Date: 2011-01-12
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it as a sword that heals. Let us use nonviolence in our expression. Let us denounce violence. And as Martin Luther King would tell us. that we can be a people of peace. And I know that we know the words of John Lennon. "Let it be." But the truth will let us be free. And I look forward to the gentlelady from Tucson. Arizona. being here with us. God bless you. and God bless America. I rise today to voice my strongest. sincerest and most heartfelt support for House Resolution 32. "Expressing the Sense of the House of Representatives with Respect to the Tragic Shooting in Tucson. Arizona. on January 8. 2011." This resolution rightly condemns the horrific attack which occurred that fateful Saturday at the "Congress on Your Corner" event held by our beloved colleague. Representative GABRIELLE GIFFORDS. Representative GIFFORDS was doing something she loved to do. something so fundamentally important to which every member of Congress can relate. She and her dedicated staff were truly bringing Congress home to the constituents on "Main Street" and making sure that they knew their national government was accessible to them. cared about them. was there to listen to their concerns and to work together with them to make this country a better place. beginning with their own community. It is only fitting. that on the opening day of the 112th Congress. Representative GIFFORDS read from the First Amendment of the Constitution which states that "Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech. or of the press. or the right of the people peaceably to assemble. and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." This devastating tragedy touched the hearts and minds of not only the good people of Tucson. Arizona. but indeed the very hearts and minds of all Americans. At that moment. everyone in America. and in many places throughout the world. collectively identified with the good people of Tucson. We felt their shock. we felt their pain and we shared their anguish over the senseless killing and injury of innocent people who simply gathered at a comfortable. well known local establishment to participate in our great democracy with their friend and Congresswoman. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS. We mourn the needless loss of life and condemn this atrocious infliction of pain. injury and suffering. We pray for the swift healing of all wounds. both physical and spiritual. for those who suffered from this tragedy. We pay tribute to the value and sanctity of every life. and we count our blessings. Among those blessings. I am privileged to count the time I spent serving alongside Congresswoman GABRIELLE GIFFORDS in the House of Representatives. and I look forward to serving with her again very soon. She embodies the kind of goodness. selflessness. caring and passion for helping others that make her constituents in Tucson and throughout the state of Arizona justly proud. Congresswoman GABRIELLE GIFFORDS loves her district. the state of Arizona. and loves our great country. She loves Americas values and America blessed her with opportunities. Americas values give us all the opportunity to do our best and to be our best. and Congresswoman GIFFORDS did just that. making the most of her talents. Congresswoman GIFFORDS was at her best last Saturday meeting with the people. She is truly a "servantleader" like all of us. in this august legislative body. Congresswoman GIFFORDS would also ask us to do our best and to acknowledge the Americans who poured their hearts out during this tragedy. Americans in Tucson and across the country did their best to respond to this tragedy last Saturday. and many good Americans lost their lives being heroic Americans. I pay tribute to the six individuals who lost their lives on Saturday. January 8. 2011. at the "Congress on Your Corner" event in Tucson. Arizona. The assassins bullets did not discriminate. they took the lives of young and old alike. We mourn the loss of Gabriel Zimmerman. the Community Outreach Director who shared Representative GIFFORDs passion for personally connecting with constituents at the local level to improve the quality of their lives and to simply be a good friend and neighbor. We mourn the loss of nineyearold Christina Taylor Green. who lost her life on that tragic day. She serves as an example for us all. She had just been elected to her school student council. and she attended the "Congress on Your Corner" event with great interest. At the tender age of 9. she was already a leader with a promising future. We also pay our most sincere tribute to and mourn Federal Judge John Roll. Dorothy Morris. Phyllis Schneck and Dorwan Stoddard. who also needlessly lost their lives that day while exercising their right to peaceably assemble and participate in our democracy. Furthermore. I pay tribute to the many heroes of all ages who demonstrated the most unselfish bravery and came to the aid of all those in attendance at the "Congress on Your Corner" event. Among those. we admire the 61 year old Patricia Maisch. who bravely risked the loss of her own life and effectively disarmed the shooter as several men pounced on him and threw him to ground. As they struggled to hold him down. Maisch joined the group of people wrestling on the ground. clinging to the gunmans ankles. and she grabbed the gunmans bullet clip before he could reload and continue his savage attack. Patricia Maisch humbly said. "I am not a hero. The other guys are. I just assisted getting the clip." Congresswoman GIFFORDS is also close to her family and married to Captain Mark Kelly. who honors this great nation with his service as a NASA Astronaut at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. This tragic event occurred on the eve of Mark Kellys planned command of the last shuttle mission to the Space Station. His twin brother. Captain Scott Kelly. also honors this nation with his service as a NASA Astronaut. Space station Commander Scott Kelly led NASA in a moment of silence Monday January 11. 2011. as he struggled with the senseless shooting of his sisterinlaw. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS. He was in outer space at the time of the shooting. Flight controllers in Houston fell silent as Scott Kelly spoke via radio from space. "We have a unique vantage point here aboard the International Space Station." he said. "As I look out the window. I see a very beautiful planet that seems very inviting and peaceful. Unfortunately. it is not. These days. we are constantly reminded of the unspeakable acts of violence and damage we can inflict upon one another. not just with our actions. but also with our irresponsible words. Were better than this. We must do better." Congresswoman GIFFORDS is now fighting for her life along with others who were wounded on that fateful day while the heroes of that day reflect on the horrible tragedy that occurred and hopefully. remaining cognizant that they did their best in the most trying of circumstances. Now it is time for us to do our best. to be servantleaders giving to others first and leading by example. To Captain Kelly and his family. we stand by your side. you do not stand alone. To Congresswoman GIFFORDS staff. we stand with you too and extend our heartfelt condolences on the loss of your fellow staff member. Gabriel Zimmerman. and our prayers for your wounded fellow staff members. We are committed to both our freedom of expression and our Constitutions constant pursuit to create a more perfect union. We as a nation are better than what occurred in Tucson on Saturday. and we are showing it today and must continue to show it every day henceforth. As we approach the holiday commemorating the life of slain civil rights leader. Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.. I am reminded of his commitment to nonviolence. Dr. Kings timeless words ring especially true at this time. He reminds us that "Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals." In the wake of this shocking event and at this crucial moment in our nations history. I call for a commitment from all of my colleagues in the United States Congress to act and speak with a renewed and inspired sense of civility and respect for one another in our discourse. I call for a restoration of the time honored history and tradition of this great legislative chamber. which includes an atmosphere of decorum. comity. collegiality. and respect. even while we discuss the most hotly debated issues of our day. We have before us a great opportunity to lead by example and remind the people of this nation and throughout the world about what makes our democracy truly unique and special. We need only recall that we are here as the duly elected Members of Congress to represent the people of our districts. our states and this country. We can demonstrate we truly reflect the voices of the people who sent us here. As we go about conducting the nations business. we can comport ourselves with respect and dignity toward one another even when we disagree. A nation is watching. What we do at this critical time is of great importance. We have the rare opportunity to honor those tragic victims of January 8. 2011. by setting a new national tone of civility. Then. our constituents will know that we truly speak for them. I urge my colleagues to join me in this commitment.