[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 7086-7090]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES OF CONGRESS IN AFTERMATH OF RECENT SCHOOL 
                    SHOOTING IN RED LAKE, MINNESOTA

  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 126) expressing the condolences and 
deepest sympathies of the Congress in the aftermath of the recent 
school shooting at Red Lake High School in Red Lake, Minnesota.
  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
the Clerk read the entire resolution into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Minnesota?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 126

       Whereas, on March 21, 2005, a troubled teenager opened fire 
     at the Red Lake High School in Red Lake, Minnesota, killing 
     five students, one teacher, and one security guard, after 
     previously killing his grandfather and his grandfather's 
     companion in their own home, before killing himself: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That the Congress--
       (1) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the tragic 
     violence which occurred at Red Lake High School in Red Lake, 
     Minnesota;
       (2) honors the heroism and memory of Derrick Brun, whose 
     courageous actions and self-sacrifice no doubt saved the 
     lives of others;
       (3) honors the heroism, courage, and memory of Daryl 
     Lussier, Michelle Sigana, Neva Rogers, Dewayne Lewis, Chase 
     Lussier, Alicia Spike, Thurlene Stillday, and Chanelle 
     Rosebear, who lost their lives in this terrible tragedy;
       (4) offers condolences to all of the families, friends, and 
     loved ones of the victims;
       (5) honors the heroism of Ryan Auginash, Steven Cobenais, 
     Lance Crowe, Jeffrey May, and Cody Thunder, all of whom were 
     wounded, and expresses hope for the rapid and complete 
     recovery of these victims as well as support for their 
     families, friends, and loved ones;
       (6) applauds the Red Lake Band of Chippewa for their 
     strength as a community in dealing with this tragedy;
       (7) applauds the hard work, dedication, and professional 
     conduct exhibited by local, State, and Federal law 
     enforcement officials and the other community leaders and 
     private citizens who offered their support and assistance; 
     and
       (8) applauds the hard work and dedication of the health 
     care personnel and commends them for providing tireless and 
     sensitive care to the victims, the families, and the entire 
     community;
       (9) encourages the American people to renew their 
     commitment to and support for efforts to prevent school 
     violence.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Kline) and the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline).


                             General Leave

  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
H. Con. Res. 126.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Minnesota?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 126, which 
expresses the condolences and deepest sympathies of the Congress in the 
aftermath of the recent shooting at Red Lake High School in Red Lake, 
Minnesota. I want to express my appreciation to the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Peterson) for his leadership in introducing this 
resolution and providing an opportunity for Members of Congress to 
express our condolences and support for the Red Lake community.
  On March 21, 2005, a 16-year-old student opened fire at the Red Lake 
High School, taking the lives of five students, one teacher and one 
security guard before ending his own. This troubled teenager is also 
responsible for the deaths of his grandfather and his grandfather's 
friend.
  As we express our sympathies today, we pause to honor the bravery of 
heroes such as Derrick Brun, an unarmed school security guard whose 
self-sacrifice allowed time for a fellow security guard to rush a group 
of students to safety while costing Derrick his own life. We also honor 
the memories of those who lost their lives in this terrible tragedy and 
offer our heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the loved ones they 
left behind.
  Finally, we express our support for the tight-knit Red Lake 
community. We wish a speedy and complete physical recovery for the five 
students who were wounded, and a complete emotional recovery for all 
those affected by this tragedy. The continued recovery of the Red Lake 
community would not be possible without the hard work and dedication 
shown by the local, State and Federal law enforcement officials who 
have responded to this situation and the support, care and assistance 
given by health care personnel and private citizens both inside and 
outside this community.
  Mr. Speaker, we are all saddened by this tragedy and condemn the 
violence which occurred at Red Lake High School on that awful day in 
March. I am thankful for the opportunity to express the condolences of 
Congress to the victims of this tragedy as well as to their loved ones 
and surrounding community.
  Again, I thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Peterson) for his 
leadership on this resolution and urge my colleagues to support H. Con. 
Res. 126.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 126, and I want 
to thank

[[Page 7087]]

my colleague from Minnesota for bringing this resolution to the floor. 
Our hearts have been with the Red Lake Band of Chippewa over the past 
month, and I want to express my deepest sympathies to the families and 
friends who lost loved ones on March 21. I also wish a speedy recovery 
to those who still remain in the hospital.
  I would like our opening statement to come from the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Peterson). He represents the Red Lake in Congress and 
has introduced this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Minnesota (Mr. Peterson).
  Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding me this time.
  I have the honor of representing the people of the Red Lake Nation, 
which is a very strong people, a very proud people. They have a 
beautiful reservation in northwestern Minnesota, fairly remote, but 
they have some of the most beautiful land in the country. This tragedy 
that occurred on March 21 has affected every single member of the Red 
Lake Band of Chippewa Indians.
  This is a very tight-knit community. I was there to attend many of 
the funerals. I can tell from personal experience that there was not, I 
think, a single person on the reservation that was not affected by this 
terrible tragedy. Lives were lost, as has been said, families were 
shattered, and this entire community was reduced to quiet heartbreak 
and painful tears. Many of us witnessed that.
  But, as I said, they are a strong community, they are responding well 
under the circumstances, and what I am doing here is giving people an 
opportunity to show what we have experienced up at the Red Lake 
Reservation during this period of time.
  I cannot tell you how many letters and e-mails and phone calls we 
have received, a tremendous outpouring within Indian country from every 
part of the world, the United States, from other parts of the world, 
calling and offering their sympathy, their condolences and their 
support for the people of the Red Lake Nation.

                              {time}  1200

  So I think I speak for all Members of Congress when I say that we 
here offer our heartfelt sympathy and support for these families.
  I heard from many of my colleagues shortly after this incident 
occurred. And we also want to, as was said, offer thanks and 
appreciation to everybody who stepped up to help in the aftermath of 
this tragedy. Of course, the tribal leadership has done an outstanding 
job and they were there to make sure that the response was coordinated 
and effective. The tribal police did an outstanding job. We had a lot 
of other local first responders that came in and helped out. The health 
care professionals on the reservation and in the surrounding area were 
outstanding in their help and support. Social workers, the school 
personnel, everybody up there just really pulled together. And because 
of that, some of these young people that were wounded look like they 
are going to come out of this, after a long recovery, doing okay.
  Of the five people that were wounded, two of them still remain in the 
hospital, and they are going to have a long recovery. But they are 
doing well. They are actually coming around faster than people 
expected. I have had the opportunity to go up and visit with them and 
their family on two different occasions. And shortly after this 
occurred, it was kind of a touch-and-go situation. But they really have 
responded. And there are some brave young men that are still in the 
hospital and are going to take some time to recover.
  One of the things that, in trying to do what one can do to console 
people in this kind of situation, the one thing that I think everybody 
agreed with up at the Red Lake Band is that something good has to come 
out of this terrible tragedy. And as we speak, there is a meeting going 
on over in the Rayburn office building that some of us pulled together 
with the tribal leaders, with the members of the Minnesota delegation, 
and, by the way, I want to thank all of my fellow members of the 
Minnesota delegation for co-sponsoring this resolution and being there 
to support us in any way that they can. They have been outstanding both 
in the House and in the other body. But that meeting is going on now, 
and I have never seen such a group of high-level Federal officials from 
the administration in one place in just the time that I have been in 
Washington.
  And that shows that this is not only something that concerns us in 
the Congress. The President and the administration have stepped up. The 
President had a representative up at the Red Lake Reservation for the 
first funerals. The director of the BIA spent considerable time up 
there, as well as many other folks from different agencies. So we have 
had a tremendous response from not only Members of Congress but from 
members of the administration. And I can speak on behalf of all of the 
people in Red Lake, that response has been greatly appreciated.
  But as I said, the Tribal Council, they are having a tough time 
because it is a remote area. They do not have the resources to meet the 
basic needs, and what we need to do in this Congress is help them to 
put together a plan so that they can emerge as a stronger Red Lake 
Nation but, more importantly than that, that we can give the young 
people of this reservation that are going to be the future leaders the 
hope and opportunity of support that they need so that they can carry 
on the great tradition of the Red Lake Nation.
  And, lastly, I would like to say that a number of these folks that 
were involved in this were true heroes. They shielded classmates, 
friends. Because of their actions, fewer people were injured and fewer 
people died. They were true heroes. And in the tradition of the Red 
Lake Nation, what they would refer to these people as is warriors. They 
earned the designation of warrior because they stood up at a time when 
it was needed.
  So I just appreciate the support of all my colleagues. I encourage my 
colleagues to support us and to continue to support us as we move 
forward to help the Red Lake Nation become stronger and have more 
opportunity for young people in the future.
  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Kennedy).
  Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my 
colleagues from Minnesota in expressing my condolences, all of 
Minnesota's condolences, all of the country's condolences, to the 
families and loved ones of the victims of the tragic shooting at Red 
Lake High School. And I too would like to thank the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Kline) and the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum) 
for bringing this to the floor, as well as the leadership, especially 
the leadership that the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Peterson) has had 
on this issue in his district.
  I think all of us would have a difficult time imagining the profound 
sadness that the families are feeling. But beyond the immeasurable 
human tragedy of the lives lost that day, this incident has created 
fear in the minds of parents and teachers and, most importantly, kids, 
who may no longer view their school as a safe place. Schools must be a 
place of learning and a place that challenges young minds, not a place 
where students live in fear.
  However, in this tragedy we found heroes. Heroes, as the gentleman 
from Minnesota (Mr. Kline) mentioned, like Derrick Brun, who bravely 
stood at the entrance to the school and confronted the shooter, giving 
his partner time to alert school officials. This courage and other 
courage we saw from others throughout this incident no doubt saved 
lives.
  We all honor the memories of all of the victims whose lives were cut 
tragically short by the needless act of violence.
  Mr. Speaker, we must all work together to make sure that events like 
this do not happen again. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone 
who was touched by this tragedy. We are committed to work together, all 
of us, to find solutions so that no more young lives are cut short.

[[Page 7088]]

  I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.
  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo).
  Mr. SABO. Mr. Speaker, I join my Minnesota colleagues in expressing 
sorrow and support to the people of Red Lake, Minnesota, as they take 
steps to heal their community after the unspeakable tragedy of March 
22.
  It must have been a moment of unimaginable horror when parents 
realized that the children they sent off to school that morning were 
caught up in such terrible violence. In addition to those killed and 
injured, the entire community has been victimized by these acts of 
violence. After the initial shock, the community must come together to 
grieve their losses and ask the difficult questions: What went wrong 
and what can be done to keep it from happening again?
  We were also reminded that there are heroes in tragedy who put their 
own safety aside to save the lives of others. Derrick Brun showed us 
what is good about this world in a moment that we needed reassuring.
  The world watched a tragedy unfold in Red Lake. We must stand with 
this community as it pulls together to treat its injured and to heal 
its wounds. We offer our condolences and support as they continue the 
healing process that they have just begun.
  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time
  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Gutknecht).
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time.
  And I thank my colleague from the Seventh Congressional District for 
offering this resolution at this time to pay tribute and to offer our 
condolences to all of the people, not only of the victims but even of 
the people who committed these terrible acts up in Red Lake.
  Unfortunately, I think most of America, most Members of Congress will 
always think of Red Lake now in the terms of this great tragedy. But I 
would like to take a few minutes to think of a happier time, of a 
prouder time. And it is a story that most of the Members should know, 
and most of the Members do not, of what happened in 1997 in Red Lake. 
And that was the story of Gerald Kingbird and the story of the warriors 
who came down from Red Lake and brought a basketball team to the 
Minnesota State basketball tournament, and they offered something that 
had not been seen on many Indian reservations for many years, and that 
was a sense of pride, a sense of hope, and a sense of unity.
  It was perhaps one of the greatest basketball teams ever assembled. 
They lost in the semi-finals that year to the Wabasso Rabbits 117 to 
113, and it was perhaps the greatest basketball game ever played in the 
history of the State of Minnesota. And I bring that to Members' 
attention because, yes, this high school has been the scene of a 
terrible tragedy, but it has also been the scene of enormous pride in 
Native American activities. And what they did in 1997 in that game and 
in that tournament, I think, should also stand as a tribute to the 
people of Red Lake.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I will insert an article into the Congressional 
Record, and I hope that my colleagues will read this article because I 
think it speaks of the kind of pride that we saw in 1997.
  Clearly, this is a terrible tragic time for the people in Red Lake. 
But I hope that they will reflect and that we will reflect that there 
have been better days before and there will be better days to come.
  I agree with my colleagues that we must do all that we can to make 
our schools safe. I agree with my colleagues when we say that schools 
should be places where kids want to go and feel comfortable. And we at 
the Federal level, and I am sure our colleagues at the State level, 
will do all that we can.
  But I do not think we should take from this a belief that this is 
going to be a common occurrence or that this is really what happens in 
too many schools today. This is a rare occurrence, and we hope that it 
will never happen again. But we also hope that Members will remember 
that there have been happy and proud days in the days of the Red Lake 
Reservation and there will be happy and proud days to come.
  The material previously referred to is as follows:

                 [From the Star Tribune, Apr. 3, 2005]

        ``I'm Going To Stay Here Always,'' Says a Red Lake Star

                             (By Doug Grow)

       Red Lake, Mn.--At the time, I didn't get it.
       In 1997, the Red Lake High School boys' basketball team 
     earned a trip to the Twin Cities for the state high school 
     basketball tournament.
       Not only were Red Lakers thrilled by this first-time 
     development, all of Indian country adopted this group of 
     kids. The Red Lake Warriors were Native America's team.
       After a few days here, I think I've finally begun to 
     understand why. That team represented something far greater 
     than winning on the basketball court. It represented triumph. 
     Finally, the rest of us were linking these words: success and 
     reservation.
       The Red Lake team lost in the semifinals of the tournament 
     that year, but in the process they won over the hearts of 
     thousands of Minnesotans. Behind the incredible performance 
     of a sophomore point guard, Gerald Kingbird, the team 
     overcame a huge fourth-quarter deficit and forced overtime 
     against Wabasso.
       The Wabasso Rabbits finally pulled out a 117-113 victory in 
     what many believe was the most magnificent high school game 
     ever played in Minnesota. Videos of that game still are 
     constantly played all over Red Lake.
       In fact, new teachers at the high school often are shown a 
     tape of the game as part of their orientation. At a place 
     where there is often failure, the tape of that game shows 
     what is possible.
       Smiling shyly, Kingbird talked of how he recently played 
     the tape for one of his three daughters.
       ``I showed it and when you get to the fourth quarter, the 
     announcer is always saying, `Kingbird! Kingbird! Kingbird!''' 
     he said. ``When it was over she started calling me `Daddy 
     Kingbird.'''
       Kingbird's 24 now. He's married to his high school 
     sweetheart, Kimberly Pemberton. They both have degrees in 
     elementary education from Bemidji State University. They have 
     three daughters and a home in the reservation town of Redby. 
     He works at the Seven Clans Casino in Red Lake, but both hope 
     to begin teaching at the reservation's elementary school in 
     the fall.
       ``Why did you come back?'' I asked Kingbird in a 
     conversation Friday morning. ``You could live anywhere. 
     What's the draw of this place that seems so harsh?''
       Kingbird looked at me, befuddled. There was a long period 
     of silence as he mulled over what he considered an absurd 
     question.
       ``This is my home,'' he said. ``I grew up here; my family 
     is here; I'm going to stay here always. I've lived in 
     Bemidji. I've been to the Cities. From what I can see, this 
     is no different than any other place, except for the color of 
     skin of the people.''
       It is no different and it is vastly different.
       Visitors often are reminded that they aren't really in 
     Minnesota anymore when they cross into Red Lake.
       ``You just have to remember that it's no different than 
     going to any other foreign country,'' said Gene Dillon, a 
     white man who was reluctantly closing his Redby restaurant 
     after running it for 18 years with his wife, Darlene, who is 
     also white. ``It was just like when I was in the Navy. When 
     you went to another country, the commander would always 
     remind us that `now you play by their rules.'''
       In Red Lake in the past few days, there often was anger at 
     the sight of reporters. But there also was extraordinary 
     graciousness.
       One morning, my colleagues and I were in the home of Chunky 
     and Barbara Brun, the parents of Derrick Brun, the security 
     guard who was among those killed on March 21.
       The phone was ringing off the hook. Reporters from across 
     the country were calling for interviews.
       Each time the phone rang, Brun would pick up the receiver 
     and quietly explain to the reporter that he wasn't doing 
     interviews on this day. He hoped they understood. He wasn't 
     trying to be rude.
       It typically took Brun five minutes to run down an 
     interview request. Despite his grieving, he never became 
     angry.
       In the past few days, I met political hacks but also saw 
     people move into positions of leadership with strength and 
     dignity.
       At the moment his son was arrested and charged with 
     conspiracy in the March 21 killings at Red Lake High, Tribal 
     Chairman Floyd (Buck) Jourdain Jr. no longer was in a 
     position to be the face of Red Lake in these days of pain and 
     media attention.
       Tribal secretary Judy Roy took on the task of being the 
     public leader. She did not relish the role. She constantly 
     urged all of us to be patient in judging the Jourdain family. 
     At the same time she filled his shoes as the

[[Page 7089]]

     person in front of cameras, speaking for Red Lake.
       There are several problems at Red Lake. Fear of more 
     violence now has been added to such longtime ills as poverty, 
     family dysfunction, truancy and chemical addiction.
       Kingbird knows all about the woes. But, he said, when he 
     and Kimberly were adolescent sweethearts, they vowed to get 
     college educations and come back home to teach.
       ``Maybe we can help,'' he said.
       And it never should be forgotten that Red Lake can be a 
     place of triumph.
       Thursday night, for example, the Kingbirds' youngest 
     daughter, 1-year-old TeAnndra, took her first steps.
       ``She took four steps,'' her proud father said, ``and then 
     looked around and started clapping.''

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar).
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me 
this time and commend the gentleman from northwestern Minnesota (Mr. 
Peterson) for offering this resolution and all of my Minnesota 
colleagues in joining in a moment of reflection and of solidarity for 
the people of the Red Lake Band, to pray for those whose lives were 
taken, for those who survived, for the families of all, victims and 
perpetrator alike.
  This is an occasion to mourn, but it is an occasion also to reflect, 
to join our hearts in prayer, but to reflect on the past and to 
consider what might be for the future.
  The gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum) has spoken eloquently 
about the tragedy at Red Lake. The gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. 
Peterson) who represents the district, who knows the people intimately, 
the people of Red Lake, has spoken about the spirit of warrior on the 
reservation. I would like to think in a broader term about the 
Nishnawbe people, who have not been well treated going back to the 
times of the treaties of the 1850s; and particularly among them, the 
Red Lake, that ceded in 1863 11 million acres to the United States for 
$500,000, a paltry sum in comparison to the value and the expanse of 
land.

                              {time}  1215

  In 1889, they ceded an additional 2.9 million acres for a 50-year 
trust fund, only a third of which went to the people of Red Lake.
  And again to the 1902 Western Township Treaty, they again ceded 
256,000 acres to the United States for very little in return, except 
for recognition. The Nishnawbe people deserve better than recognition, 
deserve more than beads and blankets, for their land, their rights, the 
rights to hunt and fish, the right to earn a living.
  Over 100 years ago, the first education was introduced into Red Lake. 
Lewis and Clark passed through the Red Lake territory, but it was not 
until the mid-1930s that a high school was established in Red Lake. 
They have been a proud people, proud to rely upon themselves and the 
resources of their traditions. It is going to take more than a visit to 
the sweat lodges to heal the pain and the suffering that the people 
feel because of this tragedy.
  I pray that Red Lake will be known for more than this incident that 
is just an intrusion upon a long and proud history. But I pray also, 
and I urge this body, to pay attention not just to Red Lake, to the 
Nishnawbe people and to the First Americans, but to the needs that they 
have throughout this country, for greater investment in education, 
greater investment in job training and opportunities, for greater 
investment in health care, and housing and water and sewer and road and 
development and access on the reservations of this country. That is the 
great tragedy, that they are not served, our first peoples of this 
land.
  We have taken from them the riches, the resources, minerals and 
hydrocarbons; we have given very little back in return. In recent 
years, casino gambling has provided a revenue stream and a source of 
opportunity for investment on many of the reservations of the native 
American peoples. But it has not benefited all. Red Lake is among those 
that has not benefited, has not been able to enjoy a revenue stream.
  But even for those who have been able to develop a revenue stream 
over the last 20 years, you cannot erase 200 years of mistreatment in 2 
decades. And let this incident, while an anachronism, not resulting 
from internal ferment and neglect on the reservation, but an intrusion 
upon the people of Red Lake, let this be a call to attention to think 
more constructively and productively about the needs of native 
Americans and our responsibility to invest more and to help them lift 
themselves out of poverty.
  Over 50 percent unemployment rate on this reservation alone. There is 
more we can do together. First we must heal. First we must help those 
at Red Lake, proportionately a greater scar for them than was 
Columbine, to heal, to look forward, to look to the future, and to 
rebuild and ignite again the spirit of pride and of accomplishment, 
which should be their heritage.
  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, could I inquire how much time 
is left on this side.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Aderholt). The gentlewoman from 
Minnesota has 4\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers in the room.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to use the words of the Red Lake Band of 
the Chippewa, and I quote from a document that they shared with us 
today: ``The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians is experiencing the 
worst crisis in our history. Throughout this ordeal, our law 
enforcement officers, teachers, students, medical personnel, our people 
have acted with great courage and honor. Our people are strong, our 
children are strong, and our hope is strong.
  ``Our greatest hope is that you, our President, Senators, and 
Representatives and Department officials, will be our partners as we 
undertake the task of making these essential improvements towards a 
better way of life for the people of Red Lake.''
  Mr. Speaker, 1 month ago a disturbed young man took the lives of nine 
people on the Red Lake Reservation, and then he took his own. This 
violent act devastated the Red Lake community, and once again 
tragically demonstrates to all of America how violence can happen by 
our children, against our children and educators, and it can happen 
anywhere at any time.
  This tragedy, along with other school shootings that have occurred 
over the past several years leave no question that we still have much 
work to do in addressing the needs of our youth in this country. Too 
many of our children are in crisis, unable to find the help that they 
need from either families or communities.
  As policymakers, we have a responsibility to invest the resources, 
and more importantly, the attention into the lives of our young people 
and in their families' lives as well before tragedy occurs.
  All Americans and Minnesotans extend our prayers, our condolences, 
and support for the families of the Red Lake Nation as they heal and 
rebuild their community.
  I would like to close with just once again saying that this 
resolution deserves our support. The Red Lake Band of Chippewa have our 
deepest condolences at this time of enormous grief. Our prayers are 
with you.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want again to thank my colleagues in the Minnesota 
delegation for their words today and my colleague, the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Peterson), for offering this resolution. And I would 
just urge all of my colleagues in the House to support H. Con. Res 126.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 126. Today, I join my colleagues in expressing my deepest 
sympathies to the people of the Red Lake Reservation.
  This tragedy reveals the sad truth that school-related violence can 
occur anywhere in this country regardless the socio-economic conditions 
of a community.

[[Page 7090]]

  In Indian country, however, the statistics show that Indian children 
face greater barriers than non-Indian youth. Indian youth suffer from 
the highest rates of suicide. They have the highest rates of school 
victimization and use alcohol, drugs and tobacco more than their 
counterparts. Indian youth also drop out of school at higher rates than 
other students.
  What can we do? For starters, we can reauthorize the Indian Health 
Care Improvement Act which will provide significant improvements to the 
delivery of health care services for Indian people and authorize 
funding for health programs, projects, and facilities.
  We can increase funding for Indian country law enforcement, public 
safety and victim assistance programs to help combat the problems of 
juvenile crime and violence on our Indian lands.
  We can also increase funding for schools and colleges located on 
Indian reservations that were the subject of significant decreases in 
the president's 2006 budget.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to identify how we can 
help the Red Lake Community specifically.
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of all Minnesotans to 
extend my heartfelt sympathy to the families, friends and loved ones of 
the victims of the school shootings at Red Lake High School and to the 
entire Red Lake community.
  On March 21, 2005, tragedy struck Red Lake, Minnesota and left a 
community devastated and a Nation shocked.
  Mr. Speaker, we are all deeply saddened by this horrific event, and 
our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims and the 
entire Red Lake community.
  We commend the Red Lake tribal leaders and members, local law 
enforcement officers, school officials and medical support staff for 
their heroism and courage in response to this tragedy.
  Now, we must use this occasion to mourn the loss of loved ones and 
prevent similar tragedies in the future. The people of Minnesota will 
never forget this terrible loss of innocent lives. May those who died 
be remembered forever in our hearts.
  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 126.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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