[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 208 (Thursday, December 2, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H6892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOR OF THE VICTIMS OF THE OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL 
                                TRAGEDY

  (Ms. SLOTKIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. SLOTKIN. Mr. Speaker, this has been one of the darkest and most 
painful weeks our State of Michigan has had in recent memory. We stand 
here, the Michigan delegation of Democrats and Republicans, along with 
honorary Michiganians, to ask Congress to recognize that pain and to 
ask Members here to see their own children in the pictures of those who 
were lost in yet another school shooting.
  In less than 5 minutes, the small town of Oxford, Michigan, was 
changed forever when a gunman opened fire on his fellow high school 
students.
  In that momentary flash, four innocent teenagers, students with their 
entire lives ahead of them, were taken from us in yet another senseless 
act of violence.
  Hana St. Juliana was an exuberant freshman and a volleyball and 
basketball player. She babysat for a friend of mine and brought joy to 
everyone who knew her. She made her high school debut on the basketball 
team on Monday night. Hana was 14 years old.
  Madisyn Baldwin was going to graduate this year, and she had already 
been accepted to several colleges, some with a full scholarship. She 
had a younger half-brother and two sisters, and her friends describe 
her as an artist who loved to draw, read, and write. Madisyn was 17.
  Tate Myre was a tight end and running back on the varsity football 
team and an honor student. There is already a petition circulating to 
rename Oxford's football stadium in his honor. He was 16 years old.
  Justin Shilling was a senior getting ready for life after high 
school. He was the co-captain of the school's bowling team, and he 
worked part-time at Anita's Kitchen, a restaurant in nearby Lake Orion. 
Justin was 17.
  Seven others were wounded, and make no mistake, every single student, 
parent, friend, family member, and community member in the greater area 
now has wounds that you can't see, the wounds that affect the head and 
the heart.
  Last night, I attended a service at a church where many Oxford 
families attend. The pastor spoke for many when he asked: ``Where do we 
go with our fears? We feel powerless to prevent this kind of tragedy. 
We mourn the brokenness of a culture where children kill children.''
  Today I ask my colleagues from across the country to join me in a 
moment of silence to honor the lives of Hana, Madisyn, Tate, and 
Justin.
  I ask you for this moment to put yourself in the shoes of the 
families in places like Columbine, Sandy Hook, Parkland, Santa Fe, 
Noblesville, and now Oxford, Michigan.
  And I ask you to refuse to be powerless in the powerful body that is 
the U.S. Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that the House observe a moment of silence in 
honor of the victims of the Oxford High School tragedy.

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