[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2528]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  MOMENT OF SILENCE TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE ``HESSTON STRONG'' OF 
                            HESSTON, KANSAS

  (Mr. POMPEO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. POMPEO. Madam Speaker, last week, a gunman shot his way across 
south central Kansas, and then inside of Excel Industries in Hesston, 
Kansas, killed three people and injured over a dozen.
  It is impossible to make sense of such violence and suffering. Renee 
Benjamin, known by her friends for her ``infectious personality''; 
Joshua Higbee, a loving father who family and friends said ``would give 
the shirt off his back for you''; and Brian Sadowsky, a passionate 
Kansas City Royals fan who coworkers said stayed behind to help the 
wounded escape were simply doing their jobs taking care of themselves 
and families. The loss of these three innocent people is something that 
no one in Hesston or our larger community will ever forget. The lives 
of those who loved them are changed forever.
  I was not surprised to see so many people working side by side the 
day after the attack trying to mend what happened less than 24 hours 
before. Everywhere I went, there were helping hands. This is so typical 
of the people of Hesston and Harvey County that I know so well. Their 
actions amidst this tragedy are a true reflection of what the 
Scriptures tells us: ``Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil 
with good.''
  There was remarkable power in the work of law enforcement officials 
and city leaders, including Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton and Hesston 
Mayor David Kauffman. Excel Industries, where the shootings took place, 
is blessed by the steady leadership of President Paul Mullet, who, 
along with his team, will lead the Excel Industries family through this 
tragedy.
  We remember, too, all the first responders, the Hesston Police 
Department, Harvey County Sheriff's Office, the FBI, and the Kansas 
Bureau of Investigation, all of whom acted heroically to save lives and 
secure the scene, and the leaders at Newton Medical Center, Wesley 
Medical Center, and Via Christi in Wichita, who cared for the injured. 
We can never thank them enough.
  The community has rallied around the words ``Hesston Strong.'' They 
have been, they are, and I know they will continue to be strong.
  May God bless the entire Hesston community.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that the House pause for a moment of silence in 
honor of those impacted by the tragic events in Hesston, Kansas.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair would ask all in the Chamber to 
rise in a moment of silence.

                          ____________________