[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 20068-20075]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




COMMENDING DAVID RAY RITCHESON AND RECOGNIZING HIS EFFORTS IN PROMOTING 
               FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO COMBAT HATE CRIMES

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 535) commending David Ray 
Ritcheson, a survivor of one of the most horrific hate crimes in the 
history of Texas, and recognizing his efforts in promoting Federal 
legislation to combat hate crimes.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 535

       Whereas David Ray Ritcheson, a Mexican-American, was a 
     friendly and cheerful student at Klein Collins High School in 
     the Houston suburb of Spring, Texas, and a popular and 
     talented football athlete who was loved and admired by his 
     family and friends;
       Whereas on April 23, 2006, at the age of 16, David Ray 
     Ritcheson was severely assaulted while attending a party in 
     Spring, Texas;
       Whereas the former running back and freshman homecoming 
     prince spent more than three months in the hospital as a 
     result of the injuries he suffered in the assault and endured 
     more than 30 surgeries to restore his appearance and regain 
     the normal use of his bodily functions;
       Whereas no human being deserves to be tortured and 
     victimized like David Ray Ritcheson simply because he is of a 
     different background, race, religion, ethnic group, or sexual 
     orientation;
       Whereas of all crimes, hate crimes are most likely to 
     create or exacerbate tensions that can trigger larger 
     community-wide racial conflict, civil disturbances, and riots 
     in

[[Page 20069]]

     communities at-risk of serious social and economic 
     consequences;
       Whereas hate-motivated violence disrupts the tranquility 
     and safety of communities, impedes the movement of members of 
     targeted groups, and prevents members of targeted groups from 
     purchasing goods and services, obtaining or sustaining 
     employment, and fulfilling the American Dream;
       Whereas the courageous, eloquent, and compelling testimony 
     of David Ray Ritcheson before a committee of the House of 
     Representatives brought into vivid relief the human face of 
     victims of hate crimes and the terrible suffering that such 
     crimes inflict on victims and their families, friends, and 
     communities;
       Whereas David Ray Ritcheson, in his testimony, emphasized 
     that he was a survivor who urged the Federal Government to 
     take the lead in deterring individuals like those who 
     attacked him from committing violent crimes against others 
     because of where they are from, the color of their skin, the 
     God they worship, the person they love, or the way they look, 
     talk, or act;
       Whereas David Ray Ritcheson's powerful testimony helped 
     inspire the House of Representatives to pass the Local Law 
     Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (H.R. 1592 of 
     the 110th Congress), which incorporates key provisions of the 
     David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (H.R. 254 of the 
     110th Congress);
       Whereas David Ray Ritcheson vowed to do whatever he could 
     to help make the United States a hate-free place in which to 
     live;
       Whereas the courage displayed by David Ray Ritcheson is an 
     inspiration to all Americans and reinforces the message that 
     acts of bigotry and hate are unacceptable in the United 
     States; and
       Whereas, on July 1, 2007, David Ray Ritcheson died at the 
     age of 18: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives mourns the 
     passing of David Ray Ritcheson and commends him for his 
     activism in contributing and raising awareness toward the 
     eradication and elimination of hate crimes in the United 
     States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with celebration and recognition that I rise today 
to honor and pay tribute to David Ray Ritcheson, first 17, and, in the 
loss of his life, only 18, yet an American hero, a teenager who 
experienced harshness in his life, but yet out of his courage, tenacity 
and spirit we stand here on the floor of the House today.
  I rise in strong support of H. Res. 535, which honors the short life, 
but big contributions of David Ray Ritcheson, a victim, as I said 
earlier, of a horrific hate crime, who became an exceptionally 
effective advocate for Federal hate crimes legislation.
  Over the years I have been privileged to take the floor many times to 
speak on behalf of my constituents and those who live in the greater 
Houston-Harris County area. On those occasions my heart has filled with 
joy on the knowledge that so many people entrusted me with the honor of 
giving voice to their hopes and aspirations. But as I rise today, my 
heart is enormously heavy, for I have the sad duty of informing the 
House of the tragic death of David Ray Ritcheson, a Texas teenager, and 
as I've said earlier, experienced and was a victim of a horrible hate 
crime only at the age of 17, who went on to become an effective 
advocate for Federal hate crimes legislation.
  To his parents, to his attorney Mr. Leon, for their spirit, his 
wonderful family, his brothers and sisters, all who showed the great 
love and tenacity and courage to stand by David, I call them the stand-
by-David family.
  This tragedy should serve as a wake-up call to the Nation of the need 
to redouble our efforts to prevent hate crimes by juveniles, which I 
believe is, in the long run, the best and most effective way of 
eliminating the scourge of hate-motivated crimes from our society.
  I have long believed, and research confirms, that if a person does 
not acquire a proclivity to hate as a juvenile, he or she is not likely 
to be motivated to commit crimes out of hate as an adult. But once a 
child or juvenile has learned to hate, it is a short step to learning 
and liking to act out of hatred.
  We will have, I hope soon, coming to this floor a bill named after 
David. Many in the community have asked that H.R. 1592, the Local Law 
Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007, be likewise named after 
him. You wonder why. It is because of the outstanding courage that this 
young man has shown.
  I remember meeting with him in the offices of his attorney, Carlos 
Leon, and his family members way back in 2006. He was in the midst of 
several of his surgeries that had to be implemented or had to be done 
in order to help cure him. Quiet, determined, smiling, generous in his 
time, we spoke about what he could do and how he could support 
legislation to turn things around. I believe that that courage exudes 
today on the floor of the House.
  A year ago last April, the people of Harris County and those in and 
around my congressional district saw just how easy and how dangerous it 
is for young people to commit a crime of hate. In a case that drew 
national attention, 16-year-old David Ray Ritcheson, a Mexican 
American, was severely assaulted on April 23, 2006, by two youths while 
attending a party in the Houston suburb of Spring, Texas. One of his 
teen attackers, a skinhead, yelled ethnic slurs and kicked a pipe in an 
inappropriate place, severely damaging his internal organs and leaving 
him in the hospital for 3 months and 8 days, almost all of it in 
critical care.
  For the supposed crime of allegedly kissing a white girl, this 
Hispanic young man was punched unconscious, kicked in the head, 
suffered 17 cigarette burns sadistically inflicted that still scar his 
body. His assailants poured bleach on his face and body and then 
assaulted him with a pipe taken from a patio umbrella. He was left 
lying unconscious and unattended in the back yard of a house for more 
than 8 hours. He has endured more than 30 operations to restore his 
appearance and regain the normal use of his bodily functions.
  Might I say to you that he was the cause and the inspiration behind 
the passage of H.R. 1592. And I just want to share with my colleagues 
this young man's picture, along with his attorney. He was a young man 
who came here with a business suit on because he meant business. We 
honor him today with a resolution that acknowledges his life.
  In addition, I will soon be introducing additional legislation 
intended to fill a big gap in current hate crimes prevention. And we 
must do more to assist the victims of hate crimes and their families 
recover from their physical, emotional and psychological wounds.
  My legislation will authorize programs to provide psychological and 
emotional support services and appropriate economic assistance to the 
victims of hate crimes and their families. The legislation will focus 
on three main areas: counseling, prevention, and economic support.
  Let me just say, in closing, that I indicated that it is with a heavy 
heart that I stand on the floor today. It is certainly with great 
celebration that I acknowledge to the world and to America, the youth 
of America, the name of David Ray Ritcheson, someone who, in essence, 
sacrificed his life so that America might be better, sacrificed his 
life so that those of us who want to be able to preach love, 
opportunity and quality maybe, sadly, will have a message of joy out of 
his living, and that is that you can move to move hearts and minds, and 
that we can provide America with a better moral compass and legal 
system to prevent hate crimes in America.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 535, which honors 
the short life but big contributions of David Ray Ritcheson, a victim 
of a horrific hate crime who became an exceptionally effective advocate 
for Federal hate crimes legislation.

[[Page 20070]]

  Over the years I have been privileged to take the floor many times to 
speak on behalf of my constituents in the Eighteenth Congressional 
district of Texas. On those occasions my heart was filled with joy in 
the knowledge that so many people entrusted me with the honor of giving 
voice to their hopes and aspirations.
  But as I rise today, my heart is heavy. I have the sad duty of 
informing the House of the tragic death of David Ray Ritcheson, a Texas 
teenager and victim of a horrible hate crime, who went on to become an 
effective advocate for Federal hate crimes legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, this tragedy should serve as a wakeup call to the Nation 
of the need to redouble our efforts to prevent hate crimes by 
juveniles, which I believe is in the long run the best and most 
effective way of eliminating the scourge of hate motivated crimes from 
our society.
  I have long believed, and research confirms, that if a person does 
not acquire a proclivity to hate as a juvenile, he or she is not likely 
to be motivated to commit crimes out of hate as an adult. But once a 
child or juvenile has learned to hate, it is a short step to learning 
and liking to act out that hatred.
  A year ago last April, the people of Harris County, Texas, and in my 
congressional district, saw just how easy and how dangerous it is for 
young people to commit a crime out of hate.
  In a case that drew national attention, 16-year-old David Ray 
Ritcheson, a Mexican-American, was severely assaulted on April 23, 
2006, by two youths while attending a party in the Houston suburb of 
Spring, Texas. One of his teenage attackers, a skinhead, yelled ethnic 
slurs and kicked a pipe up his rectum, severely damaging his internal 
organs and leaving him in the hospital for 3 months and 8 days--almost 
all of it in critical care. For the supposed crime of allegedly kissing 
a white girl, this Hispanic young man was punched unconscious, kicked 
in the head, suffered 17 cigarette burns sadistically inflicted that 
still scar his body. His assailants poured bleach on his face and body, 
and then assaulted him with a pipe taken from a patio umbrella. He was 
left lying unconscious and unattended in the back yard of a house for 
more than 8 hours. He has endured more than 30 operations to restore 
his appearance and regain the normal use of his bodily functions.
  Mr. Speaker, no one deserves to be tortured and victimized like David 
Ray Ritcheson was simply because he is of a different nationality, or 
race, or religion, or ethnic group, or sexual orientation or 
preference. It is for that reason that I introduced the David Ray Hate 
Crimes Prevention Act of 2007, H.R. 254, earlier this year, key 
provisions of which were incorporated into H.R. 1592, the Local Law 
Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007. For example, my bill 
increased the penalties to 10 years in prison for any person whoever, 
whether or not acting under color of law, willfully causes bodily 
injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an 
explosive device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, 
because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national 
origin of any person. Also, H.R. 1592 incorporated another key 
component of my hate crimes prevention bill: the establishment of a 
grants program administered by the Office of Justice Programs of the 
Department of Justice to award grants, in accordance with such 
regulations as the Attorney General may prescribe, to State, local, or 
tribal programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles.
  I will soon be introducing additional legislation intended to fill a 
big gap in the current hate crimes prevention regime. We must and can 
do more to assist the victims of hate crimes and their families recover 
from their physical, emotional, and psychological wounds.
  My legislation will authorize programs to provide psychological, 
emotional support services and appropriate economic assistance to the 
victims of hate crimes and their families. The legislation will focus 
on three main areas: counseling; prevention; and economic support.
  Hate Crime victims lose their jobs at least in part because of the 
impact of hate crime violence and lack of financial and economic 
support during recovery. By giving hate crime victims economic and 
financial support, Congress makes it more likely that employees who are 
victims of hate crimes could stay at work while they deal with the 
violence or promptly return to work if they have to take temporary 
leave. Therefore hate crime victims must be provided access to: (1) 
Healthcare support including counseling and therapy to prevent in the 
future severe depression, violent outbreaks, suicide; (2) construction 
and personnel cost for shelters and hate crime support centers; (3) 
direct services providers; (4) healthcare insurance for counseling and 
therapy; (5) hotline services; and (6) short- and long-term individual 
counseling and support groups for hate crime victims and their 
families.
  Since prevention is always better than cure, my legislation also 
seeks to prevent violent hate crime attacks before it happens. The 
legislation will provide funding for outreach and educational programs 
to raise awareness against racist and discriminatory beliefs.
  Specifically, it will lead to:
  (1) Development community responses and public education campaigns 
working with elementary, middle and secondary school to raise awareness 
of racist crimes as unacceptable behavior.
  (2) Provide educational programs working with teenagers and young 
adults in college and university campuses.
  (3) Adoption of hate crime awareness programs in the workplace.
  When he testified in support of H.R. 1592, David Ray Ritcheson 
challenged this committee to take a big step toward making hate a thing 
of history. Hear the words this young man, wise and courageous beyond 
his years, spoke to the Judiciary Committee:

       It has been a blessing to know that the most terrible day 
     of my life may help put another human face on the campaign to 
     enact a much needed law such as the ``Local Law Enforcement 
     Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007''. I can assure you, from 
     this day forward I will do what ever I can to help make our 
     great county, the United States of America, a hate free place 
     to live.

  I ask unanimous consent that to place a copy of David Ray Ritcheson's 
entire statement in the Record.
  I believe the best thing we can do to hasten the day that the United 
States is a hate free place to live is to work at least as hard toward 
preventing hate crimes as we must at prosecuting and punishing those 
who commit them.
  As important as it is to apprehend, prosecute, convict, and punish 
severely those who commit hate crimes, we can all agree that in the 
long run it is even more important and better for society if we can 
increase our effectiveness in eradicating the desire to commit a hate 
crime in the first place.
  Mr. Speaker, I have never been as proud of any constituent as I was 
of David Ray Ritcheson that day when he spoke such eloquent truth to 
power. By force of his own example and moral courage he helped clear 
the way for House passage of strong and long overdue hate crimes 
legislation. In the process, he made America better, and he made Texas 
stand tall. That is why it is so fitting to honor his memory. And that 
is why I am pleased to announce that the introduction of a resolution 
in tribute to this remarkable young man.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to read into the Record the text of this 
resolution.

                              H. Res. 535

       Whereas David Ray Ritches, Mexican-American, was a friendly 
     and cheerful student at Klein Collins High School in the 
     Houston suburb of Spring, Texas, and a popular and talented 
     football athlete who was loved and admired by his family and 
     friends;
       Whereas on April 23, 2006, at the age of 16, David Ray 
     Ritcheson was severely assaulted while attending a party in 
     Spring, Texas;
       Whereas the former running back and freshman homecoming 
     prince spent more than three months in the hospital as a 
     result of the injuries he suffered in the assault and endured 
     more than 30 surgeries to restore his appearance and regain 
     the normal use of his bodily functions;
       Whereas no human being deserves to be tortured and 
     victimized like David Ray Ritcheson simply because he is of a 
     different background, race, religion, ethnic group, or sexual 
     orientation;
       Whereas of all crimes, hate crimes are most likely to 
     create or exacerbate tensions that can trigger larger 
     community wide racial conflict, civil disturbances, and riots 
     in communities at-risk of serious social and economic 
     consequences;
       Whereas hate-motivated violence disrupts the tranquility 
     and safety of communities, impedes the movement of members of 
     targeted groups, and prevents members of targeted groups from 
     purchasing goods and services, obtaining or sustaining 
     employment, and fulfilling the American Dream;
       Whereas the courageous, eloquent, and compelling testimony 
     of David Ray Ritcheson before a committee of the House of 
     Representatives brought into vivid relief the human face of 
     victims of hate crimes and the terrible suffering that such 
     crimes inflict on victims and their families, friends, and 
     communities;
       Whereas David Ray Ritcheson, in his testimony, emphasized 
     that he was a survivor who urged the Federal Government to 
     take the lead in deterring individuals like those who 
     attacked him from committing violent crimes against others 
     because of where they are from, the color of their skin, the 
     God they worship, the person they love, or the way they look, 
     talk, or act;
       Whereas David Ray Ritcheson's powerful testimony helped 
     inspire the House of Representatives to pass the Local Law 
     Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007

[[Page 20071]]

     (H.R. 1592 of the 110th Congress), which incorporates key 
     provisions of the David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 
     2007 (H.R. 254 of the 110th Congress);
       Whereas David Ray Ritcheson vowed to do whatever he could 
     to help make the United States a hate-free place in which to 
     live;
       Whereas the courage displayed by David Ray Ritcheson is an 
     inspiration to all Americans and reinforces the message that 
     acts of bigotry and hate are unacceptable in the United 
     States; and
       Whereas, on July 1, 2007, David Ray Ritcheson died at the 
     age of 18: Now, therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives mourns the 
     passing of David Ray Ritcheson and commends him for his 
     activism in contributing and raising awareness toward the 
     eradication and elimination of hate crimes in the United 
     States.

  Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to place into the Record the 
testimony David Ray Ritcheson gave before the Judiciary Committee in 
April of this year in support of H.R. 1592.

   Statement of Mr. David Ritcheson at the Hearing on H.R. 1592, the 
      ``Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007''

       I appear before you as a survivor of one of the most 
     despicable, shocking, and heinous acts of hate violence this 
     country has seen in decades. Nearly one year ago on April 22, 
     2006, I was viciously attacked by two individuals because of 
     my heritage as a Mexican-American. After hanging out with a 
     few friends at a local crawfish festival, my friend and I, 
     along with the two individuals who would eventually attack 
     me, returned to the home in Spring, Texas where I was to 
     spend the night. It was shortly after arriving at this 
     private residence that a minor disagreement between me and 
     the attackers turned into the pretext for what I believe was 
     a premeditated hate crime. This was a moment that would 
     change my life forever. After I was surprisingly sucker 
     punched and knocked out, I was dragged into the back yard for 
     an attack that would last for over an hour. Two individuals, 
     one an admitted racist skinhead, attempted to carve a 
     swastika on my chest. Today I still bear that scar on my 
     chest like a scarlet letter. After they stripped me naked, I 
     was burned with cigarettes and savagely kicked by this 
     skinhead's steeltoed army boots. After burning me in the 
     center of the forehead, the skinhead attacker was heard 
     saying that now I look like an Indian with the red dot on my 
     forehead. Moreover, the witnesses to the attack recalled the 
     two attackers calling me a ``wetback'' and a ``spic'' as they 
     continued to beat me as I lay unconscious. Once the attack 
     came to an end, I was dragged to the rear of the back yard 
     and left for dead. Reportedy, I lay unconscious in the back 
     yard of this private residence or the next 8- 9 hours. It was 
     not until the next morning that I was found and the 
     paramedics came to my aid. I am recounting this tragic event 
     from the testimony I heard during the trial of the two 
     attackers this past fall. God spared me the memory of what 
     happened that night. As I sit before you today, I still have 
     no recollection of those life changing twelve hours or the 
     weeks that followed.
       Weeks later I recall waking up in the hospital with a 
     myriad of emotions, including fear and uncertainty. Most of 
     all, I felt inexplicable humiliation. Not only did I have to 
     face my peers and my family, I had to face the fact that I 
     had been targeted for violence in a brutal crime because of 
     my ethnicity. This crime took place in middle-class America 
     in the year 2006. The reality that hate is alive, strong, and 
     thriving in the cities, towns, and cul-de-sacs of Suburbia, 
     America was a surprise to me. America is the country I love 
     and call home. However, the hate crime committed against me 
     illustrates that we are still, in some aspects, a house 
     divided. I know now that there are young people in this 
     country who are suffering and confused, thirsting for 
     guidance and in need of a moral compass. These are some of 
     the many reasons I am here before you today asking that our 
     government take the lead in deterring individuals like those 
     who attacked me from committing unthinkable and violent 
     crimes against others because of where they are from, the 
     color of their skin, the God they worship, the person they 
     love, or the way they look, talk or act.
       I believe that education can have an important impact by 
     teaching against hate and bigotry. In fact, I have encouraged 
     my school and others to adopt the Anti-Defamation League's No 
     Place for Hate' program. If these crimes cannot be 
     prevented, the federal government must have the authority to 
     support state and local bias crime prosecutions.
       As the weeks in the hospital turned into months, I began 
     hearing the stories of support that came from literally all 
     over the world. The local community pulled together in a 
     really majestic way, reaffirming my hope in the good of 
     humanity. My family told me about the crowded waiting rooms 
     full of the great friends from past and present. I heard 
     about prayer groups before school in front of my school, the 
     Klein Collins Campus. The donations that helped my family and 
     me get through an unthinkable time poured in from generous 
     people scattered across the globe. These donations would help 
     pay for the enormous hospital bills from the over thirty 
     surgeries I underwent during the first three months after the 
     attack. Most of these operations were essential to saving my 
     life--and others were necessary just to make my body able to 
     perform what would be normal functions.
       As the recovery process continued, my family began to 
     slowly inform me of what had happened to me. They went on to 
     tell me of the effective response by the Harris County 
     Sheriff's Department and the Harris County Constables who had 
     investigated the hate crime committed against me. I slowly 
     began learning the about the background of the two 
     individuals who had been arrested for attacking me. I was 
     informed that one of the attackers, David Tuck, was a self 
     proclaimed racist skinhead who had viciously attacked at 
     least two other Hispanics in the past few years, almost 
     killing one of them. I learned that he had been in and out of 
     several juvenile facilities. Most surprising, I learned that 
     he had been released from the Texas Youth Commission a little 
     over a month before he attacked me. In fact, he was still on 
     probation the night he nearly ended my life. I was told that 
     he had ``white power'' and swastikas tattoos on his body. I 
     was informed that his older step brother, a major influence 
     in his life, was also a self-proclaimed skinhead currently 
     serving time in a Texas jail. Here I was, learning shocking 
     details of a person who lived only miles from me and who had 
     at one time attended the same high school that I attended. 
     How could this type of hate be breeding just miles from my 
     home in a city as diverse as Spring without anyone taking 
     notice?
       I quickly learned of and benefited from the support of 
     groups such as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and League of 
     United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Both groups 
     immediately provided whatever support they could to help me 
     and my family. From setting up fundraisers to help my family 
     with unanticipated expenses to providing emotional support 
     confirming that I was not going through this alone, both 
     groups were instrumental in assisting me and my family in the 
     process of moving forward. There are so many people to thank 
     for the support they have given me, including the ongoing 
     encouragement to appear before you today.
       Last November and December I sat in a courtroom in Harris 
     County, Texas and faced my attackers for the first time as 
     they went through their respective trials. I am glad to say 
     that justice was done. I am proud of the job our county 
     prosecutors and investigators did in ensuring life sentences 
     for the two individuals who attacked me. Specifically, I want 
     to recognize the great job that Assistant District Attorney 
     Mike Trent did during the prosecution of these two 
     individuals. However, despite the obvious bias motivation of 
     the crime, it is very frustrating to me that neither the 
     state of Texas nor the federal government was able to utilize 
     hate crime laws on the books today in the prosecution of my 
     attackers. I am upset that neither the Justice Department nor 
     the FBI was able to assist or get involved in the 
     investigation of my case because ``the crime did not fit the 
     existing hate crime laws.'' Today I urge you to take the lead 
     in this time of needed change and approve the ``Local Law 
     Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007''. I was 
     fortunate to live in a town where local law enforcement 
     authorities had the resources, the ability--and the will--to 
     effectively investigate and prosecute the hate violence 
     directed against me. But other bias crime victims may not 
     live in such places. I ask you to provide authority for local 
     law enforcement to work together with federal agencies when 
     someone is senselessly attacked because of where they are 
     from or because of who they are. Local prosecutors should be 
     able to look to the federal government for support when these 
     types of crimes are committed. Most importantly, these crimes 
     should be called what they are and prosecuted for what they 
     are, ``hate crimes''!
       In fact, because there was so much attention focused on the 
     fact that my case was not being prosecuted in Texas as a hate 
     crime, the Anti-Defamation League and the Cook County 
     (Illinois) Hate Crimes Prosecution Council published a 
     Pamphlet called ``Hate Crimes Data Collection and 
     Prosecutions: Frequently Asked Questions,'' designed to 
     address some of the basic legal and practical considerations 
     involved in labeling and charging a hate crime.
       My experience over the last year has reminded me of the 
     many blessings I took for granted for so long. With my 
     humiliation and emotional and physical scars came the 
     ambition and strong sense of determination that brought out 
     the natural fighter in me. I realized just how important 
     family and the support of community truly are. I will always 
     recall my parents at my bedside providing me with strength 
     and reassurance. They showed me how to be strong during my 
     whole recovery, a process I am still going through today. 
     Seeing the hopeful look of concern in the faces of my 
     siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles everyday was the direct 
     support I needed to get through those terrible first few 
     months. As each day passed, I became more and more aware of 
     everything I had to live for. I am glad to tell you today 
     that my best days still lay ahead of me.

[[Page 20072]]

       Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story. It has been 
     a blessing to know that the most terrible day of my life may 
     help put another human face on the campaign to enact a much 
     needed law such as the ``Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes 
     Prevention Act of 2007''. I can assure you, from this day 
     forward I will do what ever I can to help make our great 
     country, the United States of America, a hate free place to 
     live.

  With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the old book tells us to mourn with those who mourn and 
grieve with those who grieve. I rise in support today of H. Res. 535 in 
a spirit of bipartisanship and mutual mourning in the tragic end of the 
life of David Ray Ritcheson.
  I rise to commend David Ray Ritcheson in this resolution, a survivor, 
as my colleague from Texas just described, of a horrific crime. We 
commend him for his activism in raising awareness of violent crimes in 
this United States.
  As has been noted, at the age of 16 years, David Ray Ritcheson was 
brutally assaulted in April of 2006 while attending a party in Spring, 
Texas. He was hospitalized for more than 3 months, had more than 30 
surgeries to restore his appearance and regain his health. David Ray 
Ritcheson recovered and became a spokesman and a tireless advocate 
against brutal crimes. He spoke eloquently and with great courage. He 
testified, even at his young age, with conviction before the House 
Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. He 
did so in a way that gave honor to both his convictions and his 
character. David Ray Ritcheson's courage stands as a testament to all 
crime victims, especially those who suffer brutal attacks.
  Violent crime strikes at the heart of every victim, the victim's 
family, and their community. We must do all that we can to eradicate 
all violent crimes.
  Today we gather in support of this resolution simply to mourn the 
passing of David, to extend our heart-felt sorrow and respect to his 
family and his community and all those whose life he touched with his 
courage. His memory will live on in our hearts. His courage will 
inspire us all.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much 
time I have remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Texas has 14 minutes 
remaining.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Let me take an opportunity to acknowledge Albert and Laticia Galvin, 
the parents of David Ray Ritcheson. I mention them, their strength and 
their sense of dedication.
  I also wanted to acknowledge the outpouring of support by the Members 
of Congress, members of the House Judiciary Committee and our local 
community. We came together, people from all segments of the community, 
to honor him in his passing, but also to commit ourselves to ridding 
our community of hate. Representatives from the NAACP and LULAC, faith 
leaders, elected officials, all of them put aside differences, as my 
good friend from Indiana has indicated, partisan differences, and 
realized that hate is really not the definition of America.
  And if I might refresh the memories of my colleagues, just a few 
weeks ago we stood on the floor to acknowledge July Fourth, the 
Independence Day for America, again a day of joy. But the points of 
accolades for this Nation really focused not only on the Constitution 
and the Bill of Rights, which gives us the freedom of association, due 
process so that your rights are protected, but we're reminded of the 
Declaration of Independence. And it indicated that we all are created 
equal, with certain inalienable rights of life and liberty and the 
pursuit of happiness.
  That's all that David sought in his young life, and I hope that as we 
move legislation forward, in the other body and here, on stomping out 
hate crimes, we will be reminded of this young life, not only David, 
but his mother and father, Albert and Laticia Galvin, who, if you met 
them, you would know how David was able to be so strong and so 
determined.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time
  Mr. PENCE. With that, I'm pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert).
  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I greatly appreciate the opportunity to pay 
tribute to David Ray Ritcheson, having met him, talked with him, and 
heard his testimony at the Judiciary Committee.
  David Ray Ritcheson was truly a brave young man who had a horrible 
act committed against him. His early departure from this life made his 
story all the more tragic. The crime committed against him earlier in 
his life is one that should not be tolerated under any circumstances. 
The applicable State law dealt with that crime in such a way that I 
understand the main perpetrators received life and 90 years as 
sentences.
  On hearing the sad testimony by David at our hearing, everyone was 
moved with a sense of outrage. Yet, on closer examination of what the 
majority was trying to do, it caused me to ask if there was anything in 
this hate crimes bill that would have changed anything about David's 
terrible situation. After all, the hate crimes bill has no sentence 
higher than life. It's not a capital situation.

                              {time}  1430

  The answer was, and is, that there is nothing in the bill that would 
have really made any substantive difference in David's situation.
  It is also tragic that any acquaintances of David who did not know 
the details of the brutality against him before apparently came to know 
about it through his courage and the national attention focused on him 
and the display of courage at our hearing. That is further testimony 
itself to his courage. But the ridicule at home that followed his 
testimony is also tragic. It is sad that he chose to end that life of 
such incredible potential.
  David's earlier display of courage and the unfairness and outrage he 
faced deserve attention. He deserves a heartfelt salute. His family has 
our thoughts and prayers with them, especially in this loss of such a 
beautiful soul with so much potential.
  But the bill being touted in this resolution does not bring us 
together. It divides us by saying that some people in this country are 
more important to protect than others. It divides by saying, for 
example, that those tragically killed at Virginia Tech are not as 
important to protect as a transvestite with gender identity issues. The 
bill further seeks to squelch religious teaching about immorality.
  I stand here on the floor today to salute David Ray Ritcheson, an 
incredible young man. I want with all my heart to vote for a resolution 
to pay him proper tribute as well. But, unfortunately, I cannot vote 
for a resolution that, since it includes a pursuit and an adulation of 
the hate crimes bill, I cannot see the use of this tragedy to vote to 
give accolades to a bill that I think harms America and divides us.
  If there is a recorded vote, I will vote ``present'' out of my 
incredible respect for David Ritcheson. But my ``present'' vote will 
also avoid the hypocrisy of my saying I support the hate crimes bill 
when I believe it harms the country, it harms religious teaching, and 
it would not undo what was done to David.
  I look forward to any opportunity to do anything to pay tribute to 
David Ritcheson standing on its own.
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as this bill is intended to do, let me dwell on the life 
of David Ray Ritcheson and how much he has contributed to moving this 
country forward. I would like to read just a portion of his statement 
from his own words in the Judiciary Committee speaking about the 
experience of his tragedy:

[[Page 20073]]

  ``After burning me in the center of the forehead, the skinhead 
attacker was heard saying that now I looked like an Indian with a red 
dot on my forehead. Moreover, the witnesses to the attack recall the 
two attackers calling me a `wetback' and a `spic' as they continued to 
beat me as I lay unconscious. Once the attack came to an end, I was 
dragged to the rear of the backyard and left for dead.''
  The bill that David was so articulate in helping us move forward 
provides resources for our smaller communities in order to ensure that 
if Federal resources are needed, that nexus, that connection, that 
assistance would be provided. Therefore, it is clear that David's 
testimony helped assist rural communities.
  I cite, for example, another tragic incident that occurred in a rural 
area, and maybe the county in that area might not have been able to 
move forward. This bill, however, is already out of the House. So our 
tribute today really focuses on the courage which David provided to 
move that bill forward.
  In Wyoming, Matthew Shepard was in a rural area. It was a rural area 
in Jasper, Texas, with Mr. James Byrd. So we know that the bill that 
has passed the House truly would provide assistance to those 
communities that would ask for it if such a tragedy occurred in their 
community. Again, Mr. Speaker, simply if they asked for it.
  I want to emphasize that this is about David, so let me share with 
you his words. These are the words that he offered to the Judiciary 
Committee: ``It has been a blessing to know that the most terrible day 
of my life may help put another human face on the campaign to enact a 
much needed law such as H.R. 1592. I can assure you from this day 
forward I will do whatever I can to help America become our great 
country, the United States of America a hate-free place to live.'' 
These are David's words.
  As we move forward in trying to capture what his life was truly 
about, this young, friendly, cheerful student at Klein Collins High 
School in the Houston suburb of Spring, Texas, popular and a talented 
football athlete, who was loved and admired by his family and friends, 
we want to ensure that, as we go forward, if such a dastardly act would 
happen again, we focus on the family.
  Mr. Speaker, we would like to see health care support, including 
supportive counseling and therapy to prevent future severe depression; 
construction and personnel costs for shelters and hate crime support 
centers; direct service providers who are trained to try and help those 
who have been victims of hate crimes; health care insurance for 
counseling and therapy; hotline services, so for those who witness hate 
crimes or other acts, we would be able to provide an immediate source 
of information for them to report what happened; short- and long-term 
individual counseling and support groups for hate crime victims and 
their families.
  This is a time to acknowledge this former running back and freshman 
homecoming prince, who spent more than 3 months in the hospital. But at 
the same time, it is a time of celebration. That is what this 
resolution stands for. Let me thank the list of cosponsors who have 
provided their affirmation of the importance of David's life.
  Mr. Speaker, with that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert).
  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say to my friend across the 
aisle, the idea of assisting with counseling for anyone who has been 
through something so traumatic as what David Ritcheson experienced is a 
good idea. I would support a measure of that order.
  Matthew Shepard was mentioned, as was James Byrd. Of course, most of 
us are familiar with those situations. Mr. Byrd was attacked because he 
was an African American. He was brutally drug behind a vehicle. And if 
I had my way and could put into law the law I would like to address 
that, it would be to allow the family of the victim to choose the 
terrain over which to drag the defendants, if they were convicted, and 
the rope by which to drag them. But, again, capital punishment was not 
an issue in this hate crimes bill.
  Mr. Byrd's perpetrators, two received the death penalty, as I recall, 
and one received a life sentence, and that was State resources without 
the assistance of the Federal Government. With Matthew Shepard, I 
believe there were two life sentences in those cases, which would 
further not have been enhanced.
  But I look forward to the day, as Martin Luther King said, when we 
are judged by the content of our character, not the color of our skin, 
and I would submit not by any other factors over which we have no 
control.
  When it comes to a hate crime bill, we ought not to be dividing. A 
transvestite deserves protection. David Ritcheson, my goodness, 
deserved protection. We should work together to bring this Nation 
together, not divide it by saying some people deserve more protection 
than others.
  Again, I think the idea of counseling, it might have served David 
well because, goodness knows, he had been through a great deal of 
trauma. Perhaps that would have assisted him in not bringing a 
permanent end to a temporary problem, which made it all the more 
tragic.
  So I would welcome the opportunity, if something in the form of 
legislation along those lines were to arise, in working with my 
colleagues on the other side.
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I am actually prepared to close with the 
gentlewoman's forbearance.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I am prepared to close. If the gentleman 
would close, I will follow.
  Mr. PENCE. I would be pleased to do that. I thank the gentlewoman for 
her courtesy.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, H. Res. 535, 
commending David Ray Ritcheson, and urge my colleagues to support it.
  Let me say from my heart, I have great respect for the gentlewoman 
from Texas. She and I have an intellectual difference of opinion on the 
merit of hate crimes legislation. The legislation specifically 
referenced in this resolution as having been passed in this Congress 
even earlier this year as a result of some of the work of the man that 
we are honoring, I did not support and I do not support.
  I don't support hate crimes laws. I don't support penalizing thoughts 
like action. But I do support courage. I do believe in that ancient 
adage that says if you owe debts, pay debts; if honor, then honor; if 
respect, then respect.
  I disagree with the gentlewoman on the subject of hate crimes 
legislation. I disagree therefore with the late David Ray Ritcheson on 
that issue. But I rise today because this resolution says that the 
House of Representatives mourns the passing of David Ray Ritcheson and 
commends him for his activism in contributing and raising awareness 
toward the eradication and elimination of hate crimes in the United 
States.
  We can come together as a Congress, and I expect we will today, to 
pay a debt of gratitude that we owe to a life that ended too soon. I 
commend the gentlewoman for her quite typical and forceful advocacy of 
her views, but I urge my colleagues to meet on that common ground of 
paying a debt of gratitude to a life that, as his family looks into 
this debate, I hope they know whatever our views are on the issues in 
which David found himself caught in violence and then standing in the 
national debate, we admire him, we honor his life, and we mourn his 
passing as a Congress and as a Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Indiana for his 
courtesies. That is the note which I will end on, is a note of courage.
  As we look at this young man, and I am going to do something quite 
unusual, Mr. Pence, the family is watching, and I would hope that that 
would be the spirit of this resolution, simply to acknowledge the 
courage of David Ray Ritcheson, this talented young man, as I have 
said, Laticia and Albert Galvan's child, the brother of so many

[[Page 20074]]

siblings, that they would understand what it took to come into the 
Judiciary Committee room.
  We would like to thank the cosponsors of this legislation, and I 
would like them to have a lasting impression of this distinguished 
young man.

                              {time}  1445

  The courage, fortitude, the work he has done has enlightened many. As 
Mr. Pence said, we can have a number of debates and questions about the 
underlying issue, but the above-lying issue is simply a resolution 
thanking a young man who has lost his life in the face of an 
unspeakable tragedy. And we are all committed, whether it is a moral 
question or whether it is by legislative initiative, we abhor hatred. 
This Nation was not founded to promote hatred, although many of us came 
to this Nation differently.
  So I would simply ask my colleagues to join me. And I yield to the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence) for an inquiry. His family is 
watching, and I hope this can be perceived, this is an unlikely 
question to you, be perceived simply as a resolution, making no further 
statement, on the celebration of his life. We would like to call for a 
vote, and we would like to have your support. I have heard that you are 
willing to support this on that basis, and I would like to commend this 
to my colleagues simply on that basis. This is a resolution honoring a 
young man who has called to the attention of all of us the idea of the 
fact that we all abhor hatred of any kind.
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.
  Mr. PENCE. I thank the gentlelady for yielding, and I appreciate the 
spirit of her remarks. Both her remarks and the express language of the 
resolution have to do with the House of Representatives mourning the 
passing of David Ray Ritcheson and commending him for his activism, and 
that is certainly a resolution I can and will support on the floor in 
whatever manner it comes forward.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank the distinguished gentleman.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Will the gentlelady yield?
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I would be happy to yield.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Thank you for yielding, and I just want to 
wholeheartedly applaud and pay tribute to your gesture here. A salute 
to the life of David Ritcheson is a wonderful thing. I thank you for 
doing that.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Thank you for your kindness.
  Let me bring my remarks to a close by reading some of the words I 
read before. I will end with these words: ``It has been a blessing to 
know,'' and this was testimony in the House Judiciary Committee ``that 
the most terrible day of my life may help put another human face on the 
tragedy,'' and these are my words, of hate crimes and hatred.
  Let me thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) for his 
leadership. Let me thank the ranking member, the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Smith), as well as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Crime 
and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime Mr. Scott. All of them 
have been generous, as has the staff of the Judiciary Committee, in 
helping us pay tribute to David Ray Ritcheson. May he rest in peace. 
God bless his family, and God bless America for being the Nation that 
abhors hate and recognizes this beautiful young man.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in memory of the life of David 
Ray Ritcheson. I met David when he testified last April before the 
Judiciary Committee at a legislative hearing on the Hate Crimes 
Prevention Act. He had the courage to come forward and testify about 
the need for that legislation and the impact of hate crimes on 
communities and families. He spoke from the heart and from experience.
  David survived a horrific attack last year that required him to 
endure countless operations to restore his appearance and body. He was 
the voice for all who could not speak and did an admirable job. I 
believe that his story served as a I inspiration that led the House to 
pass the Hate Crime Prevention Act on May 3 of this year.
  It is a tragedy that David will not see the fruit of his labor. The 
psychological wounds from the crimes inflicted upon him finally caused 
David to take his life on July 1, 2007.
  I hope that this resolution will convey to his family and community 
the heartfelt condolences of this House.
  It is also my hope that the brutal attack that he survived will not 
define his life. David Ritcheson should be remembered in his community 
as a friend, a classmate, a football player and a son.
  House Resolution 535 is a fitting tribute to David Ray Ritcheson. It 
honors David as someone unafraid to stand and speak for the victims of 
hate crimes, so that we could act to protect other communities in the 
future. He will be remembered and missed.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this well-deserved 
resolution.
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 535, a 
resolution to honor the leadership, in raising awareness of hate 
crimes, of David Ray Ritcheson, a Mexican American who was severely 
assaulted on April 23, 2006, and passed away last week.
  Role models come in all shapes and sizes. Jackie Robinson, Rosa 
Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr, Cesar Chavez, are all great role models 
who led by example.
  Just a few months ago, in our halls of Congress, David Ray Ritcheson 
at the young age of 18 exposed the harsh reality of hate crimes through 
his personal experience.
  Today, we honor his efforts and leadership on this issue.
  After having survived one of the most horrific hate-motivated 
criminal acts, David Ray courageously testified in support of the 
``Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007,'' H.R. 
1592, which passed the House on May 3, 2007.
  In his testimony he stated: ``It has been a blessing to know that the 
most terrible day of my life may help put another human face on the 
campaign'', ``education can have an important impact by teaching 
against hate and bigotry''.
  We must continue his efforts.
  My prayers are with his family in their time of need.
  We must not forget one of our present day's great role models. David 
Ray has and will continue to be a strong reason why hate crimes must be 
exposed.
  I urge my colleagues to carry on his efforts to put an end to all 
hate crimes, and vote for this important legislation.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 535, Commending David Ray Ritcheson and his efforts in promoting 
legislation to combat hate crime.
  David Ray Ritcheson was the victim of a horrific hate crime in 
Houston by white supremacists in April of 2006 because of his Mexican 
heritage.
  He was brutally attacked with a metal pipe, burnt with cigarettes, 
had bleach poured on him, and was kicked with steel toed boots. His 
injuries from the attack were so severe that he underwent 30 surgeries 
and was scheduled for even more surgeries.
  Miraculously, David was recovering from his injuries and eventually 
returned to school.
  David wanted to move past his horrific experience, but he bravely 
came to Washington in April to testify before the House Judiciary 
Committee in support of H.R. 1592, the Local Law Enforcement Hate 
Crimes Prevention Act of 2007.
  David's case was never tried as a hate crime. Due to Federal statutes 
and under Texas criminal law, first-degree felonies are exempt from 
hate crimes provisions.
  In his testimony, David called upon the Congress to give local 
authorities the ability to federally prosecute hate crimes. He said 
``if these crimes cannot be prevented, the federal government must have 
the authority to support state and local bias crime prosecutions.''
  I strongly agree with David and his testimony helped the House pass 
H.R. 1592, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 
2007.
  Unfortunately, earlier this month, David took his own life.
  David deserves to be remembered for the hero that he was and honored 
for his hard work to combat hate crimes.
  I support this bill which will honor David Ray Ritcheson and urge my 
colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this 
resolution honoring the life and courage of the late David Ray 
Ritcheson.
  David was a popular, friendly and cheerful student at Klein Collins 
High School in the Houston suburb of Spring, Texas. After a dispute at 
a party in Spring on April 23, 2006, two avowed white supremacists 
viciously attacked David because he was Mexican-American. David's 
attackers attempted to burn a

[[Page 20075]]

swastika into his chest, poured bleach on his face and body, and used a 
jagged pipe to brutally assault him. One of his attackers was a 
skinhead with Nazi tattoos, and both of his attackers yelled ``White 
Power!'' during their assault on David.
  After this attack, David was left for dead, but, after being sent to 
the hospital the next morning, he fought bravely on. After 3\1/2\ 
months in an intensive care hospital bed, David was able to leave the 
hospital and attempt to return to a life of normalcy. David 
courageously decided to use his tragedy to create something positive 
and became an outspoken advocate of federal hate crimes legislation 
that would help ensure that local police departments would be able to 
prosecute cases like his as hate crimes in the future.
  This past April, David testified before a subcommittee of the House 
of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary in favor of the Local Law 
Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. His passionate, moving and 
eloquent testimony helped spur this House to act on that important 
legislation, which passed this House in May.
  Unfortunately, David passed away on July 1, after fighting to 
overcome the physical and mental wounds left by his attackers for over 
a year. In this difficult time for David's family and friends, it is 
important to remember David's admirable courage, warmth and strength.
  I would like to give my condolences to all of David Ray Ritcheson's 
family, friends and loved ones. I also would like to recognize David's 
life and everything that he accomplished. I commend my friend and 
colleague, the gentlewoman from Texas, Ms. Jackson-Lee, for introducing 
this resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 535.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. 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.

                          ____________________