[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 7, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H2266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         COUEY GUILTY VERDICTS

  (Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, earlier this 
afternoon, justice was finally rendered in the guilty verdicts in the 
kidnapping, assault, rape and murder of Jessica Lunsford. Jessica's 
family lives in my district, and the Nation's sympathy certainly went 
out to the Lunsford family when Jessica went missing.
  Today's verdict obviously is one that we hope that if Mr. Couey has a 
conscience that he will not appeal this decision. However, Americans 
must realize that John Couey is one of thousands of sexual predators 
around the Nation. It is very sad, but parents in every neighborhood 
and community should remain vigilant in protecting their children from 
strangers.
  Certainly our hearts and prayers go out to Mark, Archie and Ruth 
Lunsford. I hope that the guilty verdict today provides some closure 
for the family and that they feel that justice has been served.
  We must also remember that Jessica Lunsford was the emphasis behind 
the Jessica Lunsford Act, which was signed into law.

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