On the recordJuly 5, 2016
I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro). Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I am in strong opposition to the rule, to this flawed financial services bill, but that is not why I have risen to speak. I have risen to speak today because the American people are crying out. They are crying out for a vote on legislation that makes a real impact on the epidemic of gun violence in our country. Last week, in my district, Stratford, Connecticut, I stood in front of the Victoria Soto School, demanding commonsense gun violence legislation. When the gunman began firing at Sandy Hook Elementary, Vicki Soto hid her students in the closet. She died protecting them. The AR-15 was on the floor by her body. She was a hero. She committed her time, her effort, and her life to protecting and caring for children. The school is a fitting tribute to Vicki and her life's work. There, children can be children. But it is also a stark reminder of the real and heartbreaking cost of gun violence, and it is a visible reminder of what is at stake and why we need comprehensive gun violence legislation now. We must take action for Victoria, for the Soto family. I watch how her parents suffer and her siblings suffer every single day, but we need to do that for the Soto family and for every family like them who know grief most of us will never understand.…
