[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E841]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   OFFERING HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES 
   REGARDING THE HORRIFIC VIOLENCE AT VIRGINIA TECH AND TO STUDENTS, 
  FACULTY, ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN 
                                AFFECTED

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 18, 2007

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I 
recognize the tragic deaths of the 32 victims in the shootings at 
Virginia Tech this past Monday.
  These 32 individuals did nothing to deserve this awful fate and 
should never have had their lives prematurely ended by the horrific 
actions of one disturbed individual. One of the shooting's victims, 
Ryan Clark, served as a volunteer counselor at a camp for mentally 
impaired children. Ryan was described by the camp's administrator as 
``one of the kindest, most compassionate people'' whom she had ever 
met. Another victim, Henry Lee, graduated second in his high school 
class, despite having immigrated from China and having had to learn 
English as his second language. And Liviu Librescu, a Holocaust 
survivor, displayed heroism all the way to the end by sacrificing his 
own life by barricading the door to his classroom to give many of his 
students enough time to escape through the classroom window.
  In the lives of these 32 innocent individuals we find countless 
examples such as these, of kindness, compassion and determination. I 
would like to extend my warmest sympathies to the families and friends 
of these individuals, as well as to the entire Virginia Tech community.
  Unfortunately, we have seen tragedies like this one numerous times in 
our Nation's history. In my own home state of Texas, we lost 15 of our 
citizens in a similar rampage four decades ago at the University of 
Texas at Austin.
  I believe that, in this time of tragedy, we must honor the shooting's 
victims, offer the people of Blacksburg our utmost condolences and 
support, and, most of all, renew our commitment as a country to doing 
everything in our power to helping communities prevent similar 
tragedies from taking place in the future.
  I commend my colleague, the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Boucher for 
introducing this resolution.

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