[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 193 (Monday, December 17, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H15476-H15477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1230
   EXPRESSING HEARTFELT SYMPATHY FOR THE VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF THE 
      SHOOTINGS IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA, ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2007

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 856) expressing heartfelt sympathy for the victims 
and families of the shootings in Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday, 
December 5, 2007.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 856

       Whereas the community of Omaha, Nebraska has suffered 
     through a tragic event at the Westroads Mall that resulted in 
     the loss of 9 lives and the wounding of several others;
       Whereas on December 5, 2007, a troubled young man entered a 
     department store in the Westroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska 
     carrying a rifle;
       Whereas the young man began to randomly fire his rifle at 
     shoppers and store clerks within the Von Maur department 
     store and other locations within Westroads Mall;
       Whereas the result of this shooting spree resulted in the 
     deaths of Gary Scharf, John McDonald, Angie Schuster, Maggie 
     Webb, Janet Jorgensen, Diane Trent, Gary Joy, and Beverly 
     Flynn;
       Whereas Fred Wilson, Michelle Oldham, Jeff Schaffert, and 
     Brad Stafford were wounded as a result of the shootings;
       Whereas the first responders, officers of the Omaha Police 
     Department, Douglas and Sarpy County Sheriff's Department, 
     and Omaha Fire Department, arrived at the Westroads Mall 
     within minutes and secured all entrances and exits to the 
     mall and discovered a number of deceased persons, including 
     the shooter;
       Whereas on December 6, 2007 Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman 
     ordered that all United States and State flags in Nebraska be 
     flown at half-staff through Sunday, Dec. 9; and
       Whereas the grieving and celebration of the lives of those 
     lost in this senseless tragedy will be with the greater Omaha 
     community for months and years to come: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives--
       (1) expresses its heartfelt sympathy for the victims and 
     families of the shootings in Omaha, Nebraska on Wednesday, 
     December 5, 2007; and
       (2) conveys its gratitude to the city and county officials, 
     and all the police, fire, sheriff, and emergency medical 
     teams who responded swiftly to the scene and secured the mall 
     and surrounding area.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Issa) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. NORTON. 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 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform, I join my colleagues in consideration of H. Res. 
856, which expresses heartfelt sympathy for the victims and families of 
the shootings in Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday, December 5, 2007. H. 
Res. 856, which was introduced by Representative Lee Terry on December 
12, 2007, has the support of 72 Members of Congress.
  The community of Omaha, Nebraska, experienced a shooting spree at the 
hands of a troubled teenager carrying a rifle on December 5. Sadly, 
nine people died, and four others were wounded in the Westroads Mall. 
Thankfully, first responders, the Omaha Police Department, Douglas and 
Sarpy County Sheriff's Department, and Omaha Fire Department all 
arrived within minutes of the attacks to secure all entrances.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to express great sympathy for the 
community's tragedy and all of the lives lost. I commend my colleague 
for sponsoring this measure, and I urge the swift passage of the 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, as we on a bipartisan basis support this 
resolution, I would yield to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) 
such time as he may consume.
  Mr. TERRY. I thank my friend, the gentleman from California, as well 
as the Government Reform Committee, for making sure that this got to 
the floor in such a timely manner.
  December 5, 2007: that will be a day forever etched in Omaha's memory 
as the day a lone gunman took the lives of eight innocent people at the 
Westroads Mall, the Von Maur store, during the holiday shopping season. 
But it will also be remembered as a day that revealed the true 
character of Omaha.
  Tragedy, no doubt, reveals the true meaning of unity in any 
community. Although I will never understand the senseless events that 
took place in my hometown on December 5, I stand here as a proud 
citizen, Congressman of that district, because it's in times like these 
it doesn't matter what party you belong to, what your political beliefs 
are, your race, creed, or color. People come together and they ask what 
can we do to help the city and the eight innocent people. I think this 
is not only the spirit of Omaha, or what defines the Omaha area, but 
also I think it is what exemplifies the spirit of America, and it is 
that spirit that we remember in each of the victims and the first 
responders.
  Let me introduce the eight innocent lives that were lost on that day. 
There was 53-year-old Dianne Clavin Trent,

[[Page H15477]]

described by her family as a gentle, generous, soft-spoken woman who 
loved the Lord. She loved to shop and was always smiling. She had 
worked in customer service at Von Maur for about 8 years.
  We have 65-year-old John McDonald, retired from Northern Natural Gas, 
whose daughter in fact worked with me in my law office. John was one of 
the heroes, when he left his place of safety to come out and start 
yelling, some people described it as rather passionately, at the 
gunman, to distract him from turning around, and a few feet away was a 
room where 12 other innocent people were holed up. John was shot. 
Amazingly, though, he was the last victim before the gunman turned the 
gun on himself.
  The next victim, 48-year-old Gary Scharf, who just stopped by Von 
Maur to pick up some Christmas presents before catching a flight out of 
Omaha. He grew up on a ranch outside Curtis, Nebraska, where his 
funeral was held. He was a proud father who leaves behind a 19-year-old 
son.
  Fifty-six-old Gary Joy was someone everyone could count on. He loved 
his job and liked to write poetry. His family followed his instructions 
to have his organs donated. They say it was just like Gary, to help 
someone else. His love was with us again, if not only in spirit.
  There was 36-year-old Angie Schuster, born on Valentine's Day. Her 
boyfriend planned to give her an engagement ring this Christmas. The 
priest at her funeral called Angie and her soon-to-be fiance's love the 
``real thing.''
  We have 67-year-old Janet Jorgensen, who just celebrated her golden 
anniversary, 50 years of marriage to her husband Ron just a few months 
ago. She went above and beyond at Van Maur, as there were many times 
she would shop for customers or deliver items to customers' homes. She 
was the seamstress and cake-maker of the family; and for her three 
children and eight grandchildren, she will be missed.
  There was 47-year-old Beverly Flynn. She took a part-time job at Von 
Maur because she was a mother of three beautiful girls. She was also a 
real estate agent, and her trademark was planting rosebushes in the 
yard of every new homeowner.
  The youngest victim, 24-year-old Maggie Webb, was the new store 
manager of Von Maur, one of Omaha's finest department stores. Coworkers 
described her as one of the nicest people they had ever worked for, 
someone whose whole face lit up when she smiled. A lot of people will 
miss her service and smile.
  Last, I want to thank our first responders. The spirit of Omaha 
showed itself through the efforts of our first responders. The first 
phone call from the mall came to 911 dispatchers at 1:42. No voice was 
on the line. All that was heard were gunshots. What an eerie call.
  By the time the first responders arrived, just under 6 minutes later, 
the Omaha sheriff opens the doors and enters the store. What a heroic 
effort by our police officers, paramedics, firefighters, and others, 
when they got to the mall and saw such a grisly scene. The images they 
saw will likely haunt them for the rest of their lives. I thank the men 
and women who came to face the horror. Thank you for keeping us safe 
and saving lives. I also want to praise the spirit of Omaha for coming 
together after this tragedy.
  In closing, I am deeply saddened by the senseless act from a troubled 
and disturbed teenager. It's something our city will never forget. It 
has scarred the very heart of our community. But I am proud of our 
community for its reaction and the way we came together to support the 
victims and begin the healing of our city.
  Thank you once again to Government Reform for allowing this 
resolution to come forward and be part of the continuing healing in 
Omaha.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from the First Congressional District of Nebraska (Mr. 
Forten-
berry).
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. I thank the gentleman from California for yielding, 
and I also wish to thank my colleague, Congressman Terry, for 
introducing this important resolution.
  As we have heard, Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, December 5, the 
enthusiasm of the holiday season came to an abrupt halt with an act of 
senseless brutality at the Westroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska.
  Mr. Speaker, as the Nation mourns the eight victims who were killed 
and the three who were wounded, and, I should add, I appreciate Mr. 
Terry's lengthy description of these innocent persons and their lives, 
I think it is also important and appropriate to recognize their 
uncommon heroics and great sacrifices that are now just coming to 
light. If there is a comfort in the midst of this difficult time, it is 
the beauty of the human spirit and the good that stood in the midst of 
this horror and violence.
  Dianne Clavin Trent of Omaha was a 53-year-old former airline flight 
attendant who had worked for 8 years in customer service at the Von 
Maur store in the Westroads Mall. As we have now learned, Dianne did 
not flee when she saw the gunman. She stood. She dialed 911 and gave a 
description of him, and then he turned on her.
  Gary Scharf, 48 years old, of Lincoln, Nebraska, my hometown, was an 
agricultural chemical sales manager in the mall to buy a dress shirt. 
When he heard the gunshots, Gary also called 911. It appears then that 
he ran from where he was safe up to where the shooting was taking 
place. As he ran up the escalator, he yelled out, ``I called 911'' in 
an apparent attempt to distract the gunman. He also pulled a woman off 
the escalator out of harm's way before the gunman turned on him.
  Mr. Speaker, I happened to know Gary and I am proud to call him a 
friend.
  John McDonald was a 65-year-old grandfather and retired natural gas 
company manager living in Council Bluffs. When the rampage began, John 
took cover with his wife in the customer service area. As the gunman 
entered the customer service area, John stood and confronted him, and 
he too was shot. As now seems apparent, John's courage may have saved 
the lives of many other people nearby.
  Dianne, Gary and John, innocently shopping one minute, decided in an 
instant to let go of a natural tendency to self-preservation and to 
make a great sacrifice for their fellow man. Others may have acted 
similarly in ways that we may never know.
  Mr. Speaker, I thought you and the American people should know of 
this new information. God bless all those who lost their lives or were 
injured that day, and God bless their loved ones.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, once again, I express the deep condolences 
and regrets of, I know, the entire House for the Omaha tragedy, 
particularly coming at this time when the whole country comes together 
in great love and respect.
  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 the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 856.
  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. NORTON. 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.

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