IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 615 
Designating the Democratic Cloakroom in the Hall of the House of 
Representatives as the ‘‘Gabrielle Giffords-Leo J. Ryan Cloakroom’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 13, 2017 
Ms. SPEIER (for herself and Ms. WILSON of Florida) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on House Administra-
tion, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Designating the Democratic Cloakroom in the Hall of the 
House of Representatives as the ‘‘Gabrielle Giffords-Leo 
J. Ryan Cloakroom’’. 
Whereas Gabrielle Giffords was elected to the House of Rep-
resentatives to represent the 8th district of Arizona in 
2006 and served from January 2007 to January 2012; 
Whereas Giffords has served the public for over 15 years; 
Whereas Giffords was the youngest person ever elected to the 
Arizona State Senate, serving from 2000 to 2005; 
Whereas Giffords was the third woman in Arizona history 
elected to Congress; 
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•HRES 615 IH 
Whereas Congresswoman Giffords was widely known for her 
middle-of-the-road political views, problem solving ethos, 
and commitment to bipartisanship and cooperation; 
Whereas Congresswoman Giffords’s many achievements and 
inspirational service in Congress included contributions to 
the strength of our armed forces, the security of our Na-
tion, the health and welfare of our veterans, our progress 
toward a clean energy economy, and the interests of her 
constituents in her beloved southern Arizona district; 
Whereas Giffords prided herself on being accessible to her 
constituents; 
Whereas, on January 8, 2011, while listening to her constitu-
ents at a ‘‘Congress on your Corner’’ event in Tucson, a 
gunman attempted to assassinate Congresswoman Gif-
fords; 
Whereas Congresswoman Giffords was shot and wounded 
along with 12 others while an additional 6 people were 
killed, including her Congressional aide, Gabriel Zimmer-
man; 
Whereas in 2013 Congresswoman Giffords formed an organi-
zation to promote gun violence prevention and responsible 
gun ownership; 
Whereas Congresswoman Giffords continues to serve the 
American public by being an outspoken advocate for solu-
tions to gun violence; 
Whereas Congressman Leo Ryan was an elected member of 
the House of Representatives for the 11th district of 
California from 1973 through 1978, championing causes 
related to equality, freedom, human rights and the pro-
tection of our democratic institutions, and represented an 
unwavering example of dedication to public service; 
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•HRES 615 IH 
Whereas Congressman Ryan’s life was marked by his service, 
in the Navy during World War II, as a teacher, a school 
administrator, South San Francisco city councilman and 
mayor, and California assemblyman, before serving three 
terms in the House of Representatives; 
Whereas in his more than 40 years in elected office, Con-
gressman Ryan worked to ensure equal treatment of all, 
including the least fortunate and those without a voice, 
and won the widespread respect of his colleagues and the 
people he served; 
Whereas Congressman Ryan took a hands-on approach to 
combat injustice, from taking a job as a teacher in Watts 
to gain insight into the causes of the Watts riots, or pos-
ing as an inmate at Folsom Prison to investigate condi-
tions, or going to Newfoundland to see for himself about 
the slaughter of baby seals; 
Whereas in 1978 House Majority Leader James Wright de-
scribed Congressman Ryan as having an ‘‘ever-ready will-
ingness to go where suffering was’’; 
Whereas when asked to describe his colleague, Rep. Robert 
Drinan of Massachusetts said in 1978 that ‘‘He was a 
gutsy, courageous guy,’’ and ‘‘When he believed in some-
thing he just pressed and pressed.’’; 
Whereas Reverend Jim Jones’ Peoples Temple was based in 
San Francisco, California, and had recruited people from 
Congressman Ryan’s nearby San Mateo district; 
Whereas following negative press reports, to avoid exposure 
cult leader Jim Jones traveled to Guyana with his fol-
lowers; 
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•HRES 615 IH 
Whereas in 1974 an agricultural project was established in 
Guyana by the Peoples Temple which would be known as 
Jonestown; 
Whereas in 1978 several stories began to surface over rel-
atives being held in Guyana against their will and some 
constituents from Congressman Ryan’s district began to 
contact his office with concerns over their relatives in 
Jonestown; 
Whereas Congressman Ryan left for Guyana on November 
14, 1978, accompanied by two congressional staffers, 
nine journalists, and 18 relatives of Jonestown residents; 
Whereas the delegation arrived at Jonestown November 17, 
1978, and several Jonestown inhabitants expressed a de-
sire to return to the United States; 
Whereas the original delegation along with 15 Jonestown in-
habitants attempted to board planes at Port Kaituma 
airstrip but were fired upon by a Jones loyalist and other 
gunmen; 
Whereas an additional 40 Jonestown inhabitants were also 
awaiting transport to leave Jonestown; 
Whereas Congressman Ryan, one Jonestown inhabitant (Pa-
tricia Parks), and three journalists (NBC news reporter 
Don Harris, NBC photographer Bob Brown, and San 
Francisco Examiner photographer Greg Robinson) were 
shot to death at the airstrip and nine others, including 
Congresswoman Jackie Speier, were wounded; 
Whereas Congressman Leo Ryan was the first Member of 
Congress to be assassinated overseas while performing 
his Congressional duties; 
Whereas Congressman Ryan stated, ‘‘I learned that if you 
give in to fear you can’t do your job’’; and 
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•HRES 615 IH 
Whereas Congressman Ryan went above and beyond to pro-
vide service to his constituents and to the people of the 
United States, exhibiting courage and resilience: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That— 
(1) the House of Representatives honors the 
work and public service of Congresswoman Gabrielle 
Giffords; 
(2) the House extends its condolences to the 
family, friends, and all those affected by the mass 
shooting on January 8, 2011; 
(3) the House of Representatives honors the 
legacy of Congressman Leo J. Ryan for his lifelong 
commitment to objective fact-finding and for his ex-
traordinary commitment to advancing freedom and 
basic human rights at home and abroad; 
(4) the House honors the bravery of Congress-
man Ryan and his team members for undertaking a 
dangerous yet essential fact-finding mission in Guy-
ana; 
(5) the House extends its condolences to Con-
gressman Ryan’s family and all those affected by the 
Jonestown tragedy; and 
(6) the Democratic Cloakroom in the Hall of 
the House of Representatives (room H–222 of the 
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•HRES 615 IH 
United States Capitol) is designated as the 
‘‘Gabrielle Giffords-Leo J. Ryan Cloakroom’’. 
Æ 
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