[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E65-E66]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE REGARDING ARIZONA SHOOTING

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 12, 2011

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I have the privilege of serving with 
Gabby Giffords on both the Science, Space, and Technology Committee and 
the Foreign Affairs Committee, and she has always stood out as someone 
of great energy, intelligence and integrity. She is exactly what you 
want a member of Congress to be, and a role model for young women who 
want to serve their communities through elected office.
  This unspeakable, gruesome attack has shocked and saddened us all. 
But one thing it will not do, in this body, is conquer our spirit or 
stop us from doing our jobs. Gabby Giffords was wounded because she saw 
it as her duty to engage directly with the people for whom she works, 
hearing their concerns and fielding their questions, putting them in 
touch with their government. That is how we do it in a democracy, and 
the violent acts of one madman will not change that.

[[Page E66]]

  Those who were tragically killed in the attack were holding up their 
end of the democratic bargain--active citizens eager to connect with 
their representative. Also, there were other public servants, a federal 
judge who had sat on the bench for nearly 20 years, and a member of 
Gabby's staff, whose dedication reminds me so much of the young people 
who work for me. My heart goes out to those who loved Christina Taylor 
Green, Dorothy Morris, John Roll, Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard and 
Gabriel Zimmerman. Even as we mourn their deaths, may we celebrate 
their rich and glorious lives. Let's also send our get-well wishes to 
all of the wounded and our undying gratitude to the first responders, 
including the courageous intern who may have saved Gabby's life.
  There is every expectation that Gabby will make a full recovery. And 
hopefully she will return to the House of Representatives to continue a 
promising career in public service. I can think of no greater gift we 
can give her--no better way to honor her--than to put this House in 
better order.
  I hope we can dedicate this session to her, conducting our debate on 
health care and other issues with passion and conviction, but also with 
maturity and respect. As we take up our important business, let's do it 
in a manner worthy of Gabrielle Giffords. As a tribute to her, to those 
who died, and to everyone whose lives are forever changed by this 
senseless shooting, let's do our work in a way that showcases the very 
best of our democracy, just as it was on display in that shopping 
center the morning of January 8.

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