[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14165]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   SOLIDARITY WITH THE SIKH COMMUNITY

  (Mr. ROYCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak in favor of the 
resolution I coauthored with the Wisconsin delegation here in 
solidarity with the Sikh community in Oak Creek and the Sikh community 
all across the United States.
  In a strange coincidence, I had a previously scheduled meeting in 
California at a Sikh temple on the very day when that murderous attack 
in Oak Creek occurred. Obviously, our discussion shifted to the subject 
of that premeditated attack.
  I was able to hear about the plight of being targeted because of 
one's religion, the plight of being targeted for one's appearance.
  We are in a constant struggle against bad ideas, despicable ideas.
  Passing this resolution will not ease the pain of those affected by 
this tragedy, but it does show to the world that people from across the 
United States can unite and denounce bigoted violence.
  Our great country is rooted in religious tolerance. The Constitution 
makes freedom of religion first and foremost. There is no place in this 
country for religious-motivated terrorism, and this resolution that we 
passed reaffirms that.
  I end by thanking Mr. Ryan and the Wisconsin delegation for their 
efforts on this resolution, but also I thank the leadership of both 
parties here today for working with us to make sure that this 
resolution came to the floor.

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