[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 182 (Wednesday, November 30, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H7943-H7949]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     GABRIEL ZIMMERMAN MEETING ROOM

  Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 364) designating room HVC 215 of the Capitol 
Visitor Center as the ``Gabriel Zimmerman Meeting Room''.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 364

       Whereas public events allowing Members of Congress to meet 
     with constituents are an intrinsic element of American 
     democracy and representative government;
       Whereas at approximately 10:10 a.m. on January 8, 2011, a 
     gunman attempted the assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle 
     Giffords, opening fire at her ``Congress on your Corner'' 
     event in front of a Safeway supermarket in Tucson, Arizona, 
     killing 6 and wounding 13, including Congresswoman Giffords;
       Whereas Christina-Taylor Green, Dorothy Morris, John Roll, 
     Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard, and Gabriel Zimmerman lost 
     their lives in the attack;
       Whereas Gabriel Zimmerman began his Congressional career in 
     January 2007 as Constituent Services Supervisor for then 
     newly elected Congresswoman Giffords, a role in which he 
     supervised a robust constituent services operation and worked 
     directly with the people of Arizona's Eighth Congressional 
     District to help them resolve problems with Federal agencies 
     and to offer other forms of assistance;
       Whereas Gabriel Zimmerman then served as Congresswoman 
     Giffords' Director of Community Outreach, a position in which 
     he proactively engaged the Congresswoman and her office with 
     constituencies, organizations, and citizens throughout 
     southern Arizona;
       Whereas Gabriel Zimmerman organized hundreds of events to 
     allow constituents to meet with Congresswoman Giffords while 
     serving as Director of Community Outreach, and led the 
     organization, planning, and implementation of Congresswoman 
     Giffords' January 8, 2011 ``Congress on your Corner'' event;
       Whereas Gabriel Zimmerman was a 1998 graduate of University 
     High School in Tucson, Arizona, a 2002 graduate of the 
     University of California at Santa Cruz, and a 2006 graduate 
     of Arizona State University, where he received a Masters in 
     social work;
       Whereas prior to joining Congresswoman Giffords' staff, 
     Gabriel Zimmerman was a social worker assisting troubled 
     youth;
       Whereas Gabriel Zimmerman was an outdoor enthusiast, all-
     around athlete, and lover of history, who at the time of his 
     death at the age of 30 was engaged to be married, and who was 
     known and respected by countless individuals throughout the 
     Eighth Congressional District;
       Whereas staff serve a vital role in the Congress, allowing 
     the legislative branch to exercise its critical 
     constitutional duties and enabling Members to effectively 
     represent their constituents;
       Whereas over 15,000 individuals are currently serving as 
     Congressional staffers;
       Whereas, on January 8, 2011, Speaker John Boehner stated, 
     in reaction to the Tucson shooting, ``I am horrified by the 
     senseless attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 
     members of her staff. An attack on one who serves is an 
     attack on all who serve.''; and
       Whereas Gabriel Zimmerman was the first Congressional 
     staffer in history to be murdered in the performance of his 
     official duties: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That room HVC 215 of the Capitol Visitor Center 
     is designated as the ``Gabriel Zimmerman Meeting Room''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Madam 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 House Resolution 364.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  House Resolution 364 would designate room HVC 215 of the Capitol 
Visitors Center as the Gabriel Zimmerman Meeting Room. This resolution 
has broad bipartisan support, with 367 cosponsors.
  On January 8, 2011, our Nation, and this Chamber in particular, 
suffered a horrendous tragedy. On that day, one of our distinguished 
colleagues, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, was hosting one of her 
many Congress on the Corner gatherings at a local supermarket, where 
she routinely met and conversed directly with her constituents. During 
that event, a gunman shot and killed six people, while critically 
wounding 13 others, including Congresswoman Giffords.
  I am heartened to hear of the amazing progress the Congresswoman is 
making in her recovery, and our prayers go out to her and her family.
  Sadly, on that day, six people lost their lives. Among the dead were 
a 6-year-old girl, Chief Judge John Roll of the United States District 
Court of Arizona, and Congresswoman Giffords' director of community 
outreach, Gabriel Zimmerman. Earlier this year, we honored Chief Judge 
Roll in naming a courthouse after him. Today we honor Congresswoman 
Giffords' staffer Gabriel Zimmerman.
  Gabe Zimmerman was only 30 years old and engaged to be married when 
he was killed. He graduated from the University of California at Santa 
Cruz in 2002, and in 2006 received a master's degree in social work 
from Arizona State University. Prior to joining Congresswoman Giffords' 
staff, he worked as a social worker assisting troubled youth.
  Gabe Zimmerman began his congressional career in 2007 as a 
Constituent Service Supervisor for then newly elected Congresswoman 
Giffords. In that role, he supervised her constituent services 
operation and worked directly with the people of Arizona's Eighth 
Congressional District. He was later promoted to the Director of 
Community Outreach, where he organized hundreds of events to coordinate 
outreach to constituents.
  As the first congressional staffer to be murdered in the performance 
of his

[[Page H7944]]

official duties, this resolution seeks to honor Gabe Zimmerman's 
ultimate sacrifice to the citizens of Arizona. This is also a gesture 
of sincerest gratitude from the Members of this Chamber who rely on 
their dedicated staff to help them serve the citizens of this Nation.
  I support the passage of this resolution and urge my colleagues to do 
the same.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to commend Representative Wasserman Schultz and the 367 
bipartisan cosponsors of House Resolution 364.
  I recognize, Madam Speaker, that this is an unprecedented bill, but 
the bill commemorates an unprecedented act, the sacrifice of the life 
of a staffer of the one of our Members who, herself, is still 
recovering from that tragedy, Representative Gabrielle Giffords.
  We do not often have opportunities to speak on the floor of the House 
of our staff, whose duties are performed almost entirely behind the 
scenes. The tragedy in Arizona, however, does remind us that staffers 
are often exposed as much as Members to harm and are in harm's way.
  Therefore, I think it entirely appropriate that we commemorate this 
loss of life, first in the history of the Congress, by naming a room 
after Gabriel Zimmerman in our Visitors Center.
  I rise in support of House Resolution 364 and am pleased today to 
speak in support of a bill that designates a room in the Capitol 
Visitor Center as the ``Gabriel Zimmerman Meeting Room''.
  Gabriel ``Gabe'' Zimmerman was a Congressional staffer who was killed 
along with five others, at a community meeting at a local grocery store 
sponsored by Representative Gabrielle Giffords on January 8th, 2011 
while 13 other individuals were wounded, including Representative 
Giffords and two other Congressional staffers. Gabe Zimmerman was a 
dedicated Congressional staffer who had worked for Representative 
Giffords since 2006, first as an aide to her first congressional 
campaign, next as a Constituent Services Supervisor in Tucson, and 
eventually rising to the position of Director of Community Outreach 
where his duties included managing the logistics for all of 
Representative Giffords' public District events and helping her 
constituents with the day to day details of navigating various federal 
agencies.
  Gabe Zimmerman, a Tucson, Arizona native, was a 2002 honors sociology 
graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz, and a 2006 
graduate of Arizona State University, where he received a Masters in 
Social Work. Before he went to work for Representative Giffords, Gabe 
Zimmerman worked as a social worker assisting troubled youth. He had a 
strong reputation of being dedicated to providing services to 
Representative Giffords' constituents. Gabe also served on the boards 
of several organizations including the local YWCA, the Comstock 
Foundation, and the Child and Family Resources organization. At the 
time of his death, Gabe Zimmerman was 30 years old and engaged to be 
married.
  Gabe Zimmerman was a respected Congressional aide serving on the 
front lines of providing services to the Arizonians that Representative 
Giffords represented. There are nearly 15,000 Congressional aides that 
stream into House Office buildings and District offices across the 
nation, assisting Members of Congress in conducting the business of the 
American people. In many ways Gabe Zimmerman represents some of the 
best aspects of these men and women, with his colleagues describing him 
as ``fiercely loyal to his boss'' and ``dedicated to providing services 
to the constituents of the 8th Congressional District of Arizona''.
  It is important to note that Gabe Zimmerman is the first staffer in 
U.S. history to be killed while in the performance of his official 
duties. Sadly, Gabe Zimmerman had been responsible for organizing 
Representative Giffords' ``Congress on Your Corner'' event and was 
staffing the event when he was killed. This dedication should also be 
seen as a tribute to not only Gabe Zimmerman but to all staff members 
who work behind the scenes to assist Members of Congress. Given Gabe 
Zimmerman's dedication to public service and in honor of his death 
while in service to the U.S. Congress, I believe it is appropriate to 
designate room HVC 215 in the Capitol Visitor Center as the ``Gabriel 
Zimmerman Meeting Room.''
  I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be managed by its 
sponsor, Representative Wasserman Schultz.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentlewoman from 
Florida will control the time.
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today to offer House Resolution 364, designating HVC 215 of 
the Capitol Visitor Center as the Gabriel Zimmerman Meeting Room.
  On January 8, in Tucson, Arizona, tragedy struck this country in a 
shooting that shocked our Nation and tore through the fabric of the 
congressional community. Six people died that horrific day, including 
Gabriel Zimmerman, a congressional staffer for our friend and 
colleague, Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona's Eighth 
Congressional District.
  Now, less than a year after this horrible day, it is fitting that the 
United States House of Representatives, through passage of this 
resolution, properly honor the sacrifice and service of one of our own.
  Gabe Zimmerman served as the community outreach director for our 
friend and colleague, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Gabe was perfectly 
suited for this position, as anyone who knew him would tell you. That's 
because working as a community outreach director married two great 
passions in his life: his drive to help individuals and a firm 
conviction that America's Government needed to be open, accessible, and 
responsive to every American.
  Ask any Member of Congress here what is one of the most valuable 
positions in their office, and they will tell you it is our constituent 
outreach director. They listen each and every day to the concerns of 
our constituents--their problems, their suggestions, their complaints--
and then they work to help them. The hours are long. Nights and 
weekends at home with family or out with friends are often sacrificed 
to attend community meetings. Each and every one of us have staff 
members working for us who show such dedication, and the hallways of 
this Capitol have echoed for two centuries with the hurried footsteps 
of congressional staffers serving the American people.
  This resolution, designating the Gabriel Zimmerman Meeting Room, is 
not put forward to mark Gabe's death but, rather, to recognize his 
commitment in life and to making others' lives better. Ask those who 
knew him and they will tell you that Gabe had a way about him that 
invited conversation. He could walk into any room and find a way to 
connect to people. Gabe would often put in extra hours and was known to 
pay out of his own pocket for poorer constituents' bus fare, whatever 
he could do to help that little extra amount.
  Gabe's dedication and cheerfulness had a profound effect on those 
with whom he came in contact. Just days after the shooting, well after 
dark, a gentleman came to Representative Giffords' Tucson office, tears 
in his eyes, visibly shaking. He explained that just days before, Gabe 
had taken the time to sit down with him; and even though he'd come in 
late in the day, he listened to him, treated him like a human being, 
and made it clear he was going to work to help him. The gentleman 
simply couldn't believe that such a good person had been taken so 
young.
  Among his colleagues in Tucson, Gabe was profoundly well liked. They 
told me, when I visited after the shooting, that Gabe was always 
excited to come in to work and that he cherished the ability to work 
for a Member of Congress and for one he so admired. His coworkers 
kiddingly called him Prince Charming because he was always there for 
them, always ready to come to their rescue.

                              {time}  1240

  In Representative Giffords, Gabe found someone for whom he cared 
deeply as his mentor, as his boss, as a friend, and as a Member of his 
Congress who shared his passion for selflessly helping others. And 
while Representative Giffords counted on Gabe to be her eyes and ears 
in her district, her husband Mark Kelly said that Gabby also looked 
upon Gabe like a younger brother, as so many of us as Members of 
Congress look at our own staff members.
  Tragically, this loyal, determined, and talented public servant, 
someone who was a true apostle of our representative democracy, 
unknowingly also made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

[[Page H7945]]

  Gabe Zimmerman is the first congressional staffer in the history of 
this institution to be killed while carrying out his official duties. 
It is in this historical and hallowed moment that we vote on this 
resolution to name the congressional meeting room currently known as 
HVC-215 the Gabriel Zimmerman Room.
  As those of us who work on the Hill know well, HVC-215 is frequently 
used for staff meetings of every variety. I can think of no better way 
to memorialize Gabe's service and ultimate sacrifice than to have this 
meeting place forever carry his name and memory.
  Over the past 4 months, a bipartisan group of more than 400 of our 
colleagues, 402 now, to be exact, have signed on to this resolution in 
solidarity as cosponsors of this resolution honoring Gabe's sacrifice. 
This makes this resolution among just a select few pieces of 
legislation in history to have garnered such broad support in the House 
of Representatives.
  With this vote, we honor the life of Gabe Zimmerman, and we also 
recognize all congressional staff--working in every corner of our great 
Nation--for their dedication to Congress and the American people.
  From now on, each time we enter the Gabriel Zimmerman meeting room, 
let us be reminded of Gabe and of the service and sacrifice of every 
congressional staffer. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of 
House Resolution 364.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman 
from Arizona (Mr. Schweikert), who coauthored this important 
resolution.
  Mr. SCHWEIKERT. Today I rise in support of House Resolution 364, 
renaming House visitor room 215 the Gabriel Zimmerman Meeting Room.
  As a Member of Congress, each of us consider our staff more than 
employees. We work with them. They represent our districts. But they 
are part of our team. They are part of our family. And they're also the 
voice, the eyes, and ears in our communities. They solve problems, and 
they work very long hours. Often, and I particularly feel bad about 
this, we often forget to say ``thank you'' to those staffers.
  Today we say thank you to Gabriel Zimmerman, who was truly one of 
these dedicated staffers. He had a great reputation of being one of the 
most caring individuals you could possibly ever meet.
  After receiving his master's degree at Arizona State University, a 
fine institution, he chose to give back to Arizona and give back to the 
community in southern Arizona, making our State a better place.
  But on the morning of January 8, he had organized a Congresswoman on 
the Corner meeting outside Tucson so constituents could talk and meet 
with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Representing, that Saturday 
morning in southern Arizona, was what democracy is all about. It is 
democracy at its finest. And then the unimaginable happened. Gabe 
Zimmerman is the first congressional staffer to lose his life in the 
service of this House.
  Today we honor Gabriel's talents, the compassion, and the wonderful 
things he did for Arizona, for southern Arizona, for the community. And 
naming something as simple as a room will never be enough for his 
sacrifice. But it is the right thing to do for Gabe, for the things he 
did for Arizona, the things he did for Tucson, and also for this 
congressional family.
  Think about this: A hundred years from now, there will be a young 
staffer getting their first tour of this body, this building, and 
during that tour, they're going to come across the Gabriel Zimmerman 
room. And when they read about it, they're going to understand the 
sacrifice that he gave, just like so many Members here give, but 
Gabriel gave the ultimate sacrifice, his love and his talent, for this 
body and for this family.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, it is now my privilege to yield 
2 minutes to a good friend of Congresswoman Giffords and a wonderful 
representative of the great State of Arizona (Mr. Grijalva).
  Mr. GRIJALVA. I rise in support of House Resolution 364, which 
enshrines the meeting room in the visitors center in the name of Gabe 
Zimmerman.
  My colleagues have retold the tragedy that happened in Tucson in 
January, the deaths, the injuries; and as we recover from that trauma, 
led by the courage and strength of Congresswoman Giffords, this moment 
is an important moment as we commemorate the sacrifice and honor the 
service of Gabe Zimmerman.
  I want to quote from the statement that his mom made, Emily, at a 
press conference on July 20: ``It's right to honor Gabe here, at the 
Capitol, where Congress is charged with responding to the needs of 
those people who stood in that line, at that grocery store, to all 
Americans, by crafting our Nation's laws. While he was the first 
congressional staff person in the United States' history to be killed 
in the line of duty, it's not his death, but his work and his ideals 
that should be recognized here, ideals shared by thousands of 
congressional staff people over hundreds of years of our Nation's 
history.
  ``Gabe thought a lot about and cared a lot about the importance of 
civic engagement in an open and civil society. That concept, that goal, 
which is a cornerstone of our democracy, can be remembered in this 
room, along with an idealistic young man who died.''
  I think his mom said it best.
  So as we honor Gabe, we honor those staff people that work for us, 
that sometimes make us look better than we are; to those staff people 
that work for us that sometimes have to deal with the controversies 
which we create, and in doing so, they extend service and support to 
the people that we represent.
  There is no finer example than Gabe Zimmerman, and I'm honored to 
support this resolution and honored to be from a community that Gabe 
was from.
  Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman 
from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).
  Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I stand here today with my colleagues to 
support the dedication of a meeting room in the Capitol Visitors Center 
to Gabe Zimmerman, a man known for seeking to bring healthy political 
discourse through civil service.
  I would first like to reaffirm my condolences to Gabe's family and 
loved ones for their loss. He will be missed.
  Both a devoted congressional aide and a community leader, Gabe served 
Congresswoman Gabby Giffords' district with a smile and a willingness 
to go above and beyond in assisting both his office and his fellow 
citizens. With an extroverted personality and a deep concern for 
others' well-being, Congresswoman Giffords has noted that Zimmerman 
became the go-to person for constituents in the district. He was what 
you call back home ``good people.''
  We can all appreciate and learn from Gabe that representing our 
citizens means going beyond what is asked of us to assist them. Gabe 
Zimmerman lived this mantra day by day.
  It is with great respect that I support this bill to dedicate this 
place of meeting in honor of a man who lost his life through a 
senseless act of violence. I join the Arizona delegation in hoping that 
his sacrifice and the principles of his public service are remembered 
and honored by all of those who seek to make our Nation a better place.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. It is my privilege to yield 3 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

                              {time}  1250

  Mr. HOYER. I thank my friend Debbie Wasserman Schultz, one of Gabby 
Giffords' closest friends. I acknowledge the presence of Gabby 
Giffords' extraordinary staffer and extraordinary leader on her staff, 
who herself lost a valued member of her staff and Gabby's staff.
  Madam Speaker, all of us who serve in this House know that we could 
not do the work we do without the help of our extraordinarily able and 
highly motivated staffs. They work long hours with pay below their 
counterparts in the executive branch and in the private sector. Many 
are young, in their twenties and thirties, with an energy and a passion 
for public service that give us all great hope for the future.
  Gabe Zimmerman was one of those passionate and dedicated staffers who 
loved his job, who loved his fellow staffers, and who loved his 
Congresswoman. He was working for a beloved friend and colleague of all 
of ours, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.
  Gabe Zimmerman was a bridge between the Congresswoman and individuals 
and constituent groups in her district, fostering and expanding each 
day

[[Page H7946]]

the most important relationships Members of Congress maintain: those 
with their constituents, with the people who have entrusted them with 
the responsibility of representing them in this great body. Gabe 
Zimmerman was the first congressional staffer in history, as has been 
said a number of times, to lose his life in the line of duty, in the 
222 years of the history of this body. He lost his life protecting, 
promoting, and defending democracy.
  Gabe Zimmerman, along with six others, was not the object of attack, 
but a victim of a domestic terrorist intent on assassinating 
Congresswoman Giffords and intent on randomly killing people 
participating in one of democracy's most basic activities--the 
discussion between constituents and their Representatives. Members of 
my own staff--and I'm sure the members of the staffs of every Member 
here--were profoundly shaken by this event, realizing that it could 
have been them or, indeed, any staffer, participating with their 
Members in any public or even private event.
  It is entirely fitting, therefore, that we rename in his memory a 
room where, every day, Members and our staffs come together to further 
the representation of the American people. Every day, when we enter 
that room, we will remember Gabe Zimmerman. Gabe Zimmerman died while 
serving his country, and we honor him for that service.
  But let me say to every staffer who serves with us that, by doing so, 
we honor you as well--your contributions and the contributions of all 
staffs--who, like Gabe, strive to make this country a better one for 
all Americans.
  We send to Gabe's parents our deepest sympathy for a loss that cannot 
be compensated, but tell them that we share their extraordinary pride 
in this American hero.
  Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Arizona (Mr. Quayle).
  Mr. QUAYLE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 364, which 
will name HVC-215 after Gabe Zimmerman.
  January 8, 2011, was a dark day in our country's history. Six of our 
citizens lost their lives, and Congresswoman Giffords and many others 
were severely injured during a senseless act of violence. There is 
nothing this House can do to ease the pain of the families and friends 
who lost loved ones that day. For them, Tucson's painful memories may 
never fully recede.
  What we can do is continue to honor those we lost--Gabe Zimmerman, 
Christina Taylor Green, John Roll, Dorothy Morris, Phyllis Schneck, and 
Dorwan Stoddard--and make sure they are never forgotten.
  The loss of Gabe Zimmerman affected this body deeply. We all know 
staffers like Gabe--tireless public servants who work long hours and 
weekends for modest pay. Congressional offices wouldn't be able to 
function without people like Gabe. Yet they rarely receive the credit 
they deserve.
  Shortly after the shooting, Gabe's friend C.J. told the Los Angeles 
Times about a visit he and Gabe made to the Lincoln Memorial. He said, 
``When we went to the Lincoln Memorial on a cold, damp January morning, 
the wind whipped through the place, and it was freezing cold, but Gabe 
had to read every single word of the Gettysburg Address . . . He put 
his all into his work. He put his all into his life.''
  Madam Speaker, Gabe's life was cut too short, but his life will be 
forever honored. Years from now, when young interns and staffers visit 
HVC-215, they will be reminded of Gabe Zimmerman's story--of his 
passion, of his service to his State and country, and of the example 
that he set.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, it is now my privilege to yield 
2 minutes to a close friend of Congresswoman Giffords' and someone who 
has stood by her, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. I thank the leadership of this House, both 
Democrat and Republican, and all the cosponsors for bringing this 
resolution before us and for honoring Gabe Zimmerman by naming the room 
in the Capitol Visitor Center after him.
  I can think of nobody who better personified the idea of public 
service than Gabe Zimmerman. A lot of people get involved in politics 
for a lot of different reasons, but I think that the base reason that 
we all should want to be involved in it is to represent people. So when 
you read the stories about Gabe and about the service that he did even 
before he worked for Congresswoman Giffords, you can see someone who 
truly understood what it meant to be a representative.
  Gabe made so much of his life about caring for other people, and 
there can be no higher calling. In naming this room after him, we have 
a permanent reminder to everybody who comes through this Capitol about 
what this place is all about. It's about serving other people, and it's 
about public service. On the base fundamental level, Gabe understood 
that to do his job right--to represent his district, to represent this 
country--he needed to make sure that everybody in his district believed 
that they had a voice in Congress, and that's not an easy thing to do. 
We represent around 700,000 people, but there was nobody who Gabe 
wouldn't reach out to and listen to.
  I have no doubt that there are thousands of people, if not tens of 
thousands, who have a better appreciation, who believe more in their 
government because of the work that Gabe Zimmerman did, and that's 
something that we need to be permanently reminded of. By naming this 
room after him, we will offer that opportunity to everybody who comes 
through this Capitol.
  I also think it is reflective on Congresswoman Giffords as well. Gabe 
worked for Gabby because he believed in her and believed in what she 
was doing. She, too, personifies that notion that we're here to 
represent people--all of them--whether we agree with them or not. It's 
not just a matter of taking the ones we agree with and fighting for 
them. You have to fight almost extra hard for the ones who maybe you 
don't agree with, because that's what makes representative democracy 
work--believing in this country. Congresswoman Giffords and her staff 
do that as well as any group of people that I've ever encountered.
  It's fitting that we honor Gabe and that we offer our condolences to 
his parents with the encouragement that he has personified what this 
institution is all about. We will never forget that.
  Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to the time 
remaining.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Tennessee has 10\1/2\ 
minutes remaining, and the gentlewoman from Florida has 6\1/2\ minutes 
remaining.
  Mr. FLEISCHMANN. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. 
Franks).
  Mr. FRANKS of Arizona. Madam Speaker, it's hard to add to all of the 
things that have been said today about Gabe Zimmerman, but I identify 
with each one of them.
  I would simply say to you, though, that I never met Gabe. I did have 
the privilege to meet his lovely, precious family, and it was clear to 
me that everyone who knew Gabe loved him. If they knew him well, they 
loved him more. His selfless spirit of service is an inspiration to all 
of us, and it's also a reminder of how short our time here may be.
  So, Madam Speaker, I just want to suggest to you that everyone in 
this place should embrace this resolution because it is a testament to 
the noble dedication of a young congressional staffer who lost his life 
in the service of his country.
  I had the privilege of being there when this room was dedicated to 
him, so I hope that all of us can embrace this. I urge my colleagues to 
vote ``yes'' and to honor Gabe Zimmerman and the legacy of service that 
he left behind.

                              {time}  1300

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to yield 1 
minute to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Pastor).
  (Mr. PASTOR of Arizona asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PASTOR of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I also rise in support of this 
legislation, and I too want to thank both the sponsors of this 
resolution, the cosponsors and the leadership, both on the Democratic 
side and the Republican side, for bringing this resolution before us 
today. I urge all my colleagues to vote ``aye.''

[[Page H7947]]

  It's a tribute to Gabe Zimmerman, who gave his life less than a year 
ago in Tucson, and also it's a tribute to his family. His mother was a 
public servant in Tucson. She worked for many years for the city of 
Tucson, so he knew what public service was through his family.
  It's also a tribute and a recognition of the service that all public 
employees give to our country and make our lives every day a little 
better. So may Gabe rest in peace, and may we continue to give thanks 
and gratitude to the public servants who give us a better quality of 
life.
  Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Olson).
  Mr. OLSON. Madam Speaker, this is a somber occasion, but I am honored 
to speak in support of congressional action dedicating a room in the 
Capitol Visitor Center as the Gabriel Zimmerman Meeting Room.
  As all America knows, Gabe and five others lost their lives on 
January 8 of this year in a parking lot in Tucson, Arizona, when a 
deranged man opened fire on innocent people. Gabe was just doing his 
job.
  And while I've never had the pleasure to meet Gabe, I feel like I 
know a lot about Gabe. He worked for Gabby Giffords, a Congresswoman 
who has become a good friend through our close work as leaders in the 
Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee of the Science and Technology 
Committee in the last Congress. Gabby showed me something rare in 
Washington, true bipartisanship; and it says a tremendous amount about 
Gabe that he had Gabby's trust and confidence.
  I also feel I know Gabe because, like him, I was a congressional 
staffer. I served in the offices of two Texas Senators, Senator Phil 
Gramm and Senator John Cornyn, for nearly 9 years; and there is nothing 
I wouldn't do to protect my bosses.
  Gabe was put in a position that no congressional staffer in American 
history has faced, asked to sacrifice his life for his boss and 
innocent people. When the shots rang out, Gabe was in the line of fire. 
He didn't run. He made the ultimate sacrifice and became the first 
congressional staffer to give his life in the line of duty.
  One final comment about Gabe's courage. Prior to my time as a Senate 
staffer, I served for nearly 10 years as a pilot in the United States 
Navy. Our military heroes who lay down their lives for their comrades 
are celebrated and remembered. They're given our Nation's highest 
military honors. They're immortalized in history.
  And while Gabe Zimmerman was not wearing a uniform the day he died, 
he deserves to be immortalized nonetheless. This Congress does so today 
by passing H. Res. 364, permanently affixing Gabe Zimmerman's name on a 
plaque in the Capitol Visitor Center. We can never, ever forget Gabe's 
sacrifice for the United States of America, and by passing H. Res. 364 
we ensure that Gabe's short life is forever remembered, revered, and 
immortalized.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 1 
minute to the gentlelady from California (Ms. Speier).
  Ms. SPEIER. I thank the author of this resolution for giving us all 
the opportunity to recognize Gabe Zimmerman and to honor his memory and 
to extend to his family, Ross Zimmerman, Emily Nottingham and Ben 
Zimmerman, our gratitude for giving their son and their brother in 
service to this country.
  We have said it already: Gabe Zimmerman, a young man, a passionate, 
idealistic, 30-year-old man, engaged to be married to his beloved 
Kelly, lost his life in gunfire while assisting his Congresswoman, 
Gabby Giffords.
  In the routine course of affairs in this House, our staff Members 
often sacrifice their peace of mind in service to the needs of our 
constituents. In many of our hectic moments, they sacrifice their 
family time and the events with children that create a lifetime of 
memories.
  Gabe Zimmerman loved his community and his Nation that he served, and 
it is just appropriate that we take the time today to recognize him and 
to affix a plaque in his honor.
  Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Poe).
  Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Gabe Zimmerman, I didn't know him, but I know many people that are 
just like him. They are called the congressional staffers.
  Gabe Zimmerman dedicated his life to public service, and he died 
dedicating his life to public service. He died from an assassin's 
bullet in January of this year hosting a Congress on Your Corner event 
for Gabby Giffords, which he organized.
  There are many men and women just like Gabe Zimmerman who come to 
work every day and work in Congress. These staffers work very long 
hours, sometimes late into the night. They work weekends, they deal 
with people from our districts, and sometimes they get little or no 
appreciation for their hard work.
  Congresswoman Giffords is blessed to have a wonderful staff. I had 
the pleasure to be with her legislative director, Peter Ambler, and her 
director of operations, Jennifer Cox, when they hosted me at the 
Arizona border so I could talk to ranchers in Arizona; and this 
occurred after Gabby was shot and wounded.
  I was impressed with these staffers and their work and keeping up the 
mission of our fellow Member of Congress, Gabby Giffords, as she was 
recovering from her wounds. The energy and drive of these bright 
Americans represent really all that is good about our country. So on 
this day, it is good that Members of Congress remember and give thanks 
for Gabe Zimmerman, his colleagues in Representative Giffords' office, 
for Representative Gabby Giffords, and for all the men and women who 
allow this great body to continue to be the people's House.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to yield 1 
minute to a woman with whom I experienced one of the most emotional 
experiences in my life, along with our colleague from New York, Kirsten 
Gillibrand, when we watched Gabby Giffords open her eyes after her 
injury, the gentlelady from California, our leader, Nancy Pelosi.
  Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Florida, 
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, for taking the time today to 
bring this important legislation to the floor.
  Yes, we did indeed experience an emotional moment to see Gabby open 
her eyes, but we all experienced an emotional moment here on August 1 
when Congresswoman Gabby Giffords came back to the floor of Congress to 
cast a vote. With all the smiles that we had that day, and we were part 
of history, we had deep inside of us the sorrow of those who lost their 
lives last January, and one of those people was Gabe Zimmerman.
  So I'm pleased and saddened to come to the floor of the House of 
Representatives today to join my colleagues. I thank Congressman 
Fleischmann, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz, and the Congresswoman 
from the District of Columbia for their leadership here and join in a 
bipartisan way, especially with the leadership of Congresswoman 
Wasserman Schultz and the Arizona delegation in a bipartisan fashion 
speaking on behalf of this resolution.

                              {time}  1310

  As has been mentioned, Gabe Zimmerman and five others were tragically 
taken from us on January 8 of this year in the attack on Congresswoman 
Gabby Giffords. All the Nation watched and prayed.
  Today, in permanently naming a room in the Capitol complex after 
Gabe, we honor his life. As Gabe's mother, Emily Nottingham, said: It's 
not Gabe's death, but his work and his ideals that should be recognized 
here.
  Gabe's ideals were rooted in service. He worked, as has been 
mentioned, as a social worker assisting troubled youth, served on the 
boards of several community organizations in Tucson, and tirelessly 
assisted the constituents of Congresswoman Giffords. The work that he 
did made a difference to veterans seeking the benefits they were owed, 
to families facing foreclosure, and to seniors with lost Social 
Security checks.
  As this resolution notes, there are more than 15,000 individuals 
serving as congressional staff. In honoring Gabriel Zimmerman today, we 
recognize all of them for their service.
  I want to particularly acknowledge Pia Carusone, who is the chief of 
staff

[[Page H7948]]

for Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, for her leadership in guiding the 
staff through this tragic time but not for one moment diminishing the 
concern and the service to the people of the district that Gabby 
Giffords represents in Tucson.
  Today we pray for Gabe's family. His mother, Emily; his father, Ross; 
his stepmother, Pamela; his brother, Ben; and his fiancee, Kelly. We 
hope it is a comfort to them to know that Gabe will be forever 
remembered here in the Capitol complex. When people walk through that 
complex and they see that name, that signage, whether it is above the 
door or directions to it, some may ask the question: Who is Gabe 
Zimmerman? They may not know him by name, but they know him by his 
sacrifice. We all honor that here today.
  May Gabe Zimmerman, of course, rest in peace. May his memory always 
be a blessing to us. We know that it is, but we want everyone else to 
know it as well.
  With that, I again thank Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz for her 
leadership, persistence, determination, advocacy, and relentlessness in 
making this possible. In honoring Gabe, we honor the work of all of our 
staff, past, present, and future.
  Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman 
from Arizona (Mr. Flake).
  Mr. FLAKE. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank those who 
have brought this resolution to the floor, particularly the gentlewoman 
from Florida, and for the hard work she has put into it, and for the 
staff of Gabby Giffords for working so hard to get this done, and for 
the family of Gabe Zimmerman, working with this body, both sides of the 
aisle, to make sure that this resolution came to the floor today.
  I was fortunate enough to be in Tucson just a few hours after the 
shooting and was with those assembled at the hospital, with friends and 
community activists and others when it was confirmed that Gabe 
Zimmerman had lost his life. I wish all who are within the sound of my 
voice today could feel in that room, that day and the days that 
followed, the love that was felt for this good man, for the work that 
he did for our colleague, and for how much he is loved throughout the 
State of Arizona. The State of Arizona will not forget what he has 
done. And with this resolution today, with this naming, we ensure that 
this institution does not forget Gabe as well.
  Now, all of us as Members of Congress here have a plaque outside of 
our office that denotes that we are serving the people of our 
representative States. When we retire, when we leave after serving 
here, we will take those plaques with us, and maybe they'll decorate 
our office at home or a room at home. I think it is fitting that this 
plaque will remain here forever and will honor the service of Gabe 
Zimmerman and also honor the service of many staff who work so hard 
that are often forgotten and often not appreciated for the work they 
do.
  So it's an honor to be here, and I appreciate again those who have 
helped bring this resolution to the floor, particularly the family of 
Gabe Zimmerman. And I hope they know how much we appreciate their 
sacrifice and Gabe's sacrifice.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, before I yield back, I want to 
share one more story to really demonstrate to the entire country the 
heart of the young man that we are honoring here today, because even 
those who only occasionally came into contact with Gabe Zimmerman were 
touched by his passing because of the way he treated them in life.
  The week following Gabe's death, the night shift security guard came 
and knocked on the door of Congresswoman Giffords' Tucson office. They 
were working late, and her staff opened the door. The guard came hoping 
that the person he so often talked to at night hadn't really been 
killed. Tearing up, he said he hadn't known Gabe's name, but said that 
he often found Gabe working late and that Gabe would always ask him 
about his family or his weekend or just talk about sports. Gabe always 
treated him with dignity, which meant so much to him.
  That's the importance of the legislation that we have in front of us 
today. Knowing that we are going to forever designate HVC 215 as the 
Gabriel Zimmerman Meeting Room sends a message to all of our staff and 
to the hearts of all who serve that we will honor their service, honor 
their commitment, honor their willingness to make a personal sacrifice 
to devote their lives to helping others. That was the epitome of Gabe 
Zimmerman.
  I want to close just by thanking the entire Arizona delegation, 
particularly Mr. Franks and Mr. Flake, and most especially Dave 
Schweikert, who had such courage in sponsoring this resolution with me, 
was passionately committed to garnering cosponsors for it, and really 
worked incredibly hard to bring it to the floor.
  I also want to thank the leadership of both the Democrat and 
Republican Members. This is a very challenging and difficult time for 
our Nation, Madam Speaker. It is my hope, as hard as it is and as hard 
as it has become for us to engage in civil discourse, that we really 
all redouble our efforts as we have all publicly stated that we are 
willing and interested in doing, myself included, to make sure that we 
can earn the respect and earn every day the privilege that our 
constituents have given us to represent them here in our Nation's 
capital. And in doing so, we will honor Gabe's memory, honor the 
service of our colleague and friend Gabby Giffords, and know that 
Gabriel Zimmerman did not die in vain.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen).
  Mr. PAULSEN. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I also want to 
thank my colleague from Florida for her leadership, along with the 
Members of the Arizona delegation, for putting this resolution together 
which is so important.
  I have had the honor of knowing my colleague Gabby Giffords since 
2005 before either of us were actually elected to Congress. And there 
is no doubt in my mind that she wishes she could be here today on the 
House floor to speak in favor of this resolution that is honoring the 
life of Gabe Zimmerman, her director of community outreach who lost his 
life in that senseless attack on January 8.
  As a former staffer myself, I know firsthand that working for a 
Member of Congress is not like most jobs. You rarely go home at 5 or 6; 
you work long hours; you typically do not have weekends off. But to 
those staff who work for all of us, every one of the House Members, the 
reward comes from working for constituents on behalf of our districts, 
our States, and our great country. All of our staff are extensions of 
the Members that they work for.
  Gabby's staff is certainly a reflection of whom she is--a loyal, 
dedicated public servant. And Gabe Zimmerman is no different. I didn't 
know him, but I do know that he cared for his community, he cared for 
his country. Gabe was a passionate advocate for children, for social 
justice, and for antiracism. Gabe didn't wear the uniform of a soldier 
or a police officer, but he did give his life while serving his 
country, and so it is absolutely fitting that, inside the Congressional 
Visitor Center where thousands of Americans visit each and every year, 
a room will now bear Gabe Zimmerman's name in his honor. And I hope 
that this dedication will also serve as a reminder to all of us of the 
passion and the loyalty and that dedication that Gabe showed every day 
as a congressional staffer.
  My thoughts continue to be with Gabe's family, with Gabby and her 
husband, Mark, and with all of Gabby's staff who have a constant 
reminder of how valuable life really is.

                              {time}  1320

  Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Madam Speaker, in closing, I wish to thank 
Congressman Schweikert and Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz for their 
coauthorship of this very, very important legislation honoring Gabe 
Zimmerman. I want to thank the entire Arizona delegation for all their 
tireless efforts in this regard. I also wish to urge all of my 
colleagues in this great House, the people's House, to support this 
bill later today.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for 
H. Res. 364, legislation to designate room HVC 215 of the Capitol 
Visitor Center as the ``Gabriel Zimmerman Meeting Room.''
  I want to thank my colleague from Florida, Representative Wasserman 
Schultz, for introducing this important legislation.

[[Page H7949]]

  Gabe Zimmerman was a young man who dedicated himself to the 
betterment of his community, and lived a life of service to others.
  This led him to work for Representative Gabby Giffords--first as a 
field organizer and constituent service director, and later as a 
community outreach director.
  We all know of the tragedy that occurred on January 8, when Gabe and 
5 other individuals were forever taken away from this world.
  But what many of us don't know is the type of life Gabe Zimmerman 
lived.
  Gabe was integral in working with local charities, like Child and 
Family Resources, the YWCS, and the Comstock Foundation.
  He was a loving son, brother, and fiance--and a dedicated public 
servant.
  I urge all my colleagues to honor the life and service of this 
tremendous young man, and vote ``yes'' on H. Res. 364.
  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 364, a 
resolution to name a meeting room in the Capitol Visitors Center after 
Gabriel Zimmerman, the only Congressional staff member killed while on 
duty. Gabe Zimmerman, a staff member for my friend and colleague 
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, was one of six people killed in the 
January 8, 2011, attack in Tuscon, Arizona.
  The entire Capitol Hill community mourned the senseless deaths and 
the loss of one of our own. Those of us who serve in Congress know that 
the work we do to represent our constituents would not be possible 
without the support of our hard-working and dedicated staffs. Working 
early mornings and late nights, on weekends and federal holidays, these 
outstanding men and women bring energy and passion for public service.
  Gabe Zimmerman died while helping Congresswoman Giffords as she 
engaged in one of the most important functions of a Member of Congress, 
communicating with her constituents. It is fitting that the House of 
Representatives is today considering legislation to dedicate a space to 
the memory of Gabriel Zimmerman, a room where Members of Congress and 
our staff come together to represent the interests of the American 
people.
  In honor of Gabe Zimmerman and all Congressional staff including my 
own, I rise today to pay tribute to the men and women who dedicate 
themselves to public service.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, the role of 
Congressional staff is an important one in helping all Members carry 
out our responsibilities, but it is a role too often not acknowledged. 
It is fitting that we pause today to honor one such staffer, Gabriel 
``Gabe'' Zimmerman, who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving this 
Congress and this nation. Gabe was the first, and hopefully the last 
Congressional staffer to be murdered in the performance of his official 
duties when he was shot staffing Representative Gabrielle Giffords at a 
constituent event in her district. Six other people were killed and 13 
were wounded, including Representative Giffords and two other 
Congressional staffers.
  By all accounts, Gabe was a kind and dedicated young man who worked 
tirelessly to improve the lives of the people in the 8th District of 
Arizona. He was a former social worker who assisted troubled youth, an 
athlete who loved the outdoors, a beloved son and brother, and he was 
engaged to be married. His life was cut far too short. I am pleased 
that we are making this small tribute to him today.
  Our hearts go out to Gabe's family and friends, to Ranking Member of 
the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, Gabrielle Giffords, during her 
recovery, and to all those impacted by that horrible tragedy.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, on January 8, 2011 the nation was 
shocked and saddened by a senseless act of violence against a member of 
the House, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. That attack injured her and 
killed six innocent bystanders, including a Congressional staff, Gabe 
Zimmerman.
  Gabe, a 30-year-old social worker, began work for Congresswoman 
Giffords in 2007, supervising the constituent services operation and 
helping the people of Arizona's Eighth Congressional District resolve 
problems with Federal agencies and obtain government services. He was 
promoted to Director of Community Outreach, using his considerable 
talent and energy to engage citizens and make Congress accessible to 
them. In that capacity, he planned Congresswoman Giffords' ``Congress 
on Your Corner'' event on January 8 and was at her side that day.
  We continue to mourn his loss and pray for his family and friends. 
Gabe Zimmerman's life is a testament to the selfless work performed by 
Congressional staff every day for the American people. Today, we 
designate a room in the Capitol as the ``Gabriel Zimmerman Meeting 
Room'' to honor his work and recognize the dedication that he and all 
staff show to their country.
  Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of 
H. Res. 364, Designating Room HVC-215 of the Capitol Visitor Center as 
the ``Gabriel Zimmerman Meeting Room.'' Adoption of this resolution 
would be a fitting tribute to Gabe Zimmerman's commitment to public 
service and the courage of our colleague Congresswoman Gabrielle 
Giffords of Arizona.
  Gabe Zimmerman's devotion to public service knew no bounds and he 
made the supreme sacrifice in service to the public when he was killed 
on January 8, 2011, in Tucson, Arizona, at the hands of the same gunman 
who left Congresswoman Giffords gravely wounded. Like many Americans, 
the tragic events which unfolded on that day in January left me in a 
state of shock, anger, and tremendous sadness.
  As the weeks and months have passed, Americans have looked to each 
other for strength and have been encouraged by the tremendous progress 
that Congresswoman Giffords has made in her recovery. Nearly a year 
later, we pause to remember not only Gabe and Gabby, but all the 
innocent victims of this tragedy who were gunned down while waiting to 
exercise their democratic right to have their opinions heard.
  Madam Speaker, 19 people were shot on that tragic day in Tucson--six 
of whom suffered fatal wounds. While this tragedy focused national 
discourse on the need to reassess current gun restrictions and the 
responsibility of public institutions in reporting potentially 
dangerous behavior, we were also reminded of the value of maintaining 
civility in our public discourse.
  Gabe Zimmerman, Congresswoman Giffords' director of community 
outreach, personified the spirit of public service and patriotism that 
has made America great. His work with the people of Tucson made him a 
popular member of the community, and his passion for social justice 
transcended his official role as a member of Congresswoman Giffords' 
staff and left an indelible impact on everyone around him.
  Gabe's drive to help others led him to pursue a master's degree in 
social work and a career in politics. Although Gabe's nascent career 
was cut tragically short, designating room HVC-215 as the Gabe 
Zimmerman Meeting Room will allow us to memorialize and celebrate his 
commitment to public service for years to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 
364.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Fleischmann) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 364.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.

                          ____________________