[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 118 (Monday, July 23, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H8220-H8226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMENDING DAVID RAY RITCHESON AND RECOGNIZING HIS EFFORTS IN PROMOTING
FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO COMBAT HATE CRIMES
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 535) commending David Ray
Ritcheson, a survivor of one of the most horrific hate crimes in the
history of Texas, and recognizing his efforts in promoting Federal
legislation to combat hate crimes.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 535
Whereas David Ray Ritcheson, a Mexican-American, was a
friendly and cheerful student at Klein Collins High School in
the Houston suburb of Spring, Texas, and a popular and
talented football athlete who was loved and admired by his
family and friends;
Whereas on April 23, 2006, at the age of 16, David Ray
Ritcheson was severely assaulted while attending a party in
Spring, Texas;
Whereas the former running back and freshman homecoming
prince spent more than three months in the hospital as a
result of the injuries he suffered in the assault and endured
more than 30 surgeries to restore his appearance and regain
the normal use of his bodily functions;
Whereas no human being deserves to be tortured and
victimized like David Ray Ritcheson simply because he is of a
different background, race, religion, ethnic group, or sexual
orientation;
Whereas of all crimes, hate crimes are most likely to
create or exacerbate tensions that can trigger larger
community-wide racial conflict, civil disturbances, and riots
in communities at-risk of serious social and economic
consequences;
Whereas hate-motivated violence disrupts the tranquility
and safety of communities, impedes the movement of members of
targeted groups, and prevents members of targeted groups from
purchasing goods and services, obtaining or sustaining
employment, and fulfilling the American Dream;
Whereas the courageous, eloquent, and compelling testimony
of David Ray Ritcheson before a committee of the House of
Representatives brought into vivid relief the human face of
victims of hate crimes and the terrible suffering that such
crimes inflict on victims and their families, friends, and
communities;
Whereas David Ray Ritcheson, in his testimony, emphasized
that he was a survivor who urged the Federal Government to
take the lead in deterring individuals like those who
attacked him from committing violent crimes against others
because of where they are from, the color of their skin, the
God they worship, the person they love, or the way they look,
talk, or act;
Whereas David Ray Ritcheson's powerful testimony helped
inspire the House of Representatives to pass the Local Law
Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (H.R. 1592 of
the 110th Congress), which incorporates key provisions of the
David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (H.R. 254 of the
110th Congress);
Whereas David Ray Ritcheson vowed to do whatever he could
to help make the United States a hate-free place in which to
live;
Whereas the courage displayed by David Ray Ritcheson is an
inspiration to all Americans and reinforces the message that
acts of bigotry and hate are unacceptable in the United
States; and
Whereas, on July 1, 2007, David Ray Ritcheson died at the
age of 18: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives mourns the
passing of David Ray Ritcheson and commends him for his
activism in contributing and raising awareness
[[Page H8221]]
toward the eradication and elimination of hate crimes in the
United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
General Leave
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, it is with celebration and recognition that I rise today
to honor and pay tribute to David Ray Ritcheson, first 17, and, in the
loss of his life, only 18, yet an American hero, a teenager who
experienced harshness in his life, but yet out of his courage, tenacity
and spirit we stand here on the floor of the House today.
I rise in strong support of H. Res. 535, which honors the short life,
but big contributions of David Ray Ritcheson, a victim, as I said
earlier, of a horrific hate crime, who became an exceptionally
effective advocate for Federal hate crimes legislation.
Over the years I have been privileged to take the floor many times to
speak on behalf of my constituents and those who live in the greater
Houston-Harris County area. On those occasions my heart has filled with
joy on the knowledge that so many people entrusted me with the honor of
giving voice to their hopes and aspirations. But as I rise today, my
heart is enormously heavy, for I have the sad duty of informing the
House of the tragic death of David Ray Ritcheson, a Texas teenager, and
as I've said earlier, experienced and was a victim of a horrible hate
crime only at the age of 17, who went on to become an effective
advocate for Federal hate crimes legislation.
To his parents, to his attorney Mr. Leon, for their spirit, his
wonderful family, his brothers and sisters, all who showed the great
love and tenacity and courage to stand by David, I call them the stand-
by-David family.
This tragedy should serve as a wake-up call to the Nation of the need
to redouble our efforts to prevent hate crimes by juveniles, which I
believe is, in the long run, the best and most effective way of
eliminating the scourge of hate-motivated crimes from our society.
I have long believed, and research confirms, that if a person does
not acquire a proclivity to hate as a juvenile, he or she is not likely
to be motivated to commit crimes out of hate as an adult. But once a
child or juvenile has learned to hate, it is a short step to learning
and liking to act out of hatred.
We will have, I hope soon, coming to this floor a bill named after
David. Many in the community have asked that H.R. 1592, the Local Law
Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007, be likewise named after
him. You wonder why. It is because of the outstanding courage that this
young man has shown.
I remember meeting with him in the offices of his attorney, Carlos
Leon, and his family members way back in 2006. He was in the midst of
several of his surgeries that had to be implemented or had to be done
in order to help cure him. Quiet, determined, smiling, generous in his
time, we spoke about what he could do and how he could support
legislation to turn things around. I believe that that courage exudes
today on the floor of the House.
A year ago last April, the people of Harris County and those in and
around my congressional district saw just how easy and how dangerous it
is for young people to commit a crime of hate. In a case that drew
national attention, 16-year-old David Ray Ritcheson, a Mexican
American, was severely assaulted on April 23, 2006, by two youths while
attending a party in the Houston suburb of Spring, Texas. One of his
teen attackers, a skinhead, yelled ethnic slurs and kicked a pipe in an
inappropriate place, severely damaging his internal organs and leaving
him in the hospital for 3 months and 8 days, almost all of it in
critical care.
For the supposed crime of allegedly kissing a white girl, this
Hispanic young man was punched unconscious, kicked in the head,
suffered 17 cigarette burns sadistically inflicted that still scar his
body. His assailants poured bleach on his face and body and then
assaulted him with a pipe taken from a patio umbrella. He was left
lying unconscious and unattended in the back yard of a house for more
than 8 hours. He has endured more than 30 operations to restore his
appearance and regain the normal use of his bodily functions.
Might I say to you that he was the cause and the inspiration behind
the passage of H.R. 1592. And I just want to share with my colleagues
this young man's picture, along with his attorney. He was a young man
who came here with a business suit on because he meant business. We
honor him today with a resolution that acknowledges his life.
In addition, I will soon be introducing additional legislation
intended to fill a big gap in current hate crimes prevention. And we
must do more to assist the victims of hate crimes and their families
recover from their physical, emotional and psychological wounds.
My legislation will authorize programs to provide psychological and
emotional support services and appropriate economic assistance to the
victims of hate crimes and their families. The legislation will focus
on three main areas: counseling, prevention, and economic support.
Let me just say, in closing, that I indicated that it is with a heavy
heart that I stand on the floor today. It is certainly with great
celebration that I acknowledge to the world and to America, the youth
of America, the name of David Ray Ritcheson, someone who, in essence,
sacrificed his life so that America might be better, sacrificed his
life so that those of us who want to be able to preach love,
opportunity and quality maybe, sadly, will have a message of joy out of
his living, and that is that you can move to move hearts and minds, and
that we can provide America with a better moral compass and legal
system to prevent hate crimes in America.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 535, which honors
the short life but big contributions of David Ray Ritcheson, a victim
of a horrific hate crime who became an exceptionally effective advocate
for Federal hate crimes legislation.
Over the years I have been privileged to take the floor many times to
speak on behalf of my constituents in the Eighteenth Congressional
district of Texas. On those occasions my heart was filled with joy in
the knowledge that so many people entrusted me with the honor of giving
voice to their hopes and aspirations.
But as I rise today, my heart is heavy. I have the sad duty of
informing the House of the tragic death of David Ray Ritcheson, a Texas
teenager and victim of a horrible hate crime, who went on to become an
effective advocate for Federal hate crimes legislation.
Mr. Speaker, this tragedy should serve as a wakeup call to the Nation
of the need to redouble our efforts to prevent hate crimes by
juveniles, which I believe is in the long run the best and most
effective way of eliminating the scourge of hate motivated crimes from
our society.
I have long believed, and research confirms, that if a person does
not acquire a proclivity to hate as a juvenile, he or she is not likely
to be motivated to commit crimes out of hate as an adult. But once a
child or juvenile has learned to hate, it is a short step to learning
and liking to act out that hatred.
A year ago last April, the people of Harris County, Texas, and in my
congressional district, saw just how easy and how dangerous it is for
young people to commit a crime out of hate.
In a case that drew national attention, 16-year-old David Ray
Ritcheson, a Mexican-American, was severely assaulted on April 23,
2006, by two youths while attending a party in the Houston suburb of
Spring, Texas. One of his teenage attackers, a skinhead, yelled ethnic
slurs and kicked a pipe up his rectum, severely damaging his internal
organs and leaving him in the hospital for 3 months and 8 days--almost
all of it in critical care. For the supposed crime of allegedly kissing
a white girl, this Hispanic young man was punched unconscious, kicked
in the head, suffered 17 cigarette burns sadistically inflicted that
still scar his body. His assailants poured bleach on his face and body,
and then assaulted with a pipe taken from a patio umbrella. He was left
lying unconscious and unattended in the back yard of a house for more
than 8 hours. He has endured more than 30 operations to restore his
appearance and regain the normal use of his bodily functions.
[[Page H8222]]
Mr. Speaker, no one deserves to be tortured and victimized like David
Ray Ritcheson was simply because he is of a different nationality, or
race, or religion, or ethnic group, or sexual orientation or
preference. It is for that reason that I introduced the David Ray Hate
Crimes Prevention Act of 2007, H.R. 254, earlier this year, key
provisions of which were incorporated into H.R. 1592, the Local Law
Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007. For example, my bill
increased the penalties to 10 years in prison for any person whoever,
whether or not acting under color of law, willfully causes bodily
injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an
explosive device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person,
because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national
origin of any person. Also, H.R. 1592 incorporated another key
component of my hate crimes prevention bill: the establishment of a
grants program administered by the Office of Justice Programs of the
Department of Justice to award grants, in accordance with such
regulations as the Attorney General may prescribe, to State, local, or
tribal programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles.
I will soon be introducing additional legislation intended to fill a
big gap in the current hate crimes prevention regime. We must and can
do more to assist the victims of hate crimes and their families recover
from their physical, emotional, and psychological wounds.
My legislation will authorize programs to provide psychological,
emotional support services and appropriate economic assistance to the
victims of hate crimes and their families. The legislation will focus
on three main areas: counseling; prevention; and economic support.
Hate Crime victims lose their jobs at least in part because of the
impact of hate crime violence and lack of financial and economic
support during recovery. By giving hate crime victims economic and
financial support, Congress makes it more likely that employees who are
victims of hate crimes could stay at work while they deal with the
violence or promptly return to work if they have to take temporary
leave. Therefore hate crime victims must be provided access to: (1)
Healthcare support including counseling and therapy to prevent in the
future severe depression, violent outbreaks, suicide; (2) construction
and personnel cost for shelters and hate crime support centers; (3)
direct services providers; (4) healthcare insurance for counseling and
therapy; (5) hotline services; and (6) short- and long-term individual
counseling and support groups for hate crime victims and their
families.
Since prevention is always better than cure, my legislation also
seeks to prevent violent hate crime attacks before it happens. The
legislation will provide funding for outreach and educational programs
to raise awareness against racist and discriminatory beliefs.
Specifically, it will lead to:
(1) Development community responses and public education campaigns
working with elementary, middle and secondary school to raise awareness
of racist crimes as unacceptable behavior.
(2) Provide educational programs working with teenagers and young
adults in college and university campuses.
(3) Adoption of hate crime awareness programs in the workplace.
When he testified in support of H.R. 1592, David Ray Ritcheson
challenged this committee to take a big step toward making hate a thing
of history. Hear the words this young man, wise and courageous beyond
his years, spoke to the Judiciary Committee:
It has been a blessing to know that the most terrible day
of my life may help put another human face on the campaign to
enact a much needed law such as the ``Local Law Enforcement
Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007''. I can assure you, from
this day forward I will do what ever I can to help make our
great county, the United States of America, a hate free place
to live.
I ask unanimous consent that to place a copy of David Ray Ritcheson's
entire statement in the Record.
I believe the best thing we can do to hasten the day that the United
States is a hate free place to live is to work at least as hard toward
preventing hate crimes as we must at prosecuting and punishing those
who commit them.
As important as it is to apprehend, prosecute, convict, and punish
severely those who commit hate crimes, we can all agree that in the
long run it is even more important and better for society if we can
increase our effectiveness in eradicating the desire to commit a hate
crime in the first place.
Mr. Speaker, I have never been as proud of any constituent as I was
of David Ray Ritcheson that day when he spoke such eloquent truth to
power. By force of his own example and moral courage he helped clear
the way for House passage of strong and long overdue hate crimes
legislation. In the process, he made America better, and he made Texas
stand tall. That is why it is so fitting to honor his memory. And that
is why I am pleased to announce that the introduction of a resolution
in tribute to this remarkable young man.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to read into the Record the text of this
resolution.
H. Res. 535
Whereas David Ray Ritches, Mexican-American, was a friendly
and cheerful student at Klein Collins High School in the
Houston suburb of Spring, Texas, and a popular and talented
football athlete who was loved and admired by his family and
friends;
Whereas on April 23, 2006, at the age of 16, David Ray
Ritcheson was severely assaulted while attending a party in
Spring, Texas;
Whereas the former running back and freshman homecoming
prince spent more than three months in the hospital as a
result of the injuries he suffered in the assault and endured
more than 30 surgeries to restore his appearance and regain
the normal use of his bodily functions;
Whereas no human being deserves to be tortured and
victimized like David Ray Ritcheson simply because he is of a
different background, race, religion, ethnic group, or sexual
orientation;
Whereas of all crimes, hate crimes are most likely to
create or exacerbate tensions that can trigger larger
community wide racial conflict, civil disturbances, and riots
in communities at-risk of serious social and economic
consequences;
Whereas hate-motivated violence disrupts the tranquility
and safety of communities, impedes the movement of members of
targeted groups, and prevents members of targeted groups from
purchasing goods and services, obtaining or sustaining
employment, and fulfilling the American Dream;
Whereas the courageous, eloquent, and compelling testimony
of David Ray Ritcheson before a committee of the House of
Representatives brought into vivid relief the human face of
victims of hate crimes and the terrible suffering that such
crimes inflict on victims and their families, friends, and
communities;
Whereas David Ray Ritcheson, in his testimony, emphasized
that he was a survivor who urged the Federal Government to
take the lead in deterring individuals like those who
attacked him from committing violent crimes against others
because of where they are from, the color of their skin, the
God they worship, the person they love, or the way they look,
talk, or act;
Whereas David Ray Ritcheson's powerful testimony helped
inspire the House of Representatives to pass the Local Law
Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (H.R. 1592 of
the 110th Congress), which incorporates key provisions of the
David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (H.R. 254 of the
110th Congress);
Whereas David Ray Ritcheson vowed to do whatever he could
to help make the United States a hate-free place in which to
live;
Whereas the courage displayed by David Ray Ritcheson is an
inspiration to all Americans and reinforces the message that
acts of bigotry and hate are unacceptable in the United
States; and
Whereas, on July 1, 2007, David Ray Ritcheson died at the
age of 18: Now, therefore be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives mourns the
passing of David Ray Ritcheson and commends him for his
activism in contributing and raising awareness toward the
eradication and elimination of hate crimes in the United
States.
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to place into the record the
testimony David Ray Ritcheson gave before the Judiciary Committee in
April of this year in support of H.R. 1592.
Statement of Mr. David Ritcheson at the Hearing on H.R. 1592, the
``Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007''
I appear before you as a survivor of one of the most
despicable, shocking, and heinous acts of hate violence this
country has seen in decades. Nearly one year ago on April 22,
2006, I was viciously attacked by two individuals because of
my heritage as a Mexican-American. After hanging out with a
few friends at a local crawfish festival, my friend and I,
along with the two individuals who would eventually attack
me, returned to the home in Spring, Texas where I was to
spend the night. It was shortly after arriving at this
private residence that a minor disagreement between me and
the attackers turned into the pretext for what I believe was
a premeditated hate crime. This was a moment that would
change my life forever. After I was surprisingly sucker
punched and knocked out, I was dragged into the back yard for
an attack that would last for over an hour. Two individuals,
one an admitted racist skinhead, attempted to carve a
swastika on my chest. Today I still bear that scar on my
chest like a scarlet letter. After they stripped me naked, I
was burned with cigarettes and savagely kicked by this
skinhead's steel toed army boots. After burning me in the
center of the forehead, the skinhead attacker was heard
saying that now I look like an Indian with the red dot on my
forehead. Moreover, the witnesses to the attack recalled the
two attackers calling me a ``wetback'' and a ``spic'' as they
continued to beat me as I lay unconscious. Once the attack
came to an end, was dragged to the rear of the back yard and
left for dead. Reportedy, I lay unconscious in the back yard
of this private residence or the next 8-
[[Page H8223]]
9 hours. It was not until the next morning that I was found
and the paramedics came to my aid. I am recounting this
tragic event from the testimony I heard during the trial of
the two attackers this past fall. God spared me the memory of
what happened that night. As I sit before you today, I still
have no recollection of those life changing twelve hours or
the weeks that followed.
Weeks later I recall waking up in the hospital with a
myriad of emotions, including fear and uncertainty. Most of
all, I felt inexplicable humiliation. Not only did I have to
face my peers and my family, I had to face the fact that I
had been targeted for violence in a brutal crime because of
my ethnicity. This crime took place in middle-class America
in the year 2006. The reality that hate is alive, strong, and
thriving in the cities, towns, and cul-de-sacs of Suburbia,
America was a surprise to me. America is the country I love
and call home. However, the hate crime committed against me
illustrates that we are still, in some aspects, a house
divided. I know now that there are young people in this
country who are suffering and confused, thirsting for
guidance and in need of a moral compass. These are some of
the many reasons I am here before you today asking that our
government take the lead in deterring individuals like those
who attacked me from committing unthinkable and violent
crimes against others because of where they are from, the
color of their skin, the God they worship, the person they
love, or the way they look, talk or act.
I believe that education can have an important impact by
teaching against hate and bigotry. In fact, I have encouraged
my school and others to adopt the Anti-Defamation League's No
Place for Hate' program. If these crimes cannot be
prevented, the federal government must have the authority to
support state and local bias crime prosecutions.
As the weeks in the hospital turned into months, I began
hearing the stories of support that came from literally all
over the world. The local community pulled together in a
really majestic way, reaffirming my hope in the good of
humanity. My family told me about the crowded waiting rooms
full of the great friends from past and present. I heard
about prayer groups before school in front of my school, the
Klein Collins Campus. The donations that helped my family and
me get through an unthinkable time poured in from generous
people scattered across the globe. These donations would help
pay for the enormous hospital bills from the over thirty
surgeries I underwent during the first three months after the
attack. Most of these operations were essential to saving my
life--and others were necessary just to make my body able to
perform what would be normal functions.
As the recovery process continued, my family began to
slowly inform me of what had happened to me. They went on to
tell me of the effective response by the Harris County
Sheriff's Department and the Harris County Constables who had
investigated the hate crime committed against me. I slowly
began learning the about the background of the two
individuals who had been arrested for attacking me. I was
informed that one of the attackers, David Tuck, was a self
proclaimed racist skinhead who had viciously attacked at
least two other Hispanics in the past few years, almost
killing one of them. I learned that he had been in and out of
several juvenile facilities. Most surprising, I learned that
he had been released from the Texas Youth Commission a little
over a month before he attacked me. In fact, he was still on
probation the night he nearly ended my life. I was told that
he had ``white power'' and swastikas tattoos on his body. I
was informed that his older step brother, a major influence
in his life, was also a self-proclaimed skinhead currently
serving time in a Texas jail. Here I was, learning shocking
details of a person who lived only miles from me and who had
at one time attended the same high school that I attended.
How could this type of hate be breeding just miles from my
home in a city as diverse as Spring without anyone taking
notice?
I quickly learned of and benefited from the support of
groups such as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and League of
United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Both groups
immediately provided whatever support they could to help me
and my family. From setting up fundraisers to help my family
with unanticipated expenses to providing emotional support
confirming that I was not going through this alone, both
groups were instrumental in assisting me and my family in the
process of moving forward. There are so many people to
thank for the support they have given me, including the
ongoing encouragement to appear before you today.
Last November and December I sat in a courtroom in Harris
County, Texas and faced my attackers for the first time as
they went through their respective trials. I am glad to say
that justice was done. I am proud of the job our county
prosecutors and investigators did in ensuring life sentences
for the two individuals who attacked me. Specifically, I want
to recognize the great job that Assistant District Attorney
Mike Trent did during the prosecution of these two
individuals. However, despite the obvious bias motivation of
the crime, it is very frustrating to me that neither the
state of Texas nor the federal government was able to utilize
hate crime laws on the books today in the prosecution of my
attackers. I am upset that neither the Justice Department nor
the FBI was able to assist or get involved in the
investigation of my case because ``the crime did not fit the
existing hate crime laws.'' Today I urge you to take the lead
in this time of needed change and approve the ``Local Law
Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007''. I was
fortunate to live in a town where local law enforcement
authorities had the resources, the ability--and the will--to
effectively investigate and prosecute the hate violence
directed against me. But other bias crime victims may not
live in such places. I ask you to provide authority for local
law enforcement to work together with federal agencies when
someone is senselessly attacked because of where they are
from or because of who they are. Local prosecutors should be
able to look to the federal government for support when these
types of crimes are committed. Most importantly, these crimes
should be called what they are and prosecuted for what they
are, ``hate crimes''!
In fact, because there was so much attention focused on the
fact that my case was not being prosecuted in Texas as a hate
crime, the Anti-Defamation League and the Cook County
(Illinois) Hate Crimes Prosecution Council published a
Pamphlet called ``Hate Crimes Data Collection and
Prosecutions: Frequently Asked Questions,'' designed to
address some of the basic legal and practical considerations
involved in labeling and charging a hate crime.
My experience over the last year has reminded me of the
many blessings I took for granted for so long. With my
humiliation and emotional and physical scars came the
ambition and strong sense of determination that brought out
the natural fighter in me. I realized just how important
family and the support of community truly are. I will always
recall my parents at my bedside providing me with strength
and reassurance. They showed me how to be strong during my
whole recovery, a process I am still going through today.
Seeing the hopeful look of concern in the faces of my
siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles everyday was the direct
support I needed to get through those terrible first few
months. As each day passed, I became more and more aware of
everything I had to live for. I am glad to tell you today
that my best days still lay ahead of me.
Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story. It has been
a blessing to know that the most terrible day of my life may
help put another human face on the campaign to enact a much
needed law such as the ``Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes
Prevention Act of 2007''. I can assure you, from this day
forward I will do what ever I can to help make our great
country, the United States of America, a hate free place to
live.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, the old book tells us to mourn with those who
mourn and grieve with those who grieve. I rise in support today of H.
Res. 535 in a spirit of bipartisanship and mutual mourning in the
tragic end of the life of David Ray Ritcheson.
I rise to commend David Ray Ritcheson in this resolution, a survivor,
as my colleague from Texas just described, of a horrific crime. We
commend him for his activism in raising awareness of violent crimes in
this United States.
As has been noted, at the age of 16 years, David Ray Ritcheson was
brutally assaulted in April of 2006 while attending a party in Spring,
Texas. He was hospitalized for more than 3 months, had more than 30
surgeries to restore his appearance and regain his health. David Ray
Ritcheson recovered and became a spokesman and a tireless advocate
against brutal crimes. He spoke eloquently and with great courage. He
testified, even at his young age, with conviction before the House
Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. He
did so in a way that gave honor to both his convictions and his
character. David Ray Ritcheson's courage stands as a testament to all
crime victims, especially those who suffer brutal attacks.
Violent crime strikes at the heart of every victim, the victim's
family, and their community. We must do all that we can to eradicate
all violent crimes.
Today we gather in support of this resolution simply to mourn the
passing of David, to extend our heart-felt sorrow and respect to his
family and his community and all those whose life he touched with his
courage. His memory will live on in our hearts. His courage will
inspire us all.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much
time I have remaining?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Texas has 14 minutes
remaining.
[[Page H8224]]
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Let me take an opportunity to acknowledge Albert and Laticia Galvin,
the parents of David Ray Ritcheson. I mention them, their strength and
their sense of dedication.
I also wanted to acknowledge the outpouring of support by the Members
of Congress, members of the House Judiciary Committee and our local
community. We came together, people from all segments of the community,
to honor him in his passing, but also to commit ourselves to ridding
our community of hate. Representatives from the NAACP and LULAC, faith
leaders, elected officials, all of them put aside differences, as my
good friend from Indiana has indicated, partisan differences, and
realized that hate is really not the definition of America.
And if I might refresh the memories of my colleagues, just a few
weeks ago we stood on the floor to acknowledge July Fourth, the
Independence Day for America, again a day of joy. But the points of
accolades for this Nation really focused not only on the Constitution
and the Bill of Rights, which gives us the freedom of association, due
process so that your rights are protected, but we're reminded of the
Declaration of Independence. And it indicated that we all are created
equal, with certain inalienable rights of life and liberty and the
pursuit of happiness.
That's all that David sought in his young life, and I hope that as we
move legislation forward, in the other body and here, on stomping out
hate crimes, we will be reminded of this young life, not only David,
but his mother and father, Albert and Laticia Galvin, who, if you met
them, you would know how David was able to be so strong and so
determined.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time
Mr. PENCE. With that, I'm pleased to yield such time as he may
consume to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert).
Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I greatly appreciate the opportunity to pay
tribute to David Ray Ritcheson, having met him, talked with him, and
heard his testimony at the Judiciary Committee.
David Ray Ritcheson was truly a brave young man who had a horrible
act committed against him. His early departure from this life made his
story all the more tragic. The crime committed against him earlier in
his life is one that should not be tolerated under any circumstances.
The applicable State law dealt with that crime in such a way that I
understand the main perpetrators received life and 90 years as
sentences.
On hearing the sad testimony by David at our hearing, everyone was
moved with a sense of outrage. Yet, on closer examination of what the
majority was trying to do, it caused me to ask if there was anything in
this hate crimes bill that would have changed anything about David's
terrible situation. After all, the hate crimes bill has no sentence
higher than life. It's not a capital situation.
{time} 1430
The answer was, and is, that there is nothing in the bill that would
have really made any substantive difference in David's situation.
It is also tragic that any acquaintances of David who did not know
the details of the brutality against him before apparently came to know
about it through his courage and the national attention focused on him
and the display of courage at our hearing. That is further testimony
itself to his courage. But the ridicule at home that followed his
testimony is also tragic. It is sad that he chose to end that life of
such incredible potential.
David's earlier display of courage and the unfairness and outrage he
faced deserve attention. He deserves a heartfelt salute. His family has
our thoughts and prayers with them, especially in this loss of such a
beautiful soul with so much potential.
But the bill being touted in this resolution does not bring us
together. It divides us by saying that some people in this country are
more important to protect than others. It divides by saying, for
example, that those tragically killed at Virginia Tech are not as
important to protect as a transvestite with gender identity issues. The
bill further seeks to squelch religious teaching about immorality.
I stand here on the floor today to salute David Ray Ritcheson, an
incredible young man. I want with all my heart to vote for a resolution
to pay him proper tribute as well. But, unfortunately, I cannot vote
for a resolution that, since it includes a pursuit and an adulation of
the hate crimes bill, I cannot see the use of this tragedy to vote to
give accolades to a bill that I think harms America and divides us.
If there is a recorded vote, I will vote ``present'' out of my
incredible respect for David Ritcheson. But my ``present'' vote will
also avoid the hypocrisy of my saying I support the hate crimes bill
when I believe it harms the country, it harms religious teaching, and
it would not undo what was done to David.
I look forward to any opportunity to do anything to pay tribute to
David Ritcheson standing on its own.
Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, as this bill is intended to do, let me dwell on the life
of David Ray Ritcheson and how much he has contributed to moving this
country forward. I would like to read just a portion of his statement
from his own words in the Judiciary Committee speaking about the
experience of his tragedy:
``After burning me in the center of the forehead, the skinhead
attacker was heard saying that now I looked like an Indian with a red
dot on my forehead. Moreover, the witnesses to the attack recall the
two attackers calling me a `wetback' and a `spic' as they continued to
beat me as I lay unconscious. Once the attack came to an end, I was
dragged to the rear of the backyard and left for dead.''
The bill that David was so articulate in helping us move forward
provides resources for our smaller communities in order to ensure that
if Federal resources are needed, that nexus, that connection, that
assistance would be provided. Therefore, it is clear that David's
testimony helped assist rural communities.
I cite, for example, another tragic incident that occurred in a rural
area, and maybe the county in that area might not have been able to
move forward. This bill, however, is already out of the House. So our
tribute today really focuses on the courage which David provided to
move that bill forward.
In Wyoming, Matthew Shepard was in a rural area. It was a rural area
in Jasper, Texas, with Mr. James Byrd. So we know that the bill that
has passed the House truly would provide assistance to those
communities that would ask for it if such a tragedy occurred in their
community. Again, Mr. Speaker, simply if they asked for it.
I want to emphasize that this is about David, so let me share with
you his words. These are the words that he offered to the Judiciary
Committee: ``It has been a blessing to know that the most terrible day
of my life may help put another human face on the campaign to enact a
much needed law such as H.R. 1592. I can assure you from this day
forward I will do whatever I can to help America become our great
country, the United States of America a hate-free place to live.''
These are David's words.
As we move forward in trying to capture what his life was truly
about, this young, friendly, cheerful student at Klein Collins High
School in the Houston suburb of Spring, Texas, popular and a talented
football athlete, who was loved and admired by his family and friends,
we want to ensure that, as we go forward, if such a dastardly act would
happen again, we focus on the family.
Mr. Speaker, we would like to see health care support, including
supportive counseling and therapy to prevent future severe depression;
construction and personnel costs for shelters and hate crime support
centers; direct service providers who are trained to try and help those
who have been victims of hate crimes; health care insurance for
counseling and therapy; hotline services, so for those who witness hate
crimes or other acts, we would be able to provide an immediate source
of information for them to report what happened; short- and long-term
individual counseling and support
[[Page H8225]]
groups for hate crime victims and their families.
This is a time to acknowledge this former running back and freshman
homecoming prince, who spent more than 3 months in the hospital. But at
the same time, it is a time of celebration. That is what this
resolution stands for. Let me thank the list of cosponsors who have
provided their affirmation of the importance of David's life.
Mr. Speaker, with that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert).
Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say to my friend across the
aisle, the idea of assisting with counseling for anyone who has been
through something so traumatic as what David Ritcheson experienced is a
good idea. I would support a measure of that order.
Matthew Shepard was mentioned, as was James Byrd. Of course, most of
us are familiar with those situations. Mr. Byrd was attacked because he
was an African American. He was brutally drug behind a vehicle. And if
I had my way and could put into law the law I would like to address
that, it would be to allow the family of the victim to choose the
terrain over which to drag the defendants, if they were convicted, and
the rope by which to drag them. But, again, capital punishment was not
an issue in this hate crimes bill.
Mr. Byrd's perpetrators, two received the death penalty, as I recall,
and one received a life sentence, and that was State resources without
the assistance of the Federal Government. With Matthew Shepard, I
believe there were two life sentences in those cases, which would
further not have been enhanced.
But I look forward to the day, as Martin Luther King said, when we
are judged by the content of our character, not the color of our skin,
and I would submit not by any other factors over which we have no
control.
When it comes to a hate crime bill, we ought not to be dividing. A
transvestite deserves protection. David Ritcheson, my goodness,
deserved protection. We should work together to bring this Nation
together, not divide it by saying some people deserve more protection
than others.
Again, I think the idea of counseling, it might have served David
well because, goodness knows, he had been through a great deal of
trauma. Perhaps that would have assisted him in not bringing a
permanent end to a temporary problem, which made it all the more
tragic.
So I would welcome the opportunity, if something in the form of
legislation along those lines were to arise, in working with my
colleagues on the other side.
Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I am actually prepared to close with the
gentlewoman's forbearance.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I am prepared to close. If the gentleman
would close, I will follow.
Mr. PENCE. I would be pleased to do that. I thank the gentlewoman for
her courtesy.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, H. Res. 535,
commending David Ray Ritcheson, and urge my colleagues to support it.
Let me say from my heart, I have great respect for the gentlewoman
from Texas. She and I have an intellectual difference of opinion on the
merit of hate crimes legislation. The legislation specifically
referenced in this resolution as having been passed in this Congress
even earlier this year as a result of some of the work of the man that
we are honoring, I did not support and I do not support.
I don't support hate crimes laws. I don't support penalizing thoughts
like action. But I do support courage. I do believe in that ancient
adage that says if you owe debts, pay debts; if honor, then honor; if
respect, then respect.
I disagree with the gentlewoman on the subject of hate crimes
legislation. I disagree therefore with the late David Ray Ritcheson on
that issue. But I rise today because this resolution says that the
House of Representatives mourns the passing of David Ray Ritcheson and
commends him for his activism in contributing and raising awareness
toward the eradication and elimination of hate crimes in the United
States.
We can come together as a Congress, and I expect we will today, to
pay a debt of gratitude that we owe to a life that ended too soon. I
commend the gentlewoman for her quite typical and forceful advocacy of
her views, but I urge my colleagues to meet on that common ground of
paying a debt of gratitude to a life that, as his family looks into
this debate, I hope they know whatever our views are on the issues in
which David found himself caught in violence and then standing in the
national debate, we admire him, we honor his life, and we mourn his
passing as a Congress and as a Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Indiana for his
courtesies. That is the note which I will end on, is a note of courage.
As we look at this young man, and I am going to do something quite
unusual, Mr. Pence, the family is watching, and I would hope that that
would be the spirit of this resolution, simply to acknowledge the
courage of David Ray Ritcheson, this talented young man, as I have
said, Laticia and Albert Galvan's child, the brother of so many
siblings, that they would understand what it took to come into the
Judiciary Committee room.
We would like to thank the cosponsors of this legislation, and I
would like them to have a lasting impression of this distinguished
young man.
{time} 1445
The courage, fortitude, the work he has done has enlightened many. As
Mr. Pence said, we can have a number of debates and questions about the
underlying issue, but the above-lying issue is simply a resolution
thanking a young man who has lost his life in the face of an
unspeakable tragedy. And we are all committed, whether it is a moral
question or whether it is by legislative initiative, we abhor hatred.
This Nation was not founded to promote hatred, although many of us came
to this Nation differently.
So I would simply ask my colleagues to join me. And I yield to the
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence) for an inquiry. His family is
watching, and I hope this can be perceived, this is an unlikely
question to you, be perceived simply as a resolution, making no further
statement, on the celebration of his life. We would like to call for a
vote, and we would like to have your support. I have heard that you are
willing to support this on that basis, and I would like to commend this
to my colleagues simply on that basis. This is a resolution honoring a
young man who has called to the attention of all of us the idea of the
fact that we all abhor hatred of any kind.
Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.
Mr. PENCE. I thank the gentlelady for yielding, and I appreciate the
spirit of her remarks. Both her remarks and the express language of the
resolution have to do with the House of Representatives mourning the
passing of David Ray Ritcheson and commending him for his activism, and
that is certainly a resolution I can and will support on the floor in
whatever manner it comes forward.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank the distinguished gentleman.
Mr. GOHMERT. Will the gentlelady yield?
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I would be happy to yield.
Mr. GOHMERT. Thank you for yielding, and I just want to
wholeheartedly applaud and pay tribute to your gesture here. A salute
to the life of David Ritcheson is a wonderful thing. I thank you for
doing that.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Thank you for your kindness.
Let me bring my remarks to a close by reading some of the words I
read before. I will end with these words: ``It has been a blessing to
know,'' and this was testimony in the House Judiciary Committee ``that
the most terrible day of my life may help put another human face on the
tragedy,'' and these are my words, of hate crimes and hatred.
Let me thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) for his
leadership. Let me thank the ranking member, the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Smith), as well as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Crime
and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime Mr. Scott. All of them
have been generous, as has the staff of the Judiciary Committee, in
helping us pay
[[Page H8226]]
tribute to David Ray Ritcheson. May he rest in peace. God bless his
family, and God bless America for being the Nation that abhors hate and
recognizes this beautiful young man.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of the life of David
Ray Ritcheson. I met David when he testified last April before the
Judiciary Committee at a legislative hearing on the Hate Crimes
Prevention Act. He had the courage to come forward and testify about
the need for that legislation and the impact of hate crimes on
communities and families. He spoke from the heart and from experience.
David survived a horrific attack last year that required him to
endure countless operations to restore his appearance and body. He was
the voice for all who could not speak and did an admirable job. I
believe that his story served as a I inspiration that led the House to
pass the Hate Crime Prevention Act on May 3 of this year.
It is a tragedy that David will not see the fruit of his labor. The
psychological wounds from the crimes inflicted upon him finally caused
David to take his life on July 1, 2007.
I hope that this resolution will convey to his family and community
the heartfelt condolences of this House.
It is also my hope that the brutal attack that he survived will not
define his life. David Ritcheson should be remembered in his community
as a friend, a classmate, a football player and a son.
House Resolution 535 is a fitting tribute to David Ray Ritcheson. It
honors David as someone unafraid to stand and speak for the victims of
hate crimes, so that we could act to protect other communities in the
future. He will be remembered and missed.
I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this well-deserved
resolution.
Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 535, a
resolution to honor the leadership, in raising awareness of hate
crimes, of David Ray Ritcheson, a Mexican American who was severely
assaulted on April 23, 2006, and passed away last week.
Role models come in all shapes and sizes. Jackie Robinson, Rosa
Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr, Cesar Chavez, are all great role models
who led by example.
Just a few months ago, in our halls of Congress, David Ray Ritcheson
at the young age of 18 exposed the harsh reality of hate crimes through
his personal experience.
Today, we honor his efforts and leadership on this issue.
After having survived one of the most horrific hate-motivated
criminal acts, David Ray courageously testified in support of the
``Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007,'' H.R.
1592, which passed the House on May 3, 2007.
In his testimony he stated: ``It has been a blessing to know that the
most terrible day of my life may help put another human face on the
campaign'', ``education can have an important impact by teaching
against hate and bigotry''.
We must continue his efforts.
My prayers are with his family in their time of need.
We must not forget one of our present day's great role models. David
Ray has and will continue to be a strong reason why hate crimes must be
exposed.
I urge my colleagues to carry on his efforts to put an end to all
hate crimes, and vote for this important legislation.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 535.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. 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 motion will be
postponed.
____________________