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RESPECTFUL AND TOLERANT.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT GABBY
GIFFORDS DID WHILE SHE WAS HERE
AND WHAT SHE WILL DO WHEN SHE
RETURNS.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN.
AND I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS
CALIFORNIA.
EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM
AT THIS TIME, I
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
ROORBALKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED -- MR.
ROHRABACHER.
I RISE IN
SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION.
THE TRAGEDY WE DISCUSS TODAY IS
OF ENORMOUS CONSEQUENCE TO THE
FAMILIES OF THOSE KILLED AND
WOUNDED AND OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO
THEM, ESPECIALLY TORE THE
GIFFORDS, AND ALL THOSE KILLED
OR WOUNDED IN THIS SENSELESS
VIOLENCE THAT TOOK PLACE IN
.
ARIZONA.
THIS IS NOT JUST OF GREAT
CONSEQUENCE TO THEM BUT TO
GREAT CONSEQUENCE OF ALL OF US.
THERE ARE EVENTS LIKE THIS THAT
HAPPEN THAT WILL HELP US SHAPE
WHAT WE WILL DO IN THE FUTURE.
ONE THING WE MUST NOT LET THIS
DO IS TO REDUCE THE ACT -- THE
ACTUAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THEIR
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES.
WE WILL NOT LET THE ACTS OF A
DEMENTED INDIVIDUAL REDUCE THE
RIGHT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO
HAVE A DIRECT CONTACT WITH
THEIR MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AND WE WILL NOT
LET THIS SENSELESS ACT OF
VIOLENCE DIMINISH OR IN SOME
WAY STAMPEDE US INTO IN SOME
WAY DIMINISHING THE FREEDOM AND
REDUCING THE FREEDOM OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE THEMSELVES.
AND FINALLY, LET ME JUST SAY,
THERE IS A POSITIVE LESSON TO
BE LEARNED FROM THIS TRAGIC
EVENT.
THAT IS, WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT
WE TREAT EACH OTHER BETTER HERE
IN CONGRESS AND THOSE OF US WHO
ARE ACTIVE IN THE POLITICAL
ARENA NEED TO UNDERSTAND WE
NEED TO BE KINDER TO EACH
OTHER, EVEN AS WE DISAGREE WITH
EACH OTHER FERVENTLY ON POLICY.
THERE'S NO REASON FOR US TO
HAVE INSINUATIONS ABOUT
NEGATIVE VALUES OF THE PERSON
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
ARGUMENT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
EXEMPLIFY FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE CAN DISAGREE
ON FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES, EVEN
HAVE BASIC DIFFERENCES IN VALUE
SYSTEMS AND WHAT THEIR GOAL IS
FOR OUR GOVERNMENT BUT STILL
RESPECT THE OTHER PERSON'S
OPINION AND TREAT THE OTHER
PERSON WITH KINDNESS AND
DIGNITY.
THAT'S ONE LESSON WE NEED TO
LEARN AND TO MAKE SURE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE US AS AN
EXAMPLE OF THAT.
RONALD REAGAN USED TO SAY, BE
REALLY TOUGH WHEN IT COMES TO
POLICY, BUT DANA, BE REALLY
NICE TO PEOPLE.
THAT'S HOW RONALD REAGAN ENDED
THE COLD WAR.
HE WAS TOUGH ON COMMUNISM BUT
VERY KIND OTT PEOPLE WHO WORKED
IN THE SOVIET UNION WHICH --
SOVIET UNION WHO LED TO THAT
DISINTEGRATION.
WE NEED TO BE KINDER TO EACH
OTHER AND BE RESPECTFUL OF THE
FACT THAT PEOPLE ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF MAJOR ISSUES ARE AS
MORAL AS WE ARE BUT THAT
DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULDN'T USE
TOUGH LANGUAGE ABOUT THE
ISSUES.
LET'S BE KINDER TO EACH OTHER
AND LET'S SEND THAT AS A GET
WELL MESSAGE TO GABBY BECAUSE
THERE'S NO ONE ELSE THAT
EXEMPLIFIED THAT BETTER THAN
HER, WE KNOW THAT.
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS WAS ON
THE OTHER SIDE -- I'D ASK FOR
AN ADDITIONAL ONE MINUTE IF
POSSIBLE.
I YIELD THE
GENTLEMAN AN ADDITIONAL MINUTE.
CONGRESSWOMAN
GIFFORDS AND I WERE ON SEPARATE
SIDES OF A MAJOR ISSUE, I'VE
BEEN ON THE SCIENCE COMMITTEE
FOR 22 YEARS AND SHE WAS FOR A
TOTALLY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO
THE AMERICAN SPACE PROGRAM THAT
I HAVE BEEN ON.
AND WE HAD SOME SERIOUS DEBATE
ON THAT ISSUE.
I WILL TELL YOU, SHE WAS NOT
ONLY WAS SHE KIND AND TAR TICK
LAT, BUT SHE WAS BRILLIANT,
WHICH I DIDN'T NECESSARILY WANT
HER TO SHOW THAT BRILLIANCE IN
HER ARGUMENTS AGAINST MY
ARGUMENTS BUT I REMEMBER HERE
ON THIS FLOOR AFTER A MAJOR
DEBATE THAT WE HAD, I WALKED
OVER TO HER WHEN THE GAVEL WAS
DONE AND PEOPLE WERE LEAVING
AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU DID A
GREAT JOB FOR YOUR POSITION
TODAY.
I REALLY RESPECT YOU MORE THAN
SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON MY SIDE
OF THE ISSUE BECAUSE YOU WERE
ARTICULATE YOU TOOK YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY, YOU
PRESENTED YOUR ARGUMENTS AND I
JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH
I ADMIRE THAT IN YOU.
KEEP IT UP AND I KNOW YOU'LL BE
SPEAKER SOMEDAY, AND I DON'T
SAY THAT OFTEN TO MY COLLEAGUES
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE
BUT THAT'S THE TYPE OF SPIRIT
SHE HAD.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE SEND
THAT MESSAGE TO GABBY AND TO
THE REST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I YIELD
BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH
TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
ON BEHALF OF CONGRESSWOMAN
GABBY GIFFORDS, THE FAMILIES OF
THE VICTIMS, THE PEOPLE
RECOVERING IN TUCSON AND MY
FELLOW ARIZONANS, I WANT TO
EXPRESS A SENSE OF GRATITUDE TO
ALL THE MEMBERS HERE WHO HAVE
SPOKEN AND WILL SPEAK FOR YOUR
PRAYERS, FOR YOUR CONDOLENCES,
AND YOUR AFFECTION THAT YOU'VE
GIVEN ALL OF US.
SO WE THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF
YOUR HEARTS.
WE HOPE THAT SOME OF THE
EXPRESSIONS YOU HAVE GIVEN OF
SHOYING RESPECT, MORE RESPECT
FOR EACH OTHER, MORE LOVE FOR
EACH OTHER AND DISAGREEING,
DEBATING, BUT NOT BEING
DISAGREEABLE WILL HELP US DO
THE BUSINESS OF THIS HOUSE.
AND AT THIS TIME, MADAM
SPEAKER, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT I BE ALLOWED TO
YIELD THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME
TO THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN
FROM IOWA.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN WILL CONTROL THE
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
AT THIS TIME, I'D
LIKE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO, MR.
TIBERI, IS RECOGNIZED FOR THREE
MINUTES.
I RISE TO HONOR THE
VICTIMS OF SATURDAY'S SHOOTINGS
IN UETUE SON AND PRAY WITH ALL
OF US FOR THEM AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
THE SENSELESS TRAGEDY HAS
STRUCK AT THE VERY FOUNDATION
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
, ATTACKING A REPRESENTATIVE TO
CONGRESS A CONGRESSIONAL
STAFFER, INNOCENT BYSTANDERS IN
FRONT OF A GROCERY STORE, BUT
THERE WERE HEROS WHO SHOWED UP
THAT DAY, THE INTERN, DANIEL
HERNANDEZ, WHO CAME TO GABRIEL
GIFFORDS' AID.
-- TO GABRIELLE GIFFORDS' AID.
THE WITNESSES WHO IMMEDIATELY
TRIED TO HELP THOSE WHO WERE
INJURED.
THE CIVILIANS WHO BRAVELY
STOPPED THE SHOOTER FROM
INJURING AND INFLICTING MORE
HARM ON OTHERS.
THE EMERGENCY ROOM PERSONNEL,
THE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL OVERALL
, WHOSE DECISIVE ACTION SAVED
OTHER LIVES.
THESE ARE THE TRUE EXAMPLES OF
THE SPIRIT OF WHAT AMERICA IS
ALL ABOUT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
THIS WASN'T OUTRAGEOUS ACT BY A
DERANGED INDIVIDUAL AND DESPITE
ALL THE TALK OF TONE AND
RHETORIC IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER THAT WE ALL IN THIS
HOUSE FLOOR CAN DISAGREE
WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE.
THE FACT IS THAT WE AS PUBLIC
OFFICIALS, MADAM SPEAKER, IN
BEING ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC,
IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR
JOBS AND WE CANNOT LET THIS
TRAGEDY STOP US FROM DOING OUR
IMPORTANT WORK.
WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE'S
HOUSE AND THE MINUTE WE START
SEPARATING OURSELVES FROM THE
PEOPLE IS THE MINUTE THAT WE
WEAKEN OUR REPUBLIC.
THE EVENTS OF TUCSON, THE
EVENTS IN TUCSON REMIND US HOW
FRAGILE OUR LIVES ARE.
WE PRAY AGAIN FOR THE VICTIMS
AND THEIR FAMILIES AND WE
REMEMBER WHAT REALLY MATTERS
AND THAT CIVILITY SHOULD RULE
THE DAY.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MAINE AT THIS
TIME.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER, THANK YOU TO MY
COLLEAGUE FROM IOWA FOR
YIELDING THE TIME.
IT'S HARD AFTER A LONG DAY LIKE
THIS, WHEN ALL OF US ARE
FEELING SAD AND DISCOURAGED
ABOUT THE CHALLENGES BEING
FACED BY GABBY AND HER FAMILY
AND OTHERS TO ACTUALLY THINK OF
ANYTHING THAT HASN'T BEEN SAID
BUT I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT SO
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
SAID, SO MANY OF US CONSIDER
OURSELVES FRIENDS OF GABBY, WHO
ARE SO PROUD OF THE WORK THAT
SHE'S DONE, WHO KNOW WHAT A
HARD FIGHTER GABBY IS, AND HOPE
THAT SHE CONTINUES TO PULL
THROUGH EVERY DAY.
I SIT NEAR GABBY ON THE ARMED
SERVICES COMMITTEE AND I'VE
NEVER SEEN GABBY WALK INTO A
HEARING ROOM WITHOUT A PILE OF
LETTERS SHE PLANS TO SIGN A FEW
THINGS SHE'S GOING TO READ, BE
PREPARED TO ASK GOOD QUESTIONS
AND KEEP HER EYE ON THE
CONVERSATION AND DEBATE THE
WHOLE TIME SHE'S IN THERE.
IF YOU TURN TO HER AND ASK HER
A QUESTION, SHE'S ALWAYS GOT A
SMILE OR A LITTLE JOKE OR READY
TO MAKE A PLAN FOR AN OUTING OR
FIELD TRIP OR SOMETHING WE CAN
ALL DO TODAY.
SHE'S A WONDERFUL COLLEAGUE,
WELL RESPECTED BY BOTH SIDES OF
THE AISLE, WELL REGARDED BY ALL
COLLEAGUES WHETHER THEY AGREE
OR DISAGREE AND HIGHLY WELL
REGARDED BACK IN HER HOME
COMMUNITY WHERE SHE HAD ANOTHER
HARD-FOUGHT ELECTION BUT CAME
THROUGH.
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE
WITH HER.
GABBY SON THE ARMED SERVICES
COMMITTEE BECAUSE SHE'S A
FIGHTER A FIGHTER FOR THE
PEOPLE SHE REPRESENTS AND I
BELIEVE SHE'S FIGHTING IN HER
HOE TOLE ROOM -- HER HOSPITAL
ROOM, I WISH IT WAS A HOTEL
ROOM -- BUT IN HER HOSPITAL
ROOM TODAY ALONGSIDE HER
HUSBAND.
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE
WITH THE OTHERS WHO DIED
ALONGSIDE WHERE GABBY WAS
LAYING, WHO CAME TO THAT EVENT
AND WERE INJURED, INNOCENT
VICTIMS A YOUNG WOMAN, A STAFF
MEMBER WHO WAS DEDICATED, YOU
KNOW MANY OF US REALIZE WHEN WE
TAKE THIS JOB ON THAT WE TAKE A
RISK BUT WE OFTEN FORGET THE
RISK OF THOSE WHO SERVE WITH
US, THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COME
UP AND STAND BESIDE US, THE
RISK THAT THEY ARE ALSO TAKING
JUST TO BE WITH US EVERYWHERE
I ALSO WANT TO MENTION SOMEONE
WE GO.
ELSE WHO I WAS ASKED TO MENTION
WHO WASN'T APPEARING IN THE
RESOLUTION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT
EARLIER TODAY, DR. STEVEN RAY,
A FORMER EMERGENCY ROOM
PHYSICIAN WAS JUST A FEW FEET
AWAY FROM GABBY WHEN THE
SHOOTING BEGAN.
IN THE TERRIFYING MOMENT THAT
WAS SHOOTING, HE WAS ABLE TO
USE HIS TRAINED FIRST RESPONDER
SKILLS TO TRYAGE WHAT I CAN
ONLY IMAGINE WAS A TERRIFYING
SCENE AND WE OWE HIM A DEBT OF
GRATITUDE.
I JUST AGAIN WANT TO THANK DR.
RAY FOR HIS HEROISM, FOR BEING
THERE WITH GABBY IN THE FIRST
POSSIBLE MOMENTS, WE OWE HIM
HIS GREAT TUTE AND EVERYONE
ELSE WHO WORKED HARD TO MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE WERE SAVED AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AT THAT
SCENE AND I ECHO THE COMMENTS
OF MY COLLEAGUE, DANA
ROHRABACHER, TO THINK ABOUT HOW
WE SPEAK AND HOW WE CONDUCT OUR
BUSINESS.
S THAT SOLEMN WEEK, WE'LL HAVE
MANY SOLEMN WEEKS AHEAD OF US
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO
DO.
FOR THE TIME.
I YIELD BACK AND I THANK YOU
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA.
--
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I YIELD THREE
MINUTES TO THE GENTLELADY FROM
CALIFORNIA, A PRESIDING OFFICER
OF THIS BODY, MRS. BONO MACK.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
THREE MINUTES.
I RISE TODAY TO
OFFER A PRAYER FOR OUR NATION.
PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN IN
THE HEIGHT OF THE CIVIL WAR AND
DURING A VERY LOW POINT IN
AMERICAN CIVILITY ONCE TOLD A
HUSHED CROWD MY DREAM IS OF A
PLACE AND OF A TIME WHERE
AMERICA WILL ONCE AGAIN BE SEEN
AS THE LAST, BEST HOPE OF
EARTH.
MY FRIENDS, ALL -- MY FRIEND,
ALL OF OUR FRIEND, ARIZONA
REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLE
ALL HER LIFE.
GIFFORDS, HAS HAD THAT DREAM
SHE REPRESENTS A BEACON OF
HOPE, PERHAPS OUR LAST BEST
HOPE TOSH RESTORE CIVILITY TO
THE IMPORTANT PUBLIC DEBATES OF
OUR DAY.
POINTING.
THIS IS NOT A TIME TO BE FINGER
RATHER THIS IS A TIME IN MEMORY
OF ALL THOSE WHO DIED OR WHO
WERE INJURED IN THIS DARK DAY
IN OUR HISTORY TO START TALKING
AGAIN LIKE FRIENDS AND
NEIGHBORS.
RIGHT NOW, WE SHOULD BE PRAYING
FOR GABBY AND ALL THE OTHER
VICTIMS OF THIS HORRIBLE
ORDEAL.
AS A NATION, ASKING ONE
WE SHOULD BE SEARCHING OUR SOUL
IMPORTANT QUESTION, THE
QUESTION ABRAHAM LINCOLN
CONFRONTED EVERY SINGLE DAY OF
HIS PRESIDENCY, HOW HAVE WE
ALLOWED HATEFUL RHETORIC TO
PARALYZE OUR NATIONAL DEBATE?
YES, WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT
POINTS OF VIEW BUT WE SHOULD
DISCUSS THEM AND DEBATE THEM
WITHOUT RESORTING TO NAME
CALLING OR QUESTIONING EACH
OTHER'S MOTIVES.
GABBY HAS ALWAYS STOOD FOR
CIVILITY.
SHE IS THE MOST DELIGHTFUL AND
THE KINDEST MEMBER OF CONGRESS
AND I THINK WE'VE ALL SAID
THAT.
HER NEVER-ENDING SMILE AND
UNFAILING WILLINGNESS TO WORK
IN OUR NATION'S BEST INTEREST
HAVE EARNED HER THE RESPECT OF
PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.
I, LIKE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES,
CANNOT WAIT FOR THE DAY WHEN
GABBY WALKS BACK ONTO THIS
FLOOR AND JOINS US.
SHE IS A STRONG WOMAN WITH A
VERY UNBREAKABLE SPIRIT AND A
PASSION FOR LIFE, HER FAMILY,
HER FRIENDS, AND OUR GREAT
NATION.
LET US ALL PRAY TO GIVE GABBY
THE STRENGTH TO CARRY HER
THROUGH THE DIFFICULT DAYS
AHEAD.
I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART
THAT GABBY WAS PUT ON EARTH BY
GOD TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND
SHE HAS.
I KNOW BECAUSE SHE'S MADE A
DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE.
SO THE NEXT TIME THAT A DEBATE
HEATS UP AND THREATENS TO GET
UGLY, LET'S REMEMBER OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES AS LEADERS.
LET'S REMEMBER WHAT ABRAHAM
LINCOLN SAID, LET'S TAKE A DEEP
BREATH AND AGREE TO DISAGREE
AGREEABLY.
LET'S DO THAT FOR GABBY.
I YIELD BACK THE BLABSOIF --
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
AT THIS TIME, I RECOGNIZE
FOR TWO MINUTES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM IOWA, MR. LOEBSACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
I THANK MY
COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND FROM IOWA
WHO RECOGNIZED ME.
I JOIN MY COLLEAGUE, MY
CONSTITUENTS AND ALL AMERICANS
IN MOURNING FOR THOSE WHO LOST
THEIR LIVES IN THIS WEEKEND'S
HEINOUS EVENT AND AM PRAYING
FOR THOSE, INCLUDING OUR DEAR
FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE,
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS, WHO ARE
FIGHTING TO RECOVER.
I'VE HAD THE HONOR TO SERVE
WITH GABBY LIKE MANY IN THIS
BODY ON THE ARMED SERVICES
COMMITTEE SINCE WE WERE BOTH
ELECTED IN 2006 AND I'VE ALWAYS
BEEN STRUCK BY HER INTELLIGENCE
AND BY HER COMMITMENT TO HER
CONSTITUENTS.
WHEN SHE AND HER CONSTITUENTS
WERE ATTACKED ON SATURDAY, SHE
WAS CARRYING OUT THE MOST
CENTRAL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
AS ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AS
WAS ALREADY MENTIONED, AND THAT
IS MAKING OURSELVES AVAILABLE
THIS WHO ARE I HAVE ATTACK
OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE OF A
GATHERING IS A REMINDER TO US
ALL THAT WE MUST REMAIN
COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING THE
PRINCIPLES ON WHICH OUR GREAT
NATION WAS FOUNDED.
AS WE COME TOGETHER TO OFFER OUR
PRAYERS TO ALL THOSE INVOLVED, I
HOPE WE WILL CARRY FORWARD THE
SENTIMENT THAT SO MANY HAVE
EXPRESSED IN THE FEW DAYS
INDEPENDENT R INCLUDING ON THE
FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, THAT DEBATE IS
THE HEART OF OUR DEMOCRACY BUT
THAT DEBATE MUST BE ROOTED IN
CIVIL DISCOURSE AND MUTUAL
RESPECT.
WE CAN AND WE SHOULD DEBATE WITH
VIGOR THE PRESSING CHALLENGES
FACING OUR NATION, BUT WE MUST
DO SO IN A WAY THAT MOVES OUR
CONSTRUCTIVE.
COUNTRY FORWARD AND THAT IS
IN PART, THAT WILL REQUIRE US TO
RECOMMIT OURSELVES, RECOMMIT
OURSELVES TO CIVIL DISCOURSE AND
HONEST DEBATE AS WELL AS TO
REMAINING ACCESSIBLE TO OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND LISTENING TO
ALL VIEW POINTS.
WE ARE A NATION, I BELIEVE, THAT
REJECTS VIOLENCE AND ON A DAY
WHEN WE SAW THE VERY WORST OF
HUMANITY, WE SAW THE VERY BEST,
INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE WILLING TO
LAY DOWN THEIR LIVES TO SAVE
OTHERS.
LET THOSE FOLKS SERVE AS OUR
INSPIRATION AND LET US CONTINUE
TO KEEP ALL THOSE AFFECTED IN
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AND
CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IN
AMERICA AND IN A CONSTRUCTIVE,
MANNER.
POSITIVE AND MUTUALLY RESPECTFUL
I YIELD BACK.
EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS
CALIFORNIA.
I'M PRIVILEGED TO
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
MCCLINTOCK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN
TO KNOW HER VERY WELL YET AND I
THANK GOD BY HIS VERY GRACE THAT
I HAVEN'T LOST THE CHANCE TO DO
SO.
WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THEY
GATHERED LAST SATURDAY TO DO
SOMETHING UNIQUELY AMERICAN.
SHE WAS REACHING OUT AND
LISTENING OUT TO HER EMPLOYERS,
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND COME TO
OFFER HER GUIDANCE AND ADVICE
AND COUNSEL.
IN THIS RESPECT, THE ATTACK ON
GABRIELLE GIFFORDS AND HER
CONSTITUENTS STRUCK AT THE VERY
HEART OF OUR PROCESS OF
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, VERY
POINT WHERE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
COMMUNICATE THEIR VIEWS TO
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES.
THAT IS THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF
SELF-GOVERNMENT.
THIS WAS NOT ONLY AN ATTACK ON
THOSE WHO SERVE, IT WAS AN
ATTACK ON EVERY CITIZEN WHO
STEPS FORWARD TO OFFER HONEST
ADVICE AND COUNSEL AND YES EVEN
CRITICISM TO THOSE WHO HAVE
SELECTED TO SERVE THEM AND THE
NATION.
IT IS THE NATURE AND STRENGTH OF
DEMOCRACY TO PARTICIPATE.
BUT IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS, WE SEE
THE VERY BEST OF AMERICAN PEOPLE
COME FORWARD.
WE PUT ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES AND
DISAGREEMENTS AND STAND TOGETHER
AS ONE NATION, THE AMERICAN
NATION, ONE RACE, THE AMERICAN
RACE, ONE PEOPLE, THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
MEN AND WOMEN OF GOODWILL CEASE
TO BE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.
WE SUSPEND OUR AGENDAS AND WE
STAND TOGETHER AS AMERICANS.
BY DOING SO, WE PAY SUPREME
HONOR TO OUR FELLOW CITIZENS WHO
WERE FILLED IN THE EXERCISE OF
THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITY
AS A FREE PEOPLE.
WE SALUTE THE HEROES WHO WITHOUT
A MOMENT'S HESITATION ROSE TO
RESIST AND STOP THIS DID HE
PRAVED ATTACK AND WE -- DEPRAFED
ATTACK AND THAT GOVERNMENT BY
THE PEOPLE, OF THE PEOPLE AND
FOR THE PEOPLE SHALL NOT PER
ISSUE FROM THE EARTH.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS,
MR. REYES.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
I THANK MY COLLEAGUE
FOR YIELDING.
TODAY I RISE ON BEHALF OF THE
PEOPLE OF THE 16TH DISTRICT OF
TEXAS TO EXPRESS OUR COMMUNITY'S
PROFOUND SADNESS IN THE WAKE OF
SATURDAY'S SENSELESS ACT OF
VIOLENCE THAT CLAIMED THE LIVES
OF SIX AMERICANS AND HAS LEFT
OUR ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE GABRIELLE
GIFFORDS FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE
AND HAS AFFECTED 13 OTHERS.
LAST WEEK ON THURSDAY, WE HAD A
MEETING OF THE BORDER CAUCUS AND
GABBY CAME TO THAT MEETING AND
WE DISCUSSED THE AGENDA FOR THE
112TH CONGRESS.
SHE IS A TIRELESS CHAMPION ON
BORDER ISSUES.
SHE IS AN INCREDIBLE MEMBER
DEDICATED TO REPRESENTING THE
PEOPLE OF HER DISTRICT AND I,
FOR ONE, HAD THE PLEASURE
WORKING WITH HER ON BORDER
ISSUES, INTELLIGENCE ISSUES ON
MANY OCCASIONS.
OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS, MY
OFFICE HAS RECEIVED AN
OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FOR GABBY,
FOR HER FAMILY AND FOR HER STAFF
AS WELL AS EVERYONE ELSE WHO WAS
AFFECTED BY THIS TRAGEDY.
MADAM SPEAKER, WHEN I WAS IN MY
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THIS PAST
SUNDAY, I WAS APPROACHED BY A
GENTLEMAN WHO I RECOGNIZED WHO
SAID SOMETHING TO ME THAT I
THOUGHT WAS VERY TOUCHING, HE
SAID CONGRESSMAN, I OFTEN
DISAGREE WITH YOU ON MANY
ISSUES, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW
I'M PRAYING FOR YOUR FRIEND FROM
ARIZONA AND FOR YOU.
I HOPE SHE KEEPS UP THE FIGHT
AND PULLS THROUGH.
I EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION ON
BEHALF OF ALL OF US AND SHOOK
HIS HAND.
MADAM SPEAKER, IN THE AFTERMATH
OF THIS TRAGEDY, ONE OF THE BEST
WAYS THAT I KNOW OF TO HONOR THE
VICTIMS IS TO COME TOGETHER AS
AMERICANS AS SO MANY MEMBERS
HAVE SAID AND TO SPEAK WITH ONE
VOICE AGAINST THE VIOLENCE AND
HATE THAT CLAIM THE LIVES OF
BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS,
AMERICANS ALL, BOTH YOUNG AND
OLD.
OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR PRAYERS
TODAY AND SINCE SATURDAY HAVE
BEEN WITH GABBY, HER FAMILY AS
WELL AS ALL THOSE VICTIMS AND
THEIR FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THIS
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
IT'S UP TO US NOW TO MOVE
FORWARD IN THE SAME SPIRIT THAT
THEY HAVE SHOWN AS AS THEY
PERSEVERED THROUGH THIS TERRIBLE
TIME.
WITH THAT, IT RESTS ON US TO BE
BETTER AS MARK'S BROTHER SAID
FROM SPACE, PEACEFUL PLANET.
IT LOOKS PEACEFUL, SADLY, IT IS
NOT, BUT WE CAN DO BETTER.
WE MUST DO BETTER.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, AND I
YIELD BACK.
EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS
CALIFORNIA.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA FOR TWO MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
WE HAVE IN OUR
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS THE
VICTIMS.
OUR NATION STANDS WITH
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS IN HER
RECOVERY, HER FAMILY AND STAFF
AND ALL THOSE IMPACTED BY THIS
TRAGIC EVENT, INCLUDING THE
FAMILY OF GABE ZIMMERMAN AND
JUDGE ROLL.
WE ALSO STAND WITH CHRISTINA
TAYLOR GREEN, WHO LOST HER LIFE
THAT DAY.
CHRISTINA HOPED TO GO TO PENN
STATE ONE DAY AND PURSUE A
CAREER OF HELPING OTHERS.
PENN STATE IS ONE OF THE TOP
PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN THE
COUNTRY.
I SHARE THOSE SAME ASPIRATIONS
AND NO DOUBT SHE WOULD HAVE
ACHIEVED HER DREAMS AND BEEN
SUCCESSFUL IN THE CAREER PATH OF
HER CHOOSING AND OFFER DEEPEST
CONDOLENCES.
THE TRAGEDY REMINDS US HOW
FRAGILE LIFE IS.
I COMMEND AND THANK ALL THE
FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL
OFFICIALS FOR THEIR EFFORTS OVER
THE LAST WEEK.
THESE EVERY DAY HEROES ARE
SITUATIONS.
UNSUNG DESPITE THE DANGEROUS
AMERICANS ARE THANKFUL FOR THOSE
WHO SHOWED COURAGE TO STAND UP
IN THE FACE OF DANGER.
DANIEL HERNANDEZ, THE HERO
ASSISTED CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS
BY PERFORMING TR INCH AGE, A
RETIRED ARMY NATIONAL GUARD HERO
AND THEY SERVE AS REAL LIFE
EXAMPLES OF WHAT IT TAKES TO BE
A HERO.
AS WE MOURN THE LOSSES, WE ARE
GRATEFUL.
OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS AND HER
STAFF AND THOSE LOST INJURED AND
ALL OF US ARE SEARCHING WE MUST
MAINTAIN OUR SUPPORT FOR THOSE
SEEKING RECOVERY AND PRAY FOR
INVOLVED.
THE WELL-BEING OF ALL THOSE
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MR. BECERRA.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THANK THE GENTLEMAN
FOR YIELDING TOFMENT OUR FRIEND
AND COLLEAGUE GABBY GIFFORDS, TO
THE VICTIMS AND HEROES IN TUCSON
AND TO ALL OF THEIR LOVED ONES,
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE
WITH YOU.
YOU HAVE WON OUR HEARTS WITH
YOUR COURAGE AND EXAMPLE IN
THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.
GABBY, KNOWING YOUR EPIC OF HARD
WORK, TEN ASITY AND
DETERMINATION AND KNOWING YOU AS
A FIGHTER FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE
IN, I SIMPLY SAY TO YOU, KEEP AT
IT, DON'T STOP, FIGHT, FIGHT,
FIGHT.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
YOU HERE AND WELCOMING YOU HERE
IN YOUR HOUSE, THE PEOPLE'S
HOUSE.
TIMES LIKE THESE MAKE IT CLEAR
TO SEE HOW IMPORTANT SECOND
CHANCES ARE.
NOT EVERYONE IN TUCSON WILL HAVE
THAT SECOND CHANCE.
HOW LUCKY WE ARE THAT WE CAN
PICK UP THE BATON FOR THEM AND
FINISH THE JOB OF SEEKING
JUSTICE AND MAKING OUR DEMOCRACY
A MORE PERFECT UNION.
AMERICA, THIS IS OUR SECOND
CHANCE.
SHINE.
THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO
LET US MAKE OUR WORK WHETHER
HERE AS DUAL SWORN
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE OR
AS THE MEDIA OR RESPONSIBLE
CITIZENS OF AMERICA, LET US MAKE
OUR WORK COUNT.
IT'S OUR TURN TO SHOW COURAGE
AND EXAMPLE AS WE MOVE FORWARD
AMERICA.
DOING OUR PART TO BUILD A BETTER
WE OWE THAT TO GABBY AND THE
GOOD PEOPLE OF ARIZONA.
LET'S HONOR THEM BY HITTING THAT
SECOND CHANCE OUT OF THE PARK.
MADAM SPEAKER, I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN, MR. HUSENINGA.
I THANK MY
COLLEAGUE FOR YIELDING AND I
RISE IN SUPPORT OF THIS
RESOLUTION AND I LIKE ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES WERE SHOCKED AND
SOBERED BY THESE EVENTS.
I WAS TOUCHED AS A NEW MEMBER
SEEING THE LOCATION AND
SITUATION AND CIRCUMSTANCES.
DONE AS MEMBERS.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE ALL
AS A FORMER DISTRICT DIRECTOR
FOR A FORMER MEMBER OF THIS
BODY, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE
FAMILY OF GABE ZIMMERMAN, OF RON
BARBER AND PAULA SIMON TO THE
STAFF WHO HAVE EVER SERVED
MEMBERS IN THIS HOUSE, BOTH IN
DISTRICT.
WASHINGTON AND OUT IN THAT
SERVICE.
WE SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WE WANT TO SAY THAT OUR HEARTS,
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE THOSE
WITH FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN
TOUCHED AND BE REST ASSURED THAT
YOUR SAFETY IS ON TOP OF MINE
FOR US ALL.
AS A FATHER, I MOURN THIS LOSS
OF A NINE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
I HAVE A NINE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER
WHO IS WITH US AND ALL OF US
CANNOT HELP BUT LOOK AT THIS AND
JUST BE HEART BROKEN.
AS AN AMERICAN, THIS IS AN
ASSAULT ON HUMANITY.
THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THIS
HAPPENED, BUT A SAD DAY
NONETHELESS.
BUT WE ARE ASKING GOD TO HEAL
OUR LAND.
WE WILL RISE TO THIS CHALLENGE.
I WILL CONTINUE TO DO MY JOB AS
A ELECTED MEMBER OF THIS BODY.
I KNOW MY STAFF WILL DO ITS JOBS
AND COLLEAGUES' STAFF WILL DO
THEIR JOB AND WE AS A BODY WILL
CONTINUE TO DO THE PEOPLE'S WORK
AS WE MOVE FORWARD THROUGH THIS
TRAGEDY.
WE WILL RISE TO THIS CHALLENGE
AND WE PRAY THAT HEALING AND
GRACE AND PEACE BE BROUGHT TO
ALL THE VICTIMS.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE DISTINGUISHED THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CONNECTICUT,
MS. DELAURO.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
MADAM SPEAKER, THIS
WEEKEND WE HONOR A TRULY
HISTORIC AMERICAN WHO THROUGH
UNWIELDING STRUGGLE BROUGHT OUR
NATION CLOSER TO JUSTICE.
VIOLENCE SOLVES NO SOCIAL
PROBLEMS, THAT MAN, DR. KING,
HIMSELF A VICTIM OF VIOLENCE
WROTE.
IT ONLY CREATES NEW AND MORE
COMPLICATED ONES.
THE SHOOTINGS IN ARIZONA REMIND
US OF THE TRUTH OF THESE WORDS.
THEY SHOW THAT THE WORLD IS
STILL A DANGEROUS PLACE FOR
THOSE WHO STAND UP FOR CIVIC
DUTY.
I DO NOT HAVE TO TELL THIS BODY
THAT GABBY GIFFORDS HAS BEEN AN
EXEMPLARY MEMBER OF THIS HOUSE.
AS A SMALL BUSINESS WOMAN, SHE
WORKED HARD TO SEE THE ECONOMIC
CONCERNS ARE HEARD IN
WASHINGTON.
AS ONE OF THE GROWING NUMBER OF
WOMEN MEMBERS HERE, SHE HAS BEEN
A POWERFUL VOICE ON IMMIGRATION
REFORM, ENERGY INDEPENDENCE,
REDUCING DRUG TRAFFICKING AND
CARTEL VIOLENCE ALONG THE BORDER
AND CONTINUED IMPORTANCE OF
EXPLORING THE STARS AND THIRD
GENERATION, SHE HAS BROUGHT AN
ARIZONAN'S LOVE OF THE SUN AND
BENEFIT OF SOLAR POWER.
SHE IS AN EXEMPLARY PERSON.
SHE IS FUN TO BE WITH AND DEAR
FAMILY.
FRIEND OF MINE, FRIEND TO MY
AND MY STEP BROTHER HIS HER
POLLSTER AND WHEREVER YOU STAND
IN THIS CHAMBER, SHE WAS A
FRIEND TO YOU.
SHE NEVER HAD ANYTHING BUT A
SMILE FOR EVERYONE, LEFT OR
RIGHT, AND FOR THIS, BEST OF HER
ABILITY, SHE WAS SHOT IN THE
LINE OF DUTY.
THIS VERY MOMENT, SHE FIGHTS FOR
LIFE IN ARIZONA, A LIFE THAT HAS
BEEN DENIED SIX OTHERS IN THIS
TRAGEDY, INCLUDING A LONG TIME
OFFICER OF THE COURT, A STAFFER,
JUST LIKE THE YOUNG MEN AND
WOMEN THAT WE RELY ON EVERY DAY
AND A LITTLE NINE-YEAR-OLD GIRL.
TROUBLED INDIVIDUAL WHO
PERPETRATED THIS EFF I WILL IS
CUSTODY.
NOW IN CUSTODY -- EVIL IS NOW IN
BUT FOR THOSE OF US HERE IN THIS
ROOM, WE HAVE TO DO MORE TO
DRAIN OUR POLITICS OF THE VENOM
WHICH SUCH HATRED BREATHES.
I PRAY FOR GABBY'S RECOVERY AND
THE OTHERS I DO NOT KNOW AND
.
MOURN THOSE WHO WERE LOST.
IT IS MY PLEASURE
TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, DR.
GINGREY.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
FIRST AND
FOREMOST, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND MY
PRAYERS AND WISHES, AS WELL AS
THOSE OF MY CONSTITUENTS IN
NORTHWEST GEORGIA TO MY
COLLEAGUE, REPRESENTATIVE
GIFFORDS, HER FAMILY AND STAFF
AND TO ALL THE OTHER VICTIMS OF
THE SHOOTING.
WHAT TOOK PLACE WAS AN
UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDY AND IT HAS
ABSOLUTELY NO PLACE IN OUR
SOCIETY.
MADAM SPEAKER, ON SATURDAY
MORNING, MS. GIFFORDS WAS
HOSTING AN EVENT, FUNDAMENTAL
TO OUR DUTIES AS MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS, MEETING WITH AND
LISTEN TOURG CONSTITUENTS SO WE
CAN BEST REPRESENT THEM IN
WASHINGTON.
IT'S PAINFULLY SAD AND SOBERING
THAT IN THE PROCESS OF DOING
HER JOB, GABBY WAS ATTACKED.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING
WITH GABRIELLE ON BOTH THE
HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
AND ANOTHER COMMITTEE AND I'VE
KNOWN HER TO BE A THOUGHTFUL
LEGISLATOR AND I'VE ALWAYS
APPRECIATED HER CHEERFUL
DISPOSITION.
THROUGHOUT HER TENURE IN
CONGRESS, SHE'S DISTINGUISHED
HERSELF AS ONE OF THE MEMBERS
OF THIS BODY WHO WOKED --
WORKED WELL WITH MEMBERS ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN
SHE WALKS BACK ONTO THIS HOUSE
FLOOR.
MADAM SPEAKER, WE MUST ALSO NOT
FORGET THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS
ATTACK.
WHO ARE VICTIMS OF SATURDAY'S
ONE OF THE CASUALTIES WAS A
9-YEAR-OLD, CHRISTINA TAYLOR
GREEN, BORN ON SEPTEMBER 11,
2001, AND WAS RECENTLY ELECTED
TO SERVE ON HER SCHOOL'S
STUDENT COUNCIL.
DRIVEN BY HER INTEREST IN
POLITICS SHE'D COME TO GABBY'S
EVENT LAST SATURDAY TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
THE TRAGEDY OF HER DEATH
REMINDS US ALL OF THE FRAGILE
NATURE OF LIFE AND WHAT IT
MEANS TO BE A PUBLIC SERVANT.
ADDITIONALLY MADAM SPEAKER, WE
KNOW THE CRITICAL ROLE STAFF
MEMBERS PLAY IN HELPING US
CARRY OUT OUR DUTIES.
LIKE US, MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF
ARE DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS,
THAT'S WHY IT'S DUE TRULY HEART
BREAKING THAT A MEMBER OF MS.
GIFFORDS' DISTRICT STAFF LOST
HIS LIFE WHILE TWO OTHER
MEMBERS OF HER ARIZONA-BASED
STAFF WERE INJURED.
IN THE MIDST OF ONE OF THE
DARKEST HOURS OF OUR COUNTRY IN
RECENT MEMORY, LET'S ALSO THANK
THE COURAGE -- THOSE WHOSE
COURAGE AND BRAVERY DESERVE
RECOGNITION.
WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR VALOR.
MADAM SPEAKER, DURING TIMES OF
TRAGEDY, WE DEPEND ON STEADY
LEADERSHIP TO GUIDE US THROUGH
OUR GRIEF.
I COMMEND THE LEADERSHIP OF
BOTH PARTIES FOR REMEMBERING
THAT THERE'S MUCH MORE THAT
UNITES US THAN DIVIDES US.
AGAIN I PRAY FOR THE RECOVERY
OF OUR COLLEAGUE, MS. GIFFORDS
AND THE VICTIMS OF THE TUCSON
SHOOTING AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MAINE, MR. MY
SHAUD.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
ALL OF US ON
CAPITOL HILL WERE DEALT WITH
THE SHOCKING NEWS OF
CONGRESSWOMAN GABBY GIFFORDS
AND HER STAFF WAS SHOT AND THAT
HER DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH, GABE
ZIMMERMAN, WAS KILLED THIS
MAKES ME THINK OF MY OWN STAFF
AND THE GREAT WORK THEY DO EACH
AND EVERY DAY FOR ME
REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE I WAS
ELECTED TO REPRESENT.
I JOIN OUR ENTIRE COUNTRY IN
CONTINUING TO PRAY FOR THE
RECOVERY OF OUR FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE, CONGRESSWOMAN GABBY
GIFFORDS.
SHE'S A HARDWORKING, HIGHLY
RESPECTED MEMBER OF THIS
CHAMBER, AND SHE'S A TRUE
ADVOCATE FOR HER HOME STATE.
IN 2008, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF
JOINING HER IN TUCSON FOR A
DISCUSSION ON THE NEED TO
IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE OF
OUR SERVICE MEMBERS RETURNING
FROM THE WARS IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN.
I KNOW SHE CARES PASSIONATELY
ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS SHE DOES SO
MANY OTHER ISSUES IMPORTANT TO
HER CONSTITUENCY.
MAY GOD BLESS CONGRESSWOMAN
GABBY GIFFORDS, HER FAMILY, HER
FRIENDS AND ALL THOSE IN
ARIZONA WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED
BY THIS TRAGEDY.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA, MR. RIGELL.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
CALIFORNIA.
I THANK MY COLLEAGUE FROM
I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF
THIS RESOLUTION TODAY.
WE GATHER HERE TO REMEMBER THE
INNOCENT PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES
WERE CUT TRAGICALLY SHORT BY
THE HORROR THAT UNFOLDED IN
ARIZONA ON SATURDAY.
WE ALSO GATHER TO HONOR AND
PRAY FOR OUR COLLEAGUE,
REPRESENTATIVE GIFFORDS AND THE
OTHERS WOUNDED IN THAT ATTACK.
IT'S A REAL PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE READING OF
THE CONSTITUTION WITH GABBY AND
ANXIOUSLY LOOK FORWARD TO HER
RETURN TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.
I'M JOINED BY SO MANY IN
VIRGINIA'S SECOND DISTRICT IN
ADDING MY HEART FELT
CONDOLENCES TO ALL THOSE
AFFECTED BY THIS TRAGEDY AND I
COMMEND THE CITIZENS, FIRST
RESPONDERS AND HEALTH CARE
WORKERS WHO BRAVELY WORKED TO
HELP SAVE LIVES.
WE'RE BLESSED TO WORK IN A
COUNTRY WHERE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO FREELY ASSEMBLE AND SPEAK TO
OUR -- AND PETITION OUR
REPRESENTATIVES EVEN AT A
GROCERY STORE IS UPHELD.
WE STAND UNITED IN CONDEMNING
THIS ACT OF VIOLENCE.
MY WIFE CARRIE JOINS ME AND ALL
OF THIS BODY IN PRAYING FOR
THOSE WHO LOST OUR LIVES, THOSE
WHO WERE WOUNDED, AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA AND BRING
PEACE TO AMERICA.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
I'M PLEASED TO YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEVADA, MS. BERKLEY.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
I THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ENOUGH
WORDS TO EXPRESS MY FEELINGS AT
THIS TIME AND I'M SURE THE
WORDS THAT I HAVE WILL NEVER BE
ADEQUATE TO TRULY SHARE MY
GRIEF WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND
WITH OUR COUNTRY, AS WITH ALL
THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, MY
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH
THOSE WHO LOST LOVED ONES IN
THE AFTERMATH OF THIS SENSELESS
ACT OF VIOLENCE.
MY HEART IS HURTING FOR THOSE
WHO WERE INJURED, SOME
CATASTROPHICALLY, SOME STILL
FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES.
I LOVE GABBY GIFFORDS.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S A BETTER
EXAMPLE OF A TRUE PUBLIC
SERVANT THAN THIS REMARKABLE
WOMAN WHO THE COUNTRY HAS GOT
TON KNOW OVER THE LAST FEW
DAYS.
SHE'S KIND AND CARING AND
DEDICATED AND THE VERY FACT
THAT SHE WAS DOING HER CONGRESS
ON THE CORNER JUST FOUR DAYS
FROM THE TIME SHE WAS SWORN IN
FOR ANOTHER TERM GIVES YOU SOME
IDEA OF HOW DEDICATED SHE WAS
TO HER JOB.
WHILE I WATCHED IN HORROR LIKE
MOST OF THE COUNTRY AND WAS
RIVETED TO MY TELEVISION SET
THIS WEEKEND, I ALSO COULDN'T
HELP BUT MARVEL AT THOSE WHO
ROSE ABOVE PERSONAL FEAR, WHO
HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND, WHO,
IN SPITE OF THEIR OWN PERSONAL
SAFETY, TACKLED THE PERPETRATOR
OF THIS HEINOUS CRIME, THE
YOUNG INTERN THAT POSSIBLY
SAVED GABBY'S LIFE BY HIS
MEDICAL ATTENTION TO HER, THOSE
THAT TENDED THE WOUNDED AND
COMFORTED THE BYSTANDERS.
THESE ARE THE TRUE HEROES IN
OUR COUNTRY.
THE MEDICAL PERSONNEL, THE
HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS AND
STAFF, THE ENTIRE CITIZENRY OF
TUCSON HAS GIVEN US HOPE FOR
OUR NATION AS THEY HAVE RISEN
TO THIS OCCASION AND
DEMONSTRATED TO THE REST OF US
HOW GOOD WE ARE IN TIMES OF
TRIAL.
I'VE GONE THROUGH MANY STAGES
OF GRIEF IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.
FIRST, -- MAY I HAVE 30
SECONDS.
I YIELD THE GENTLEWOMAN 30
SECONDS.
FIRST, I WAS HEART
SICK AT THE NEWS, THEN I WAS
ANGRY, NOW I'M RESOLVED.
AND I'M GOING TO DO MY OWN
CONGRESS ON THE CORNER IN HONOR
OF GABBY THIS COMING FRIDAY
BECAUSE NOBODY, NO LONE GUNMAN,
NOBODY CAN STOP THE DEMOCRATIC
PROCESS AND STOP US FROM DOING
OUR JOB OF INTERACTING WITH OUR
CONSTITUENTS.
ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY
FAMILY AND THE PEOPLE I
REPRESENT FROM SOUTHERN NEVADA,
I SEND OUR COLLECTIVE
CONDOLENCES TO THOSE PEOPLE
THAT HAVE LOST LOVED ONES IN
TUCSON AND ARE THOUGHTS AND --
AND OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS
ARE WITH THE SURVIVORS AND WE
WISH THEM ALL GOD SPEED.
GOD BLESS THEM AND GOD BLESS
THIS GREAT NATION.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
BEFORE I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO MR. LA THAM, MAY I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT MR.
CALVERT MAY CONTROL THE TIME.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA MAY
CONTROL THE TIME.
TWO MINUTES FOR
MR. LATHAM.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER, I THANK THE GENTLEMAN
FOR YIELDING.
I RISE TODAY IN JOINING MY
COLLEAGUES IN OFFERING MY
CONDOLENCES TO THE VICTIMS OF
SATURDAY'S SENSELESS VIOLENCE
IN TUCSON.
TO THE FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES
OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
AND WERE INJURED, KNOW THAT
EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND
THEIR STAFF MEMBERS STAND WITH
YOU TODAY.
THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY WAS
DESIGNED TO BE A FORUM FOR THE
WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS AS
ALWAYS MET HER CONSTITUENTS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THAT SPIRIT.
SHE AND HER STAFF MEMBERS WHO
ACCOMPANIED HER ON SATURDAY
POSSESS A DEEP UNDERSTANDING
THAT A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
PEOPLE'S HOUSE MUST LISTEN AND
REMAIN AS ACCESSIBLE AS
POSSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE.
THE CITIZENS WHO LOST THEIR
LIVES SATURDAY MORNING WERE
EXERCISING THEIR PATRIOTIC DUTY
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
A WIDELY RESPECTED FEDERAL
JUDGE, A DEDICATED CHURCH
SERVANT, A GREAT GRANDMOTHER
WHO DEEPLY BELIEVED IN HER
COUNTRY, A FORMER SECRETARY AND
HOMEMAKER, AND A 9-YEAR-OLD
GIRL.
HERSELF A LEADER, GETTING AN
EARLY GLIMPSE OF OUR OUR -- OF
HOW OUR DEMOCRACY WORKS.
AND IT IS WITH AN ESPECIALLY
HEAVY HEART WE MOURN THE LOSS
OF GABE ZIMMERMAN, A TIRELESS
SERVANT TO THE PEOPLE OF
ARIZONA'S EIGHTH DISTRICT.
THAT THOSE VOICES AND LIVES
WERE CUT SHORT IS A NATIONAL
TRAGEDY OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.
THIS IS A HEARTBREAKING MOMENT
IN THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AND OUR NATION.
BUT WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS
TRAGEDY TO PUT OUNCE THE
DEFENSIVE.
WE CANNOT RETREAT FROM OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES TO BE
ACCESSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO
THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS REJOINS
US IN THIS CHAMBER.
UNTIL THEN WE CAN STRIVE FOR
THE LOFTY STANDARD SHE HAS SET.
WE CAN FIND INSPIRATION IN HER
STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO THOSE
SHE SERVES AND DRAW STRENGTH
FROM HER UNWAVERING BELIEF IN
DEMOCRACY.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM RHODE ISLAND,
MR. CICILLINE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
I RISE TO HONOR
THOSE INJURED OR KILLED IN LAST
SATURDAY'S ATTACK.
CONGRESSWOMAN GABRIELLE
GIFFORDS, MEMBERS OF HER STAFF
AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TUCSON
COMMUNITY ARE NOW FIGHTING FOR
THEIR LIVES.
SIX INNOCENT OTHERS, INCLUDING
A 9-YEAR-OLD LITTLE GIRL AND
CONGRESSWOMAN'S DIRECTOR OF
OUTREACH, GABE ZIMMERMAN, GAVE
THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN THE
EXERCISE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
THIS TRAGEDY GIVES US GREAT
PAUSE AS WE BEGIN THE WORK OF
THE 112TH CONGRESS AND SERVES
AS A PAINFUL REMAINDER --
REMINDER THAT OUR DEMOCRACY IS
BUILT ON THE ABILITY OF
CITIZENS TO FULLY PARTICIPATE
IN THE DEMOCRACY AND WE MUST
PROTECT THAT.
THESE HAVE BEEN TRAGIC HOURS
FOR OUR COUNTRY, FOR THOSE WHO
LOST LOVED ONES, AND FOR THOSE
WHO WERE INJURED AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF THE
FIRST DISTRICT OF RHODE ISLAND
AND MY COLLEAGUE,
REPRESENTATIVE LANGEVIN, WE
SEND OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES
FROM THE ENTIRE STATE TO ALL
THOSE WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES
AS A RESULT OF THIS HIDEOUS
ATTACK.
WE ALSO EXTEND OUR THOUGHTS AND
PRAYERS TO CONGRESSWOMAN
GIFFORDS, HER STAFF AND
CONSTITUENTS, ALL OF WHOM WERE
VICTIMS OF THE TRAGEDY AND PRAY
THAT THOSE INJURED HAVE A
SPEEDY AND FULL RECOVERY.
MAY GOD GRANT OUR NATION AND
ALL THE VICTIMS PEACE AND
COMFORT AND MAY WE RENEW OUR
COMMITMENT TO THE IDEALS THAT
HAVE MADE AMERICA GREAT,
INCLUDING THE FREE EXCHANGE OF
IDEAS AND A DEMOCRACY THAT
CONTINUES TO LISTEN CAREFULLY
TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
I YIELD MYSELF AS
MUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
LAST SATURDAY, CONGRESSWOMAN
GIFFORDS AND MANY OTHERS WERE
VICTIMS OF A BRUTAL AND BRAZEN
ATTACK AS THEY PARTICIPATED IN A
"CONGRESS IN YOUR CORNER" EVENT.
SIX PEOPLE WERE KILLED, MANY
MORE WERE INJURED.
LIKE MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES I HAD THE PLEASURE TO
WORK WITH REPRESENTATIVE
GIFFORDS AND CAN ATTEST, SHE IS
PERSON.
THOUGHTFUL, KIND AND WONDERFUL
MY PRAYERS ARE WITH HER AND HER
FAMILY AS SHE BEGINS THE ROAD TO
RECOVERY.
MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE
FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO WERE
KILLED.
NO WORDS CAN EASE THE PAIN OF
THEIR FAMILIES AND OUR COUNTRY
SHARES IN THE GRIEVE OF SIX
LIVES CUT SHORT.
THE GOODNESS OF DOROTHY MORRIS,
JUDGE JOHN ROLL, PHYLLIS
SCHNECK, DORWIN STODDARD, GABE
ZIMMERMAN AND NINE-YEAR-OLD
CHRISTINA TAYLOR GREEN WHO WILL
NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
DURING MOMENTS OF TRAGEDY,
AMERICANS FORGET OUR DIFFERENCES
AND UNITE AROUND COMMON
GOODNESS.
WE LOVE OUR COUNTRY AND
COUNTRYMEN AND NOT LET ANYONE
ACT OR ONE INDIVIDUAL DETER US
FROM LIVING IN FREEDOM AND
WITHOUT FEAR.
AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, WE
REFUSE TO BE COWERED BY
SENSELESS VIOLENCE AND WE WILL
FULFILL OUR DUTIES WITHOUT
RESERVATION OR HESITATION.
THE LESSON FROM LAST SATURDAY
CAN BE FOUND IN THE COURAGEOUS
ACTS OF STRANGERS AND NEIGHBORS
WHO BANDED TOGETHER TO HELP
OTHERS AND CONFRONT A MAD MAN.
LET'S HONOR REPRESENTATIVE
GIFFORDS AND DAVID HERNANDEZ,
WHO DID NOT HESITATE TO COME TO
HER AID AND THREE ARIZONANS
WITHOUT REGARD TO THEIR OWN
LIVES TACKLED AND SUBDUED THE
ATTACKER.
WHATEVER THE DID HE RANGED
SHOOTER, IT MARVELS AT THE
BRAVERY AND KINDNESS OF OUR
FELLOW AMERICANS WHO WITHOUT
THOUGHT OF THEIR OWN SAFETY,
ACTED IN THE FACE OF EVIL.
IT IS THEIR STORIES OF BRAVERY
THAT WILL BE REMEMBERED AND HELD
UP AS AN EXAMPLE OF AN
EXCEPTIONAL NATURE OF OUR GREAT
AMERICAN CHARACTER.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD FROM THIS
HORRIBLE EVENT, LET US KEEP THE
FEELINGS OF BROOTS HOOD AND
COMPASSION THAT SHOULD NOT ONLY
EXIST IN THE WAKE OF A TRAGEDY,
BUT IN OUR EVERY DAY LIVES.
GOD BLESS OUR DEAR FRIEND GABBY
GIFFORDS, ALL THOSE WHO WERE
INJURED, THE FAMILIES OF THE
FALLEN AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.
DOES
THE GENTLEMAN CONTINUE TO
RESERVE HIS TIME?
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA, MR. LUNGREN
CONTROL THE BALANCE OF THE TIME.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW
JERSEY, MR. ANDREWS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY, MR.
ANDREWS IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
WE ARE GATHERED HERE TO SHOW
RESPECT FOR OUR COLLEAGUE TO
MOURN THE DEAD AND PROVIDE
SUPPORT FOR THOSE WOUNDED IN
BODY AND IN SPIRIT.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY
HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO TELL THE
TRUTH ABOUT THE NATURE OF
AMERICA.
OUR CHILDREN AND PEOPLE ALL OVER
THE WORLD SAW ACTS OF HEINOUS
VIOLENCE ON SATURDAY AND MANY
THING THAT THAT REPRESENTS THE
TRUE NATURE OF AMERICA.
IT DOES NOT.
IT IS NOT AN EVIL.
THE TRUE NATURE OF THIS COUNTRY
IS DUE DILIGENCE AS.
THE TRUE NATURE OF AMERICA IS
THE OPTIMISM OF A NINE-YEAR-OLD
GIRL EAGER TO BECOME INVOLVED IN
THE POLITICAL PROCESS.
THE TRUE NATURE OF AMERICA IS
THE ULTIMATE ACT OF SELFLESSNESS
AS A LONG-TERM HUSBAND,
INTERPOSES HIS BODY BETWEEN THAT
AND THE BULLETS AND SAVES THE
LIFE OF HIS BELOVED WIFE HE MET
IN GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
THE TRUE IS THE YOUNG INTERN
FIVE DAYS IN THE SERVICE OF
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS WHO
RUSHED TO HER SIDE AND VERY
LIKELY.
THE TRUE NATURE OF AMERICA IS
THE JUDICIOUS NATURE AND THE
FEDERAL JUDGE WHO GAVE HIS LIFE
AT THIS MOMENT.
THE TRUE NATURE OF AMERICA IS
THE THREE BRAVE ARIZONANS WHO
RAN TOWARD A MAN WITH A LOADED
GUN WHO IS FIRING AWAY, THROUGH
THEIR BODIES AT HIM AND SAVED
THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS OTHERS
AROUND HIM.
SATURDAY WAS A HORRENDOUS DAY,
BUT LET US BE RESOLVED THAT IT
NOT BE MARKED IN HISTORY BY THE
MANIFESTATION OF EVIL THAT IT
REPRESENTS, BUT BY THE
MANIFESTATION OF OPTIMISM AND
DILIGENCE AND SELFLESSNESS AND
GOODNESS THAT REFLECTS THE
SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
MAY GOD BLESS OUR COLLEAGUE AND
ALL THOSE WHO SUFFERED THROUGH
THIS LONG NIGHTMARE.
THANK YOU.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS
CALIFORNIA.
EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM
I WOULD LIKE TO
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
TWO MINUTES.
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN IN
WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
I JOIN MILLIONS OF OTHERS IN
PRAYING FOR THE RECOVERY OF ALL
THOSE THAT WERE INJURED
ESPECIALLY WE PRAY FOR OUR
COLLEAGUE, THE HONOR
REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLE
GIFFORDS.
IT HAS BEEN MY PRIVILEGE AND
HONOR TO WORK WITH HER E7S ON
THE NATION'S SPACE PROGRAM AND I
PRAY FOR HER FULL RECOVERY AND
HER HUSBAND AND ENTIRE FAMILY.
IN A NATION WHERE THERE IS
FREEDOM, SOME INDIVIDUALS WILL
CHOOSE TO DO EVIL AND NO LAW CAN
CURE THE HUMAN HEART.
I DO PRAY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO
ARE SUFFERING FROM ANGER, LIKE
THOSE OF THE ACCUSED.
THAT THEY WILL FIND COUNSELING
AND HEALING THAT THEY NEED.
ACTIONS LIKE THIS, WHICH INCLUDE
THE TRAGIC DEATH OF A
NINE-YEAR-OLD CHILD ARE NOT
NORMAL.
EVEN IN TRAGEDY, WE SEE THE
GREAT STRENGTH OF THIS NATION.
WE SEE THE HEROIC ACTIONS OF
INDIVIDUALS, PRIVATE AND
PROFESSIONAL, WHO HELPED SUBDUE
THE ATTACKER AND HELPED THE
WOUNDED SURVIVE AND SEE A
NATIONWIDE OUTPOURING OF CONCERN
AND PRAYER FOR GABBY GIFFORDS
AND ALL THOSE THAT WERE INJURED
AND OF COURSE THAT RISES FAR
ABOVE POLITICAL DIFFERENCES.
MAY GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES AND
BLESS US IN OUR WORK THIS YEAR
IN THE 112TH CONGRESS AND I
YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE
I YIELD TWO MINUTES
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
TO ANOTHER FINE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW JERSEY, MR. PALLONE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
EARLIER THIS
AFTERNOON, MANY OF US ATTENDED A
CONGRESSIONAL PRAYER SERVICE FOR
THE VICTIMS OF THE SHOOTING IN
ARIZONA AND I WANTED TO REFLECT
ON THREE THINGS THAT OCCURRED
THERE THAT REALLY WERE
MEANINGFUL FOR ME.
ONE WAS AFTER THE PRAYER
SERVICE, THE STAFF OF GABBY
GIFFORDS WERE GATHERED AND WE
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THEM
AND SHAKE THEIR HANDS AND TALK
TO THEM A LITTLE BIT.
AND I WAS JUST TAKEN ABACK,
FIRST OF ALL, BY HOW YOUNG THEY
WERE AND OPTIMISTIC THEY WERE,
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT HER BUS THEY
REALLY FEEL AND PRAYING AND
HOPEFULLY HAS A FULL RECOVERY
AND CAN'T HELP ON THE FACT THAT
NOT ONLY THE CONGRESSWOMAN BUT
HER STAFF WERE SO DEDICATED.
I WOULD OFTEN TALK TO GABBY ON
THE FLOOR IN THE BACK OF THIS
ROOM AND AS MANY HAVE SAID, SHE
WAS WONDERFUL.
SHE WAS SO ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT
HER JOB, ABOUT HER CONSTITUENTS.
SHE WAS ALSO A BEAUTIFUL PERSON.
AND I WAS JUST SO HAPPY TO HEAR
THAT AFTER THE OPERATION THAT
THEY WERE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT HER
BETTER.
RECOVERY AND EVERY DAY SHE GETS
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HER
COMING BACK HERE AND PAY TRIBUTE
TO HER STAFF.
ONE WAS KILLED.
THAT PERSON WAS KILLED AND ALL
OF THEM WERE FACING THE REALITY
UNFORTUNATELY THAT WE DO FACE
NOW THAT WHEN WE DO OUTREACH,
THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
DANGER, BUT I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US TO SAY THAT
THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT AGAINST
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE
OUT THERE MEETING WITH OUR
CONSTITUENTS AND WE WANT PEOPLE
TO COME AND MEET WITH US.
THE SECOND THING WAS THE HOUSE
CHAPLAIN, AT THE PRAYER SERVICE
HE SAID THE VICTIMS WERE MARTYRS
TO THE CAUSE OF AMERICA BECAUSE
THEY WERE OUT THERE
PARTICIPATING IN DEMOCRACY.
AND I REALLY THINK THAT THAT'S
TRUE.
THE NEED TO PARTICIPATE AND THE
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IS WHAT THIS
IS ALL ABOUT.
AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE
REINFORCE THAT IN THE AFTERMATH
OF THIS TRAGEDY, IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT.
AND THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY,
SOME OF THE MEMBERS TODAY
PARTICULARLY ED PASTOR WHEN HE
SPOKE, HE SAID THAT WE HAVE TO
BE INSPIRED TO BETTER THE LIVES
OF OTHERS.
EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS
IF I COULD HAVE
ANOTHER 30 SECONDS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR AN
ADDITIONAL 30 SECONDS.
AND I NOTICED THE
LITTLE GIRL, CHRISTINA GREEN,
ACTUALLY TOLD HER PARENTS, THE
ONE WHO UNFORTUNATELY PASSED
AWAY, SHE WANTED A CAREER THAT
INVOLVED HELPING THOSE LESS
FORTUNATE THAN HER.
AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING WE CAN
DO IN THE AFTERMATH OF THIS
TRAGEDY, AS ED PASTOR SAID AT
THE PRAYER SERVICE, LET US BE
INSPIRED TO BETTER THE LIVES OF
OTHERS AND MAKE SOMETHING
POSITIVE OF THIS TRAGEDY.
THAT LITTLE GIRL WAS SO MUCH IN
MY HEART WHEN I HEARD ABOUT HER
AND HER WANTING TO HAVE A CAREER
IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND HER BEING
THERE AT THIS OUTREACH CENTER
BECAUSE OF THAT DESIRE.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS
CALIFORNIA.
EXPIRED. THE GENTLEMAN FROM
I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE THE GENTLEMAN FROM
FLORIDA, MR. STEARNS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
ON BEHALF OF MYSELF
AND MY CONSTITUENTS FROM THE 6TH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF NORTH
CENTRAL FLORIDA, WE OFFER OUR
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO OUR
COLLEAGUE GABRIELLE GIFFORDS AND
HER FAMILY AND I JOIN THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE IN EXTENDING OUR
CONDOLENCES TO THE OTHER VICTIMS
OF THIS TERRIBLE EVENT.
THIS IS A HEARTBREAKING LOSS.
BUT I'M ENCOURAGED BY THE
POSITIVE NEWS OF HER DOCTORS AND
COMMEND THOSE MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS IN TUCSON FOR
THEIR DEDICATION AND OUTSTANDING
WORK.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO GABBY COMING
BACK TO THE HOUSE FLOOR AND MISS
HER WARM DEMEANOR AND COURAGEOUS
QUALITIES.
IN PAYING RESPECT RESPECT TO HER
AND OTHERS KILLED IN THIS EVENT,
WE MUST MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE
WILL NOT BE DETERRED FROM
MEETING WITH THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
THE ACT OF THIS INDIVIDUAL
SHOULD NOT ALTER THE ROUTINE
DUTIES OF OUR OFFICE.
I HAVE HAD 560 TOWN HALL
MEETINGS AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT
IT MUST BE TO REMAIN AVAILABLE.
AND AN ATTACK ON THIS
INSTITUTION AND WE MUST CARRY.
I EXTEND MY BEST WISHES TO MY
COLLEAGUE FOR A SATISFACTORY AND
SWIFT RECOVERY AND SHARE MY
DEEPEST SYMPATHIES WITH THE
FAMILIES, THE FAMILIES OF THE
VICTIMS WHO WERE KILLED.
LET ME CLOSE WITH TWO BIBLE
QUOTES.
GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH
AND EVER PRESENT HELP AND
TROUBLE AND 1 PETER, BUT EVEN IF
YOU SHOULD SUFFER FOR WHAT IS
RIGHT, YOU ARE BLESSED.
DO NOT FEAR WHAT THEY FEAR.
DO NOT BE FRIGHTENED.
I YIELD BACK.
BALANCE OF HIS TIME. THE
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
GENTLEMAN FROM IOWA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
DISTINGUISHED THE GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA, MR. JOHNSON.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, MR.
JOHNSON, IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
I RISE IN SUPPORT
OF THIS RESOLUTION THAT
RECOGNIZES THE TRAGEDY IN TUCSON
ON SATURDAY.
I'M DEEPLY SHOCKED AND SADDENED
AND I'M PRAYING FOR GABBY, HER
FAMILY, STAFF AND THE OTHER
VICTIMS OF THIS SENSELESS ACT OF
VIOLENCE.
IN TIMES LIKE THESE, WORDS OFTEN
FAIL TO DESCRIBE OUR ANGUISH AND
PAIN.
AS A FELLOW MEMBER OF THE CLASS
OF 2006, I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW
CONGRESSWOMAN GIFFORDS WELL AND
HAVE DEVELOPED ENORMOUS RESPECT
FOR HER INTELLECT AND LOVE OF
THIS COUNTRY.
SHE AND I SERVED TOGETHER ON THE
HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
AND SHE WAS VERY GRACIOUS ON THE
MORNING OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
SWEARING-IN AND OFFERED TO SHARE
HER BLANKET WITH ME AS WE BOTH
BRAVED THE COLD DURING THE
INAUGURATION.
WE KEPT EACH OTHER WARM AND WE
HAD WARM DIALOGUE AND HAPPY
MOMENTS.
GABBY AND HER STAFF WERE
PERFORMING A FUNDAMENTAL DUTY AS
A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, THAT IS
CONSTITUENTS.
LISTENING TO THE CONCERNS OF HER
OUR DEMOCRACY DEPENDS ON THIS
TYPE OF OPEN AND INFORMAL
MEETING OF ELECTED OFFICIALS.
THIS COWARDLY ACT OF VIOLENCE
PREVENT US FROM ENGAGING WITH
OUR CONSTITUENTS.
I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
TAKE APPROPRIATE CAUTION, BUT TO
CONTINUE HOLDING CONSTITUENT
MEETINGS AND DO THE JOB WE WERE
ELECTED TO DO WITHOUT FEAR, TO
DO OTHERWISE WOULD ALLOW THE GUN
MARN A SMALL TASTE OF VICTORY
AND -- GUNMAN A SMALL TASTE OF
VICTORY AND DISHONOR THE VICTIMS
OF THIS SENSELESS ACT.
I LOOK FORWARD TORE GABBY'S
SPEEDY RECOVERY AND WORKING WITH
HER ON THE ARMED SERVICES
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