Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 117 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 117 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 167 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2021 No. 113 Senate The Senate was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Thursday, July 1, 2021, at 11 a.m. House of Representatives TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2021 The House met at 10 a.m. and was during a robbery attempt in front of posed to violence. These children are called to order by the Speaker pro tem- our house. Gun violence ruined his life. under the age of 5. Through play, they pore (Mr. SUOZZI). He was left with grievous residual inju- have demonstrated their experience f ries that have put a huge dent in my with the sounds of gunfire. Some have family’s finances, emotions, sense of even seen deceased people outside their DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO security, and our well-being. My family front door. There is even less funding TEMPORE has suffered a lot, but most especially provided to address the trauma that The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- my husband, who has suffered both im- gun violence produces for the most vul- fore the House the following commu- paired emotional and physical bodily nerable—our children—who are living nication from the Speaker: function. He has so many medical in the most violent areas.’’ WASHINGTON, DC, issues as a result of his shooting. We These are just a handful of the more June 29, 2021. have experienced pain and suffering than 700 stories about the devastating I hereby appoint the Honorable THOMAS R. like so many more families out there. impacts of gun violence that my con- SUOZZI to act as Speaker pro tempore on this There is horrible residual pain left be- stituents have recently shared with day. hind by gun violence. We have become me. Each of these stories is heart- NANCY PELOSI, prisoners in our own home.’’ breaking, and they highlight both the Speaker of the House of Representatives. ‘‘My younger brother took his own complexity and the far-reaching con- f life with a handgun he legally ob- sequences of the gun violence epidemic. MORNING-HOUR DEBATE tained. He had a long history of mental illness, and I disagreed with his ability Every single day in my district and The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- to purchase a firearm for this very rea- communities across the country, chil- ant to the order of the House of Janu- son. If there had been better back- dren are traumatized by the sounds of ary 4, 2021, the Chair will now recog- ground checks in place, he may not unpredictable gunfire, the sight of nize Members from lists submitted by have been able to purchase the firearm. blood on pavement, or more ambulance the majority and minority leaders for I wish that these restrictions were in lights in their neighborhoods. morning-hour debate. place. I want you to know that real Families are becoming financially The Chair will alternate recognition stakes are involved in a simple issue ruined by the cost of continued sur- between the parties, with time equally like background checks. If universal geries and therapy after being shot. allocated between the parties and each background checks were in place, my Grandparents write to tell me that Member other than the majority and little brother might still be alive.’’ their elementary school-aged grand- minority leaders and the minority ‘‘My fiance’s son, James, was shot children are scared to go and play out- whip limited to 5 minutes, but in no and killed in 2018 after attending a get- side for fear of being gunned down like event shall debate continue beyond together. He was not the intended tar- their classmates and their neighbors. 11:50 a.m. get. He was a straight-A student in his When will enough be enough? f senior year of high school, trying to de- cide if he was on his way to college or America’s gun violence epidemic is a GUN VIOLENCE RUINS LIVES the Navy. But he didn’t get a chance to slow-motion massacre that is rapidly The SPEAKER pro tempore. The make his choice. There were nearly 100 gaining speed. Just this weekend, 77 Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from witnesses, but no arrest has been people were shot in Chicago, 77 people Illinois (Ms. KELLY) for 5 minutes. made.’’ in just one city in just one weekend. Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, ‘‘I am a trauma therapist working We must act now to stop the steady ‘‘My husband was shot in the stomach with young children who have been ex- drip of daily gun violence. Mr. Speaker, b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H3243 ® Pdnted on recycled papfil. VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:24 Jun 30, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A29JN7.000 H29JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE H3244 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 29, 2021 2020 was one of the deadliest gun vio- worked in support of those in combat, served in a number of roles for the de- lence years on record, and we are al- such as Clara Barton, Army nurse and partment. He spent most of the year ready on track to outpace those grim founder of the American National Red working as a school resource officer at statistics. More than 21,000 people are Cross. local schools in our community, in- dead in just the first 6 months of this Hundreds of thousands of young men cluding Oberon Middle School, Lincoln year. lost their lives during the Second Academy, and Excel Academy Charter We need to step up to the plate and World War fighting fascism in Europe School. During the summers, he often do something to protect our constitu- and around the world. Presidents returned to patrol work, as he was ents. Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry doing last Monday in Olde Town Ar- We need to make straw purchasing Truman, alongside generals including vada. and gun trafficking Federal crimes. We Eisenhower, Patton, and MacArthur, Officer Beesley was a well-known and need to expand background checks. We provided the leadership and strategy well-liked member of our community. need to support more evidence-based necessary to allow our soldiers to gain His calm, gentle, and patient demeanor community violence prevention pro- victory and preserve freedom. made a big difference in his day-to-day grams. We need to build opportunity As a nation, we have believed in and interactions with students, especially for youth to get a good education and fought for freedom for so long that it those students who needed it most. good jobs. We cannot go on letting can easily be taken for granted. This is In 2015, he was named employee of mothers bury their children. a trap that we must be extra vigilant This week, we mark the end of Gun the year by the city of Arvada after the not to fall into. As President Reagan city learned Officer Beesley was riding Violence Awareness Month. But for far aptly stated, freedom ‘‘is not passed to too many families, there is no end to his bike to school multiple times a our children in the bloodstream.’’ week with a student who suffered from this month of awareness and advocacy. Pursuing freedom for over 200 years These families are painfully aware of developmental delays and was not able has been the result of a conscious to ride by himself. the impacts of gun violence because choice, in each era, by every genera- Countless other stories have surfaced they carry the weight of this epidemic tion. We must continue to make that from students, his colleagues, and com- with them every single day. choice in this era and in this genera- I rise to implore my colleagues to ex- munity members in the days following tion. ercise some courage and responsibility his death about the impact he had on Mr. Speaker, you may have noticed by advancing gun violence prevention their lives, big and small. that in my examples from the Revolu- legislation. tionary War, Civil War, and Second He was an accomplished drummer f World War, I named politicians who and singer who played in local Arvada MEANING OF INDEPENDENCE DAY served our soldiers and citizens. Make bands Railbenders and Brethren Fast. We will remember Officer Beesley’s The SPEAKER pro tempore. The no mistake, it is the soldiers and the kindness and bravery and the approach Chair recognizes the gentleman from citizens of our Nation who do the work he brought to life each and every day Pennsylvania (Mr. THOMPSON) for 5 to preserve freedom. Therefore, it is to ‘‘make someone feel special today.’’ minutes. the solemn duty of those of us who Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. work in government to lead and rep- Hearing gunshots, another hero Mr. Speaker, a quick web search on the resent the people so that they can con- stepped up to protect and defend the meaning of Independence Day will give tinue to live in freedom. community, 40-year-old Denver resi- you the dictionary definition: A day I urge each and every government of- dent Johnny Hurley. According to Ar- celebrating the anniversary of national ficial, and especially my fellow Mem- vada’s chief of police, Johnny’s actions independence.