Congressman McGovern Honors Congresswoman Giffords and the Other Victims of the Tragic Arizona Shooting

Washington, DC, January 13, 2011

M. Speaker - I appreciate the opportunity to speak here today.

Gabrielle Giffords is a smart, gifted and compassionate Member of Congress. It is a privilege to be her colleague, and Arizona is privileged to be represented by a person of her caliber. My wife, Lisa, and I pray for her recovery and our thoughts are with her family, friends and community as they come together in the aftermath of this terrible act of violence.

I look forward to seeing Gabby back here where she belongs - on this floor, advocating on behalf of her constituents.

I served in this House for many years as a Congressional aide. And since I've been elected to Congress, I've come to appreciate even more the generous and selfless service of our staffs. So I am especially touched and grieved by the murder of Gabe Zimmerman, who served as Gabby's director of community outreach.

For those whose lives were lost - Christina-Taylor Green, Dorothy Morris, Judge John Roll, Phyllis Schneck, and Dorwin Stoddard, who was related to one of my own staff - my sympathy, condolences and prayers are with their families and loved ones.

I believe so very strongly that we here in this House, and all of us as Americans, must come together and transform this tragedy into something positive and hopeful. We live in a country that is too polarized, and we live in a country where a culture of violence is all too common. If this horrible act of violence results in all of us becoming more civil to one another, in taking a more careful look at the words and imagery we use when talking to and about one another as we deal with difficult and controversial policy debates - if it results in concrete way to begin to reverse this culture of violence - then our nation will triumph over this pain and loss.

Today is a time to grieve, to mourn, to express sympathy.

But unfortunately, in the aftermath of the tragedy, too many of the old fights re-surfaced. The left blamed the right. The right blamed the left. Everybody blamed the media. Op-eds were written and bills were introduced. But M. Speaker, none of that will bring back those who were lost. None of that will put a 9-year old girl back at the breakfast table where she belongs.

Like many of my colleagues, on Monday I participated in a national moment of silence. The best thing about that moment was that - for just a minute or two - the noise stopped. We paused, and we reflected. And I hope that we can do more of that in the months and years ahead. Thank you, M. Speaker.