[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 79 (Monday, May 14, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H4920-H4922]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF A NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR 
                             MURDER VICTIMS

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 223) supporting the goals and ideals 
of a National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 223

       Whereas the death of a loved one is a devastating 
     experience, and the murder of a loved one is exceptionally 
     difficult;
       Whereas the friends and families of murder victims cope 
     with grief through a variety of support services, including 
     counseling, crisis intervention, professional referrals, and 
     assistance in dealing with the criminal justice system; and
       Whereas the designation of a National Day of Remembrance 
     for Murder Victims on September 25th of each year provides an 
     opportunity for the people of the United States to honor the 
     memories of murder victims and to recognize the impact on 
     surviving family members: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of a National Day of 
     Remembrance for Murder Victims; and
       (2) recognizes the significant benefits of the 
     organizations that provide services to the loved ones of 
     murder victims.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H. 
Res. 223, which supports the goals of a National Day of Remembrance for 
Murder Victims.
  H. Res. 223, which has 59 cosponsors, was introduced by 
Representative John Shadegg from Arizona on March 7, 2007. H. Res. 223 
was reported from the Oversight Committee on May 1, 2007 by a voice 
vote.
  Mr. Speaker, in 2005, there were 16,692 murders and nine negligent 
manslaughters reported in our Nation. This is obviously too many 
murders. And so I support the National Day of Remembrance for Murder 
Victims and recognize all organizations that provide services, such as 
support, guidance and counseling, to the loved ones and friends of 
murder victims.
  It is important that this day is not just a remembrance of those who 
tragically lost their lives, but a call to action. While some of us 
have not experienced acts of violence, we share responsibility to 
people who have lost their loved ones to murder. We should always 
reflect the moral virtues of respect and caring and sharing with one 
another, regardless of one's race, creed and national origin.
  Of course, we remember the recent incidents that have just occurred 
at the university in Virginia. I also remember in my own neighborhood, 
where just last week a young man was killed on a bus. He turned out to 
be an absolute hero because he actually put himself in front of another 
student who was about to be shot. And of course that community and that 
family still grieves. So I urge that we all remember murder victims and 
their families by getting involved in our homes, communities, schools 
and businesses to prevent violence.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Shadegg from 
Arizona, for seeking to honor the memories of murder victims and 
recognize the impact on surviving family members.
  I urge swift passage of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  With the recent tragedy of Virginia Tech fresh in our minds, we take 
this time to remember the many victims of needless violence in our 
country.
  The devastation of families, victims and entire communities in which 
these tragedies occur is beyond calculation. Too often, victims' loved 
ones are left alone with their loss and feel overwhelmed with the 
devastating experience that has altered their lives forever.

[[Page H4921]]

  No one should have to cope with that loss alone. In such crushing 
times as these, families and friends look for sources of strength to 
sustain themselves. They also need ongoing support in dealing with the 
criminal justice system, which can be especially overwhelming during 
this period of grief.
  The need for sources of strength are often found through a variety of 
support services, including counseling, crisis intervention, 
professional referrals and assistance in dealing with the criminal 
justice system. These organizations play an essential role in 
preserving the memories of victims of murder.
  After the story of the murder fades, victim's family and friends are 
often left to cope without their loved ones alone. Thankfully, these 
counseling organizations provide the necessary support to the families 
and friends of murder victims so they can continue with their daily 
lives.
  These personal assaults on our citizens are also an assault on all of 
us. We must remain diligent in our efforts to curb violence. Our murder 
rate in this country is simply too high. People watch television, 
movies and play video games where murder is often glorified. Many of 
our youth engage in pastimes where they are exposed to violence at an 
early age. However, there is no age where it should be appropriate to 
introduce murder into anyone's life.
  It is incumbent upon all of us to recognize the selfless support 
groups in our communities who work tirelessly to help the thousands of 
friends and families of murder victims in this country every year. For 
these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in 
supporting H. Res. 223.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume 
to my distinguished colleague from Arizona (Mr. Shadegg).
  Mr. SHADEGG. I thank the gentleman for yielding and I thank my 
colleague from Illinois for his strong words of support.
  I rise today in support of H. Res. 223, a resolution supporting the 
goals and ideals of a National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois and the gentleman from 
Georgia for their support, as well as the chairman of the full 
committee and the ranking member of the full committee.
  This legislation is in fact very important to very many Americans; 
indeed, to, sadly, too many Americans.
  I, along with my colleague, Mr. Chabot of Cincinnati, Ohio, 
introduced this resolution on behalf of murder victims and their 
families across our Nation. H. Res. 223 does two simple things. First, 
it recognizes the many organizations that provide services to the loved 
ones of murder victims. As the two speakers before me have 
acknowledged, a victim of crime suffers greatly over and over again, 
and there are many organizations across our country that help them. The 
second thing this resolution does is it supports the establishment and 
urges the establishment of a National Day of Remembrance for Murder 
Victims to be held on September 25th of each year.
  I noted that in our prayer today we were called upon to thank God for 
our loved ones and our families. This bill is very much about those 
loved ones and those families who are left behind when a murder is 
committed and someone is taken from us as a result of violence.
  On September 25, 1978, 19-year-old Lisa Hullinger was murdered by her 
boyfriend. Three months after her death, her parents formed the 
National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children, headquartered in 
Cincinnati, Ohio. Parents of Murdered Children earnestly advocates for 
the thousands of parents who have lost a child as a result of violence. 
Parents of Murdered Children is one of many organizations that do this 
work, that help the friends and that help the families to try to cope 
with the loss of a loved one.
  Other organizations include the National Organization for Victim 
Assistance, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, as well as the National 
Crime Victim Law Institute. Each of these organizations plays a vital 
role, and there are so many others. This resolution not only honors 
Parents of Murdered Children, but all of the similar organizations 
providing support and assistance to the loved ones of murdered victims.
  Mr. Speaker, since the introduction of this resolution I have 
received countless e-mails from all across the country, not just from 
my district, but from everywhere: from mothers, fathers, brothers, 
sisters, husbands, wives and children of murder victims.

                              {time}  1230

  All of them have contacted me to say how much they appreciate what 
the United States House of Representatives is doing for them today. 
This legislation is indeed important.
  We all know that there are established days of remembrance for many 
dark days in our Nation's history. There is, of course, one for 9/11. 
There is another one for the day of the Oklahoma City bombing. These 
were both solemn times in our Nation's history, and yet people are 
murdered every single day.
  On 9/11, almost 3,000 Americans were brutally murdered. It is worth 
noting that every 10 weeks in this Nation, another almost 3,000 
Americans are murdered. That is why I believe we need to establish a 
day that not only honors them and recognizes them, but also recognizes 
and honors the victims they leave behind, the family members, the 
fathers, the sons, the daughters, all of the others who suffer so much.
  Each of us has a list of tragedies that we know of personally. My 
colleague from Illinois recited several. There are way too many.
  I cannot rise today without thinking of Duane Lynn and his wife, 
Nila. Duane and Nila lived in a retirement community in north Phoenix 
after Duane retired from the Arizona Highway Patrol. One day they chose 
to attend a homeowners' association meeting in their neighborhood. 
Tragically, a killer walked into that meeting and senselessly murdered 
Nila. Nila died in Duane's arms. That was a crushing blow to him and a 
pain that he suffers every day.
  But Duane took that negative pain and became an advocate for other 
victims. With his help, this Congress passed the Scott Campbell, 
Stephanie Roper, Wendy Preston, Louarna Gillis, Nila Lynn Crimes 
Victims Act of 2004.
  I also think of Sally Goelzer, whose brother, Hal, was murdered in a 
gang initiation killing. Sally took the pain of that incident and went 
to work to fight for tougher laws against gangs and against gang 
killers.
  I am also reminded of the incredible story of Colleen Campbell and 
her tireless work on behalf of victims, as well as that of her husband, 
Gary. Colleen tragically has lost not one family member, but three 
family members on three separate occasions to murder.
  First, her son, Scott, was murdered. Then later her brother, well-
known and famous in America for his work in auto racing, Mickey 
Thompson, was murdered. And then still later, her sister-in-law, Trudy 
Thompson, was murdered.
  Colleen has spent 22 years in and out of various courtrooms in 
America dealing with the pain inflicted upon her by the murder of these 
three loved ones. Again, she has turned that negative pain into being a 
tireless advocate for victims and for victims rights. She was essential 
to the creation of victims rights legislation in California and she 
established Force 100, one of the earliest advocates for victims' 
rights across this Nation. Force 100 sought to create organizations in 
every single State in America to advocate for victims of crime.
  There are so many stories. There are too many stories. But these 
victims and their courageous survivors need to know that we in the 
Congress, and we as a Nation, remember their tragedy and their courage.
  Today, this Congress, this House, can do its part. We can say that 
too many of us have been affected by the horrors of murder, by passing 
this simple, yet very important, resolution, acknowledging that 
murdered individuals are not the only victims; that those left behind 
to cope with the loss on a daily basis are victims also.
  We can tell them, however, that those family members and loved ones 
are not alone. We can recognize the many organizations that do 
invaluable work to help them. That is why this resolution not only 
acknowledges the murder victims, but also honors the organizations and 
the people who devote

[[Page H4922]]

their lives to counseling, crisis intervention, assistance and other 
help in getting those victims through our criminal justice system. The 
work of these organizations is so invaluable to so many.
  The last organization I want to talk about is the National Crime 
Victim Law Institute at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. This 
organization, recently established, provides legal assistance to the 
victims of crime, and has established many programs in colleges across 
our country, and, I believe, in eight different law schools across our 
country, to help give legal assistance to the families and the loved 
ones of those murdered who are left behind.
  H. Res. 223 lets victims, families and friends know that they are not 
alone, and that we remember their loved ones. I urge my colleagues to 
join me in supporting this resolution and honoring all of those men and 
women who have devoted their lives to helping those among us who have 
to cope with the senseless violence of a murdered loved one.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I 
yield back the balance of my time. I urge all my colleagues to vote for 
H. Res. 223.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. To close, Mr. Speaker, let me just commend the 
gentleman from Arizona once again for his introduction of this 
resolution and his passionate statement in favor of its passage. I 
would certainly concur with everything that he has said and urge 
passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 223.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. SHADEGG. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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