[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5224]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  CBC HOUR: BOSTON MARATHON EXPLOSIONS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Rothfus). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 3, 2013, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries) 
is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
  Mr. JEFFRIES. Mr. Speaker, thank you very much for your recognition. 
Under ordinary circumstances, I would stand before you today as a 
member of the Congressional Black Caucus, where for the next 60 minutes 
the CBC would speak directly to the American people about an issue of 
significance that the country is confronting.
  However, today, as a result of the extraordinary events that occurred 
a few hours ago in Boston, Massachusetts, there is no issue that is 
more significant than standing with the people who participated in the 
marathon, those runners and those observers and those first responders, 
who were victimized earlier today.
  As President Barack Obama mentioned, this is a moment where we're not 
Democrats or Independents or Republicans; we're Americans. We're not 
Blacks, Whites, Latinos, or Asians; we're one today. And as 
representatives from 43 different Congressional districts across the 
country, the CBC would like simply to extend our thoughts and our 
prayers to the family members of those who died earlier today. We want 
to extend our great sympathies and our best wishes to those who were 
victimized, and we are praying for full and complete recovery.
  We also, of course, want to extend our thanks and our heartfelt 
gratitude to those first responders who, once again, demonstrated 
courage under fire and bravery in the face of dangers that were seen 
and unforeseen.
  Now, America is a great country, and whatever is revealed about the 
attacks that took place earlier today, we're confident that we have the 
resolve to continue to move forward as strong as we always have been. 
In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor and throughout World War II, Americans 
demonstrated great resolve. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, in the 
face of the possibility of nuclear catastrophe, Americans demonstrated 
great resolve. In the face of the uncertainty that followed the 
horrific Oklahoma City bombings, Americans demonstrated great resolve. 
And of course in my home city, the great city of New York, and all 
across this country in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on 
September 11, America demonstrated great resolve this time.
  No matter what the circumstances reveal about who was behind what 
took place earlier today, we're confident that America will continue to 
show tremendous resolve. Our spirit will not be broken. We're confident 
that law enforcement will identify those responsible for what took 
place earlier today and bring them to justice.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________