[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 12, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H144-H160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE REGARDING ARIZONA SHOOTING
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it shall be
in order at any time on the legislative day of January 12, 2011, to
consider in the House without intervention of any point of order a
resolution relating to recent events in Tucson, Arizona, if offered by
the Speaker or his designee;
such resolution shall be debatable for 6 hours equally divided and
controlled by the majority leader and the minority leader or their
respective designees; and
the previous question shall be considered as ordered on such
resolution and any preamble thereto to final adoption without
intervening motion.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOEHNER. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of
today, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 32) expressing the sense of the
House of Representatives with respect to the tragic shooting in Tucson,
Arizona, on January 8, 2011, and ask for its immediate consideration in
the House.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 32
Whereas on January 8, 2011, an armed gunman opened fire at
a ``Congress on your Corner'' event hosted by Representative
Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Arizona, killing 6 and wounding
at least 14 others;
Whereas Christina Taylor Green, Dorothy Morris, John Roll,
Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard, and Gabriel Zimmerman lost
their lives in this attack;
Whereas Christina Taylor Green, the 9-year-old daughter of
John and Roxanna Green, was born on September 11, 2001, and
was a third grader with an avid interest in government who
was recently elected to the student council at Mesa Verde
Elementary School;
Whereas Dorothy Morris, who was 76 years old, attended the
January 8 event with George, her husband of over 50 years
with whom she had 2 daughters, and who was also critically
injured as he tried to shield her from the shooting;
Whereas John Roll, a Pennsylvania native who was 63 years
old, began his professional career as a bailiff in 1972, was
appointed to the Federal bench in 1991, and became chief
judge for the District of Arizona in 2006, and was a devoted
husband to his wife Maureen, father to his 3 sons, and
grandfather to his 5 grandchildren;
Whereas Phyllis Schneck, a proud mother of 3, grandmother
of 7, and great-grandmother from New Jersey, was spending the
winter in Arizona, and was a 79-year-old church volunteer and
New York Giants fan;
Whereas Dorwan Stoddard, a 76-year-old retired construction
worker and volunteer at the Mountain Avenue Church of Christ,
is credited with shielding his wife Mavy, a longtime friend
whom he married while they were in their 60s, who was also
injured in the shooting;
Whereas Gabriel Matthew Zimmerman, who was 30 years old and
engaged to be married, served as Director of Community
Outreach to Representative Gabrielle Giffords, and was a
social worker before serving with Representative Giffords;
Whereas Representative Gabrielle Giffords was a target of
this attack, and remains in critical condition at an Arizona
hospital;
Whereas 13 others were also wounded in the shooting,
including Ron Barber and Pamela Simon, both staffers to
Representative Giffords; and
Whereas several individuals, including Patricia Maisch,
Army Col. Bill Badger (Retired), who was also wounded in the
shooting, Roger Sulzgeber, Joseph Zimudio, and Daniel
Hernandez, Jr., helped apprehend the gunman and assist the
injured, thereby risking their lives for the safety of
others, and should be commended for their bravery: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns in the strongest possible terms the horrific
attack which occurred at the ``Congress on your Corner''
event hosted by Representative Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson,
Arizona, on January 8, 2011;
(2) offers its heartfelt condolences to the families,
friends, and loved ones of those who were killed in that
attack;
(3) expresses its hope for the rapid and complete recovery
of those wounded in the shooting;
(4) honors the memory of Christina Taylor Green, Dorothy
Morris, John Roll, Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard, and
Gabriel Zimmerman;
(5) applauds the bravery and quick thinking exhibited by
those individuals who prevented the gunman from potentially
taking more lives and helped to save those who had been
wounded;
(6) recognizes the service of the first responders who
raced to the scene and the health care professionals who
tended to the victims once they reached the hospital, whose
service and skill saved lives;
(7) reaffirms the bedrock principle of American democracy
and representative government, which is memorialized in the
First Amendment of the Constitution and which Representative
Gabrielle Giffords herself read in the Hall of the House of
Representatives on January 6, 2011, of ``the right of the
people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government
for a redress of grievances'';
(8) stands firm in its belief in a democracy in which all
can participate and in which intimidation and threats of
violence cannot silence the voices of any American;
(9) honors the service and leadership of Representative
Gabrielle Giffords, a distinguished member of this House, as
she courageously fights to recover; and
(10) when adjourning today, shall do so out of respect to
the victims of this attack.
{time} 1010
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of today,
the resolution shall be debatable for 6 hours equally divided and
controlled by the majority leader and the minority leader or their
designees.
The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor) and the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Pastor) each will control 3 hours.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the Speaker of the
House, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner).
Mr. BOEHNER. Madam Speaker and my colleagues, today we are called
here to mourn.
An unspeakable act of violence has taken six innocent lives, and left
several more--including our colleague, Gabrielle Giffords--battling for
theirs. These are difficult hours for our country.
Among the fallen is Gabe Zimmerman, a member of Congresswoman
Giffords' staff--a public servant of the highest caliber--one of our
own. Even in our shock, we are composed and determined to fulfill our
calling to represent our constituents. This is the great cause for
which Gabe gave his life.
Like us, Gabe swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. At
the time of the attack, he was engaged in the most simple and direct of
democratic rituals: listening to the people, listening to his
neighbors.
The brutality that shattered Saturday morning's calm was devastating,
but brief. Bravery and quick thinking prevented a larger massacre,
turning innocent bystanders into heroes.
The service and skill of first responders and medical professionals
saved lives. Law enforcement officials are working to ensure swift
justice. Look to Tucson right now, and you will be reminded that
America's most plentiful source of wealth and strength is her people.
We are so thankful Gabby is still with us. We are so thankful that
two of her staffers who were also wounded--Ron Barber and Pam Simon--
are still with us as well.
In her stead, Gabby's staff has pressed on, opening for business
Monday morning right on schedule. The men and women who faithfully
serve the people of Arizona's 8th Congressional District have signaled
that no act--no matter how heinous--will stop us from doing our duty
and being among the people we serve.
To all of the dedicated professionals that we rely on to make this
institution work, to each of you: thank you for what you do. And to
Gabby's staff--and their families: please know that our hearts and
prayers go out to each of you.
[[Page H145]]
This body has yet to fully register the magnitude of this tragedy. We
feel a litany of unwanted emotions no resolution could possibly
capture.
We know that we gather here without distinction of party. The needs
of this institution have always risen above partisanship. And what this
institution needs right now is strength--holy, uplifting strength. The
strength to grieve with the families of the fallen, to pray for the
wounded, and to chart a way forward, no matter how painful and
difficult it may be.
Today it is not ceremony, but tragedy that stirs us to renew our
commitment to faithfully fulfill our oath of office. Let us not let
this inhuman act frighten us into doing otherwise.
The free exchange of ideas is the lifeblood of our democracy, as
prescribed by the First Amendment, that beacon of free expression
Congresswoman Giffords recited in this well just days ago.
These rights have not been handed down by dictate; they have been
preserved and protected through generations of hard sacrifice and
commitment. We will continue that unfinished work.
We will do it for Christina Taylor Green, Dorothy Morris, Phyllis
Schneck, and Dorwan Stoddard, ordinary citizens who died participating
in their democracy. And we will do it for Judge John Roll. And we will
do it for Gabe Zimmerman. And we will do it for--and God willing,
with--Gabrielle Giffords.
Our hearts are broken, but our spirit is not. This is a time for the
House to lock arms in prayer for those fallen and the wounded, and in
resolve to carry on the dialogue of democracy.
We may not yet have all the answers, but we already have the answer
that matters most: that we are Americans, and together we will make it
through this difficult period. We will have the last word.
God bless this House. God bless this Congress. And God bless America.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the
minority leader, Ms. Pelosi.
Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and
extend my condolences to him, Mr. Pastor, the senior member of the
Arizona delegation, and to all of the members of the Arizona
delegation.
Madam Speaker, I am saddened, greatly saddened, to join the Speaker
of the House, Mr. Boehner, in coming together in sadness today to share
our prayers and indeed our hopes for those who have lost so much
because of the tragedy in Arizona involving our colleague,
Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, her staff, and innocent bystanders.
Words are inadequate at a time like this, but I hope it is a comfort
to those who have lost loved ones or who were injured on Saturday that
so many people mourn the losses but also pray for the survivors and
care for them at this very difficult time.
I think the resolution in its description of what happened and the
context with which it happened is an excellent resolution; and I hope
people will read it, pray over it, and be grateful that we have this
opportunity to comment on it.
Today, we will say many prayers for our country and for the victims
of this horrific event. We think of our colleague, Congresswoman Gabby
Giffords, fighting to recover, and the 14 others who were injured and
remember the six who were killed. Their names are mentioned, and they
are described in the resolution. The Speaker has mentioned their names,
but I think acknowledging them bears repetition.
How do you explain the death of 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green who
had recently been elected to the student council in her school, Mesa
Verde Elementary School, and the unbearable grief of John and Roxanna
Green? Again, we pray for them and will carry Christina as an
inspiration in our hearts.
Dorothy Morris was married for more than 50 years to her high school
sweetheart and was the mother of two.
Federal Judge John Roll had just come from mass, which he attended
every day.
Phyllis Schneck, mother of three, grandmother of seven, and a great-
grandmother. And I know that the New Yorkers like to hear she was a
Giants fan, snowbird in Arizona carrying that dedication west.
Dorwan Stoddard died shielding his wife, Mavy. Shielding his wife,
Mavy.
And as has been mentioned in the resolution, and we have mourned,
Congresswoman Gabby Giffords' director of community outreach, Gabriel
Matthew Zimmerman. One of his colleagues, his coworker, said: ``Gabe
helped people for a living.''
As we honor the heroes who risked their lives to protect others,
among them some who were injured, Patricia Maisch, for one, who grabbed
the full magazine of ammunition from the killer as he attempted to
reload. Just think of how many more we could have lost.
Roger Sulzgeber and Joseph Zimudio tackled and subdued the suspect.
Imagine the courage.
{time} 1020
And Daniel Hernandez, Jr., 20 years old--an intern who had just been
on the job for 4 days. When he heard gunshots, he ran toward them--he
ran toward them--and attended to Congresswoman Giffords, helping to
staunch her bleeding with his own hands.
We pray for the recovery of other members of Congresswoman Giffords'
staff--Ron Barber, Pam Simon. We commend Pia Carusone and the entire
Giffords staff for carrying on.
Those heroes at the scene were joined by first responders from county
and municipalities, arriving just 3 minutes after the first 911 call,
who performed excellently, and in doing so, saved lives. We also pay
tribute to the skilled professionals at Arizona's University Medical
Center, whose role is ongoing in healing the victims of this tragedy.
Tonight, the University of Arizona community joins with Tucson, the
State of Arizona and, indeed, the entire Nation to acknowledge together
Saturday's tragedy. Appropriately, this remembrance is called
``Together we thrive: Tucson and America.''
``Together we thrive: Tucson and America'' will be an opportunity to
grieve, and it will be a demonstration of our strength: a strength in
community--a strength in community that was demonstrated last Saturday,
a strength in community there that is ongoing. Tucson demonstrated its
strength on Saturday when the city was full of heroes--ordinary
citizens, victims, first responders--coming together in the spirit of
community.
Madam Speaker, our colleague Congresswoman Giffords was the primary
target of this cowardly act; and as she recovers, we honor her as a
brilliant and courageous Member of Congress. She has brought to
Congress an invigoration--the thinking of a new generation of national
leaders. As a businesswoman and State legislator, she came to Congress
full of ideas, and we will long continue to be blessed by them. I look
forward to when she is present with us on the floor. She has spoken out
courageously and led boldly when the times have demanded it.
It is especially tragic that those who lost their lives and those who
were wounded had come together, as the resolution presents, to
participate in an activity that reflects the best of our democratic
tradition--a Representative of the people, of Gabby Giffords and her
staff hearing directly from the men and women she represents.
American democracy is founded on our commitment to a contest of
ideas, not violence. Political disagreement and dissent must never
violate our Nation's values, as expressed in the Constitution, of free
expression, speech and peaceful assembly. Gabby spoke to that right
here from the floor last week.
In this hour of anguish, we seek a renewed commitment to hope, to
civility, to peace among the American people. In many of our churches,
we sing on Sunday and on other days of the week: let there be peace on
Earth, and let it begin, not just with us but with me--with each of us,
within each of us.
In speaking as one House today, coming together in peace, we offer
our thoughts and support, our prayers for the health of our colleague,
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and for all of the injured. We share
the stories of the heroes of this tragedy and mourn those who perished.
Let their actions and their memories be a blessing to our country.
We don't know why God saw this to be necessary, but let this be
something that we cherish as an opportunity as we mourn the
heartbreaking horror of
[[Page H146]]
it all. This resolution is a fitting tribute. It is a great resolution.
Please read it again and again. Carry those names in your heart.
Remember each of these people because, again, a tragic accident took
lives and wounded people in the free expression of ideas. May this
resolution remind us of the urgent need to uphold our democratic
values, to treat one another with courtesy and with respect, and to act
as Congresswoman Giffords has always done and always will do--in a
manner that reflects the best of American leadership.
As our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of all who were
affected, I want to call special attention to Commander, Navy Captain
Mark Kelly, Gabby's husband, who has been a source of strength to all
of us in this difficult time. We pray for him. We thank him for his and
Gabby's service to our country. God truly blessed America with their
leadership, with their service, and with their love for each other.
Mr. CANTOR. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, this week, most Members of the House will gather
briefly here in Washington, but our hearts and spirits will be in
Arizona. The unspeakable tragedy in Tucson last Saturday came as a
complete shock, casting a pall over the entire Nation.
With this resolution, we join 300 million Americans and millions of
others around the world in showing our solidarity with Congresswoman
Giffords and the rest of the victims. Gabby serves Arizona's Eighth
District with distinction and thoughtful leadership, and we are all
praying for her speedy recovery.
Saturday's cowardly crime was more than just an attack on dozens of
innocent Americans at a grocery store. It was an attack on the very
essence of democracy and representative government--an assault on the
open exchange of ideas between legislators and the people to whom they
are accountable.
This resolution honors the memory of Christina Taylor Green, Dorothy
Morris, Judge John Roll, Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard, and Gabriel
Zimmerman. The slain represent a broad cross-section of the American
public--young and old; men, women and child; friends, brothers,
sisters, and children. They will be missed but not forgotten.
This inexplicable crime reminds us that there is evil in the world.
Yet, as we look for light in a thicket of darkness, our Nation has
drawn inspiration from the bravery and quick thinking displayed by the
heroes on the scene. Were it not for their efforts, there likely would
have been many more victims.
The outpouring of support, prayer, and solidarity also reminds us
that America is a country of compassion, community, and empathy. We
will stand with the victims and their families, and pray and mourn with
them as they cope with this horrific tragedy.
Madam Speaker, I also want to offer my thoughts of comfort to Gabby
Giffords' staff and want them to know that our hearts hang heavy, and
our thoughts and prayers are with them as they try and persevere
through this very difficult time.
I would also like to add my thanks to the brave law enforcement that
has helped our Nation over the last several days and every day--the law
enforcement under the directorship of Director Mueller of the FBI, the
local law enforcement in Arizona and, from our perspective, most
especially, the Capitol Police, the Office of the Sergeant at Arms and
the Sergeant at Arms, himself--for the tremendous job that they are
undergoing each and every minute as we try and cope with this tragedy.
Madam Speaker, this resolution affirms the point all of us want to
make. Our hearts are heavy. We mourn with the victims, and I urge my
colleagues to support it.
{time} 1030
Madam Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Flake), and I ask unanimous consent that he be permitted
to control that time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from
Arizona will control the time.
There was no objection.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman from Arizona for yielding.
Madam Speaker, this week, we pause the work of the House to mourn the
lost lives of six of our fellow citizens--one of those born on that day
of tragedy and carnage when thousands were slain in an equally
indiscriminate, heinous act of hate--citizens shot dead on Saturday in
Tucson in pursuit of the ``right to peaceably assemble,'' the amendment
which Gabby Giffords read on this floor. We come as well to honor those
who risked their lives to save others, to pray for the lives of the
wounded, and to pray for our colleague and friend, Congresswoman
Gabrielle Giffords.
Today, this temple of representative democracy is a sadder place. But
Congresswoman Giffords' intelligence and her toughness, her public
spirit and her charm will, God willing, and with the extraordinary
medical care she is receiving, soon return to this body and again be a
practitioner and a model for the principles of civil debate and
thoughtful deliberation on which this temple is founded.
Congresswoman Giffords was attacked doing the work that is the heart
of democracy, as has been so eloquently observed by our Speaker, Mr.
Boehner: Listening to her neighbors, listening to those who sent her
here to Washington to reflect their views.
Each one of us have done that work. Each one of us has come back
bearing their fears and their hopes, their convictions and their
visions for the future. Some, of course, are everyday hopes; some are
matters of life and death. But in each case, we bring these hopes here
and speak to our neighbors as best we can. That is what Congresswoman
Giffords was doing.
We do not know, of course, the specific motive which led the
perpetrator of this crime to act, nor can we draw conclusions as to
specific causes, but it seems to me it is a time for us to reflect on
the heightened anger being projected on our public debate and the daily
denigration of those with whom we disagree. And it is appropriate,
therefore, that the wrenching, shocking, senseless violence of that day
compel us to reflect on our own responsibility to temper our words and
respect those with whom we disagree, lest the failure to do so give
incitement to the angriest and most unstable among us.
Let us speak for our neighbors in a spirit of unity, not a false and
shallow unity, not a unity that wishes away our differences or our
discords, but a unity founded on our reverence for our democracy's most
precious, most fragile gift--its power to resolve without violence our
weightiest questions.
In a much darker time than ours, from the edge of a great war,
President Lincoln addressed these words to the men and women whom, even
in the war's depths, he refused to see as anything other than his
fellow Americans. He said this: ``We are not enemies, but friends. We
must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not
break our bonds of affection.''
There are, in every society and in every culture and every nation,
those who reflect that creed, but if we love our country, if we honor
our oath to country, Constitution, and to our Nation of laws, we must
live by those words. There is, perhaps, nothing we can do that will
prevent the mindless violence committed by the few, but we can and must
appeal to the best instincts of the many.
To the families of the fallen, we extend our sympathy. To the
survivors, we extend our prayers for a full and speedy recovery. And to
our colleague, to our beloved colleague, Gabby, we extend our love and
our hopes for her early return to the Chamber and our ranks.
All of us in this time have come together, reached out to one
another, comforted one another, and lifted one another up. May that
sentiment not pass quickly from this body or from this country.
Mr. FLAKE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I want to thank Speaker Boehner and the leadership on both sides of
the aisle for bringing this resolution to the floor. This is indeed
Congress at its best.
None of us will ever forget the feeling we had when we heard the news
of the shooting last Saturday--one of the victims which was our dear
friend and colleague, Gabby Giffords. A few hours
[[Page H147]]
after the first news broke, I was in attendance at the press conference
in Tucson at the medical center. Amid the turmoil and the anguish of
the occasion, there were audible expressions of joy and relief around
that room and around the country when Dr. Rhee announced that Gabby
could listen and respond. Gabby's progress over the past few days has
been measured in much the same manner--the squeeze of a hand, the
raising of two fingers, a thumbs-up sign, each gesture letting us know
that she hears, that she is listening and responding. These traits,
listening and responding, have defined Gabby Giffords' career as a
legislator.
Let me give but one example borne of another tragedy just 10 months
ago. Longtime Arizonan Bob Krentz, known to provide assistance to those
he found in need, was murdered on his ranch near Arizona's southern
border. Farmers and ranchers in Arizona were understandably alarmed.
Gabby listened and responded. Over and over she contacted and visited
those affected, reassuring them that help was on its way. She convened
monthly conference calls for the farming and ranching communities
involving the Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the
Justice Department and other Federal agencies, each month broadening
the circle to include more stakeholders.
We learned of her efforts in delegation meetings here in Washington,
where she enlisted additional support. Last August, much as a result of
Gabby's persistent efforts, the Congress acted, providing unprecedented
resources to improve security in the area. Gabby listened, she
responded, and, in the end, Congress responded as well.
We are responding here today by giving thanks for the service of
Federal Judge John Roll and Gabe Zimmerman for the public service they
have rendered. We are responding today by recognizing the heroic
lifesaving efforts of people like Daniel Hernandez, who delivered aid
to Congresswoman Giffords; to those who tackled the gunman; to Dorwan
Stoddard, who shielded his wife from the gunfire, selflessly giving his
own life that she might live. We are responding today by joining John
and Roxanna Green in mourning the loss of their 9-year-old daughter,
Christina, as well as the friends and families of Dorothy Morris and
Phyllis Schneck.
We in the Arizona delegation are proud of the wonderful State that
we, together with more than 6 million of our friends and neighbors,
call home. Arizona is defined not by the actions of a lone crazed
gunman, but by the heroism and bravery of those who left us on Saturday
and those, like our friend and colleague, Gabby Giffords, who will
continue to lead us in the future.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the leader
of the caucus, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson).
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. I thank the gentleman from Arizona.
Shakespeare tells us in Othello that when Iago whispers mistruths in
the ear of Othello, something beautiful dies.
{time} 1040
Something beautiful died in Tucson, Arizona, this past Saturday.
People who came to an event, to hear their congresswoman speak--one
little girl, 9 years old--all beautiful, all celebrating the great
beauty and majesty of our democracy, passed on that day.
Who knows what mistruths were bouncing around in the head of the
assassin. Who could know that? But something beautiful died. Democracy
died just a little that day.
But beauty has a way of coming back. It resides in people like
Gabrielle Giffords. She epitomizes all that is good and rich about
serving in the United States Congress. From her very demeanor, to her
graciousness, to the way she carried herself in committee, with her
legislation, and how she held forth with her constituents in an
accountable manner that has become so much a fabric of our democracy--
our Congress on the Corner.
She truly is a beautiful person. And that beauty had others
responding that day with acts of heroism that have already been
recounted on this floor. And that beauty lies with her husband by her
side and with the fervent prayers of a Nation in hope, knowing and
feeling confident that she will return from this awful incident and be
back here with us gracing us with her beauty and dignity and vision and
purpose.
One of her last remarks, in speaking to Mr. Trey Grayson, director of
the Harvard Institute of Politics, was to say, I would love to talk
about what we can do to promote centrism and moderation. I think we
need to figure out how to tone down our rhetoric and the partisanship
that exists here.
Mr. FLAKE. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Franks).
Mr. FRANKS of Arizona. I thank the gentleman.
Madam Speaker, the tragedy this week in Arizona has been a reminder
to all of us of the brevity and delicate nature of this earthly life.
It is my prayer this morning that God would grant all of the victims
named in this resolution, as well as the grieving families and loved
ones who are mourning the loss of the six precious lives that were
taken that day, the comfort, the peace, and the restoration that only
He can give.
Madam Speaker, it happens that the only one of those victims that I
knew well personally was our own Gabby Giffords. Madam Speaker, Gabby
and I are from different parties. And on past and happier days, many in
Arizona would often joke about the differences in our politics.
But I can testify to you this morning, Madam Speaker, that in the 4
years that I have known Gabby Giffords there has never been one unkind
or acrimonious or even terse word passed between us.
Gabby Giffords is a precious, warm, caring, decent human being whose
warmth and charm touched the hearts of all who know her. And the
testimony of her life and work is proof that true tolerance is not in
pretending that we have no differences; it is being kind and decent to
each other in spite of those differences.
And it strikes me as more than a poignant coincidence that only days
before the tragedy, we all listened to Gabby Giffords as she stood at
this very podium and read the words of the Constitution's First
Amendment, which protects the right of the people to peaceably
assemble.
And then only days later, Madam Speaker, as she was exercising that
right and faithfully doing her job as a Member of the United States
Congress, one bereft of heart, human compassion, and respect for
innocent human life mindlessly shattered her life and the lives of so
many others around her.
Madam Speaker, the last words I had with Gabby Giffords were spoken
not 10 feet from this podium when we exchanged simple but genuine and
heartfelt words and best wishes for the new year and the new Congress.
And, Madam Speaker, I will tell you that when I heard the news of this
tragedy and the false report that Gabby had died, I felt such an
overwhelming sense of grief in my soul to think that those were the
last words that I would ever speak to her.
And it was a reminder to me, Madam Speaker, of the brevity and
preciousness of human life and freedom and just how important it really
is for each of us to seize every moment and to speak kind and loving
words to each other while we still can.
So, Madam Speaker, it is my prayer that God would comfort the
Giffords family and all of the victims of this horrible tragedy and
hold them closely in His arms as only He can, and that He would some
day very soon return a smiling Gabby Giffords to this Chamber and to
all of us, as clear eyed and as whole as when she left us.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. PASTOR of Arizona asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. I also join my colleague from Arizona, Jeff
Flake, in thanking the leadership in bringing this resolution here this
morning. I also want to recognize that Representative Giffords' staff
is in the gallery with us this morning. So we want to wish them the
best.
Madam Speaker, it is with great sadness I rise today to pay tribute
to six innocent and precious Arizonans who, while participating in a
public event designated to strengthen our democracy, so tragically lost
their lives in a
[[Page H148]]
senseless act of violence last Saturday. I also want to pay tribute to
those 14 Arizonans, including our dedicated and beloved colleague, and
my personal friend, Gabby Giffords, who were wounded.
These Americans, all dedicated to freedom and all loving their
country so much that they chose to use their Saturday morning to
participate in a public event to make their government better, are
recovering at different paces and with unique and different needs. The
city of Tucson, Pima County, and the entire State of Arizona stand
poised to assist and welcome these brave heroes back to our communities
once they have recovered.
Gabby continues to fight, literally fight, every minute for her life.
And we are all reaching toward our God in prayer, contemplation, and
silent whispers in our unified effort to bring about her quick recovery
and return to us here in this House of Representatives.
Those who perished--Phyllis Schneck, Dorothy Morris, Gabe Zimmerman,
Christina Taylor Green, Dorwin Stoddard, and John Roll--will be missed
by their families, their colleagues, their friends, and all Arizonans.
{time} 1050
Phyllis Schneck was described by her New Jersey hometown paper as a
lifelong conservative, yet she was there to see Gabby because she
admired her. This is a perfect example of someone who wanted to step
beyond the current vitriol in modern-day politics and bring us
together.
Dorothy Morris was married to a former Marine Corps pilot, who was
also wounded and recovering. We all know the patriotism and love of
country every spouse of a marine exhibits, and she was no exception.
Gabe Zimmerman was one of us. A dedicated staff member to Gabby, it
is said that he literally lived to serve his community. Sadly, he
perished, but he perished fulfilling his calling and doing what he
loved--helping the people of his town.
Christina Taylor Green was just starting her political career. She
had just been elected to her school's student council and wanted to
come see it done at the highest level. She wanted to see a pro, so she
came to see Gabby. She was a special little girl who kept reaching for
the stars in politics, dance, baseball, and whatever her heart desired.
Dorwan Stoddard died shielding his wife, who was also wounded but
expected to recover. Following their regular Saturday outing, Dorwan
brought his wife, Mavy, to Gabby because reportedly she wanted to tell
Gabby what a good job she was doing. High school sweethearts who were
reconnected after many years apart, they were a pillar of their church
community. And we know Mavy will continue on, saddened and burdened,
but hopefully not broken.
Finally, Judge Roll had been working with Gabby and several of us in
the delegation for the past several months trying to make the courts in
Arizona more efficient and more responsive to both the victim and the
accused. I knew him to be a fair, dedicated, charming, professional,
and loyal person. He loved his family; he loved his profession; he
loved his job, his community, and his country. Arizona and the Nation
will be a different place without him.
Again, I am encouraged by the reports concerning all the wounded.
These individuals are the perfect example of the strength of Arizonans
and all Americans. They will recover, we pray, and they will not shy
from continuing to serve their community.
This is most true for Gabby. Gabby is a special person among us here
in Congress. We all know that. We all love her pragmatism, her
bipartisanship, her willingness to learn, her dedication to give, her
compassion for her job and for each of us, and her spirit to continue
striving to make the Eighth Congressional District of Arizona and
America a better place to live and work.
Hopefully, it won't be much longer until we see her here, her smiling
face with us again, doing what she loves, and working hard for the
people of our country.
Our prayers go to Gabby, all the victims, and the families of the
deceased.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Schweikert).
Mr. SCHWEIKERT. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I come to
the floor today to offer these thoughts on this tragic event this past
Saturday outside Tucson that took the lives of John M. Roll, Christina
Taylor Green, Dorwan Stoddard, Dorothy Morris, Gabe Zimmerman, and
Phyllis Schneck, and gravely injured our colleague, Congresswoman Gabby
Giffords.
It was just last week that my wife and I had the opportunity to visit
with Gabby in Statuary Hall before the ceremonial swearing in. And as
so many of you know, our interactions with her were gracious,
energetic, and she was willing to help us as we were setting up our
freshman office. We took a few photos. We talked about ways we could
work together, and of course we engaged in the banter and teasing of
Arizona's favorite rivalry, ASU versus U of A.
Gabby takes enormous pride in the job in representing the communities
of southern Arizona. And my wife and I send our thoughts and prayers to
Mark during this difficult time. We deeply appreciate the gift Mark
generously shares with all of us here in Washington and back in
Arizona.
It is also important not to forget the individuals who lost their
lives or who were injured while they were exercising their right to
participate and have a say in this Republic. Indeed, they became
victims while exercising a fundamental right that has served as a
backbone of this country since its founding, a right our Nation's
Founders sacrificed so dearly for, just as the victims this last
Saturday have tragically also sacrificed for.
We are stunned by the tragedy, but we remain resolute in our
commitment to assemble peacefully, engage civilly in the types of
discourse that are fundamental to maintaining this Republic. Although
words may not sufficiently capture the sorrow and grief we are
experiencing, particularly in Arizona, Joyce and I send our thoughts,
our prayers to Gabby; Mark; Roxanna and John Green, the parents of
little Christina Taylor Green; and the loved ones of Judge Roll, Dorwan
Stoddard, Dorothy Morris, Gabe Zimmerman, Phyllis Schneck, the
community of Tucson and southern Arizona, all Arizona, this Nation. Our
hearts are heavy, but our prayers are with all of you.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).
(Mr. KUCINICH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. KUCINICH. We are one as we pay tribute to Congresswoman Giffords
and all the other victims of violence in Tucson. Our gathering reflects
the truth of America's first motto, which is above this Chamber, E
Pluribus Unum--Out of Many, We Are One.
It is vital that we acknowledge our oneness, not just as a Congress,
but as a Nation and as a world. In that appreciation for oneness, we
find human sympathy, compassion, and love. It is an awareness of the
imperative of human unity which can bring us to the threshold of
understanding our power to bring an end to the violence which is
consuming our loved ones. It is an awareness of the imperative of human
unity which can help us to create a new America where the omnipresence
of violence is understood as a challenge to be met, not as an
unyielding truth of the human condition to be accepted.
Our hearts are open now as we recognize the victims. So let us be
open to a new direction, where we in this Nation can take an organized
approach to deal with the causes of violence, not just the effects. We
are one with our sister, Congresswoman Giffords, and all the other
victims. Let us continue to be one with each other as we struggle to
bring light to this moment of darkness.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Quayle).
{time} 1100
Mr. QUAYLE. I thank the gentleman from Arizona for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 32 and to
honor the victims of the senseless act of violence that took place in
Tucson on Saturday. All Arizonans and all Americans mourn the six souls
that lost their lives. They will never be forgotten.
[[Page H149]]
They were model citizens, actively engaged in their community and
with their government, just chatting with their Representative on a
Saturday morning.
Mr. Speaker, peaceful discourse and participation is a precious part
of our society and one of the things that makes our country great. We
must not allow an act of violence to inhibit the free exchange of
thoughts and concerns.
The six that lost their lives died because they loved America. They
wanted to be involved in the process. In recent days, we have heard
their inspiring stories from family and friends. We shouldn't have to
wonder what the future had in store for them. They are the friends,
neighbors, and colleagues that our communities depend upon.
Mr. Speaker, we pray for our friend and colleague, Congresswoman
Gabby Giffords. That she survived her wounds is a miracle but no
surprise to those who know her and admire her spirit, determination,
and conviction.
Congresswoman Giffords was attacked while doing her job to the best
of her ability. She wasn't in an ornate congressional hearing room or
on the floor of the House. She was back home on the sidewalk of a
supermarket listening to the concerns of her constituents. That too,
Mr. Speaker, is what makes this country great. That, too, must never
change.
In our great State of Arizona, there is much to mourn after
Saturday's tragedy. But make no mistake, there are also many things
that elicit great pride.
We are proud of the brave civilian and professional first responders
whose quick response time and decisive actions prevented more loss of
life and greater injury. We are proud of the amazing work performed by
the surgeons and the medical teams at the University of Arizona Medical
Center, whose skill and expertise shined during trying times.
And above all, Mr. Speaker, we are proud of the six who perished and
of Congresswoman Giffords, all of whom were simply doing their duty as
good Americans: they as active citizens and she as their worthy
Representative.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Michigan.
(Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. LEVIN. We all come together in the aftermath of the overwhelming
tragedy at Tucson to remember all of the victims and also to fervently
hope, still in disbelief.
Our colleague, Gabrielle Giffords, epitomizes what a public servant
should be, fully dedicated, principled, caring and reaching out to all
constituents and to all our colleagues. Time will tell with clarity
exactly what are the appropriate lessons for all of us to learn from
the Tucson tragedy.
In the meanwhile, our focus is, indeed, very personal. In the holiday
card that Gabby sent to me, she wrote her best wishes for a joyful new
year and continued writing that we will have our work cut out for us.
The new year is now far, far less joyful. So our hope in the prayer
we are sending with love to Gabby and to Mark is that Gabby will be
able to join us as we take on the work cut out for us to which, Gabby,
you have devoted your whole self so fully.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, let me just say how nice it is to have you
presiding and another Arizonan controlling time on that side and so
many in the delegation here today. We are a close delegation.
I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arizona
(Mr. Gosar).
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today with a heavy heart as I
give my prayers to Representative Giffords and her family, as well as
my condolences to the other victims of the rampage in Tucson. I speak
not just for myself and for my family, but for the citizens of my
district in Arizona and so many others who are saddened and outraged by
this senseless act.
Gabby is more than Arizona's third female Congresswoman. She is first
and foremost an American who devoted much of her life to public
service. There are risks with public service. We cannot deny that. But
Gabby has powerful beliefs, and she came to DC to represent the people
of her district, and everyone knows she is tireless.
Gabby has the grit of a fighter and the tenacity of a woman on a
mission. It is that heart and that grit and that tenacity that I pray
will continue to serve her well and speed her recovery.
I hope the day is coming soon that I get to greet Gabby with open
arms and welcome her back to the floor of this House. There is so much
that we have yet to do together for Arizona, for this country. I look
forward to working with Gabby on the issues of our day and hearing her
spirited voice.
Let me add further the acts of a criminal will not stop us from
meeting our people. We will not be deterred. We will not be
intimidated, and we will not abandon the people of Arizona because of
the murderous acts of a deranged killer.
Gabby read the First Amendment on the floor of the House just days
before she was shot. That amendment provides that the people shall have
the right to petition their government and gives the people of this
Nation a voice to speak on the issues important to them. Gabby did not
just read the First Amendment; she lived it. She was living it on the
very day someone tried to kill her.
Let us continue to pray for the recovery of the wounded. Let us pray
for the full recovery of Gabby. Let us pray for the families who lost a
loved one. Let us pray for the mothers and fathers who lost a child,
and let us pray that God will continue to guide us in everything we do.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee).
Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and offer prayers for
my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, her staff
and all the victims of the tragic and senseless shooting in Tucson.
She is a brilliant and caring public servant. She loves this country
as all Members of Congress do.
At times like these, words are always inadequate to express the full
extent of our grief. What we can do is pray, reflect, and seek to gain
some meaningful perspective from this time of great sorrow.
Mr. Speaker, this terrible act, whatever the cause, does violence to
the democratic principles our country was founded on.
As I pray for the victims of this terrible event, I also pray that
our country can move forward from this tragedy with that love and
respect that Gabrielle Giffords has for human dignity.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Price).
Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, tragedy is always accompanied by
so many thoughts and emotions. The irrational violence visited upon our
Nation last Saturday in Tucson brought a new wave, shock at learning
the news of the carnage; incredulity at even the possibility of such a
senseless act; sadness for those injured or killed and for their
families; confusion by this inexplicable violence; anger at the lunatic
responsible for this; inadequacy to comprehend the mind that conceives
such an act; respect for those expert hands and minds working to heal
the casualties; honor for those who sacrificed and helped in a moment
of real crisis; hope for a full recovery for Congresswoman Gabrielle
Giffords and all battling their injuries; recognition that life and
liberty are precious and fleeting; love of our country and the blessing
of liberty that we all enjoy; steadfast in our commitment to preserving
our great Nation; humbled by our mutual responsibility as citizens
charged with that preservation; reverence for our Lord, the only one
who knows the answer to the why, and strength from His grace and His
love and His mercy.
So we resolve to use this unspeakable and senseless tragedy as an
opportunity to better ourselves as a people, to recommit ourselves to
the tireless preservation of our Republic and to reaffirm those
fundamental principles of liberty and American representative
government.
May God place his healing hand on all affected by this heinous event,
and may God bless the United States of America.
{time} 1110
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson).
[[Page H150]]
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong
support of the resolution before us today and think it is fitting and
proper that we take this opportunity to pause and remember those who
lost their lives and were wounded in the tragedy that occurred last
Saturday in Tucson, Arizona.
It is really hard to comprehend how such senseless acts of violence
can happen. And yet while we may not be able to fathom why this tragedy
occurred, the harsh reality is that six innocent people were killed,
including a 9-year-old child, and another 14 individuals were wounded,
including our own friend and colleague, Representative Gabrielle
Giffords. As we speak, she remains in critical condition in the
intensive care unit at the University Medical Center in Tucson,
fighting for her life.
Those of us who know Gabby know that she is a real fighter and that
gives us optimism that the final outcome will be a good one and that
she will be returning to this institution that she loves and still
fight for what she believes in.
A number of my colleagues have spoken about the many ways in which
Representative Giffords has touched their lives here in Congress, and I
would like to echo some of those sentiments. As the ranking member on
the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I have seen firsthand the
way her passion, commitment and competence have been used to voice her
help for our Nation to move forward in a positive way. She has been
very active as a member of the committee sponsoring and cosponsoring
numerous pieces of legislation relating to research, innovation,
renewable energy, space exploration, and math and science education.
They have included the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, the Science Parks
Research and Innovative Technologies Act, the NASA Authorization Act of
2010, and America COMPETES, as many other important pieces. She has
been tireless in carrying out her oversight responsibilities.
As chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee in the 111th
Congress, she conducted numerous hearings on a wide range of issues
related to NASA, civil and commercial space activities, international
cooperation in space, civil aviation, and earth observations, among
others. Her willingness to work hard, to get the facts and exercise
tough love on the agencies she oversees has earned her the respect of
Members on both sides of the aisle. In addition, while she is not
afraid to express her views directly, she always has done so with
civility and grace.
Mr. Speaker, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the one I know and
respect, we hope to see her return soon. It is still hard for me to
comprehend that such evil could befall her and the other victims of
last Saturday. I know I speak for all Members in saying that our
thoughts and prayers are with each of them and their families. We look
forward to the day when we can welcome Ms. Giffords back to the House
floor and join together with her to do the Nation's business.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions).
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues today with
respect to the delegation from Arizona who suffers and yet today comes
to the floor of the House of Representatives to do their duty. To the
colleagues of Ms. Giffords who today join in support, not only in
prayerful support but as we stand together we speak clearly to say that
the support for Congresswoman Giffords and all the victims of this
tragic shooting and their families need to be remembered, and we offer
full support.
I was deeply shocked and saddened by these heartbreaking events and I
join my colleagues and I know all of America looked on TV on Saturday
as we all condemned not only in our own hearts but also as our families
spoke around the tables about what had happened. We condemn this
senseless act of violence.
Congresswoman Giffords is a dedicated public servant and has served
the people of Arizona for over 10 years. She was elected to the House
of Representatives in 2006. She is known as a steadfast leader in
Congress for her constituents. I would see her often on the airplane as
we would travel back every weekend. She is known by each of us as a
kind and wonderful person who serves with honor and who is a very
deeply genuine and a warm person with friends on both sides of the
aisle.
All Members of this body understand the high honor it is to serve our
constituents every single day and I would like to join my colleagues in
standing together today to guarantee that the inhumane acts of this
last Saturday will not deter us from our duty. This heartbreaking event
has left Americans astonished and speechless. Those participating as
Members of Congress today should stand up and say that we will stand
behind Gabrielle and look forward to her safe return to be with her
colleagues. We offer a prayer for her support.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).
Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I am very grateful to join my colleagues on both
sides of the aisle to mourn the tragic loss of six lives and the many
who were injured who wanted nothing more than to participate in a
simple but precious opportunity to meet directly with their
Congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords.
There will be time to reflect on potential remedies that could
prevent or diminish the threat that has so personally touched us all,
but today I simply want to send my love to Gabby and to Mark and the
rest of their family. We have all had the opportunity to focus on you,
Gabby, the brilliant, effective, warm, courageous person and leader
that you are. You brought us together to focus on just how meaningful
your friendship is to us, to me.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank my dedicated staff here
in Washington and at home in the district and all the staff that work
with us. Thank you for your daily efforts and sacrifices, the long
hours and the commitment to your constituents, our constituents. The
tragedy of this event and the loss of Gabe Zimmerman and the wounded
staff has brought home just how important you are to all of us and to
everything that we do here.
Let us take this sad moment to seek peace and love, to honor those
who were killed, and fervently pray for those who were injured,
including our beloved colleague Gabrielle Giffords and look forward to
the day when she will return to us in full health.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter).
Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I come over here today because about 3 weeks
ago, 4 weeks ago, on a plane coming back from Washington, DC. flying to
Dallas, where I changed planes and also Gabrielle Giffords changed
planes, was my first opportunity to interact with this young lady. I
watched her visit with the fellow travelers on the plane. She espied a
couple of her constituents and talked with them. She visited with me.
And then as we shared a cart to our changing gates, I was just touched
by what a really, really nice person she was.
We interact in this building and we have our debates and so forth,
but I got a chance to just ride and talk about family and talk about
life with a charming, intelligent and quite honestly captivating young
lady. And that's why I came down here today, because you don't cross
paths with individuals like that very often. And when you do, it's a
blessing that comes into your life.
And then when I turned on the television and discovered that this
blessing had been attacked by this vicious, vicious attack that took
place in Arizona, and not only was this sweet life placed at risk but a
9-year-old child was killed senselessly, others were murdered, others
were wounded on the streets of Tucson in the United States of America
at a congressional event.
{time} 1120
It makes you stop and pause and think. We have to get back together
and work on these issues. We have to get civility into the world.
And I am concerned about the violence. Violence has entered our House
and injured one of our own and killed one of our own. I hope justice is
swift and I hope justice is severe. But as we go forward, we need to
work together to secure not only this House, but to secure this Nation.
[[Page H151]]
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Maryland.
Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and
prayer for our friend and colleague, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords,
a delightful personality, a dedicated legislator, and a powerful
advocate for her constituents. Sitting next to her on the Science and
Technology Committee, you only had to be there to know and feel her
passion for NASA, solar technology innovation and research. It has
rubbed off.
As we pause to reflect on the terrible tragedy that took place in
Tucson, we know that Congresswoman Giffords was simply doing what she
does so well, meeting with the constituents of Arizona's Eighth
Congressional District and hearing their different points of view. This
is a sentiment that is reflected in Congresswoman Giffords' own words
when she said, ``My position . . . is to listen to my constituents . .
. then ultimately make sound, rational decisions that are going to be
beneficial for the Eighth Congressional District. That's my job.''
Mr. Speaker, I join the Nation in expressing my sorrow for the
senseless and tragic loss of life--Christina Taylor Green, Dorothy
Morris, U.S. District Court Judge John Roll, Phyllis Schneck, Dorwin
Stoddard, and Gabriel Zimmerman--and to all those injured, including
our friend and colleague, Gabrielle Giffords and her staff. We will
keep you and your families in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers.
We are deeply grateful for the heroes, sung and unsung, who showed
great courage and sacrifice and continue to do so in caring for their
friends, family, and community.
To Gabby; to Mark Kelly, her husband; her staff, we pray that your
burdens are lifted and that the dark days become light. May God bless
you and strengthen you. May God bless this Congress, and may God bless
America.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden).
Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the people of Oregon's
Second District to offer my deepest sympathies to the families of the
victims of Saturday's senseless shooting in Tucson. Americans see each
of us taking this personally, because Congresswoman Giffords and her
staff were doing what each of us does in our own way: We go home; we
reach out to listen to people who agree and disagree, and we practice
the art of democracy. It is a practice so fundamental to our Nation
that families bring their young children who are interested in public
service; senior judges attend to discuss Federal policy, and citizens
come to get help with their Medicare or Veterans Affairs benefits. No
one comes thinking such a despicable act of violence will occur.
Despite deep philosophical differences, sometimes argued vigorously
and vociferously in our meetings, Americans share a common belief that
violence has no place in democratic discourse.
In Romans 12:1, Paul writes, ``Don't be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good.'' We stand together across America committed
to this calling and in the belief that the great good in America will
always overcome the isolated evil.
May God's healing hand be on our colleague and those affected and
bring comfort to all.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman).
(Ms. HARMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, as Gabby's colleagues, we all have had
moments with her, so many memories that we recall vividly and fondly.
For me, she is a refreshing, frank, and inspiring younger member of the
House sisterhood. She is whip smart and a serious and disciplined
legislator. She is the kind of person we need so badly in this Chamber
doing the people's business without rancor or vitriol.
Though the attack occurred in Tucson, it was an attack on all of us,
and it strikes very close to home. Just a week ago today, I sat near
Gabby at a New Democrat lunch in the Capitol Visitor Center. The group
was assessing the recent election, and her contribution to the
discussion was personal, impressive, and well delivered. But 7 days is
a long time in politics, and our world here is in upheaval.
Beyond the heroic efforts of Tucson's emergency and medical teams,
the FBI, and the Capitol Police, the alleged gunman must be fairly and
swiftly prosecuted. But there is more. The Congress family must take
additional, prudent steps to protect our staffs and constituents from
random violence at our public events or offices. I serve here, as we
all do, in loco parentis and take this very seriously.
And finally, we should revisit sensible Federal laws to control
access to guns and ammunition. At a minimum, I believe we must promptly
restore the expired Federal ban on extended magazine clips. I
personally would urge us also to reenact the 1994 ban on assault
weapons, which I was proud to support, and to bar sales of Saturday
night specials.
Mr. Speaker, we can't roll back last Saturday, but we can and must
learn its lessons.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Wyoming (Mrs. Lummis).
Mrs. LUMMIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. I
rise to add the voice of the people of Wyoming to the chorus of united
Americans reaching out in prayer to the victims in Arizona and to the
families of those whose lives were stolen from them.
On January 6, Representative Gabrielle Giffords took to the floor of
this House and eloquently read to us the First Amendment of our
Constitution. She gave her own strong emphasis to the phrase that
grants Americans the right to peaceably assemble. Two days later, she
and her constituents have had their God-given rights violently taken
from them.
In the midst of our national grief, the desire to make sense of the
senseless is profound. We err if we attempt to rationalize what is
wholly irrational and to understand what cannot be understood. The
Apostle Paul writes, ``Now we see but a poor reflection as in a
mirror.''
Instead, let us all stand with the gentlelady from Arizona in her
time of trial and in defense of the Constitution which she is striving
to uphold. Let us stand with our 9-year-old daughters who are fostering
a budding interest in our representative democracy. Let us stand with
our 76- and 79-year-old mothers and fathers who seek only to forge a
relationship with their elected representatives and to impart a wisdom
that comes with long life as a citizen of this country. And let us
stand with our servant leaders of all ages and parties and to spend
every day in a passionate effort to better a great Nation and a
beautiful ideal.
We do them honor if we continue, not with idle speculation, but with
a renewed commitment to exercise the rights of liberty and freedom. We
begin the long road to healing by fervently praying for peace in our
world, peace in our country, and peace in our hearts.
God bless the victims of Saturday's violence and their families. God
bless America. And now may the peace of God which surpasses all human
understanding and all human misunderstanding be with us all.
{time} 1130
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo).
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution today
and to honor the six individuals who lost their lives; and my friend
and my colleague, Gabby Giffords, who is currently fighting for her
life; and the 13 other wounded victims of Saturday's tragic shooting in
Tucson. Gabe Zimmerman, Federal Judge John Roll, Dorothy Morris,
Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard, and the innocent 9-year-old Christina
Taylor Green, all who passed away on Saturday in such a senseless act
of violence that was a direct attack on our democracy.
Being the extraordinary public servant she is, Gabby had taken her
first opportunity in the 112th Congress to organize an event to learn
of her constituents' concerns and their hopes. The victims had all
peacefully gathered at a local mall to participate in the democratic
process. The basic exercise of democracy was interrupted by a disturbed
individual bent on anger at the system. This needless and despicable
act of violence has no place in
[[Page H152]]
our society and should give us all cause to reflect on the level of
political discourse in this country.
But while we recognize the tragedy that occurred and pray for the
quick recovery of those injured and those who died, let us not overlook
the many acts of bravery and heroism on Saturday.
As we piece together the events of last Saturday, my thoughts and
prayers go out to Gabby and the others who have been killed or injured.
Let this tragic event serve as a reminder of the obligation that we
have as elected Representatives of the people to be responsible in our
leadership and be careful of the words that we choose.
I will keep the victims and their families in my thoughts and
prayers, and I know that all of my colleagues will do so as well.
General Leave
Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H. Res. 32.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Franks of Arizona). Is there objection
to the request of the gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, it is now my honor to yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank our leader for the time.
Just a few days ago, one of our own, Congresswoman Gabrielle
Giffords, was gravely injured as a result of a terrible act of an
unbalanced individual. Americans were profoundly shocked and saddened
and continue to be by this deplorable act of violence which resulted in
the unjust deaths of six innocent individuals and a struggle to survive
for others, including our own Gabby.
Among those who lost their lives, we know that the list is lamentably
long: the Honorable John Roll, a Federal judge who went by just to say
hi to his friend, Gabby; and Christina Taylor Green, a 9-year-old girl,
who had just been chosen to serve in her school's student council and
was taken to Gabby's ``Congress on Your Corner'' event by a family
friend who wanted to get her interested in public affairs; and Gabe
Zimmerman, a member of Gabby's loyal staff who had an enormous heart
and was recently engaged to be married.
It is difficult to make sense of this tragedy, but all Americans
stand with Gabby and her family and the families of all the victims
throughout this painful time. Many of us count Gabby not just as a
colleague but as a friend. I had the privilege of getting to know Gabby
as a member of our Foreign Affairs Committee. She has always
demonstrated a strong commitment to serving her constituents, our men
and women of our Armed Forces and our Nation. And that is exactly what
we must do. We must not waiver in our duties to serve those whom we are
proudly and yet humbly asked to serve.
Our Republic was founded on the premise that the people have the
right and the duty to petition their Representatives and to express
their views, and Gabby truly embodies that principle. She has always
been accessible. She has always been eager to listen to her
constituents. Representatives like Gabby are what has made America an
example of freedom and democracy the world over. It is truly
reprehensible to think these noble intentions were exploited to carry
out such a terrible tragedy.
To quote Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: ``We must disagree without
becoming violently disagreeable.''
The thoughts and prayers of the residents of Florida's 18th
Congressional District are with Gabby's family and with the families of
all those affected by this senseless tragedy.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui).
Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the victims of the
Tucson shooting, including our colleague and friend, Gabby Giffords. I
have seen Gabby's commitment and dedication to her constituents
firsthand. I have had the pleasure to work with her as we promoted
efforts to restore our Nation's competitiveness and specifically to
help create clean energy jobs.
Gabby is smart, courageous, disciplined, and effective. And as we
have all seen over the last few days, her strength is unwavering.
Last Saturday, Gabby organized an event to talk to her constituents
about their priorities, about their concerns and their hopes. It is
heartbreaking and a tragedy that six innocent people lost their lives
and an additional 13 have been critically wounded, all while trying to
participate in and strengthen our democracy.
We are all now reflecting on what brought our country to this point
and how to move forward. As everyone in this Chamber can attest, being
a Representative is more than a job title. It is what we do, and it is
who we are. We meet with our constituents. We listen to them. We
advocate for their best interests.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take a moment to honor the other
victims of this horrific tragedy: 9-year-old beautiful Christina Taylor
Green, recently elected to the student council; Gabe Zimmerman, a
dedicated staffer who was just on the cusp of his own life, recently
engaged; Federal Judge John Roll, a highly respected jurist who just
came by to thank Gabby for her support of the judiciary; Phyllis
Schneck, who was a tireless volunteer at her local church; Dorwan
Stoddard who shielded his dear wife; and Dorothy Morris who was married
to her husband a long time who was also there but who survived.
My thoughts and prayers remain with Gabby and with each victim and
their families.
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie).
Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to be here
to offer my thoughts and prayers for Gabby, our colleague. Like all of
us, any interaction I ever had with her was always pleasant and
memorable, and I look forward to her returning. I pray for her return.
I am praying for her staff and praying for the other victims.
I just want to hold up one victim this morning. I didn't know Dorwan
Stoddard, but through a close network of friends, I had the opportunity
to learn a little bit about Dorwan Stoddard. He shielded his wife with
his own body, saving her life but losing his own. He and his wife were
having breakfast and decided they wanted to go to the ``Congress on the
Corner'' to give Gabby encouragement for the new year and the new
Congress to encourage her.
He loved the Bible. He loved the scriptures in its simplest and
purest form and just wanted to internalize them and live them, which is
evidenced in his life. He was very involved in church work. He ran the
Benevolence Program, which lived up to Christ's challenge to feed the
hungry and clothe the poor. We know that he internalized the scripture
because of his last act. And I don't know this, but I think I can say
without fear of contradiction there were many times he was probably
sitting in church, the minister was delivering a sermon on marriage,
and I am sure the text was Ephesians 5:25 when it said: Husbands, love
your wife, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. What
love he had for his wife, and what faith he had in God.
{time} 1140
Throughout his life, he aspired to do good. Through his life, let us
all aspire to do our best.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Texas.
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, today we are one, and we are
resolute.
We are one because we understand that there really is but one race,
and that is the human race. We are one because, as Dr. King put it, all
of humanity was created by one common Creator to live in harmony--from
a bass black to a treble white.
We are one, and we are resolute.
We are resolute in our belief that one day our friend, our sister,
will return to the floor of this Congress, to this Hall, and she will
stand at this podium, and she will be welcomed by her colleagues as she
returns and takes her rightful place in the Halls of the Congress of
the United States of America.
We are one, and we are resolute because we believe that an innocent
baby was taken from us. That innocent baby, though she is not with us
in the
[[Page H153]]
physical, will forever be with us in the spiritual as long as we
remember who she was and never forget that we cannot allow the innocent
to be stolen from us without our taking the time to pause and be
grateful for the time that we had with the innocent.
We are one, and we are resolute.
We must also be resolute in a basic premise that Dr. King called to
our attention, and that is that we must learn to live together as
brothers and sisters, or we will perish together as fools.
We are one, and we are resolute.
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to the gentleman
from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen).
Mr. PAULSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to my friend and
colleague, Representative Gabrielle Giffords, one of many victims of a
very senseless act of violence this past Saturday.
I have had the pleasure of knowing Gabby and her husband, astronaut
Mark Kelly, for several years--even before either of us stepped foot in
this Chamber. In my district office, there is a photo of Gabby, myself,
and others who were part of an Aspen Institute-Rodel fellowship
program, which was created to explore the responsibilities of public
leadership; advance thoughtful, civil, bipartisan dialogue; and help
America's young leaders achieve their full potential. Gabby is so much
about all of these ideals.
Quite often, I found myself looking at this photo over the last few
days; and I couldn't help but think that all of our communities could
use a few more individuals like Gabby, whose bright smile and kind
heart have come to define her tenure here in Congress.
For many of us here today, the news of the tragedy was gut-wrenching.
It's hard to believe that, just a few days before this senseless
attack, my family and I were out visiting at the Air and Space Museum
at Dulles Airport when we heard someone shout out my name. I turned
around, and it was Gabby's husband, Mark, with Gabby and her parents in
tow. We spent the next several minutes sharing a positive outlook about
the new Congress that was upcoming and, as friends often do, recalling
some of our good memories, such as when I joined Gabby with two of my
daughters at one of Mark's space shuttle launches in Florida.
Over the past few days, there have been many moving tributes to
Gabby, and all of them are true. She leads by example with her fighting
spirit, her diligent work ethic and friendly, constant smile. It is my
hope that we can follow in Gabby's footsteps over the next several
weeks and, as hard as it may be, can show the same bright smile and
kind heart that she has shown all of us.
My thoughts and prayers remain with Gabby, her husband, Mark; and
their family; and with Gabby's staff--all of the victims and their
families who are a part of this tragedy.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen).
Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I, as some of the future speakers here, are
members of the class of 2006, which Representative Giffords was a
member of. We had the opportunity to go through the orientation with
her, to meet with Speaker Pelosi on many occasions, and to share many
activities.
Gabrielle Giffords is a tremendous Member of this House--bright,
caring, beautiful--and we all pray for her recovery and that she comes
back and works with us.
I listened to her remarks on television when she talked about words
having consequences and her brother-in-law, who is up in space, saying
the same thing. It's true. Words have consequences, and we all need to
be more concerned about how we speak about political opponents or
people who have different perspectives than we do on political issues.
We are all Americans. We are all human beings. We all have similar
goals and similar aspirations; and even though we may differ on
philosophy, that doesn't make us communists or socialists or Birchers
or whatever. We are all trying to make this government work.
One thing that we know about the person who did this shooting,
besides the fact that he needed mental health treatment and was
obviously crazy, is that he didn't like government. Government is good,
and one thing we should learn from this is that government can be and
is a good force. It is a lot about what America is. People who tear
down government are doing a disservice to all of us, and they provide
an atmosphere in which people think that anarchy is an answer. It is
never an answer. Orwellianism is a philosophy that ought to be
followed, and it isn't.
Gabby works as a Congressperson to make government work for her
people, and that's what she was doing with her program on Saturday. The
staffers who were there were working on the weekend, as many staffers
do, and they work long hours. They love government and they love
people, and they try to make a difference.
So I think we just need to remember that we are all human beings,
that we all have similar goals and aspirations, that government can and
is good, and it is the representative body of the United States of
America. If you don't like the government, you don't like the country,
and I love the country and so did Gabby.
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I now yield 3 minutes to the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. McCaul).
Mr. McCAUL. I thank the gentleman.
Madam Speaker, we gather here today in this House and as a Nation to
mourn the tragic events in Tucson, Arizona; to honor those who lost
their lives and those still fighting for them; to honor the heroic acts
on that dark day; and to condemn the perpetrator for this senseless act
of violence.
The last few days have been surreal. When I first heard the news, I
was shocked and disturbed that one of our own had been shot--someone I
am privileged to call a friend and a colleague. As the Speaker said,
when one of us is attacked, all of us are attacked. This experience has
been painful to all of us and hits too close to home.
Professionally, I was fortunate to have worked with Gabrielle
Giffords, or Gabby, as she is affectionately called. We both serve on
the Science and Technology and Foreign Affairs Committees. She is
passionate, bright, and a delight to be around. Gabby is a talented
lawmaker who always works effectively across the aisle to get things
done for the American people. I am honored to have been one of those
she chose to work with.
She always told me Arizona and Texas are sunshine States and we need
to harness that energy. I agreed with her, and together we introduced
and passed the Solar Technology Roadmap Act. She often talked about
being from border States and that we needed security to protect our way
of life. We passed a $600 million appropriation for more resources on
the border.
As everybody knows, she is a staunch advocate for NASA, and she is
married to an astronaut. She passionately defended the space program;
and we worked together, with many others, to save the Human Spaceflight
Program. In fact, the last time I saw Gabby, a week ago, we were
getting off the elevator over there to vote on the floor here, and we
talked about NASA.
She said in her classic way, Yeah, but we can always do better. That
was her spirit--we can always do better.
We often talked about putting together a delegation of Members to
witness the last shuttle flight, the one that her husband, Mark, is
commanding. I hope we will still have that opportunity.
So when I received the news that she had been shot, it had a profound
and personal impact upon me--for, above all, she is my friend. She is a
bright ray of sunshine in what is too often a dark world.
Coming out of a tough election, she often talked about moderation and
of toning down the partisan rhetoric to get things done for the
American people. I know that it is her sincere hope that, as her wounds
heal, so, too, will the wound inflicted upon this Nation and that the
political discourse in this country will be restored to one of
civility.
{time} 1150
I pray for her and all those affected by this horrible tragedy. I
pray that one day she will return to this floor and join her
colleagues, and I am confident that she will. For above all, she is a
passionate fighter and an eternal optimist.
So keep fighting, Gabby, for we need you and more people like you in
this world. May God bless you, and may He hold you in the palm of His
hand.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley).
[[Page H154]]
Mr. CROWLEY. I thank my friend from Arizona for yielding me this
time.
First, Madam Speaker, I want to recognize and give thanks to the
leadership of the House--in particular Nancy Pelosi, and more so this
morning to Speaker John Boehner--for this beautiful resolution that we
have before us today. I said on Sunday that his remarks were
appropriately brief when he said, ``An attack upon one of us is an
attack upon all of us.'' It could not have been better said in
reflection upon what took place in our country on Saturday. Judge John
Roll, Gabe Zimmerman, Christina Green, Dorothy Morris, Phyllis Schneck,
and Dorwan Stoddard all were taken from us too soon by a crazed and
depraved individual.
I wanted to take a moment to also mention the wonderful staff of
Gabby Giffords. I had the opportunity on Saturday afternoon, being in
Washington, to stop by her office and immediately was moved by the
palpable sense of love and affection that was throughout their room,
not only for Gabby, but for all the victims and particularly their
fellow colleagues.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of our staffs--whom
maybe many of us in Congress take for granted--for their tireless work
and their efforts to serve the people of our constituency and of our
great country, not always reflecting upon sometimes the danger that we
can't avoid.
Gabby Giffords and I go back even prior to her getting elected. I had
the great opportunity to endorse her early in her primary because I was
so moved by the moxie and the strength of Gabby Giffords when I visited
Arizona. She often would say to me when she was around Mark, you know:
Mark always tells me, Joe Crowley, that I'm his second favorite Member
of Congress and you're the first. She said that, I think, because she
knows how I was unabashed about my admiration for her.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen). The time of the gentleman
has expired.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30
seconds to the gentleman from New York.
Mr. CROWLEY. The last conversation I had prior to this incident was
last Friday when she asked me: Joe, can I chair the new Dem Task Force
on Energy? She was trying to convince me somehow that I had to let her
do this. And I just said: Gabby, you're not a freshman Member of the
House. Yeah, you're going to do that. Don't worry about that.
But she was always trying to convince. She's a star. We know it.
Every Member here knows it, Democrat and Republican. This woman has
something that many of us wish we had, and that is an inner beauty. And
if we can take something away from this event, this tragic event, aside
from the issues of rhetoric and aside from the issues of gun control--
and mental illness, which we do not give enough time to in this
country--it is the beauty of this woman and what she reflects upon this
institution.
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Gohmert).
Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, Gabrielle Giffords is always a bright
spot in this rather dull, moody, self-absorbed body called Congress.
She is easy to work with no matter on which side of the aisle we happen
to be. We all find ourselves being criticized, but few of us have been
able to respond with the grace and class with which Gabby has.
Today, we mourn the loss of all those killed during the evil shooting
spree in Tucson. I know we are praying for the victims' families, that
somehow, through their devastating loss and heartbreak, they may still
find that peace that passes all understanding. For those who have
survived the assault, may they find healing in the shadow of the
Almighty.
Hearing so much these days about the need for congenial discourse, we
might look at Gabby Giffords as a living example of how we go about
discerning the roadmap to get to the desired decorum. I'm sure both
sides of the aisle wish the other side worked with others as well as
Gabby does. She makes people here in Congress smile just by showing up.
Her flights to and from Washington, D.C., often had us on the same
flight to and from the Dallas/Fort Worth airport hub. Gabby knows I
love chocolate, so when she sees me on her flight, she always lights up
and says something like: Louie, I was hoping you would be on my flight.
I need some chocolate.
Gabby always finds something for which she can look forward. Our
prayers remain with her.
This is no time for assigning blame to anyone but the gunman. This is
a time to note the positive influences from those who were harmed. This
is a time to note and perpetuate the good in their lives so that they
live on whether their heart beats or not. This is a time to learn from
Gabby, who has a heart that both still beats and still inspires. We can
learn from her attributes and her ability to smile even at those of us
with whom we disagree as we pray for the opportunity for her smile to
regain its vitality so she can go back to spreading her sunshine to all
the places that need it.
May God bless Gabby Giffords and all of those who are suffering
because of this heinous attack as only He knows their most specific
needs. May God further provide the comfort and peace that only comes
from the embrace of His loving arms.
Let me just close by saying that when I see her again, I'm going to
have plenty of chocolate just for her.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
assistant to the leader, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr.
Clyburn).
Mr. CLYBURN. I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.
Madam Speaker, the Book of Micah, the religion that Gabby practices,
raises a question: What would the Lord require of thee?
And the question is answered in Micah 6:8: To do justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly.
I cannot think of anybody whom I have ever served with who
personified that passage more than Gabby Giffords.
In my faith, I practice that which is found in the Book of Luke, the
10th chapter, where we get the story of the Good Samaritan. The
question was asked of the lawyer who wanted to know what was required
to have life everlasting. In the answer, the master said to him: In
this and other things, love thy neighbor as thyself.
Gabby Giffords is our neighbor, not just here in this body, but she
is our neighbor on this great planet, because we learn from that story
that being one's neighbor is not dependent upon one's religion, nor is
it dependent upon one's ethnicity.
{time} 1200
Being one's neighbor is dependent upon whether or not we have the
capacity to show compassion. Gabby Giffords is our neighbor, and I'm
pleased to honor her today.
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to the gentleman
from New Jersey (Mr. Lance).
Mr. LANCE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution.
We come together to extend our thoughts and prayers to those who were
killed and to those who were wounded during the horrific attack in
Tucson on Saturday.
As we gather in the people's House, we pray for the recovery of our
colleague, Representative Giffords, and the others who were wounded,
including those who serve the public in the Congresswoman's office. We
mourn the loss of Judge Roll; Gabriel Zimmerman; the 9-year-old girl,
Christina Taylor Green; and the others who were senselessly killed that
terrible morning.
While the horrific events in Tucson provide a stark reminder of the
fragility of human life, we are also reminded that we meet on the floor
of the House of Representatives in what Franklin Roosevelt, and more
recently George W. Bush, have called ``the warm courage of national
unity.'' We have heard the inspiring stories of those whose
selflessness protected the lives of others.
Violence has no place in the life of the American Nation. This
tragedy will strengthen, not weaken, our resolve to serve the true
principles of democracy.
May God bless those who are fighting for their lives as a result of
this attack, and may the souls of those who were lost be received in
His loving embrace.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff).
[[Page H155]]
Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, last Wednesday, this Nation and the world
witnessed the orderly transfer of power in this House when Nancy Pelosi
passed the Speaker's gavel on to Speaker John Boehner. That simple act
occurred without violence. It occurred without soldiers in the streets
or a massive show of force by the police. For most Americans, indeed
for most people working in this building, the day was rather ordinary.
Our lack of political violence, our tradition of resolving policy
arguments in the legislature and the courtroom is one of the greatest
gifts that the Founders and all of the generations that followed them
have left to us. But, as we were so cruelly reminded last Saturday, our
peaceful civil discourse can never be taken for granted. It is a gift
that must be safeguarded.
Last Saturday, our colleague, Gabby Giffords, set up shop outside a
local Safeway in Tucson to engage her constituents to perform the
central role of representative democracy--listening to the people. The
hatred exhibited by the would-be assassin, before and during the
shooting, were an assault on that connection between those of us who
have the honor to serve and those we represent.
My heart goes out to Gabby, her family and staff, and to the families
and friends of Federal Judge John Roll, Congress staffer Gabe
Zimmerman, Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard, Dorothy Morris, and
Christina Taylor Green, who was born on September 11, 2001, and who
deserved a longer life than this.
And to Gabby and her staff here in the gallery today, there is one
day that we look forward to above all others, and that is the day that
Gabby walks back onto this House floor and stands before this podium
and is recognized.
We know that day will come, and we pray that it comes soon.
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I now yield 3 minutes to the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Poe).
Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, it was a Saturday morning, clear
skies, and a wonderful day, and Gabby Giffords was doing what really
she liked to do best, what many of us like to do best--talking to
people that we represent and listening to those people back home.
Friday, before she left for Tucson and I left for southeast Texas, we
were talking here on the House floor. Gabby and I are friends. I have
been to Iraq with her. And we were talking about border security. In
fact, she had invited me to Tucson to see what takes place there and go
to the border. I, likewise, have already invited her to Texas to see
our border. And we work quite well together. She works with everybody
quite well. And then she was off to the airport, going home.
Many people don't realize that most Members of Congress go home every
weekend. We don't live in Washington. We work in Washington, and we
commute. And she was headed to the airport, excited to go back and see
the people that she represents.
And then Saturday morning, an evildoer came to a public gathering,
attacked Gabby, He really attacked our Nation, because there was a
crowd of citizens, old and young, that were peaceably assembling to
learn more about America--to participate in the American process in
dealing with their representative, Gabby Giffords.
We should remember the victims that were shot and killed that day.
The evildoer, his name is not important. He should be held personally
accountable for his actions. His trial should be swift. If convicted,
his punishment should be severe. But it is the victims that we honor,
that we remember in this cruel episode of evil.
You know, Christina Taylor Green, a 9-year-old girl, just elected to
the student council in her third grade class. She liked politics. She
wanted to be more involved, and that's why she was there Saturday
morning with Gabby Giffords. She was born on 9/11, a 9-year-old girl,
her life stolen in her youth.
All of us who are parents, grandparents, we never want to see our
child or someone else's child taken before their time. But that's what
happened to Christina Taylor Green, apparently a wonderful, wonderful
young person.
You know, Gabby Giffords is a fighter, and she fights for her
beliefs, make no question about it. Everybody who knows her, knows
where she stands on issues. My grandmother described her years ago
without even knowing it. My grandmother was probably the most
influential person in my life. My friends on that side of the aisle
would appreciate the fact that she was a Yellow Dog Democrat and never
forgave me for being a Republican. But she made a comment about people
like Gabby. She said, ``there is nothing more powerful than a woman
that has made up her mind.'' Gabby Giffords is that woman.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 30
seconds.
Mr. POE of Texas. She's made up her mind about her beliefs. She's
made up her mind about the will to represent the people in Arizona. And
I believe she's made up her mind to survive, because only 5 percent of
gunshot wounds to the head, those people, survive. And she will be one
of them.
So we recognize her; we honor her, and we look forward to seeing her
on this House floor again being that strong-willed woman, that feisty
woman from Arizona.
And that's just the way it is.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Congresswoman Giffords loved America and she loved America's values,
and America blessed her with opportunities. American values give us all
the opportunity to do our best and to be our best. Last Saturday,
Congresswoman Giffords was at her best meeting the people of Arizona,
of Tucson, and the United States of America.
But Congresswoman Giffords would also ask us to do our best. And as
the Bible has said, she was a woman who used her talents well.
She would also want us to acknowledge the Americans who have poured
out their hearts during this tragedy all over this Nation.
{time} 1210
Americans did their best Saturday. And good Americans lost their
lives being good Americans. We know of those who lost their lives and
offered to us a sacrifice: Christina Taylor Green, Dorothy Morris,
Judge John Roll, Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard, and Gabriel
Zimmerman of her staff.
We are well aware of what happened. And we say to Congresswoman
Giffords, keep on fighting for your life, along with others who were
wounded, while the heroes of that day, Mr. Hernandez and others,
reflect on the horror. But hopefully, they know that they did their
best.
Now it is time for us to do our best, to be a servant leader, giving
to others first, showing by example. It is so very important that we do
so in her name. To Captain Kelly, a brave American and family, we stand
by you, we stand by your side. You will not stand by yourself. To
Congresswoman Giffords' staff, we stand with you, and we pray for you
and your loss and those who are wounded.
We are committed to both our freedom of expression and our job to
create a more perfect Union. And yes, in the words of Scott Kelly, as I
offer them today, Mark's twin brother, ``We have a unique vantage point
here aboard the international space station. As I look out the window,
I see a very beautiful planet that seems very inviting and peaceful.
Unfortunately, it is not. These days, we are constantly reminded of the
unspeakable acts of violence and damage we can inflict upon one
another, not just with our actions but also with our irresponsible
words. We are better than this. We must do better.''
I agree, we can do better. And we can follow these words.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30
seconds.
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon
which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it as a
sword that heals. Let us use nonviolence in our expression. Let us
denounce violence. And as Martin Luther King would tell us, that we can
be a people of peace. And I know that we know the words of John Lennon,
``Let
[[Page H156]]
it be.'' But the truth will let us be free. And I look forward to the
gentlelady from Tucson, Arizona, being here with us. God bless you, and
God bless America.
I rise today to voice my strongest, sincerest and most heartfelt
support for House Resolution 32, ``Expressing the Sense of the House of
Representatives with Respect to the Tragic Shooting in Tucson, Arizona,
on January 8, 2011.'' This resolution rightly condemns the horrific
attack which occurred that fateful Saturday at the ``Congress on Your
Corner'' event held by our beloved colleague, Representative Gabrielle
Giffords. Representative Giffords was doing something she loved to do;
something so fundamentally important to which every member of Congress
can relate. She and her dedicated staff were truly bringing Congress
home to the constituents on ``Main Street'' and making sure that they
knew their national government was accessible to them, cared about
them, was there to listen to their concerns and to work together with
them to make this country a better place, beginning with their own
community.
It is only fitting, that on the opening day of the 112th Congress,
Representative Giffords read from the First Amendment of the
Constitution which states that ``Congress shall make no law . . .
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the
people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.''
This devastating tragedy touched the hearts and minds of not only the
good people of Tucson, Arizona, but indeed the very hearts and minds of
all Americans. At that moment, everyone in America, and in many places
throughout the world, collectively identified with the good people of
Tucson. We felt their shock, we felt their pain and we shared their
anguish over the senseless killing and injury of innocent people who
simply gathered at a comfortable, well known local establishment to
participate in our great democracy with their friend and Congresswoman,
Gabrielle Giffords. We mourn the needless loss of life and condemn this
atrocious infliction of pain, injury and suffering. We pray for the
swift healing of all wounds, both physical and spiritual, for those who
suffered from this tragedy. We pay tribute to the value and sanctity of
every life, and we count our blessings.
Among those blessings, I am privileged to count the time I spent
serving alongside Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in the House of
Representatives, and I look forward to serving with her again very
soon. She embodies the kind of goodness, selflessness, caring and
passion for helping others that make her constituents in Tucson and
throughout the state of Arizona justly proud.
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords loves her district, the state of
Arizona, and loves our great country. She loves America's values and
America blessed her with opportunities. America's values give us all
the opportunity to do our best and to be our best, and Congresswoman
Giffords did just that, making the most of her talents. Congresswoman
Giffords was at her best last Saturday meeting with the people. She is
truly a ``servant-leader'' like all of us, in this august legislative
body.
Congresswoman Giffords would also ask us to do our best and to
acknowledge the Americans who poured their hearts out during this
tragedy. Americans in Tucson and across the country did their best to
respond to this tragedy last Saturday, and many good Americans lost
their lives being heroic Americans.
I pay tribute to the six individuals who lost their lives on
Saturday, January 8, 2011, at the ``Congress on Your Corner'' event in
Tucson, Arizona. The assassin's bullets did not discriminate; they took
the lives of young and old alike. We mourn the loss of Gabriel
Zimmerman, the Community Outreach Director who shared Representative
Gifford's passion for personally connecting with constituents at the
local level to improve the quality of their lives and to simply be a
good friend and neighbor. We mourn the loss of nine-year-old Christina
Taylor Green, who lost her life on that tragic day. She serves as an
example for us all. She had just been elected to her school student
council, and she attended the ``Congress on Your Corner'' event with
great interest. At the tender age of 9, she was already a leader with a
promising future. We also pay our most sincere tribute to and mourn
Federal Judge John Roll, Dorothy Morris, Phyllis Schneck and Dorwan
Stoddard, who also needlessly lost their lives that day while
exercising their right to peaceably assemble and participate in our
democracy.
Furthermore, I pay tribute to the many heroes of all ages who
demonstrated the most unselfish bravery and came to the aid of all
those in attendance at the ``Congress on Your Corner'' event. Among
those, we admire the 61 year old Patricia Maisch, who bravely risked
the loss of her own life and effectively disarmed the shooter as
several men pounced on him and threw him to ground. As they struggled
to hold him down, Maisch joined the group of people wrestling on the
ground, clinging to the gunman's ankles, and she grabbed the gunman's
bullet clip before he could reload and continue his savage attack.
Patricia Maisch humbly said, ``I am not a hero. The other guys are. I
just assisted getting the clip.''
Congresswoman Giffords is also close to her family and married to
Captain Mark Kelly, who honors this great nation with his service as a
NASA Astronaut at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. This tragic
event occurred on the eve of Mark Kelly's planned command of the last
shuttle mission to the Space Station. His twin brother, Captain Scott
Kelly, also honors this nation with his service as a NASA Astronaut.
Space station Commander Scott Kelly led NASA in a moment of silence
Monday January 11, 2011, as he struggled with the senseless shooting of
his sister-in-law, Gabrielle Giffords. He was in outer space at the
time of the shooting. Flight controllers in Houston fell silent as
Scott Kelly spoke via radio from space. ``We have a unique vantage
point here aboard the International Space Station,'' he said. ``As I
look out the window, I see a very beautiful planet that seems very
inviting and peaceful. Unfortunately, it is not. These days, we are
constantly reminded of the unspeakable acts of violence and damage we
can inflict upon one another, not just with our actions, but also with
our irresponsible words. We're better than this. We must do better.''
Congresswoman Giffords is now fighting for her life along with others
who were wounded on that fateful day while the heroes of that day
reflect on the horrible tragedy that occurred and hopefully, remaining
cognizant that they did their best in the most trying of circumstances.
Now it is time for us to do our best, to be servant-leaders giving to
others first and leading by example.
To Captain Kelly and his family, we stand by your side; you do not
stand alone. To Congresswoman Giffords' staff, we stand with you too
and extend our heartfelt condolences on the loss of your fellow staff
member, Gabriel Zimmerman, and our prayers for your wounded fellow
staff members.
We are committed to both our freedom of expression and our
Constitution's constant pursuit to create a more perfect union. We as a
nation are better than what occurred in Tucson on Saturday, and we are
showing it today and must continue to show it every day henceforth. As
we approach the holiday commemorating the life of slain civil rights
leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I am reminded of his commitment to
nonviolence. Dr. King's timeless words ring especially true at this
time. He reminds us that ``Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon,
which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a
sword that heals.''
In the wake of this shocking event and at this crucial moment in our
nation's history, I call for a commitment from all of my colleagues in
the United States Congress to act and speak with a renewed and inspired
sense of civility and respect for one another in our discourse. I call
for a restoration of the time honored history and tradition of this
great legislative chamber, which includes an atmosphere of decorum,
comity, collegiality, and respect, even while we discuss the most hotly
debated issues of our day.
We have before us a great opportunity to lead by example and remind
the people of this nation and throughout the world about what makes our
democracy truly unique and special. We need only recall that we are
here as the duly elected Members of Congress to represent the people of
our districts, our states and this country. We can demonstrate we truly
reflect the voices of the people who sent us here. As we go about
conducting the nation's business, we can comport ourselves with respect
and dignity toward one another even when we disagree. A nation is
watching. What we do at this critical time is of great importance.
We have the rare opportunity to honor those tragic victims of January
8, 2011, by setting a new national tone of civility. Then, our
constituents will know that we truly speak for them. I urge my
colleagues to join me in this commitment.
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Turner).
Mr. TURNER. Madam Speaker, I am saddened to take part in today's
tribute to our colleague Gabrielle Giffords, who was so senselessly
shot this weekend; her outreach coordinator, Gabe Zimmerman, who was
killed in the line of duty during the incident; two other staff who
were wounded while supporting the Congresswoman; and all of those who
were killed, wounded, and impacted by this terrible tragedy.
Congresswoman Giffords was performing the most fundamental duty of a
Member of Congress, listening to her constituents. All Members of
Congress take the role of being an advocate for
[[Page H157]]
their constituents seriously. For Congresswoman Giffords, it's
promoting solar energy production to boost the local economy, or being
a voice for military families, and working to secure the border with
Mexico.
Today I stand here to say not as a Republican, not as a Democrat, but
as an American that violence has no place in our society. And I wish
and pray for peace and justice for all of those who have been involved
in this tragedy.
My thoughts and prayers, as well of those of my family and the people
of Ohio's Third District, remain with Congresswoman Giffords, her
staff, her constituents, and their families.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
distinguished gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, our hearts and prayers go out to our
colleague and friend Gabby Giffords and her family. And equally noted
are six of her constituents and fellow Americans who died as a result
of this tragic incident, and several others who were injured and
wounded at this time. We also pray for God's good grace and comforting
Spirit to be upon them as well.
I deeply appreciate the initiative and leadership of both parties to
bring this resolution to the floor for consideration, not only to give
special tribute to our colleague and friend Gabby Giffords, for her
courage and commitment to public service, but to also give us all an
opportunity to seriously reflect on what we need to do to change the
atmosphere, if you will, of what we do and say not only among
ourselves, but to our fellow Americans throughout this great Nation of
ours.
I'm not much for giving speeches, Madam Speaker. But today I felt it
was important that our friend and colleague Gabby Giffords needs to
know how much we all appreciate her friendship and admire her character
and her courage to be an example of what true public service is about.
One great lesson I learned from Gabby Giffords is her comment that
words do have consequences. And I have also learned a couple more
phrases--cut the rhetoric, let's lower the temperature in our discourse
with one another.
And there is also an island expression that goes like this: E pala le
ma'a ae le pala le tala--meaning while rocks and stones may deteriorate
or erode, words never die. I pray we will find that balance and move
our country forward to solve the problems our country is greatly
confronted with at this time.
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Pence).
(Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. PENCE. I thank the distinguished majority leader for yielding
time.
Like every American, I will never forget where I was last Saturday.
My wife and I were shocked and saddened when we learned of the attack
on our colleague Gabby Giffords, her staff, and her constituents.
Gabby's a hard worker, a talented legislator. But as has been said
poignantly on this floor so much better than I will ever be able to
today, she is a dear person and a unique individual who is universally
liked in the House of Representatives.
We are praying for her recovery, the recovery of all those injured,
and the comfort of the families of the fallen. I rise with gratitude to
the leadership of both parties in this institution for moving this
thoughtful resolution to the floor. Today the American people speak
with one voice. We will condemn these unspeakable and evil acts. We
will remember the injured and the lost. And we will gently reaffirm our
ideals.
This act was an unspeakable act of violence. And those responsible
must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. But as we mourn
with those who mourn, two words of gentle admonition. First, we cannot
fear free assembly because of the acts of a single assailant. We live
in an open society and enjoy representative democracy under our
Constitution. Our system depends on regular and informal contact with
our elected Representatives. And neither the public nor its servants
should be dissuaded from participating in public assembly because of
the despicable acts of a single deranged person.
Lastly, I understand the pain that Saturday last has caused for so
many in this body and around the country. But we cannot fear free and
open debate. Democracy depends on heavy doses of civility. And as my
colleagues know, I have always sought to model that, here on the floor
and elsewhere. We should always refrain from engaging in personal
verbal attacks against those with whom we differ on important questions
of the day.
But let me say we must also resist, in these moments of heartache,
the temptation to assign blame to those with whom we differ for the
acts of others. No expressed opinion on the left or the right was to
blame for Saturday's attack. And we must resist efforts to suggest
otherwise. Because to do so has the potential to inhibit and erode our
freedom.
So we rise to mourn with those who mourn, to grieve with those who
grieve. We cannot fail to be moved by the tragic events in Arizona. We
must not fail to pray earnestly for all those affected. And we will not
fail to defend our freedom lest it be one more victim of the horrific
event in Tucson on Saturday last.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Higgins).
{time} 1220
Mr. HIGGINS. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, the outpouring of support from every corner of western
New York for the victims of the attack in Tucson has been overwhelming
and inspiring.
It is on behalf of western New York that I offer our prayers to my
friend and colleague, Gabby Giffords, and to all the injured and our
sympathies to the families and friends of Gabe Zimmerman, John Roll,
Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard, and Christina Taylor Green.
Some are suggesting that violence-themed political rhetoric
contributed to this tragedy. I think it would be wise to reflect on how
we characterize our political opponents and how we conduct our debate.
Undoubtedly our debate could benefit from more light and less heat,
from more humility and less hostility.
But this attack was carried out by a man who appears to have been
severely mentally ill, and we may never understand why he did what it
is he did.
Our best response to this atrocity is to reject fear and intimidation
and to embrace the work in our communities with joy, openness, and
dedication. That is the type of public service that Gabby believes in,
and I urge my colleagues to follow her example.
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the chairman of the
Education and Workforce Committee, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr.
Kline).
Mr. KLINE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, Saturday was a dark day for the residents of Tucson,
Arizona, and our Nation.
In the blink of an eye the lives of men, women and children who were
going about their daily routines were forever changed. One troubled,
twisted soul robbed six innocent individuals of their lives and cast a
dark shadow over a fundamental right of our democracy, the exchange of
ideas between a Representative and the community she represents.
Madam Speaker, in an effort to find meaning in this tragedy, it is
tempting to assign blame or to draw conclusions in support of a larger
pattern, but what we witnessed this weekend is void of rationale. We
must recognize the disaster for the senseless act it is, but we should
not stop there.
As the men and women we represent mourn those who were lost and rally
to support a brave public servant who is battling for her life, we in
this body have a responsibility to lead the way. We must demonstrate
our resolve to continue the important work of listening to our
constituents and legislating on their behalf. We must press on,
undeterred by panic, in carrying out the work we have been elected to
do. We must demonstrate that America is strong, her institutions are
unshakeable, and her people are brave and determined.
Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues in expressing condolences to the
family and friends of the victims of this tragedy and sending my
prayers to our colleague, Gabby Giffords, in her time of
[[Page H158]]
need. May she find the strength to recover and join us in leading the
way forward.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).
Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, this House and this entire Nation extend
our support, love and best wishes to our colleague, Representative
Gabrielle Giffords, and to all those wounded in Saturday's shooting. We
also mourn the deaths, the tragic senseless deaths of six Americans who
were participating in street-corner democracy with their Congresswoman.
My Minnesota constituents feel the pain and loss inflicted by a few
seconds of gun violence. A St. Paul constituent visited my office on
Monday and wrote a note to Congresswoman Giffords, and the note said:
``I pray for your recovery. I want you to be strong and continue to be
the fighter that you are so you can continue to serve the people of
America.''
I too am praying for you, Gabby, for Mark, for your family, and for
all of the families who are in pain and those in mourning.
May such unspeakable acts of violence end in this country, and may
all Americans find the strength to live in peace.
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, it is now my honor to yield 3 minutes to
the majority whip, the gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy).
Mr. McCARTHY of California. I thank the gentleman.
Madam Speaker, I recall a short time ago, after the election in 2006,
I came in a freshman class. All the Members here, when they come here
together right after the election, they get together as freshmen. You
have gone through a debate, you have gone through an election, and you
look around and you are meeting people from across the country.
I remember in that class when we looked across there were a lot of
different people, but Gabby's smile just lights up the room. She didn't
sit back to wait to talk to everybody on different sides of the aisle.
She did it just as she has done every day on this floor, walked right
up, introduced herself and says how can we work together. When you look
just last week, Gabby was sitting on this floor, standing right in this
well, reading the Constitution, the First Amendment, going home, doing
what she has done many times before, listening to her constituents,
what all of us do.
What has transpired, we cannot let happen. We cannot be deterred,
just from that same aspect that Gabby gives the strength as she fights
right now, and we cannot forget those that lost their lives.
We cannot forget the Federal Chief District Justice John Roll; Gabe
Zimmerman, working for Gabby's staff; 9-year-old Christina Taylor
Green, being elected in student council, just wanting to meet her
Representative and a neighbor taking her down; also Dorothy Morris,
Dorwan Stoddard or Phyllis Schneck, doing what they thought was every
American's right to do and give their opinion.
That's what this floor has to be committed to, that's what this floor
has to continue to fight. That is exactly what Gabby continues to fight
for and will continue as we go.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Garamendi).
Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the men and women of the
10th Congressional District, I rise in support of this resolution and
bring to this floor their condolences and prayers for the six who were
murdered in Tucson and for Gabby and for her speedy recovery.
Patti and I send along our own special prayers and condolences. For
those of us that have had the privilege of working with Gabrielle, I
add my own special thoughts.
I came to the Committee on Science and Technology where she was the
chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Space and immediately saw her
incredible intelligence, her charm and wit as she conducted numerous
hearings, and came to understand her commitment to America's science
and technology and space as she led our committee to the
reauthorization of the NASA programs.
I look forward to her speedy recovery and her return to this floor,
where she can once again provide her talents and her leadership as she
would once again lead us in our efforts to bring about a better
understanding, not only of the space and this role of our planet in the
cosmos, but also our own personal understanding to each other and to
our constituents.
It was a sad day on Saturday, and it will be a bright future when
Gabrielle returns to this floor.
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, it is now my honor to yield 3 minutes to
the chairman of the Republican Conference, the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Hensarling).
Mr. HENSARLING. I appreciate the gentleman from Virginia, the
distinguished majority leader, for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I haven't come to the House floor with any prepared
remarks. Frankly, I am not sure my vocabulary, I am not sure my
thoughts can do the moment justice.
I would say, in the victim that we know, Congresswoman Giffords,
Gabby, if there is a sweeter, a kinder, a more gentle Member of the
House, I know not their name.
So many of us consider her to be a friend. I think if there were a
poll of Members of the House, she would probably be voted least likely
to offend any human being, which makes this incident, this tragedy so
unfathomable. We all pray for her full recovery. This House is not
whole without her smile, without her voice, without her presence.
Madam Speaker, I did not know Gabe Zimmerman; but I know a lot of
great Americans, young people, who decide to dedicate themselves to
public service and work on my staff, and I know how they are a part of
my extended family.
{time} 1230
I didn't know Dorwan Stoddard, Phyllis Schneck, Dorothy Morris, but
they're parents, they're grandparents, they're spouses, and we think of
our own family. I didn't know Judge John Roll. But, again, somebody who
committed their life to public service. And last but not least I don't
know Christina Taylor Green. I didn't have that pleasure. A 9-year-old
child thrilled to learn about our representative democracy and brought
down in an act of evil. I never met her. But I think about my 8-year-
old daughter, and I think about my 7-year-old son, and how they learn
about their father's business.
And so all of us come together in this time of mourning but this time
of resolution. We mourn the loss of these great American citizens, but
we resolve that the representative democracy, that the traditions of
the House will not be a casualty of this tragedy. The people's House
will be open. The Members representative will be accessible. It can be
no different in this country.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 30
seconds.
Mr. HENSARLING. We cannot allow the tragedy to be compounded by
changing the way we conduct the people's business. This cannot happen.
And so we come here today to mourn, but we come here to be resolved
that this individual who is responsible for a heinous, evil act will
not succeed in interfering with the people's business in the people's
House. Godspeed in her recovery to Gabby, our colleague.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).
(Mr. HOLT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. HOLT. I thank the gentleman.
Madam Speaker, we come to the floor with respect, compassion and yes,
love for those who have lost loved ones in Tucson last Saturday and for
those who are recovering from the physical and psychological wounds. We
also come to pay tribute and show love and send our best wishes to
Representative Giffords and to Mark Kelly. I hope they feel our love.
Our colleague is a beautiful person and everything one would want in a
congressional representative--thoughtful, engaged, compassionate,
optimistic and a genuinely good person. We also recognize those who
responded, staff members quietly going about making democracy work,
bystanders, medical responders and
[[Page H159]]
surgeons, ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
This hits us on more than a personal level, though. Each year, there
are many thousands of Americans felled by gunfire. Each is a personal
tragedy to the victim's loved ones. The Tucson shooting strikes a blow
to our ability to govern ourselves, to maintain a peaceful society. The
rights to assembly peaceably and to speak freely are preserved not just
for their own sake, but, as the geniuses who established this country
recognized, it is through those rights that we can create a society
that protects and extends life, liberty and happiness.
There are lessons to be drawn from the events about our understanding
of people with mental illness and their screening and treatment. There
are lessons to be drawn about our gun crazy culture. There are lessons
to be drawn about the ever-present inflammatory, dehumanizing rhetoric,
but let us defer those discussions for the moment and recognize that we
are a strong, prosperous and supportive country because of our
representative democracy and our freedom to assemble and speak.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. I yield the gentleman an additional 30
seconds.
Mr. HOLT. Let us in Congress not withdraw. Let us hold more outreach,
more town halls, more sidewalk office hours. And let us, in the words
of Representative Giffords delivered here on the floor of the House,
let us agree to forgo some of our individual interests and intemperance
to allow the space for open dialogue, debate and discussion.
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, it is now my honor to yield 2 minutes to
the chief deputy whip on the Republican side of the aisle, the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Roskam).
Mr. ROSKAM. Madam Speaker, I thank the leader for yielding.
You know, one of the untold stories of the House of Representatives
is the connections that Members have with one another that really never
show up, except among ourselves. I had a unique connection with
Gabrielle Giffords, I still do, and that is when we came in in this
class of 2006, we were both invited to participate, one on one or two
together, in a series of interviews that was hosted by National Public
Radio, the show All Things Considered. I had not met Gabrielle before
that and we started this dialogue back and forth and really enjoyed
that. And I found that she had this very refreshing and winsome
approach, as we all know, to how she would handle herself and how she
conducts herself.
So it's really no surprise to me that we're hearing hopeful news
about her medical condition based on a disposition of perseverance. And
I thought that the conversations that I was involved in with her
brought a brightness to public life and brought something that as I
heard from constituents that would listen to her, they would say to me,
I can see how you would like serving with people like that. And that is
sort of the lost lead, I think, in some ways about the House of
Representatives.
We were heartsick on Saturday when we heard that news. I know many of
my constituents who are to their knees in prayer for Gabrielle and for
the victims of that shooting. And so as I think we all reflect on the
gift that we have been given, we have a great example in Gabrielle
Giffords in somebody who understands the nature of democracy and real
willingness to serve, and we wish her the very best and pray for her
complete recovery.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter).
Mr. PERLMUTTER. I thank the gentleman from Arizona.
Madam Speaker, I had the opportunity to know Gabby before we were
elected to the Congress. She was in the State legislature in Arizona; I
was in the State legislature in Colorado. She was one of the youngest
people ever elected to the State legislature there in Arizona and she
has been a friend of mine for some time now. I am having a hard time
processing what actually occurred last Saturday to her and to those
other people. Our prayers obviously are with her, with the families of
those who were murdered, and for the swift recovery of everybody who
was injured in that shooting. I rise in support of the resolution and I
thank the leadership for bringing it.
The second paragraph of the resolution says, Whereas on January 8,
2011, an armed gunman opened fire at a ``Congress on Your Corner''
event hosted by Representative Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson.
I want to explain what it was she was doing, because it's at the
heart of our democracy. We've heard about it from other speakers. We do
something like Gabby's ``Congress on Your Corner,'' which we call,
``Government in the Grocery.'' Other Congressmen and women do similar
things. It's about listening to your constituents. It's about being
accessible in a less formal setting than on the floor of the House of
Representatives or in an assembly hall but where people feel
comfortable talking to you. So comfortable and so successful was her
``Congress on the Corner'' that she had the littlest, most innocent
person in Christina Taylor Green, a 9-year-old, to one of Arizona's
most powerful, experienced people, in the chief district judge, John
Roll, coming to a very informal setting, at a grocery store, to talk
about America, to talk about their hopes, their desires, their
concerns. This is what it's all about.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. I yield the gentleman an additional 30
seconds.
Mr. PERLMUTTER. This woman was conducting something so essential to
the fabric of our democracy.
{time} 1240
And to the grocery stores, the coffee shops, and the flea markets,
those that provide these venues where people feel comfortable to come
and express their views, just, thank you.
I do these kinds of events every other Saturday. We obviously have to
work with the different grocery stores and law enforcement to see if we
can continue to operate in these fashions, but this is what it's all
about.
Gabby Giffords is as good as they get. We pray for her speedy
recovery, and we thank her for her service.
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, it's now my honor to yield 2 minutes to
the chairman of the Rules Committee, the gentleman from California (Mr.
Dreier).
Mr. DREIER. I appreciate our distinguished majority leader for
yielding me this time.
Madam Speaker, obviously, this is, as everyone has said, an
extraordinarily challenging time for this institution. And we have to
remember that this institution is the people's House, and so, by
extension, this is a challenging time for the United States of America.
When we think about the victims ranging in age from age 9 to 79, and
when we think about our colleague, who is at this moment wounded and
recovering, it is, as my friend from Colorado has just said,
extraordinarily far reaching. And we need to expend time and energy
soul-searching. And I think that last Saturday's tragedy is going to
lead all of us to do that.
I do believe that engaging in civil discourse is something that is
essential, and I believe it is what our framers wanted us to do. I
regularly say in this House that James Madison wanted there to be a
clash of ideas, and I think that we need to make sure that that
continues.
But at the same time, I think it's important for us to remember that
we are not dealing, based on every shred of evidence we have now, with
anything political as it relates to what took place on Saturday. As
George Will said over the weekend, there are 308 million Americans, and
a few of them are unhinged. And we need to remember that. But while we
remember that, I think it's imperative for us to do everything that we
can to remember the responsibility that we have, to remember the great
people who are public servants and serve as our staff members and are
regularly on the front line, and to do everything that we can to
ensure, as we proceed as an institution, that we do our job and, as
Speaker Boehner has said, don't do anything that will impinge on our
responsibility to the American people.
Our thoughts and prayers are with our colleague, Gabby Giffords, and
with all of those who were victimized last Saturday.
[[Page H160]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, further
proceedings on this resolution will be postponed.
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