On the recordJanuary 12, 2011
First of all, I would like to join in with my colleagues in condemning this act of violence and to express my deepest condolences to all of the families who were killed in the attack on January 8, 2011, in Tucson, Arizona. I join millions of others in praying for the recovery of all of those that were injured. Especially we pray for our colleague, the Honorable Representative Gabrielle Giffords. It has been my privilege and honor to work with her, especially on the well-being of this Nation's space program, and I pray for her full recovery and God's strength for her husband and her entire family. In a Nation where there is freedom, some individuals will choose to do evil, and certainly no law can cure the human heart. I do pray for the individuals who are suffering from anger, like those of the accused, that they will find the counseling and healing that they need. Actions like this, which include the tragic death of a 9-year-old child, are not normal. But even in tragedy we see the great strength of this Nation. We see the heroic actions of individuals, private and professional, who helped subdue the attacker and who helped the wounded survive. And we see a nationwide outpouring of concern and prayer for Gabby Giffords and all of those that were injured. And of course that rises far above political differences. May God bless the families and bless us in our work here this year in the 112th Congress.
