[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6854]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF MARLA RUZICKA

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the life 
and work of Marla Ruzicka, a remarkable woman and humanitarian who was 
killed last Saturday in a car bomb blast in Baghdad.
  My thoughts and prayers go out to her parents, Cliff and Nancy, her 
siblings, and her friends and coworkers. She will be sorely missed.
  Born and raised in Lakeport, CA, Marla dedicated her life to helping 
the innocent victims of war who needed a voice and needed a champion.
  She traveled to war zones like Afghanistan and Iraq on her own and at 
her own risk to document civilian casualties and find ways to provide 
the needed humanitarian assistance.
  Two years ago, at the age of 26, she founded the Campaign for 
Innocent Victims in Conflict to ``mitigate the impact of the conflict 
and its aftermath on the people of Iraq by ensuring that timely and 
effective life-saving assistance is provided to those in need''.
  A tireless and relentless advocate for her cause, she talked to 
anyone who would listen and would win over doubters with her smile, 
kindness, and compassion.
  In fact, in no small part to her own initiative, she helped convince 
Congress and the U.S. military to provide $30 million for innocent 
victims of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, something that had not 
been accomplished before.
  Few have done so much and helped so many at such a young age.
  Her father said he would remember her as a ``lady with a tremendously 
open heart and warm feelings toward the people who've been in conflict 
and war.''
  As we mourn the loss of a loving and caring American, let us also 
celebrate the life of Marla Ruzicka and rededicate ourselves to the 
cause she personified. In her memory, let us reach out to Afghan and 
Iraqi civilians who have suffered in silence and be their voice and 
champion.
  I can think of no finer tribute.

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