[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 121 (Tuesday, July 15, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H3266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            MOURNING THE LOSS OF LIFE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS

  (Mr. ROY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today mourning the loss of life in the 
State of Texas that touched profoundly everybody across this great 
country and so many people who are visiting this part of Texas.
  Obviously, we have been struck by the loss of life, particularly for 
those young girls associated with Camp Mystic.
  It has been grueling. It was a rough week.
  There has been a lot of destruction, and a lot of beautiful parts of 
our State have been destroyed, but we will rebuild.
  Here is the thing that I want to say. When people talk about 
destruction, what will not be destroyed is the spirit of the people of 
Texas; the spirit of the people that those camps represent; the spirit 
of the little girls who are already talking about wanting to go back; 
the spirit of the people associated with Dick Eastland, the camp 
director of Camp Mystic who gave his life trying to save those little 
girls; the spirit of Jane Ragsdale, who lost her life saving five 
little girls--her guitar was found down the Guadalupe River just 
yesterday; and the spirit of all the little girls who were riding in 
the bus as they left Camp Mystic, singing hymns and expressing their 
faith. They were looking at the destruction that they couldn't possibly 
comprehend as they left that camp, but they were still putting their 
faith in their Lord and their Savior.
  If there is anything we can take out of this, it is that sense of 
community, that sense of pride that we have in knowing that we will 
rebuild and that we will come together, and that sense that we know the 
power of the cross that stands on the hills over the city of Kerrville, 
the power of the faith of the people of Texas, and the power of the 
faith of the people of this Nation who have responded. Millions of 
dollars have come into the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill 
Country, $30 million last week, and I think that number is rising.
  I thank all the members here in this delegation. Most of them have 
reached out to me personally.
  To my friends and colleagues in this delegation: It is not just Kerr 
County. It is the State of Texas. Many of my colleagues have been 
affected across the State, but I thank them for their prayers and their 
well-wishes.
  Just know, Mr. Speaker, that their spirit endures. I cannot tell you 
how proud I am of the people of Texas, the people of Kerr County, 
Texas, and the first responders who are today back in the floodwaters, 
resuming the search for the missing. There are still over 100 missing 
in that part of our State.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask for a moment of silence.
  The SPEAKER. The Chair asks all those present in the Chamber, as well 
as Members and staff throughout the Capitol, to please join us in a 
moment of silence.
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, if I may, there are some little girls from Camp 
Mystic in the gallery, and I thank them for being here.

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