[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 27, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S4232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE TRAGEDY IN LITTLETON, COLORADO

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant to a unanimous-consent request, the 
Chaplain is recognized for a special prayer.
  The Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie, offered the following prayer:
  Let us pray together.
  O Gracious God, our hearts break over what breaks Your heart, and we 
join our hearts with the broken hearts of the families and friends of 
the teenagers and the teacher who were killed in the tragic shooting by 
two students at the Columbine High School in Littleton, CO.
  We have been shocked by this senseless expression of rage and hatred 
in the twisted and tormented minds of these young men. Comfort the 
parents who lost their children, both as victims and perpetrators. Help 
us all to deal with the deeper issues of the need for moral renewal in 
our culture.
  O God, bless the children of our land. May we communicate to them 
Your love and Your righteousness so that they have a rudder for the 
turbulent waters of our time and are able to present them with the 
charts to make it through these difficult waters.
  O Gracious God, help us to communicate Your commandments and help 
them to know the joy of living in faithfulness with You. In our quest 
to separate church and State, there are times when we have divided God 
from our culture. Now when there is nowhere else to turn, we return to 
You.
  O dear God, heal our land. In Your holy name. Amen.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado is recognized.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I understand the leadership accommodated 
Senator Campbell's and my request to observe a moment of silence out of 
respect for the victims of the tragic shooting at Columbine High School 
in Littleton, CO.
  I also understand that later today the Senate will consider a 
resolution expressing sorrow and offering condolences to the families 
and friends and students, all of Littleton, CO. I will address the 
Senate in greater detail at that time.

  In the meantime, I yield the floor to my senior colleague in order 
for him to request a moment of silence.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I thank my colleague. I, too, thank the 
leadership for affording the Senate an opportunity to express our 
profound sorrow and to offer condolences to the families and friends of 
the fallen people of Littleton, CO.
  I understand that a resolution addressing this issue will arrive from 
the House of Representatives at about 4:30 today. I expect that many 
Members may want to make comments at that time.
  The tragic truth is that the angels are now carrying the souls of 13 
innocent people to the everlasting glory of heaven. A resolution alone 
would never express the degree of sorrow we feel. Certainly all of 
America has much to do to heal our Nation and to rid ourselves of hate 
and vengeance.
  Until that resolution is pending, and in order to observe, 
acknowledge, and honor a moment of silence called for throughout the 
State of Colorado, I now ask that the Senate observe a moment of silent 
prayer for 2 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senate will now observe a moment of 
silence.
  [Period of silence.]
  Mr. LOTT addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader is recognized.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I know that a number of Senators do wish to 
express their concern, sympathy, and great regret with regard to the 
incident for which we are all so very sorry, and suffering. As Senators 
Allard and Campbell said, I think we can save that until we have the 
resolution up later this afternoon when Senators will have the 
opportunity to speak on this matter. I will be speaking with Senator 
Daschle and we will be talking about an appropriate way for the Senate 
to consider this matter for a reasonable period of time.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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