[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8911-8912]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING THE CONDOLENCES OF THE SENATE ON THE TRAGIC EVENTS AT 
                        VIRGINIA TECH UNIVERSITY

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I am joined here with my colleague, 
Senator Webb, and the two of us have put forward a resolution of the 
Senate, S. Res. 149. We are joined in the cosponsorship by the 
distinguished majority leader, Senator Reid, the minority leader, 
Senator McConnell, and all other Members of the Senate.
  Our resolution, jointly prepared by Senator Webb and myself, reads as 
follows:

       Expressing the condolences of the Senate on the tragic 
     events at Virginia Tech University.
       Resolved, that the Senate
       (1) offers its heartfelt condolences to the victims and 
     their families, and to students, faculty, administration and 
     staff and their families who have been deeply affected by the 
     tragic events that occurred today at Virginia Tech in 
     Blacksburg, Virginia;
       (2) expresses its hope that today's losses will lead to a 
     shared national commitment to take steps that will help our 
     communities prevent such tragedies from occurring in the 
     future; and
       (3) recognizes that Virginia Tech has served as an 
     exemplary institution of teaching, learning, and research for 
     well over a century; and that the University's historic and 
     proud traditions will carry on.

  I yield the floor to my distinguished colleague.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.
  Mr. WEBB. Mr. President, I again express my gratitude to the senior 
Senator from Virginia for taking the initiative on this resolution and 
working with us to make sure this is language which is acceptable to 
all the Members of this body.
  I also express my appreciation to many people in this body--Members--
and also staff members and others who have come forward today and 
expressed their condolences about what happened in this incident. 
Again, all of us are truly saddened by what has happened today in this 
tragic event. This is a very small gesture of condolence and support 
from our body, but I think it is a very appropriate one, and I am 
pleased to be one of the cosponsors of it. Hopefully, once the grieving 
is done, we can, indeed, move forward to finding ways that will prevent 
these sorts of incidents from happening in the future.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank my distinguished colleague. We 
have worked as partners on this resolution throughout the day. It has 
been a most unusual day for the two of us, for our Governor, for our 
State, and all its people.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to 
the consideration of S. Res. 149, which was submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 149) expressing the condolences of 
     the Senate on the tragic events at Virginia Tech University.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to and that the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 149) was agreed to, as follows:

                              S. Res. 149

       Expressing the condolences of the Senate on the tragic 
     events at Virginia Tech University.
       Resolved, that the Senate--

[[Page 8912]]

       (1) offers its heartfelt condolences to the victims and 
     their families, and to students, faculty, administration and 
     staff and their families who have been deeply affected by the 
     tragic events that occurred today at Virginia Tech in 
     Blacksburg, Virginia;
       (2) expresses its hope that today's losses will lead to a 
     shared national commitment to take steps that will help our 
     communities prevent such tragedies from occurring in the 
     future; and
       (3) recognizes that Virginia Tech has served as an 
     exemplary institution of teaching, learning, and research for 
     well over a century; and that the University's historic and 
     proud traditions will carry on.

  Mr. WARNER. I yield the floor.

                          ____________________