[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 80 (Thursday, June 22, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H5032-H5033]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        EXECUTION OF GARY GRAHAM

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, tonight Gary Graham, a 
constituent of mine, was executed.
  My statement this evening is not in any way to diminish the tragedy 
of the

[[Page H5033]]

victims that suffer at the hand of perpetrators, but it is to say that 
I believe Mr. Graham's life should indicate that we have a broken 
system. We need a National Federal Innocence Commission and a 
moratorium similar to that called for and enacted by Governor Ryan of 
Illinois.
  The question of innocence is a question that Americans should all 
ask. And for our system to work, we must, in fact, make sure that the 
innocent have the chance to prove their innocence and the guilty are 
punished.
  A tragedy happened today, not because Mr. Graham, who was prepared to 
lose his life, unfortunately; but because we did not stand on the side 
of justice allowing for a new trial and hearing for Mr. Graham so that 
we could determine his guilt or innocence.
  Let us fix a broken system.

                          ____________________