Lois Capps: “I certainly want to commend him for holding this very important special order to call attention to the problems of…”

“I certainly want to commend him for holding this very important special order to call attention to the problems of underage drinking and drunk driving. Mr. Speaker, few tragedies bring as much pain to families and communities as fatal accidents caused by drunk driving, especially when young people are involved. The community of Santa Barbara, which I am very proud to represent, was struck by this plague over the weekend when 3 college students were killed when their truck veered off Gibraltar Mountain road. Alcohol was a factor in this accident, and all 3 were under the legal drinking age. My heart truly goes out to the grieving family and to the friends of these young people, many of whom I know personally. Nothing that we can say or do today will bring them back, but we must all try to learn important lessons from this terrible loss of life. The issue of drunk driving has had a profoundly personal impact on my own life. On May 23, I will commemorate the 1-year anniversary of a horrible car accident that nearly claimed my life and the life of my beloved wife Lois.”