On the recordJanuary 12, 2011
I rise in support of this resolution today. I, like all of my colleagues, was shocked and very sobered by these events. I was especially touched as a new Member seeing the location and the situation and the circumstances. This is something we all have done as Members. As a former district director for a former Member of this body, my heart especially goes out to the family of Gabe Zimmerman, of Ron Barber and Pamela Simons, to all the staff who have ever served Members in this House, both here in Washington and out of that district. We want to say thank you for your service. We want to say that our hearts and thoughts and prayers are with those families that have been touched. And rest assured, your safety is on top of our mind for us all. As a father, I mourn the loss of a 9-year-old daughter. I too have a 9-year-old daughter, and I think all of us as parents cannot help but look at this and be heartbroken. As an American, this is an assault on our humanity. This is not the first time this has happened in our Nation's history. It is a sad day nonetheless. We are again asking God to heal our land. We will rise to this challenge as a people. I will continue to do my job as a duly elected Member of this body. I know my staff will do its job.
