Brandon Williams: “I want to thank my colleague, Congressman John Carter, for his words, but, more importantly, for the many years of hard…”

“I want to thank my colleague, Congressman John Carter, for his words, but, more importantly, for the many years of hard work he has put forth to care for the soldiers at Fort Hood. Mr. Speaker, the 2009 terrorist attack at Fort Hood was an unthinkable tragedy. At that time it was the only story the news reported for days. Who was this murderer? Why did he do it? Could there be more like him? Are our other military installations at increased risk of this type of attack too? How did we not see this coming? After the attacks on September 11 we asked these same questions. That is the difference between workplace violence and a terrorist attack. The Fort Hood shooter was not a disgruntled employee who took his anger out on his colleagues. He was a hate-filled, vengeful Islamic extremist who intentionally planned the horrendous terrorist attack and carried it out with no remorse. Islamic extremists like him want us to fear them every single day. They want to hit us where it hurts--by taking innocent American lives and waging war on our military members. They have zero regard for human life--not even their own. That is why our response to terrorist attacks on American soil must be consistently tough, precise, and without hesitation. At the memorial service honoring the lives of 13 Americans and one unborn, President Obama pledged to take care of those who were injured and the families of those killed. Yet 5 years later he has completely neglected them.…”