[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16756-16758]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF FORT HOOD SHOOTINGS

  Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 319) recognizing the anniversary of 
the tragic shootings that occurred at Fort Hood, Texas, on November 5, 
2009.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 319

       Whereas, on November 5, 2009, a gunman entered the Soldier 
     Readiness Processing Center at Fort Hood, Texas, and opened 
     fire on military and civilian personnel who were preparing 
     for deployment or who had recently returned to the United 
     States from overseas;
       Whereas 13 people were killed, including 12 soldiers, one 
     of whom was an expecting mother, and one former soldier;
       Whereas 31 people were wounded, and some of the wounded 
     required months of care and rehabilitation;
       Whereas civilian and military law enforcement personnel of 
     the Department of Defense acted swiftly and courageously to 
     neutralize the threat;
       Whereas Army medics immediately began treating the wounded, 
     greatly reducing the loss of life;
       Whereas nearby Army personnel selflessly evacuated wounded 
     individuals to safety prior to the threat being eliminated; 
     and
       Whereas the Fort Hood regional communities, the State of 
     Texas, military service organizations and countless Americans 
     united in support of the Fort Hood victims and their 
     families: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes the shootings that occurred at Fort Hood, 
     Texas, on November 5, 2009, as a tragic event in the history 
     of the Army and the United States;
       (2) extends its deepest sympathies to the families and 
     friends of the victims of the shootings who had already 
     sacrificed a great deal by righteously answering their 
     country's call to serve;
       (3) honors the civilian law enforcement personnel of the 
     Department of Defense for effectively implementing their 
     training to promptly eliminate the threat, thereby limiting 
     additional loss of life or injury;
       (4) commends the Fort Hood command team for its timely 
     response and situational control; and
       (5) expresses gratitude to the Fort Hood communities, 
     military personnel stationed at Fort Hood, military service 
     organizations, and the American people for promptly extending 
     comfort and assistance to the victims of the shootings and 
     their families.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Critz) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Jones) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on 
the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CRITZ. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 
319, recognizing the anniversary of the tragic shootings that occurred 
at Fort Hood, Texas, on November 5, 2009.
  I am grateful to my colleague from Texas (Mr. Carter) for his work in 
authoring this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, last November a gunman opened fire at the Soldier 
Readiness Processing Center at Fort Hood, where military and civilian 
personnel had recently returned from deployment or were preparing to go 
overseas. This was an event that saddened every American, and it is 
important that we as a Nation remember those killed and injured and 
that we honor those who responded with courage and skill to assist the 
victims.
  Ultimately, 12 soldiers and one civilian lost their lives in this 
atrocious attack. In addition to these 13 unfortunate Americans who 
were murdered that day, 31 more were wounded. Many of them were 
seriously wounded, but a quick response from Army medics saved lives 
and mitigated the severity of some of the injuries. Soldiers and 
civilians rushed to remove those in need of medical attention from the 
building, even while the threat of the gunman was still present. At the 
same time, law enforcement personnel worked to eliminate the danger to 
Fort Hood and to the surrounding community.
  I would like to convey my deepest sympathies to the families and 
friends

[[Page 16757]]

of those killed and injured in the Fort Hood shootings and express 
gratitude to the soldiers, Army civilians, and local residents who 
assisted in the rescue and recuperation of the victims, especially as 
the anniversary of this event draws closer.

                              {time}  1220

  I urge my colleagues to recognize the soldiers and civilians killed 
and wounded by voting in favor of House Concurrent Resolution 319.

 List of Soldiers and the Former Soldier Who Lost Their Lives at Ford 
                                  Hood

       Lieutenant Colonel Juanita Warman.
       Major Libardo Caraveo.
       Captain John Gaffaney.
       Captain Russell Seager.
       Staff Sergeant Justin Decrow.
       Sergeant Amy Krueger.
       Specialist Jason Hunt.
       Specialist Frederick Greene.
       Private First Class Aaron Nemelka.
       Private First Class Michael Pearson.
       Private First Class Kham Xiong.
       Private Francheska Velez.
       Michael Cahill.

  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on November 5, 2009, 13 people were killed and 31 
wounded at Ft. Hood, Texas, when a gunman attacked unarmed military 
civilian personnel who were preparing for deployment or who recently 
returned to the United States from deployments. This was an attack that 
devastated the people there and across this Nation. It was a senseless 
act of horror that betrayed our respect and dignity for human life.
  I want to thank my colleague, Representative John Carter of Texas, 
for introducing this legislation to give all Members the opportunity 
today to once again stand in support of the men and women at Ft. Hood 
and their families who suffered in that time of trial.
  This resolution also honors those military and civilian law 
enforcement officers who acted swiftly and courageously to neutralize 
the threat, as well as the medical personnel who immediately began 
treating the wounded, thereby reducing the loss of life.
  While we wait for the justice system to decide the fate of the 
gunman, it is important that we also recognize that Ft. Hood's 
preparations beforehand enabled a timely response and situational 
control once the attack occurred. Unfortunately, the attack at Ft. Hood 
signals the requirement that such preparation apply to all of our 
military installations.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my 
friend and colleague, the chairman of the Military Construction and 
Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee and original cosponsor of 
this resolution, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards).
  Mr. EDWARDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 319 and want to commend my colleague from Texas 
(Mr. Carter) for offering this resolution and also for his tremendous 
leadership day in and day out on behalf of the incredible soldiers and 
families of Ft. Hood.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of citizens all across America, we rise today 
to express our deepest respect for the soldiers and families of Ft. 
Hood, Texas, as we approach the 1-year anniversary of the tragic 
shooting there. I want to reaffirm to the Ft. Hood families that they 
are still in the thoughts and prayers of our Nation.
  It is a tragedy beyond words that Americans who were willing to risk 
their lives for our country and combat abroad ended up losing their 
lives here at home in an attack that just 1 year ago would have seemed 
unimaginable. While the 12 soldiers and one civilian killed at Ft. Hood 
last November did not die in combat in a foreign country, they gave 
their lives defending America, and for that, we will always consider 
them heroes. The spouses, children, and families of the fallen may not 
have worn our Nation's uniform, but they, too, have served our Nation 
through their deep personal sacrifice. We will never ever forget that 
sacrifice. We cannot bring back their loved ones, but I hope that they 
will forever feel the collective love and gratitude and prayers of 
millions of their fellow Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, during this attack last year, Ft. Hood was a scene of 
unspeakable tragedy, but I know it as a place of great triumph--a place 
where service to country isn't just an idea; it is a way of life, a 
place where the American spirit is alive and well.
  I hope the world will see the Ft. Hood I saw as its Representative in 
Congress for 14 years through three combat deployments. When I think of 
Ft. Hood, I think of soldiers, their families, their children, and 
their neighbors in nearby communities who care for each other and are 
proud to serve and, yes, sacrifice for our Nation's freedom.
  Ft. Hood is known as ``The Great Place'' because that is what it is: 
past, present, and future. The actions of one deranged gunman should 
not, and will not, change that fact. The servicemen and -women of Ft. 
Hood, their families, and the neighboring communities are a very 
special, unique family. They make Ft. Hood what it is--a shining star 
in our Nation's defense, a star that will burn brightly for decades to 
come.
  While we honor the sacrifice of our veterans and our troops on 
Veterans Day and Memorial Day, I hope Americans will remember every day 
how blessed we are to live in a land where our servicemen and -women 
and their families are willing to sacrifice so much in service to 
country. Let us all rededicate ourselves to honoring our troops, our 
veterans, and their families. Let us remember them not just on Veterans 
Day and Memorial Day with our words but every day.
  Today, we send our prayers to those who were wounded, physically and 
emotionally, by the unprovoked attack last year at Ft. Hood, and we ask 
that God keep them in His loving arms, those who gave that day, in the 
words of Lincoln, ``their last full measure of devotion to country.''
  Michael Grant Cahill, civilian physician assistant; Major L. Eduardo 
Caraveo; Staff Sergeant Justin M. DeCrow; Captain John P. Gaffaney; 
Specialist Frederick Greene; Specialist Jason Dean Hunt; Sergeant Amy 
Krueger; Private First Class Aaron Thomas Nemelka; Private First Class 
Michael Pearson; Captain Russell Seager; Private Francheska Velez; 
Lieutenant Colonel Juanita Warman; and Private First Class Kham Xiong.
  While these heroes are now in God's loving arms, we here on Earth 
shall not forget them.
  Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter), who introduced this resolution.
  Mr. CARTER. I thank my friend for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 319 commemorating the 1-year anniversary of the terrible 
shooting at Ft. Hood, Texas.
  On November 5, 2009, a gunman entered the Soldier Readiness 
Processing Center at Ft. Hood, Texas, and mercilessly opened fire on 
military and civilian personnel who were preparing for deployment or 
who had recently returned from being overseas in a deployment. Thirteen 
people were killed in this attack, including 12 soldiers, one of whom 
was an expecting mother and one former soldier. Thirty-one people were 
wounded. Some of the wounded, like Staff Sergeant Patrick Zeigler, have 
required months of care and rehabilitation, and that is an ongoing 
situation.
  But wonderful stories come out of this. One story that I heard, as a 
young soldier saw his sergeant get shot the third time, he jumped 
between his sergeant and the shooter and took the rest of the rounds 
into his body because he just was afraid his sergeant wouldn't be able 
to survive any more.
  At the time there was a graduation ceremony going on at Ft. Hood from 
college, and a bunch of young soldiers were graduating from college 
right next door. When the call went out for medics, multiple members of 
that group threw off their cap and gown before they graduated and took 
off next door to the processing center to work with the wounded. 
Without regard to their own safety, civilian and military law 
enforcement personnel, including

[[Page 16758]]

Sergeants Munley and Todd, acted swiftly and courageously to neutralize 
the threat, using the active shooter training program they had recently 
completed.

                              {time}  1230

  Army medics immediately reverted to their combat-honed training and 
began treating the wounded, greatly reducing the loss of more life. 
Fellow soldiers from everywhere descended upon this area and, while the 
shooting was going on, risked their lives to evacuate their brethren 
safely to Darnall Army Hospital.
  Fort Hood regional communities, the State of Texas, military service 
organizations, and countless Americans united in support of Fort Hood 
victims and their families, collecting millions of dollars in 
charitable donations. My office has worked hard to ensure that the Fort 
Hood victims receive all the benefits to which they are entitled as 
combat victims. Additionally, we are working with the Department of 
Defense to overcome regulatory obstacles that have prevented the 
victims and their families from receiving charitable donations. I am 
hopeful our Senate colleagues will agree to these legislative 
adjustments included in this year's defense authorization bill to 
ensure that Fort Hood victims and their families receive every benefit 
to which they are rightly entitled.
  I want to thank the House Armed Services Committee and the House 
leadership for working with my office to swiftly bring this resolution 
to the floor.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Fort Hood victims and 
their families by passing this House Concurrent Resolution 319.
  Mr. Speaker, I intentionally did not discuss the accused shooter in 
an effort to protect his right to a fair and impartial trial when that 
trial occurs.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, as the House considers H. Con. Res. 319 
recognizing the anniversary of the shootings at Fort Hood last 
November, I would like to pay tribute to all of the 43 shooting 
casualties and recognize two of my constituents.
  Staff Sergeant Amy Krueger of Kiel, Wisconsin, was one of those who 
lost their lives that day. Following the 9/11 terrorists attacks, she 
was moved to join the Army because she wanted to help keep America 
safe. She was proud of her military service and returned to Kiel High 
School to share her experiences with current students. Staff Sergeant 
Krueger had been to Afghanistan previously and, like others in the 
Soldier Readiness Processing Center that day, was about to be deployed 
again.
  In his remarks at the Fort Hood memorial service shortly after the 
shooting, President Obama shared a story that symbolizes Staff Sergeant 
Krueger's energy, drive and determination. He said, ``When her mother 
told her she couldn't take on Osama bin Laden by herself, Amy replied 
`Watch me.''' That spirit was evident to all who knew her.
  In the small Wisconsin town of Kiel, the news of Staff Sergeant 
Krueger's death was met with an outpouring of love and support for her 
family and friends, as well as respect for her service to our country. 
On Memorial Day this year, the town unveiled a memorial in her honor 
that includes words that meant so much to her: ``All Gave Some--Some 
Gave All.'' As we mark this sad day one year later, we remember Staff 
Sergeant Krueger and send our thoughts and prayers to her loved ones.
  Private First Class Amber Bahr of Random Lake, Wisconsin, is a Sixth 
District resident who was injured in the shootings. As the events 
unfolded that terrible day, Amber immediately reacted to help her 
injured comrades and did not even realize that she too had been shot. 
This generous spirit was also cited by President Obama as an example of 
the bravery and caring of these soldiers for one another.
  Our service men and women have joined the military to serve their 
country; many, like Amy, to join the fight against terrorism. I am sure 
they did not expect that they would be fighting it here on U.S. soil.
  I join my colleagues in supporting H. Con. Res. 319 as we take time 
to remember and pay our respects to those lives lost, as well as 
commend and thank the civilian and military law enforcement personnel, 
the medics and all others who helped those in need that day.
  Mr. JONES. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Critz) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 319.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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