[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18276]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                NOHEMI GONZALEZ AND THE ATTACKS ON PARIS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lowenthal) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, the people of France and the people of 
the United States have shared a common bond of liberty and equality for 
over 200 years. In the face of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, 
that bond brings us now even closer in unity and in solidarity.
  We stand with the French people as they mourn. We stand with the 
friends and families of those who were killed, like Nohemi Gonzalez, a 
young California State University, Long Beach, student studying abroad 
in Paris.
  We also stand with our Cal State, Long Beach, family in their 
mourning. Nohemi's death is a very personal loss for each and every one 
of us. It tears at the very bonds of fraternity that embrace every 
member of our Cal State, Long Beach, family and the Long Beach 
community.
  Nohemi was a daughter, a friend, and a mentor. Just 23 years of age, 
she was a vibrant student and what those who knew her have called ``a 
shining star.''
  Nohemi committed herself to learning. She traveled across the globe 
to express and to explore her talents, her creativity, and the world. 
Now all that seems broken.
  Yes, we grieve for Nohemi. But we also grieve for all the victims in 
Paris. We grieve for their families, their friends, and all their loved 
ones. We grieve for each and every one of them.
  Today we are all part of the human family. As a family, we mourn 
Nohemi Gonzalez, our shining star. But in our mourning, let us remember 
something very, very important.
  This was not an attack on Paris, though Paris was the target. This 
was not an attack on the French people, though the French people were 
the target. This was an attack on what unites us, our shared humanity 
and our shared values of liberty.
  In that humanity, in those values, we will find the strength to stand 
strong in the face of senseless violence because, in the end, humanity 
that unites us is what frightens those who would do us harm.

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