[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 20]
[House]
[Pages 26969-26970]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AT FORT HOOD

  (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. HOYER. Ladies and gentlemen, I rise with the extraordinarily sad 
and wrenching news that 12 of our people at Fort Hood have been killed 
today by a gunman or more and 31 others were wounded.
  President Obama called the incident a horrific outburst of violence, 
and he went on to say these are men and women who made the selfless and 
courageous decision to risk their lives in the service of our Nation. 
The President went on to say it's horrifying that they should come 
under fire at an Army base on American soil.
  I know that all of us are extraordinarily saddened and shocked by 
this incident. Our hearts, our minds, our prayers go out to the 
families of all of those whose lives have been lost and our prayers for 
their wholeness and health go out to those who have been injured.
  Now, Madam Speaker, I yield to Congressman Carter in whose district 
Fort Hood is located.
  Mr. CARTER. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, we have had a tragedy in my district. I am very sad to 
report that the latest report that I have received from Fort Hood, we 
have 12 Americans dead, 32 wounded. They have all been shipped to Scott 
& White Hospital in Temple, and they are calling for blood; so there 
are obviously some very serious wounds involved in the wounded.
  There is one shooter that has been confirmed who has since died, but 
he has been confirmed, and there are two other people in custody.
  We do not know the nature of this attack, but it is a serious attack 
on our warfighters. These are people at Fort Hood, most of whom have 
been deployed four times.
  So it is a real tragedy that these families are losing loved ones, 
and I would hope that we could have a moment of silence not only for 
those who have died and those who are wounded but also for their 
families.
  Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I join Mr. Carter in asking for this moment 
of silence. And as we do, we remember all of those in our Armed Forces, 
whether they are here in America, they are in uniform or in civilian 
service in the defense of our country.

[[Page 26970]]

  Obviously, these brave souls were the objects as members of our Armed 
Forces. And as we rise in a moment of silence to them, we remember as 
well all of those brave men and women who are serving around the world 
to maintain peace, security, and freedom.
  The SPEAKER. The Members and those in the gallery will please rise 
and observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims of violence at 
Fort Hood.

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