Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank Mr. Royce and Mr. Engel and Mr. Poe for their leadership in bringing the House together on a very important…”

“I thank Mr. Royce and Mr. Engel and Mr. Poe for their leadership in bringing the House together on a very important issue. Earlier today I stood and spoke about the tragic news that we heard early this morning of two Japanese citizens being held and ISIS asking for $200 million. The work of these individuals in Paris, France, and beyond was in their mind a connectedness to al Qaeda and others, proudly so, as they slaughtered those individuals who chose to lift up liberte in the spirit of the French people and take to the pen and assess the atmosphere of the day and provide humor to it. Mr. Speaker, I do not comment on one person's opinion, but I do know that liberte, democracy, liberty, and our own beliefs give every human being dignity and the freedom of expression, the free press, the right to free speech and religion, and I believe these are very valuable ideals. And so this resolution speaks to that by condemning the heinousness of the act. How many families--children, mothers, and fathers--were impacted by the loss of their loved ones? What a tragedy to see a police officer gunned down in the street who asked, as I reflect on the words as I recall them, to be left alone, and yet was shot again, and other officers in the line of duty being subjected to the violence of these individuals. This is an intolerable situation that should not be tolerated.…”