[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 37 (Monday, February 27, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H897-H898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  MOMENT OF SILENCE IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE LIVES LOST IN THE MICHIGAN 
                       STATE UNIVERSITY SHOOTING

  (Ms. SLOTKIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. SLOTKIN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Michigan 
State University, as tonight marks 2 weeks since a horrific shooting 
took the lives of three innocent students and injured five others.
  On February 13, 2023, Arielle Anderson, Brian Fraser, and Alexandria

[[Page H898]]

Verner were taken from us far too soon. Four students are still in 
Sparrow Hospital. One, thankfully, has been released and is at home.
  In the days since, we have all spent many hours in East Lansing 
talking to MSU current Spartans and alumni. The strength and resilience 
I have witnessed has been both inspiring and moving.
  I have attended vigils where thousands have shown up to honor the 
victims and talk to students who are too scared to leave their dorm 
rooms.
  We have seen demonstrations where brave young students have made 
clear that they want action, not just thoughts and prayers.
  I have also met with many of the 25 different law enforcement and 
first responder organizations that ran toward the danger that night. I 
commend the 911 dispatchers who guided agencies calmly during the 
response for both the shootings and the manhunt, as well as thank staff 
at Sparrow Hospital for saving students who were transported with 
gunshot wounds.
  Our community is Spartan strong, but the grief remains palpable--even 
on my own team, my staff who is here--among current MSU and alumni.
  Almost 15 months ago, this same group of Michigan lawmakers with our 
friends and allies stood up here to mourn the loss of life at Oxford 
High School. It seems beyond belief that I am a Member of Congress who 
has now overseen two school shootings in her district in 15 months--yet 
another horrific tragedy that has forever changed the families of the 
victims, their classmates, professors, and the entire community.
  We cannot be desensitized to this senseless violence.
  As the Representative of the university, I have heard from people 
across the State who love MSU and want to protect our children. All 
anyone wants is to protect our kids in a place that should be their 
sanctuary. Gun violence is the number one killer of children under 21, 
and I will work with anyone who is willing to recognize that and decide 
that we are not going to accept it.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues for a moment of silence 
for Arielle, for Brian, for Alexandria, and for the families and our 
State who grieve this immeasurable loss.

                          ____________________