[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 154 (Friday, September 29, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  A PRAYER FOR RICHARD ANDREW BAUTISTA

                                 ______


                       HON. ESTEBAN EDWARD TORRES

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 1995

  Mr. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my heartfelt 
sympathy to the Bautista family. Friday, September 22, 1995, 12-year-
old Richard Andrew Bautista was shot once in the head as he was 
returning on the freeway from a Los Angeles Dodgers' game.
  The young Bautista, a soccer player, an altar boy and a friend to 
many at Whittier St. Gregory the Great School, was, without 
provocation, the victim of more senseless violence. Only 5 days earlier 
in Los Angeles, gang members fatally shot 3-year-old Stephanie Kuhen.
  While the greater Los Angeles community quickly responded to help the 
Kuhen and Bautista families, nothing can bring little Stephanie back to 
life and nothing can restore the peace that Richard knew when he was at 
the baseball game. I am torn inside--the father of 5 children and 
grandfather of 10--for I cannot sufficiently express my grief and 
convey to the families my sorrow.
  I was touched by Richard's fellow students who are raising money to 
buy a soccer ball and present it with all their signatures. In our 
small way, as a community, they are saying and we should say we are 
here for you.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues assembled to pray with me for 
Richard's speedy recovery. Our collective spirit of love is with the 
Bautista and Kuhen family.

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