[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E59]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE REGARDING ARIZONA SHOOTING

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 12, 2011

  Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, it is under somber circumstances that 
this body gathers here today. On behalf of the people of Colorado and 
the constituents I represent in the First District, we send our prayers 
and compassion to all who are mourning the events of last weekend and 
trying to come to terms with the grief this incident has caused.
  As two of three women in the U.S. House of Representatives from the 
Rocky Mountain West, Gabby and I spoke often about the sometimes 
difficult task of staying close with family and loved ones, while 
shuttling back and forth across long distances between our homes and 
Washington. She has always been enormously dedicated to her family, and 
in the wake of this tragedy we see the love her family and community 
has shown her in return.
  While Gabby was the victim with whom I shared a personal connection, 
the tragedy of last weekend runs far deeper than just reflecting on the 
attack on our colleague. What happened to Gabby and 19 others on that 
sunny Tucson morning, happened to all of us--to all Americans. The 
victims came from all walks of life, each one representing their own 
unique story, yet each one also reflecting in many ways, people we all 
know and love. From the young girl with dreams of changing the world; 
to the dedicated staffer committed to serving his country and helping 
the people of hometown; to the man willing to give his own life to save 
the life of the woman he loves; to the federal judge devoted to the 
cause of justice and law; to the retired woman escaping cold, snowy 
winters for warmer climes; to the wife of a former Marine quietly 
living out her Golden Years with her husband--all these brave souls 
unite us all in the common dreams and blessed experiences we hold as 
Americans.
  Last Saturday, that unity was assaulted as a single, deranged gunman 
attempted to cut through the very bedrock of our democracy, by 
attacking an event at which a Member of Congress was performing her 
most fundamental responsibility--meeting with her constituents. The 
attack felt particularly heinous against a Member of this institution 
in which each of us have been asked by voters to serve largely because 
of its proximity to the people.
  And while these events have understandably renewed discussions about 
congressional security, we must ensure that these efforts do not leave 
us insulated from our constituents. We each have an obligation to 
protect ourselves, our constituents, and our staff. But our 
professional obligation mandates that we remain accessible and 
inviting, because it is through us that the every American from Tucson, 
Arizona, to Portland, Maine, has a voice in the corridors of 
Washington, D.C.
  Finally, it is important to remember that these were the actions of 
one individual clearly in need of mental health assistance. While it is 
too early to know what motivated him to violence, no one can deny that 
the level of political discourse in this country is not meeting the 
standard to which we should hold ourselves, nor meeting the standard 
our country's founders envisioned for our great nation. Far too often 
we have failed to find a way to, as Speaker Boehner put it last week, 
``disagree without being disagreeable.''
  It is my hope that the events of the past weekend serve as a wake-up 
call for everyone and remind us all that we need to reject extremism 
and violence, respect those who answer the call to public service, and 
strengthen our country with our every deed--just as those in Tucson 
have done since that fateful day.
  Gabby is a friend and treasured colleague, and my deepest condolences 
extend to her family, as well as the friends and family of the 
constituents and staff members wounded or killed in the unspeakable 
attacks of January 8, 2011. God bless them; God Bless this Body, and 
God Bless the United States of America.

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