[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 25, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2677-S2678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ROBB ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, our country is sickened and outraged 
by the senseless evil that struck Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX, 
only yesterday. According to early reports from authorities, it appears 
that a deranged young man tried to murder his own grandmother, then 
crashed his car, and then ran into an elementary school and began 
killing.
  At least 19 young children and 2 teachers were murdered--murdered--
for no apparent reason at all. These innocent kids were simply going to 
school. They put on their backpacks, said goodbye to their parents, and 
headed off for another day of learning and friendship. There were only 
2 days left before summer break. And because of this maniac, at least 
19 of these kids never made it home.
  One of the victims was a 10-year-old girl whose father described her 
as ``full of life, a jokester, always smiling.'' A 10-year-old boy who 
loved sports and art had just received his honor roll certificate a few 
hours earlier. His mother says he was thrilled--thrilled--about moving 
up into middle school next year.
  It is literally sickening--sickening--to consider the innocent young 
lives that were stolen by this pointless, senseless brutality; to 
consider the parents and families who sat waiting at the civic center, 
waiting to either be reunited with their son or their daughter or to 
learn they never would be.
  The investigation is still underway. The authorities will continue to 
learn exactly what happened and how. In the meantime, we are also 
praying for the Border Patrol officer who, according to reports, was 
wounded after he responded to the scene, and for all the law 
enforcement, paramedics, and first responders whose dedication 
yesterday saved lives.
  Most of all, the entire Nation's hearts are broken for the victims 
and for their families. Words simply fail.
  Yesterday, the Uvalde school superintendent said:

       We're a small community [and] we're going to need your 
     prayers to get us through this.

  We pray fervently that in the midst of this nightmare of grief, our 
Heavenly Father will make manifest to

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those families his promise in Psalm 34 that ``the Lord is near to the 
brokenhearted.''

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