[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 188 (Thursday, December 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         H. RES. 364, NAMING HVC-215 THE GABRIEL ZIMMERMAN ROOM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JARED POLIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2011

  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 
364, a bill designating room HVC-215 of the Capitol Visitor Center as 
the ``Gabriel Zimmerman Room.''
  Almost one year ago, a gunman ruthlessly opened fire on a crowd 
attending one of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' ``Congresswoman on 
the Corner'' events at a local supermarket. That day is one of this 
body's greatest tragedies, and we will forever remember the 13 wounded, 
including Congresswoman Giffords and the 6 individuals that lost their 
lives.
  Today, we have the opportunity to remember one of those individuals 
who was taken from us, Gabriel Zimmerman, the Director of Community 
Outreach for Congresswoman Giffords. Gabriel's position was to enable 
the Congresswoman to interact closely with constituents, organizations 
and citizens throughout southern Arizona. Indeed, he had devoted his 
life to public service.
  By dedicating HVC-215 as the ``Gabriel Zimmerman Room,'' we are not 
only commemorating the first congressional staffer in history to be 
killed in the performance of his official duties, but we also are 
memorializing the value of civic participation which Gabriel Zimmerman 
exemplified in his life.
  Gabriel, at the age of thirty was engaged to be married. He was known 
to be a kind, hardworking person respected throughout Congresswoman 
Giffords' Eighth Congressional District.
  He graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 2002 
with a degree in sociology and then went on to graduate from Arizona 
State University in 2006 with a Masters in social work. Gabriel 
continued his passion for civic service as a social worker assisting 
troubled youth prior to joining Congresswoman Giffords' staff.
  None of us in this body will forget Gabriel and all those who were 
brutally and senselessly murdered that day.
  The naming of a room in the Capitol Visitor Center will forever 
memorialize this young man whose commitment to public service and 
idealism we should all hope to emulate each and every day. We must 
continue to fulfill our promise of improving and supporting our 
communities and our country, as Gabriel so honestly believed we, the 
Congress, should.

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