[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 3588-3589]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE VICTIMS OF THE TERRORIST ATTACKS IN 
           BRUSSELS AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF BELGIUM

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 22, 2016

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember the innocent victims 
who lost their lives, and those who were seriously injured, this 
morning in the barbaric attacks perpetrated by terrorists in Brussels, 
Belgium.

[[Page 3589]]

  Our hearts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the 
victims and our thanks and appreciation go to the first responders who 
selflessly came to the aid of their fellow members of the human family.
  Brussels will emerge from today's attacks stronger than ever and more 
firmly committed to the values and principles that have made it so 
great.
  And as Brussels recovers and responds, I hope its people take comfort 
in the certain knowledge that the people of the United States stand in 
solidarity with them.
  Today's attacks are a reminder of the common danger the free, 
democratic, and peace loving nations of the world face from those who 
reject the norms of civilized society and abuse the liberties and 
freedoms afforded them by free societies.
  Those responsible for today's crime against humanity should make no 
mistake; they will be held to account in this life and the next.
  But today our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Brussels, 
which represents everything terrorists despise: a symbol of the modern 
world where persons of differing faiths, creeds, races, and cultures 
live together in peace, harmony, and freedom.
  That symbol is recognizable to Americans because it also represents 
the American heart and spirit.
  The terrorist attacks in Brussels were horrific acts on innocent 
civilians perpetrated by depraved individuals who misuse the peaceful 
religion of Islam for their own misguided purposes.
  Their horrible and heinous acts are their responsibility, and theirs 
alone, and for which they can be assured that they alone will be held 
accountable.
  But that will come another day; today I ask a moment of silence for 
the victims killed and injured in the terrorist attacks in Brussels.

                          ____________________