I have seen you and your colleagues at work on so many different occasions. Just hearing of Bill Gossett reminded me of the influence that he had on me and how he touched my life. I see so many people in this room who have touched the lives of so many and made their impact felt on this nation. You have made such a difference. But we now have an opportunity to turn what has been a temporary victory into a lasting contribution for this nation, a contribution that can last for some generations to come.
Violent crime is down six years in a row.
Juvenile violent crime is down two years in a row. So many people and so many institutions can claim credit, and properly so. But that is not the issue. Despite our successes, we are still one of the most violent civilized nations in the world. At the door of the Capitol and in the schoolrooms of this country, we have too often seen the searing tragedy of violence.