Date: 2016-06-15
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. the overwhelming grief that America now feels warrants this body to continue to offer our sympathies and concern to those families now in the most dire of conditions. that is. those families whose loved ones are no more. who died on what was to be a joyous occasion. socializing. as we do as Americans. and those families who are hovering over sickbeds for those who are injured. I rise this morning to again give them my sympathy and my respect. What the American people want to see from this body is action. I rise as well to pay tribute to the LGBTQ community all over the Nation. In my hometown of Houston. Texas. over these last tragic days. we have come together with them and the Muslim community. The Muslim community is making a very strong stand that they stand with those fallen and killed. those who were part of the LGBTQ community. The Muslims were strong. They were Americans. They were prayerful. They were imams. and they were civilians. We prayed. We heard from a Catholic deacon. We heard from a Christian Presbyterian minister in a press conference when we came together on Sunday in the midst of the unbelievable. We came together in Houston and advocated for unity and respect. We quoted scriptures that said to love one another. We joined President Barack Obama in taking the moment not to politicize but to speak that we must come together. Calling names and defining what a radical religion is or not will not answer any question. It may make some feel good. but it will not answer for the basis of the violence of Mr. Mateen. I do believe that the American people are mourning and giving our love and letting them know that they are not alone. they will not walk this place alone. I use that because I listened to that rendition by an Orlando choir as the names and faces of the 49 were shown on television. In the quietness of my office. the emotion was overwhelming. So I think it is immoral. It is clearly a response to the depravity of this Nation if my colleagues cannot come together and do something this week. Ban the assault weapons. Join us in recognizing that this is not a violation of the Second Amendment. Pass the no fly. no buy bill. If you are on the terrorist watch list. why are you getting assault weapons? Then H.R. 5470. introduced by my colleague. Congresswoman BROWN. the Representative of Orlandowhere the tragedy and terrorist act occurredand myself. gives added tools to the FBI that says that if you have had any encounter with Federal law enforcement. as you purchase a gun. you must make that known so that it can be a trigger. and if you do not respond. you still must have that reported to the FBI so that a thorough investigation can be had. I dont believe that we can leave this week without answering the concerns of the American people. I make a plea to organizations that we know have consistently stood in blocking the door of sensible. responsible gun safety legislation. to go on their knees and pray for humility and guidance and to be able to seek some other place of responsibility than their own selfish interests. Dead people cannot speak. Their families are overwhelmed with grief. The injured are filled with grief and are trying to recover. This Congress must pass the no fly. no buy bill. It must pass a ban on assault weapons. It must enhance the various tactics that our law enforcement can have to stop a heinous terroristic and horrible killinga massacre. a slaughter. Mr. Speaker. I say that we will be in the band of the immoral if we do not do something today. To those who mourn in Houston. I wish I could be with you. I thank the mayor and all of those who will come together this evening. My spirit is with you. I love you.