IN
MANKIND AND THEREFORE, NEVER
SEND A NO FOR WHOM THE BELL
TOLLS, IT TOLLS FOR THEE.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
ALL TIME FOR DEBATE HAS
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
EXPIRED.
PURSUANT TO THE ORDER OF THE
HOUSE OF TODAY, THE PREVIOUS
QUESTION IS ORDERED ON THE
RESOLUTION ON THE PREAMBLE AND
ON THE PREAMBLE, THE QUESTION
IS ON ADOPTION OF THE
RESOLUTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE.
THOSE
OPPOSED NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE RESOLUTION IS AGREED TO AND
WITHOUT OBJECTION THE MOST TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID ON THE
TABLE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
PURSUANT TO SENATE
RESOLUTION 1, I MOVE THE HOUSE
DO NOW ADJOURN.
THE
GENTLEMAN WILL SUSPEND.
PENDING THAT, THE CHAIR WILL
ANNOUNCE ONE APPOINTMENT.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, PURSUANT TO
CLAUSE 11 OF RULE 10, CLAUSE 11
OF RULE 1 AND THE ORDER OF THE
HOUSE OF JANUARY 5, 2011, AND
NOTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT
OF CLAUSE 11-A-1-C OF RULE 10,
WITH THE CHAIR ANNOUNCES THE
SPEAKER'S APPOINTMENT OF THE
FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE
TO THE PERMANENT SELECT
COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE.
THERE THORNBERRY OF
TEXAS, MRS. MYRICK OF NORTH
CAROLINA, MR. MILLER OF
FLORIDA, MR. CONWAY OF SKS, MR.
KING OF NEW YORK, MR. LOBIONDO,
MR. WESTMORELAND OF GEORGIA,
MRS. BALKMAN OF ARIZONA, MR.
ROONEY OF FLORIDA, MR. HECK OF
NEVADA.
THE
QUESTION IS ON THE MOTION TO
ADJOURN.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
THE MOTION IS GOED -- AGREED
TO.
PURSUANT TO SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION 1, THE HOUSE STANDS
ADJOURNED UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON
JANUARY 18, 2011 AND PURSUANT
TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 32, THE
HOUSE STANDS ADJOURNED OUT OF
RESPECT FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE
ATTACKS IN TUCSON, ARIZONA.