Date: 2015-11-17
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman from New York and the gentleman from California. I think many of us will come to the floor and emphasize that we stand with both Mr. ROYCE and Mr. ENGEL for this very strong statement of commitment by the people of the United States to stand with the people of France. My heart cried and my soul was disturbed as the video began to unfold and the most heinous acts of attacking innocent persons. persons who had gone to a stadium to be with friends and relatives. maybe fathers with young sons. maybe families with two or three or four children. maybe brothers and sisters. as was noted by one of the soccer players whose sister was lost. who had come to see him play. maybe as the beautiful young woman from California experiencing her dreams. a beautiful designerI pay tribute to her courage and inspirationwho just was enjoying the ambience and culture of France in the beautiful outdoor cafes that many travel to France just to experience. She lost her life. a beautiful flower. someone that America can be proud of. someone who was going to be a young lady who would obtain her dreams. They didnt care about that. All they cared about was the vile violence of killing. So I am very much in solidarity. as we move forward. to not allow and tolerate ISISISIL continuing their violent ways. I want peace. Mr. Speaker. All of us want peace. But ISIL must be eliminated. and we must do things differently here in this country. We have been vigilant. We have changed our ways since 9111. We do "see something. say something." But I believe as we proceed. we must act not out of fear. but of rational thought. We must deal with the radicalization of young people. and the efforts of the administration. countering violent terrorism. extremism. has been an effective tool of meeting Muslim communities all over America. letting them know that if they see something. they can say something. We must address the question of vulnerabilities in places like airports and large venues. not be shameful about enhancing security. but recognizing that our values of democracy and freedom and access are very important. I think we can do that. We did it after 9111 with the USA PATRIOT Act. and we have continued to do it. It is our heritage to be free and to have a democratic process. It is our heritage to our friends who first established these tenets of democracy that we followed here in the United States. So. to the people of France. we know that you will act. but we ask you to be mindful of the wonderful leadership that you have given of democracy and freedom and the tenets of liberty. We know that liberty and freedom are not free. but it is important to be able to acknowledge these horrible and outrageous and heinous acts. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H. Res. 524. and I call upon America to be vigilant. diligent. but not to act in fear. Mr. Speaker. I rise today in sorrow and outrage but in strong support of H. Res. 524. a bipartisan resolution that condemns "in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks in Paris. France. on November 13. 2015. that resulted in the loss of at least 129 lives." The first two decades of the new millennium will forever be known for barbaric attacks on innocent civilian populations by terrorists on a scale not seen since the end of World War II. If the succeeding decades are to redeem the first two. then the civilized world must act in concert. with one accord and one resolve. to defeat the terrorists who refuse to make peace with the modern world and instead make war on people who wish only to remain free and enjoy the blessings of liberty. Mr. Speaker. we stand in unyielding solidarity with the people of France. which like the United States. is one of the most welcoming nations in the world. Right now. our prayers are with the victims and their families at this terrible time. Mr. Speaker. for centuries Paris has been known to the world as the City of Light. The title is richly deserved because Paris has been a world leader in the march of human progress in the arts. culture. science. democratic theory and governance. and in embrace the challenges and opportunities of the modern world. Those who think that they can terrorize the people of France or the values that they cherish underestimate a nation that has faced and prevailed against far more sinister and lethal adversaries. And they will again. but they will not confront these adversaries alone. They will be joined by the United States and the other countries of the civilized world. The French are justly proud of their national motto. "Libert6. 6galit6. fraternit6." (liberty. equality. fraternity) and no act of terrorism by cowardly perpetrators will succeed in leading them to renounce their heritage of freedom and justice. It is a heritage that we here in the United States share. And that is why the civilized world must and will rededicate itself to combating and defeating radical jihadism. And as has been done many times throughout the long and special relationship between the United States and France. we will face and overcome threats to our way of life together. We will not bow and will never break. we will not falter or fail. We will respond. We will endure. We will overcome. The terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday 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 assure that they alone will be held accountable. We will never forget what happened on Friday. November 13. 2015. which will be forever known in France and throughout the civilized world as "Black Friday." And we will always remember the many innocent lives cut short by the outrageous and heinous acts of terrorism that shocked and rocked the people of Paris last Friday and earned the lasting enmity of peaceful and freedom loving people around the world. I ask a moment of silence for the victims killed and injured in the terrorist attacks last Friday in Paris.