35th Anniversary of Jonestown

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, today we mark the 35th anniversary of the massacre of Jonestown.

Prior to September 11, this was the deadliest event in U.S. history, excluding wars and natural disasters. More than 900 innocent people were killed after being seduced by the charismatic but deeply disturbed Jim Jones.

Mr. Speaker, among the dead was Congressman Leo Ryan, the first Congressman to be assassinated in the line of duty. He went to Guyana out of concern for the safety of his constituents there. Most of them were of African American descent.

Congresswoman Jackie Speier, who was then on Congressman Ryan's staff, was shot five times and had to wait 22 hours for assistance.

Today, I introduced a resolution honoring their extraordinary bravery and calling on the Speaker to establish protocols to memorialize Members who die in the line of duty. Out of the tragedy of Jonestown, true heroes were revealed.

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