On the recordJanuary 12, 2011
Today our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who were taken from us last week in this horrific tragedy in Tucson, Arizona. Our Nation stands with Congresswoman Giffords in her recovery, her family, her staff, and all of those who have been impacted by this tragic event, including the family of Gabe Zimmerman, Giffords' director of community outreach, and Federal Judge John Roll, who both died during the shooting. We also stand with Christina Taylor Green who lost her life that day. Christina had hoped to go to Penn State one day and pursue a career of helping others. Penn State is one of the top public universities in the country, and it is located in my congressional district. I share those same aspirations and have no doubt that Christina would have achieved her dreams and been successful in the career path of her choosing. I offer my deepest condolences to her family. While this tragedy reminds us of how fragile life is, it also shows us what we can truly be thankful for. I want to commend and thank all of the Federal, State, and local officials for all of their efforts over the last week. These everyday heroes are often unsung despite the dangerous situations they are placed in. Americans everywhere are also thankful for those who showed courage to stand up in the face of danger: Daniel Hernandez, Representative Giffords' intern, the hero who assisted Congresswoman Giffords by performing triage immediately after the shooting.
