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Mr. TIERNEY. Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues in supporting this resolution. On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of residents and families I represent in Massachusetts, I respectfully offer my deepest sympathies and condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of those who were killed last Saturday in Tucson, Arizona. I want to express my support for those who were injured. Let's hope their recovery is swift.
Our focus right now must remain on honoring the lives that were lost and the lives that will never be the same as a result of this unspeakable attack. However, as we turn to each other, seek solace and mourn, we cannot lose sight of the fact that extraordinary heroism and selfless courage could be found amid the horror of that day. The worst of tragedies brought out the best of humanity, as it so often does. There were men and women of all ages, who, in some cases, were injured themselves, shielding children from harm, tending to the injured, and apprehending the gunman. All of them put their own lives at risk to help save others.
I'd also like to convey the heartache and concern of my constituents--and all Americans--for my colleague, Congresswoman GABRIELLE GIFFORDS. As so many have noted, GABBY is a smart and honorable member of Congress, but even more so, she is a great person--a warm, caring, thoughtful, and a hard-working public servant who strives and succeeds in making a real difference for the people and community she represents. Our hearts go out to GABBY's husband, Mark Kelly, her parents and family, and her dedicated staff in Washington and Arizona.
It is well-known now that this shooting occurred while Congresswoman GIFFORDS was conducting a ``Congress on Your Corner'' event, which gives her constituents an opportunity to meet directly with her and raise issues or ask questions of concern. All of us conduct events like this in some form as often as we can because it is such a fundamental aspect of our job. As Speaker BOEHNER said last week, ``this is the people's House.'' Moving forward, even in this time of grief and sadness, I believe it is important to keep it that way. Rather than inappropriately increasing the barriers between us and those who we represent, we must stay committed to engaging in precisely the kind of activities that Congresswoman GIFFORDS and her staff undertook last Saturday. We must continue to travel around our communities and be in contact with those we represent. We must be more accessible, not less.
Madam Speaker, as we struggle to make sense of these horrific events, one thing remains perfectly clear to all of us in public life: this type of incident cannot be condoned--and our accessibility to our constituents cannot be curtailed--if our nation is to endure as a democratic republic.
Before I close, I again wanted to join my colleagues in remembering all the victims and rededicating ourselves to the enduring American values which Congresswoman GIFFORDS and her staff embody: openness, accessibility, and a sincere commitment to serve those who we represent.
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