Moment of Silence in Remembrance of the Lives Lost in the Michigan State University Shooting

Floor Speech

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Ms. SLOTKIN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Michigan State University, as tonight marks 2 weeks since a horrific shooting took the lives of three innocent students and injured five others.

On February 13, 2023, Arielle Anderson, Brian Fraser, and Alexandria Verner were taken from us far too soon. Four students are still in Sparrow Hospital. One, thankfully, has been released and is at home.

In the days since, we have all spent many hours in East Lansing talking to MSU current Spartans and alumni. The strength and resilience I have witnessed has been both inspiring and moving.

I have attended vigils where thousands have shown up to honor the victims and talk to students who are too scared to leave their dorm rooms.

We have seen demonstrations where brave young students have made clear that they want action, not just thoughts and prayers.

I have also met with many of the 25 different law enforcement and first responder organizations that ran toward the danger that night. I commend the 911 dispatchers who guided agencies calmly during the response for both the shootings and the manhunt, as well as thank staff at Sparrow Hospital for saving students who were transported with gunshot wounds.

Our community is Spartan strong, but the grief remains palpable--even on my own team, my staff who is here--among current MSU and alumni.

Almost 15 months ago, this same group of Michigan lawmakers with our friends and allies stood up here to mourn the loss of life at Oxford High School. It seems beyond belief that I am a Member of Congress who has now overseen two school shootings in her district in 15 months--yet another horrific tragedy that has forever changed the families of the victims, their classmates, professors, and the entire community.

We cannot be desensitized to this senseless violence.

As the Representative of the university, I have heard from people across the State who love MSU and want to protect our children. All anyone wants is to protect our kids in a place that should be their sanctuary. Gun violence is the number one killer of children under 21, and I will work with anyone who is willing to recognize that and decide that we are not going to accept it.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues for a moment of silence for Arielle, for Brian, for Alexandria, and for the families and our State who grieve this immeasurable loss.

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