[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13896]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       END SENSELESS GUN VIOLENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, first, I rise to acknowledge the brave 
Houstonians' law enforcement from many different jurisdictions who came 
to the aid of nine individuals who were shot randomly by a shooter in 
the last couple of days in Houston in a southwest shopping center, a 
place where many go for groceries, visit small businesses, and do their 
daily business, where many people are at work. Out of nowhere came a 
shooter whose home was ultimately investigated, where many items of 
military apparel and a load of guns were there to provide fear, I 
guess, in his decision to go on a shooting rampage after having a calm 
dinner with his family the night before.
  This was an attorney, and our law enforcement are still 
investigating. My appreciation to the work and the detailed work that 
they are doing, and as well my appreciation and applause for the 
resiliency of Houstonians who came to the aid of their neighbors. Then 
those who are recovering, I express my concern. But we will draw 
together and find a way to end this senseless violence and to begin to 
heal this Nation.


Russia is Impacting and Attempting to Undermine the Fabric of Democracy

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise as well to make it very clear 
that we do not have to speculate as we begin to see unfolding the 
Russian hacking of a number of governmental entities and, yes, the 
Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign 
Committee, and many others.
  There is no doubt that Russia is impacting and attempting to 
undermine the very fabric of democracy in this country. Now, I believe 
that we should engage with all nations the values of this Nation of 
democracy. The rights of freedom, a Declaration of Independence that 
guarantees unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of 
happiness are wonderful values, and we should not be afraid to engage 
with despotic regimes who disagree with us--Russia being one.
  We should be alert and realize that, as we go into this election 
process, every well-informed citizen should be able to see something 
and say something. All of our law enforcement and intelligence 
community should be sensitive to the possible destruction and 
undermining of our democratic process.
  Today it has been announced and determined that Russia did have 
something to do with the downing of that flight over Ukraine. How sad 
for those families and how hurting for the people of Ukraine to be able 
to know that they, as a sovereign nation, in a time that one would be 
advocating for peace and living harmoniously with their neighbors--that 
their very large neighbor, in addition to taking Crimea, would also be 
threatening their skies and their people. This is serious.
  The electoral political system that we have come to depend upon 
requires us to be diligent without ceasing that every vote of every 
American is counted. However they vote, there should be no aftermath of 
a foreign entity having hacked into any process that would deny America 
her precious right to vote and the decision on those who will serve 
them and certainly the Presidency of the United States. Let no 
candidate be so close to the Russian apparatus that we do not follow 
the trail and investigate wherever it is necessary to ensure the 
sanctity of that process.
  Let me also say that it is important, as this Congress begins to deal 
with the confusion of the continuing resolution, that it be noted that 
we have not addressed the question of gun violence, ending gun 
violence, closing the loophole that is so important in a background 
check that allows people to get guns because they get it without the 
background check being completed; or in the issue of terrorism, that 
those who are on the terrorist watch list have random access to buying 
guns.
  Simple legislation that could be passed. I think it is crucial in 
America that we do so because the violence has many roots--housing, 
health care, poverty--but certainly it has the tool, and that is guns. 
That is automatic weapons like AK-47s and others more sophisticated.
  America has a right to the Second Amendment, but the people of 
America have a right to safety and the prevention of gun violence in 
their community.


                         Continuing Resolution

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me also talk about Houston, Texas, 
and the tax day floods. It is important that the CR covers the floods 
of Houston and covers Baton Rouge, as well as the water crisis in 
Flint. Let us do what the American people ask us to come here for: to 
be an umbrella on a rainy day, helping people, coming to their aid, 
clean water in Flint, providing for the people in Greenspoint, the 
reimbursement of the city of Houston, and helping the people of Baton 
Rouge get on their feet. Let us help America as we should.

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