[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 13610]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           NAVY YARD TRAGEDY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, there are no words that can ease the pain of 
the rampage and certainly the deaths involving a dozen human beings who 
were killed yesterday at the Navy Yard. I hope it is some small comfort 
that this city, this institution, the U.S. Senate, and a whole Nation, 
mourn alongside them. To my knowledge, there is no explanation for the 
violence that occurred yesterday. My thoughts are with those who are 
suffering as a result of the loss of their loved ones as well as those 
people who are recovering from their wounds, and some of them are very 
serious. We wish them a speedy recovery. My heart goes out to all of 
the 16,000 military and civilian employees who work at the Navy Yard 
complex, as well as their friends and family members who were affected 
by this tragedy.
  It was only a few days ago--and the Presiding Officer was here on 
that occasion also--when we as Members of Congress marked the 
anniversary of September 11, 2001, during a ceremony on the steps of 
the Capitol. We had a moment of silence here in the Senate. Yesterday's 
shootings were the worst loss of life in the Capitol region since those 
September 11, 2011, attacks which were centered around the Pentagon.
  Last week's significant anniversary and yesterday's terrible violence 
are a reminder that life is fragile and precious. They are a reminder 
of the debt we owe to those who protect our freedom and our safety, 
whether they serve in the military or as first responders. The Sergeant 
at Arms, who is responsible for our safety, was certainly on the job 
yesterday. He is a dedicated police officer. That is his goal. I still 
refer to him as Chief Gainer. He was chief of the Capitol Police force 
before he took responsibility as the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate. He 
has been a street officer for a long time. He could have done other 
things--he has a law degree; he is a well-educated man--but his 
responsibility is to take care of the Senate, and he does that very 
well.
  I appreciate very much--I speak for the entire Senate--those 
dedicated police, fire, and rescue personnel who put their lives on the 
line to prevent a lot more loss of life on Monday. In particular, the 
city owes a debt of gratitude to a K-9 officer, a 24-year veteran of 
the Metropolitan Police force, a man by the name of Scott Williams who 
was hurt very badly in the shootings. I wish him a full recovery and 
thank him for his selflessness.

                          ____________________