Expressing the support and sympathy of the House of Representatives and the people of the United States for the victims of the tragic fire that occurred in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, on October 28, 2007.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 787) expressing the support and sympathy of the House of Representatives and the people of the United States for the victims of the tragic fire that occurred in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, on October 28, 2007.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H. Res. 787 which expresses the support and sympathy of the House of Representatives of the people of the United States for the victims of the tragic fire recently that occurred in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. House Resolution 787, which has 66 cosponsors, was introduced by my friend and colleague Mr. James Clyburn.

Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, October 28, 2007, seven college students perished in a fire in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. They were victims of an early morning fire that engulfed a two-story house. There were also six survivors who were hospitalized but later released.

Of the seven students who perished, six were from the University of South Carolina, and one was from Clemson University.

We in this Congress express our heartfelt sympathy for the victims, their families and the campus communities that have been affected.

These students were among our best and brightest. Their striving, their aspirations, and the hope and support of their families, especially their parents, for their future embodies a shining example of what is best about America.

The Ocean Isle Beach's fire claimed the precious lives of seven young people who had so much to live for and so much to give. We express our deepest sympathy to the victims and their families.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague Representative Jim Clyburn for seeking to express the deepest sympathy of the House of Representatives on this sad occasion, and I urge the swift passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my friend and colleague, Mr. James Clyburn, of South Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McIntyre).

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman.

I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 787, which my friend and colleague Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina has filed and which expresses the support and sympathy of the House of Representatives and the people of the United States for the victims of the tragic fire that occurred in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, about 10 days ago on October 28.

As you may know, I represent the town of Ocean Isle Beach; and like all of my constituents, I was saddened by the events that took place just a few days ago.

Ocean Isle Beach is a family community, a place many do love to come and spend time with friends, and the loss of seven college students and injuries by six more indeed was a tragic turn of events that brought this small beach town, the State of North Carolina, and our neighbor, the State of South Carolina where the students were in school, and this Nation to its knees.

I'm honored to support this essential and timely measure which also expresses gratitude for the efforts of all the emergency personnel, law enforcement, fire and rescue that were involved in this horrific situation, and our gratitude to Mayor Debbie Smith and the other local officials in that community, as well as to the Brunswick County officials and other community members and private citizens that responded to the fire and that reached out to help those in need and the families that were affected by this tragic situation.

As we gather today to express our condolences to the families and friends of the students that perished and as we offer our hope for the full recovery of the students that were injured, I urge all of us to reflect on the importance of these individuals' lives and express our sympathies to those families who will carry this loss with them.

Mr. Speaker, we're a strong Nation. Ocean Isle Beach is a strong community. And I know that events like the fire on October 28 will demonstrate even more our strength and our unity in times of tragedy.

May we all stand here in this body today, indeed may we all stand as a Nation together, in remembrance of these students and pledge our commitment to their families and friends. We pray for God's comfort, His peace and His strength to be with them always.

I thank my colleague for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution memorializes and commemorates the lives of seven students from the University of South Carolina and Clemson University who perished in last week's tragic beach house fire in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.

I proudly represent the University of South Carolina, and I rise to thank the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for its prompt action on this resolution and to once again extend my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of those University of South Carolina and Clemson students who we lost in this unfortunate event. They should all know that we will continue to keep them and their loved ones in our prayers as they mourn their tremendous loss.

There's little that we cherish more than seeing our children and grandchildren go off to school seeking to acquire the knowledge and skills that they will need to pursue their dreams and aspirations. It is an incredible feeling. And to have that promise cut short in such a dramatic and tragic way is probably more than anyone who has not had the experience can possibly imagine.

As we mourn with the University of South Carolina and Clemson University communities at this solemn time, we should all take some solace in knowing that these young people represented the best of our hopes and dreams for the future. Through their extracurricular activities and academic successes, they served as strong role models for future generations and as sources of pride for their families and friends. It is only fitting that we honor them for being the bright beacons of light that they were and that their loved ones will always remember them as being.

No words or sympathetic sentiments will ever undo the tragic loss endured by the University of South Carolina and Clemson communities. However, by passing this resolution, it is my hope that these communities understand that this congressional body stands in unison in offering our prayers and condolences.

May God bless all those affected by this tragedy.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Clyburn and my colleagues for bringing this resolution to the floor.

I'm deeply saddened by the circumstances we're addressing today. As we have all learned, seven students were killed in a house fire that took place at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, over a week ago. This tragic accident reminds us all how precious life is, and I want to express my condolences to the families and friends of these students.

As a University of South Carolina Law School graduate and a parent of a current Clemson student, I've grown to know the strength and character of these communities. I have had the privilege of getting to know many of their students, faculty, and administrators all my life. Under the leadership of USC president Andrew Sorensen and Clemson president Jim Barker, the students and families of these two universities have found comfort and kinship during this difficult time.

I also want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and the Delta Delta Delta sorority who lost members in this tragic fire. My father and my mother were members of these two USC organizations respectively; and as a member of a fraternity, with three sons in a fraternity, I know the bond that these students and alumni feel for one another and the grief they are experiencing.

South Carolina's media have been very thoughtful, respectful, and helpful in providing tributes to the students.

Today, we offer our support and comfort to the students who were injured in this terrible accident. We will continue to pray for their full and speedy recovery.

Additionally, we must recognize the brave members of the local fire departments and emergency personnel, as well as the Ocean Isle Beach citizens who responded to the fire and called for help.

Again, I want to thank my colleague and long-time friend Congressman Jim Clyburn for bringing this resolution to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, more than 600 people gathered at Federated Church in Chagrin Falls OH, to mourn the loss of Allison Walden, 19, a 2006 graduate of Chagrin Falls High School and the daughter of Terry and Diane Walden of Chagrin Falls.

Allison was one of seven students to die in the tragic beach house fire in North Carolina.

Her father, Terry, said she was a wonderful girl and full of life. She had a scholarship to University of South Carolina, where she was a sophomore studymg pre-med and a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. She had planned to return to her beloved Chagrin Falls after graduation and study anesthesiology at Case Western Reserve University.

This senseless fire that took the lives of seven wonderful young people capped a very difficult year for the Walden family.

Their son, Greg, a 2005 Chagrin Falls graduate, is a student at Virginia Tech and was there in April when a deranged student shot up the campus, killing 33 people Fortunately, Greg, an honors engineering student, was unharmed in that horrific attack. I can't imagine as a parent going through that, and then losing your only daughter just five months later in another tragedy. It is just unspeakably cruel.

As their father said, ``What is the chance that out of all the schools in the country that our children would go where tragic events unfold?''

On behalf of the 14th Congressional District, my sympathies go to the Walden family on their horrible loss, and may they find comfort in their family, friends, faith and community.