[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 162 (Monday, October 1, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6408-S6409]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             SPORTS MEDICINE LICENSURE CLARITY ACT OF 2017

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, as in legislative 
session, the Senate will resume consideration of the House message to 
accompany H.R. 302, which the clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       House message to accompany H.R. 302, a bill to provide 
     protections for certain sports medicine professionals who 
     provide certain medical services in a secondary State.

  Pending:

       McConnell motion to concur in the amendment of the House to 
     the amendment of the Senate to the bill.
       McConnell motion to concur in the amendment of the House to 
     the amendment of the Senate to the bill, with McConnell 
     amendment No. 4026 (to the motion to concur in the amendment 
     of the House to the amendment of the Senate), to change the 
     enactment date.
       McConnell amendment No. 4027 (to amendment No. 4026), of a 
     perfecting nature.
       McConnell motion to refer the House message to accompany 
     the bill to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation, with instructions, McConnell amendment No. 
     4028, to change the enactment date.
       McConnell amendment No. 4029 (the instructions (amendment 
     No. 4028) of the motion to refer), of a perfecting nature.
       McConnell amendment No. 4030 (to amendment No. 4029), of a 
     perfecting nature.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.


                        Las Vegas Mass Shooting

  Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, 1 year has passed since 58 lives 
were cut short at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival. Those wounded 
and killed that night had come together to have fun, to relax, and to 
celebrate their love of country music with their friends and families 
in my hometown of Las Vegas. Instead of a celebration, terror rained 
down on them that night.
  As Nevadans woke up to the news of what happened, many like me were 
shocked and heartbroken. We asked, how could this happen?
  I will never forget going to the family reunification center, where 
families were looking for their loved ones or were waiting for calls 
from the coroner, and I will never forget the parents I spoke to 
moments before their learning that their daughter, Melissa, didn't make 
it.
  In the weeks following the 1 October massacre, Las Vegans 
demonstrated that we are a tight-knit family who rallies together in 
times of need. We heard stories of incredible bravery at the scene of 
the attack--a husband who died to protect his wife on the night they 
were celebrating their 23rd wedding anniversary; a former marine who 
turned a truck into a makeshift ambulance and drove more than two dozen 
people to the hospital; a couple who provided CPR to victims as bullets 
rained down; a mother who went into mamma bear mode and used her body 
as a shield to protect her children; hundreds of concert-goers who 
risked their lives while carrying fellow concert-goers to safety.
  All of our firefighters and police officers in Southern Nevada, 
including the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Clark 
County School District Police, the Las Vegas Fire Department, and the 
Clark County Fire Department, deserve our utmost thanks for their 
bravery on the night of the attack. They, along with American Medical 
Response, MedicWest Ambulance, Community Ambulance, the University 
Medical Center, Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, the Valley Health 
System, Dignity Health, and all of the first responders in Southern 
Nevada, went above and beyond the call of duty.
  On October 1, many of these brave men and women ran toward the 
bullets, putting their lives in grave danger because they knew it was 
the only way to save people in need. Nurses and doctors worked all 
through the night, not just on October 1 but for months afterward to 
care for the wounded.
  Before dawn had even broken on October 2, people in Las Vegas, Reno, 
and throughout the State had formed lines at blood banks. Many of the 
lines were so long they stretched out the door and around the block. 
The staff at United Blood Services worked tirelessly to process the 
donations and get the blood supply to our area hospitals.
  In the weeks that followed, Las Vegans held candlelight vigils. They 
donated food, coffee, water, and blankets to help the survivors and the 
victims' families. They constructed beautiful memorials that still 
stand as a testament to those taken and to provide healing to every 
person impacted by events of that night.
  The Red Cross and the Department of Veterans Affairs stepped in to 
bring mobile units to our hospitals.
  The FBI and the Nevada Victims of Crime Program helped grieving 
families secure funds to cover funeral and travel costs.
  Our military community stepped in to provide critical support as 
well. Airmen from Nellis Air Force Base were present at the concert on 
the night of the shooting and helped evacuate attendees. Nellis medical 
professionals treated victims and helped saved lives while the military 
spouse community collected basic necessities for the survivors and the 
victims' families.
  Providers at the Las Vegas-based Behavioral Bilingual Services were 
instrumental in addressing immigration and language barriers for so 
many immigrant survivors.
  The Clark County staff at the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center has been 
there for survivors every step of the way, advocating on their behalf 
and helping them find new jobs, getting them compensation for lost 
wages, and getting them the mental health care they need.
  Airlines like Allegiant and Southwest and medical providers like 
Valley Health Systems, Medic West, and American Medical Response helped 
defray costs for the victims and their families.
  St. Rose Dominican Hospitals said that they would not bill or require 
payment from any of the victims they treated, and United Health waived 
cost-sharing for victims so that they could get treatment for months 
after the tragedy with no out-of-pocket costs.
  The generosity didn't end there. People from all over the world 
donated more than $31 million to pay for basic necessities, medical 
bills, and funeral costs for the victims and their families.
  One year has passed since the events of October 1, 2017. I know for 
many in our community of Las Vegas, and for the hundreds of survivors, 
it feels as though they have been forgotten, but please know--please 
know--the survivors and those who were taken will never be forgotten.
  We will always hold the names and stories of everyone affected by 
this tragedy in our hearts and in our minds. In Las Vegas, we are still 
healing. We

[[Page S6409]]

are still grieving for the family members who are no longer with us--
for sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, cousins, nieces, nephews, 
aunts, and children we will never see again. We are still grieving for 
the survivors, whose lives will never be the same.
  I don't believe perfect healing is possible, but I do believe we can 
learn to adjust to the searing pain of tragedy. We do it through 
remembrance.
  Through remembrance, the people we love are never truly gone, as long 
as we are around to say their names or share a memory of them. Through 
remembrance, the people and families who are still healing from their 
wounds are shown the love and comfort of our community.
  Today, in remembrance of that awful night 1 year ago, let's give 
thanks for the bravery and dedication of our first responders. Let's 
continue to do everything we can to support those who are still 
struggling to recover from the emotional and physical wounds they 
sustained on October 1.
  Fifty-eight innocent lives ended on October 1, but thousands more 
were changed forever. We must keep the survivors in our minds and in 
our hearts as they heal from their injuries, both visible and 
invisible, and get back on their feet.
  The Davis family lost their daughter Neysa on the night of the 
shooting. Neysa's dream was that her three sons would graduate from 
college. They decided that the best way to heal their family and their 
community was to start an organization dedicated to fulfilling Neysa's 
dream. I thank the Davis family for their resilience and their 
generosity.
  We must follow the Davis family's example and continue to come 
together as a community. We must come together, not just in Las Vegas 
but all throughout Nevada to bring healing, peace, and hope to everyone 
who was affected.
  Tonight, at 6:30 p.m., the city of Las Vegas will host a ceremony at 
the Las Vegas Community Healing Garden to dedicate a new remembrance 
wall. I encourage everyone back home to try to attend this event or 
simply take a moment to pause and reflect in honor of the victims and 
their families.
  In a few moments, I will read the names of everyone who was killed so 
that their names will be reserved in the Congressional Record.
  May God bless the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and 
everyone affected by this strategy.
  Today, we remember Austin Cooper Meyer, 24 years of age from Sparks, 
NV; Brennan Lee Stewart, 30, North Las Vegas, NV; Cameron Lee Robinson, 
28, Las Vegas, NV; Charleston Hartfield, Henderson, NV, 34 years of 
age; Eric Steven Silva, 21 years old, Las Vegas, NV; Laura Anne Shipp, 
50, Las Vegas, NV; Neysa Christine Tonks, 46, Las Vegas, NV; Quinton 
Joe Robbins, 20, Henderson, NV; Adrian Allan Murfitt, 35, Anchorage, 
AK; Dorene Anderson, 49, Anchorage, AK; Brett Erin Schwanbeck, 61, 
Bullhead City, AZ; Andrea Lee Anna Castilla, 28, Santa Ana, CA; Angela 
Christine Gomez, 20, Riverside, CA; Austin William Davis, 29, 
Riverside, CA; Bailey Dee Schweitzer, 20, Bakersfield, CA; Brian Scott 
Fraser, 39, La Palma, CA; Candice Ryan Bowers, 40, Garden Grove, CA; 
Carrie Rae Barnette, 34, Riverside, CA; Christiana Mae Duarte, 22, 
Redondo Beach, CA; Christopher Hazencomb, 44, Camarillo, CA; 
Christopher Louis Roybal, 28, Corona, CA; Dana Leann Gardner, 52, Grand 
Terrace, CA; Denise Marie Cohen, 58, Carpinteria, CA; Derrick Dean 
Taylor, 56, Bonita, CA; Hannah Ahlers, 34, Beaumont, CA; Jack Reginald 
Beaton, 54, Bakersfield, CA; Jennifer Marie Parks, 35, Lancaster, CA; 
Jennifer Topaz Irvine, 42, San Diego, CA; John Joseph Phippen, 56, 
Santa Clarita, CA; Jordyn Nicole Rivera, 21, La Verne, CA; Kelsey 
Breanne Meadows, 28, Taft, CA; Keri Lynn Galvan, 31, Thousand Oaks, CA; 
Kurt Allen Von Tillow, 55, Cameron Park, CA; Lisa Marie Patterson, 46, 
Lomita, CA; Melissa Ramirez, 26, Littlerock, CA; Michelle Vo, 32, 
Marina del Rey, CA; Patricia Mestas, 67, Riverside, CA; Rachael 
Kathleen Parker, 33, Long Beach, CA; Rocio Guillen, 40, Corona, CA; 
Sandra Lee Casey, 35, Torrance, CA; Stacee Ann Etcheber, 50, Novato, 
CA; Susan Marie Smith, 53, Simi Valley, CA; Teresa Kimura, 38, 
Placentia, CA; Thomas Allen Day, Jr., 54, Corona, CA; Victor Lloyd 
Link, 55, Aliso Viejo, CA; Calla-Marie Medig, 28, Edmonton Alberta, 
Canada; Jessica Lynn Klymchuk, 34, Valleyview, Alberta, Canada; Jordan 
Alan McIldoon, 23, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada; Tara Ann Roe, 
34, Okotuks, Alberta, Canada; Carly Anne Kreibaum, 33, Sutherland, IA; 
Rhonda LeRocque, 42, Tewksbury, MA; Stephen Richard Berger, 44, 
Excelsior, MN; Lisa Romero-Muniz, 48, Gallup, NM; William Winfield 
Wolfe, Jr., 42, Newburg, PA; James Sonny Melton, 29, Big Sandy, TN; 
Heather Lorraine Alvarado, 35, Cedar City, UT; Carolyn Lee Parsons, 31, 
Seattle, WA; and Denise Brenna Burditus, 50, Martinsburg, WV.
  To the hundreds injured that night, those still recovering from the 
scars, visible and invisible, we stand with you. We have not forgotten.
  Thank you.
  I yield the floor.

                          ____________________