[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 49 (Thursday, April 21, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STATEMENT IN HONOR OF MARLA RUZICKA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 20, 2005

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Marla Ruzicka who 
was tragically killed on Saturday in Iraq at the age of 28. Marla's 
courageous work on behalf of civilian victims of war demonstrated the 
compassion of the American people and extended a hand in friendship to 
the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. Marla gave so much of herself in 
her short life; it grieves us to think how much more she had to give. 
She devoted her life to making the lives lost count. Marla's death is a 
loss to the world.
  Ms. Ruzicka was born in Lakeport, Calif. and came to San Francisco at 
the age of 17 to start her career at Global Exchange. During her time 
with Global Exchange, she worked with African AIDS victims, Palestinian 
refugees, and Nicaraguan campesinos. When her work took her to 
Afghanistan during the war to remove the Taliban, she came face to face 
with the human costs of the conflict and dedicated the remainder of her 
life to aiding the civilian victims of war.
  Two years ago, Ms. Ruzicka founded the Campaign for Innocent Victims 
in Conflict. With little staff and scarce funding, she successfully 
lobbied Congress for $2.5 million to help Afghan war victims. The fund 
has since grown to $7.5 million, and she has secured $10 million for 
Iraqi victims.
  Ms. Ruzicka worked not just in Washington, but on the literal 
frontlines of the conflicts. In Iraq, she was the leader of more than 
150 volunteers who went door-to-door to compile a list of civilian 
casualties to determine the civilian cost of the war. She was a fierce 
advocate for the victims' families, serving as the point of contact 
between affected Iraqi civilians and the U.S.-led forces. Ms. Ruzicka 
helped direct aid where it was most needed, and she helped many Iraqi 
families begin to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.
  On April 16, Ms. Ruzicka was on her way to visit another Iraqi family 
devastated by the conflict when a suicide bomber attacked a nearby U.S. 
convoy. She died in the blast.
  Mr. Speaker, Marla Ruzicka reminded us of the immense scale of human 
suffering that war brings. She gave her time, her energy, and 
ultimately her life to help ease the suffering of its victims. She is 
an inspiration to people around the world.
  I hope that it is a comfort to her parents, Clifford and Nancy, her 
brothers and sisters, and all her family and friends, that so many 
people share their loss and are praying for them at this sad time.

                          ____________________