[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 17230-17231]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT TRAGEDY

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, to begin, I want to take a few minutes to 
express my deepest sorrow for the events of last Friday. As a parent, 
grandparent, and great-grandparent, I was horrified to hear the news of 
the tragedy in Newtown, CT. My sadness remains for those who have lost 
their children and loved ones and for the quiet community that saw its 
sense of peace and well-being shattered through such a terrible act of 
violence.
  I, like almost everyone I know, am at a loss when it comes to making 
sense of such a horrible tragedy, and I won't try to do so today. All I 
can do is offer my prayers and sympathies for those who lost their 
children, friends, and family members, and to the people of Newtown.
  In my faith, we believe families are eternal; that those who have 
lost loved ones will one day be reunited with them. That belief has 
helped me to cope with losses I have experienced over the years. And 
while I know nothing can relieve the pain of losing a

[[Page 17231]]

child, I hope this notion will bring the parents of those sweet 
innocent children some measure of comfort.
  Once again, I offer my heartfelt prayers and deepest sympathy to 
those in Newtown and throughout the country who have cause to mourn 
this day.

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