Kendra S. Horn: “Mr. Speaker, last Friday's tragedy continues to haunt our Capitol Hill community and our Nation. For those of us who…”

“Mr. Speaker, last Friday's tragedy continues to haunt our Capitol Hill community and our Nation. For those of us who work every day under the protection provided by the Capitol Police, it is particularly disturbing and saddening. My condolences and prayers go out to the family members and the friends of Officer J.J. Chestnut and Special Agent John Gibson. Without Officer Chestnut and Special Agent Gibson, more lives would have been lost on Friday afternoon. They are heroes in every sense of that word, and deserve our deepest gratitude for their ultimate sacrifice. One can only wish that the heroism and the bravery of the Capitol Police Force could have been brought to our Nation's attention under less tragic circumstances. The Capitol Police officers are our friends and our colleagues. The protection of freedom is a goal that we share with them. They work to ensure that the Members of Congress can do their jobs without fear of intimidation or harm. On a more personal note, I have the highest appreciation for the Capitol Police, for the assistance that they have provided to me and to my staff, with great skill, courtesy and professionalism.”