On the recordSeptember 21, 2016
Mr. President, I rise today to also speak about the Central States Pension Fund, and I acknowledge my other colleagues speaking on it, Senator Franken and Senator Brown as well as Senator Wyden. I appreciate your being here, as well as the ranking member on the Finance Committee. St. Cloud, Minnesota, Stabbings Mr. President, before I address that, I also want to address the horrific act of violence that occurred at the Crossroads Center mall in St. Cloud. This is a mall that I have been to many times. It is a thriving mall. A lot of people in that area go there, and, in fact, their sense of safety was shattered that evening. There were 10 victims. At first they thought there were 9 victims, but a video showed there were 10. One is a pregnant woman who was nine months along. By some grace of God, no one was seriously injured, and no one died. It was terror that I don't think any of us can imagine. People were there with their families shopping, and this happened. The first thing we know is that the mayor and the chief--Mayor Kleis, whom I have worked with for many years, a former Republican legislator who has been a very strong leader of this town, and Chief Anderson, who has been the chief there for many years--have shown that kind of strength in leaders that you would like. Immediately, they came out and explained to the community what happened and told them the honest truth--that they were still gathering the facts.…





