[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 52 (Monday, April 13, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H2131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ALL LIVES MATTER
(Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House
for 1 minute.)
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, just as the President does, the United
States Congress has the bully pulpit. In doing so, I believe that
America cries out for a response. Over the past 6 months to a year, we
have seen a number of tragic incidences occurring between civilians and
police. In particular, we cite the tragedy of the shooting of Walter
Scott in South Carolina.
All lives matter.
To those who have been petitioning and protesting--young people
indicating that black lives matter--it is a reflection of the high
number of African Americans who find themselves at the wrong end of the
gun of someone engaged in law enforcement.
We know that there are good people who serve this Nation, and we are
a law-abiding nation. So, Mr. Speaker, I think it is extremely
important that we begin an open discussion in the Congress that deals
with the issues of lethal force, excessive force, police training,
statistics.
I intend to introduce and to ask my colleagues to join me on the
Cadet bill, which reaches a wide-ranging perspective of the statistics
of shootings in America--civilian shootings on police and law
enforcement shootings on civilians--because that is the science of
criminal justice reform. I draw upon this to say that we cannot be
silent anymore. People are hurting. My sympathy to those who have lost
lives, including law enforcement and our civilians.
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