Expressing sympathy to the victims and families of the tragic acts of violence in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Arvada, Colorado.

Madam Speaker, for the information of our colleagues and my constituents, I want the Record to reflect how I would have voted on the following votes I missed this session.

On rollcall 134, to pass S. 2733, to temporarily extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965, 1 would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 154, on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 1605, providing for the consideration of H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act, I would have voted ``no.''

I would have done so because defeating the previous question would have allowed the House to consider an amendment dealing with the appropriations earmark process. I support reforming that process and think that the House should at least debate changes to it, although I reserve judgment on whether I would have supported the specific language of the amendment since it was not debated.

On rollcall 158, passage of H.R. 5501, Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 162, passage of H.R. 2464, The Wakefield Act--I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 163, passage of S. 793, Reauthorization of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act--I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 182, on the Flake amendment to H.R. 2537, to bar use of funds provided under that bill for Congressional earmarks, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 183, to suspend the rules and pass H. Res. 886, Expressing sympathy to the victims and families of the tragic acts of violence in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Arvada, Colorado, as a cosponsor of the resolution I would have voted ``yes.''

As the resolution reminds us all, on Sunday, December 9, 2007, a troubled individual was responsible for killing several innocent people and injuring others at, first, the Youth With a Mission facility in Arvada and, a few hours later, at the New Life Church in the Colorado Springs area--where he was fatally shot by Jeanne Assam, a volunteer private security guard.

The resolution rightly commends Ms. Assam and the quick response of local first responders in the city of Arvada and in Jefferson County as well as those in EI Paso County and Colorado Springs who, assisted by Federal authorities and medical professionals limited the danger to the church and local community. And it offers the heartfelt condolences of the House of Representatives to the victims and families of these tragic acts of violence in Colorado and coveys our gratitude to Jeanne Assam, city and county officials, as well as the police, fire, sheriff, Federal authorities, and

emergency medical teams whose quick response saved lives.

On rollcall number 185, to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 3548, as amended, the Plain Language in Government Communications Act, as a cosponsor of that measure I would have voted ``yes.''

H.R. 3548 requires Federal agencies to use plain language in Government documents related to obtaining a service or a benefit. It responds to the fact that Government documents often are complex and difficult to understand, particularly when they are not written clearly. To address this problem, President Clinton in 1998 issued a memorandum that, in part, required Federal agencies to use plain language in all documents that explain how to obtain a benefit or service. However, while a few agencies still maintain plain language programs, efforts to promote plain language have waned. H.R. 3548 defines plain language and requires agencies to use plain language in any new document that explains how to obtain a service or a benefit or that is relevant to obtaining a service or a benefit. The bill ensures that many of the letters, forms, and other documents that people receive from the Government will be written in a clear, understandable way. Under this bill, for example, the Social Security Administration would be required to use plain language in letters that provide beneficiaries information about Social Security.

I joined in cosponsoring the bill because I think it is important for those of us in Government to do more to communicate clearly with our employers, the American people, and I hope that the Senate will join the House in giving prompt approval to the legislation.

On rollcall number 331, to pass H.R. 6081, the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall number 332, to pass H.R. 6074, the Gas Price Relief for Consumers Act, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, on February 6, 2008, I was unable to vote on the following votes: rollcall No. 29: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 867. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''; rollcall No. 30: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 942. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'', and rollcall No. 31: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 943. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''.

Madam Speaker, on February 7, 2008, I was unable to vote on the following votes: rollcall No. 32: On ordering the previous question for H. Res. 956. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''; rollcall No. 33: On agreeing to H. Res. 956. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''; rollcall No. 34: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 283, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''; rollcall No. 35: On motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 4848, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''; rollcall No. 36: On agreeing to the amendment numbered 4 to H.R. 4137. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''; rollcall No. 37: On agreeing to the amendment numbered 5 to H.R. 4137. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''; rollcall No. 38: On agreeing to the amendment numbered 7 to H.R. 4137. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no''; rollcall No. 39: On motion to Recommit H.R. 4137 with Instructions. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no''; rollcall No. 40: On passage of H.R. 4137. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''; rollcall

No. 41: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 947. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'', and rollcall No. 42: On agreeing to the Senate amendment to H.R. 5140. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Madam Speaker, On March 11, 2008, I was unable to vote on the following vote: rollcall No. 111: On motion to adjourn. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Madam Speaker, on April 14, 2008, I was unable to vote on the following votes: rollcall No. 183: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 886, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''; rollcall No. 184: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 994, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''; and rollcall No. 185: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3548, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, on May 5, 2008, I was unable to vote on the following votes: rollcall No. 240: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 952. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''; rollcall No. 241: On a motion to table the motion to reconsider H. Res. 952. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''; rollcall No. 242: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1011, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''; rollcall No. 243: On a motion to table the motion to reconsider H. Res. 1011. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''; and rollcall No. 244: On a motion to adjourn. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, on May 6, 2008, I was unable to vote on the following vote: rollcall No. 260: On motion to adjourn. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, on June 3, 2008, I was unable to vote on the following votes: rollcall No. 367: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 138, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''; rollcall No. 368: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 923. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''; rollcall No. 369: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1114. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, on July 17, 2008, I was unable to vote on the following votes: rollcall No. 510: On agreeing to the resolution to H. Res. 1350. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''; rollcall No. 539: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1370, as amended. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and also the gentlewoman for her kind remarks concerning this day of tragedy in Colorado. We have had a couple of those, Columbine, 9 years ago this week, as well as this tragedy that occurred on December 9.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness and regret that I rise today to honor and pay tribute to the victims and families of the tragic acts of violence that occurred on December 9 at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs and on the Faith Bible Chapel campus in Arvada, Colorado, with this resolution.

The senseless acts of violence partially took place in my district at the Youth With A Mission, YWAM, in the heart of Jefferson County in a community still reeling from the tragic events of Columbine several years ago.

The Faith Bible Chapel campus is about a block from where my father- in-law lives. It is a place I drive by almost every weekend when I am home. And it is a place in the late hours of December 8 and the early hours of December 9, a reverse 911 call had to go out to the entire neighborhood to advise them of the killings that had gone on so nearby.

All four young men and women lost their lives before the psychotic young gunman turned the gun on himself. This resolution seeks to honor the memory of these individuals: Tiffany Johnson, who was 26 years old; Philip Crouse, 24; Stephanie Works and Rachel Works who I believe were nieces of a friend of mine, John Works, who was a candidate several years ago for the 7th Congressional District of Colorado, which is the seat that I now hold.

This bill also seeks to recognize the survivors and the families victimized, and in particular, Dan Griebenow, Charlie Blanch, David Works, Judy Purcell, and Larry Bourbannais who were wounded during this senseless day of killing.

It is important to note that this resolution commends the heroism of the local first responders and law enforcement officials in the city of Arvada, Jefferson County, Colorado Springs, and El Paso County who responded quickly and professionally.

Especially, Jeanne Assam, a volunteer private security guard, who courageously rushed into harm's way and used her own gun to stop the shooter, thereby saving the lives of several other bystanders.

We will never know what was going through the mind of Matthew Murray, the young man who killed these people and wounded several more. We don't know what possessed his mind to take these senseless acts, but we do know that the people who were killed here in this particular incident and the people who were wounded will always stay in our memory and will be honored by this resolution.

Our Nation can never adequately come to grips with senseless tragedies like these. Whether it is some kind of care for the perpetrator in this instance from his psychosis, or whether it is additional protections that we might give to our churches and our schools, there are many things that we can do, but it is just a shame that sometimes, we can't understand the demons that possess people and cause them to come up with acts of psychotic violence like we have seen here.

It is my hope that this bill sends a message to the victims of these tragic events that they will continue to remain in the thoughts of our Nation, and they will never be forgotten for the events that occurred on December 9. This bill represents one small step in the process of healing for our communities affected by this tragedy.

In closing, I wish to thank each of my colleagues in the Colorado delegation, and especially Representative Doug Lamborn, who represents the city of Colorado Springs. I want to thank each of the 51 co- sponsors who join me today in expressing sympathy

to the victims and families of the heartbreaking acts of violence in Colorado Springs and Arvada, Colorado, with this resolution, H. Res. 886. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of H. Res. 886.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to be present for three rollcall votes on April 14th. If I had been present for those votes, I would have voted as follows:

First, on rollcall No. 183, to suspend the rules and pass H. Res. 886, Expressing sympathy to the victims and families of the tragic acts of violence in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Arvada, Colorado, as a cosponsor of the resolution I would have voted ``yes.''

As the resolution reminds us all, on Sunday, December 9, 2007, a troubled individual was responsible for killing several innocent people and injuring others at, first, the Youth With a Mission facility in Arvada and, a few hours later, at the New Life Church in the Colorado Springs Area--where he was fatally shot by Jeanne Assam, a volunteer private security guard.

The resolution rightly commends Ms. Assam and the quick response of local first responders in the city of Arvada and in Jefferson County as well as those in El Paso County and Colorado Springs who, assisted by Federal authorities and medical professionals limited the danger to the church and local community. And it offers the heartfelt condolences of the House of Representatives to the victims and families of these tragic acts of violence in Colorado and conveys our gratitude to Jeanne Assam, city and county officials, as well as the police, fire, sheriff, Federal authorities, and emergency medical teams whose quick response saved lives.

Second, on rollcall No. 184, to suspend the rules and pass H. Res. 994, regarding National Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia Awareness Day, I would have voted ``yes.''

And, third, on rollcall No. 185, to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 3548, as amended, the Plain Language in Government Communications Act, as a cosponsor of that measure I would have voted ``yes.''

H.R. 3548 requires Federal agencies to use plain language in government documents related to obtaining a service or a benefit. It responds to the fact that government documents often are complex and difficult to understand, particularly when they are not written clearly. To address this problem, President Clinton in 1998 issued a memorandum that, in part, required Federal agencies to use plain language in all documents that explain how to obtain a benefit or service. However, while a few agencies still maintain plain language programs, efforts to promote plain language have waned. H.R. 3548 defines plain language and requires agencies to use plain language in any new document that explains how to obtain a service or a benefit or that is relevant to obtaining a service or a benefit. The bill ensures that many of the letters, forms, and other documents that people receive from the government will be written in a clear, understandable way. Under this bill, for example, the Social Security Administration would be required to use plain language in letters that provide beneficiaries information about Social Security.

I joined in cosponsoring the bill because I think it is important for those of us in government to do more to communicate clearly with our employers, the American people, and I hope that the Senate will join the House in giving prompt approval to the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 886, ``Expressing sympathy to the victims and families of the tragic acts of violence in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Arvada, Colorado.''

This important legislation will honor and memorialize those who were affected by the tragic events in Colorado Springs and Arvada. On that fateful day, a gunman took the lives of five people and wounded 5 more, subsequently taking his own life.

The shootings at New Life Church in Colorado Springs and the Youth With a Mission Center in Arvada on December 9, 2007, remind us once again that the wrath of violence can easily destroy the lives of a congregation gathered in a sanctified establishment. As we reflect on the lives that were spared, we duly note the actions of Jeanne Assam. Jeanne Assam, a former police officer and New Life Church member and security guard, is credited with halting the gunman's spree by shooting him. Though her gunfire did not kill the perpetrator, her act of courage and conviction allowed her to halt the gunman's spree, subsequently preventing the death of more people.

The carnage at the Colorado tragedy commands that we here in this body take a stand against senseless acts of violence whether here in our own country or elsewhere around the world. It is long past time for our national community to declare that injuries inflicted on any member of the community by another simply based on hate or hatred of differences pose a threat to the peace and security of the entire community. For that reason alone, such conduct must be condemned and punished severely, if not prevented altogether. I hope that the incident in Colorado does not reflect a larger problem within our society; however, my optimism is guarded with the reality of an escalating amount of gun violence in schools, malls, and churches.

Neither the mind nor the heart can contemplate a cause that could lead a human being to inflict such injury and destruction on fellow human beings. We can never completely understand why these things happen; however, we must persevere through the melancholy. The loss of those lives and innocence is a tragedy which all Americans mourn. In the face of such overwhelming grief, I hope the families and friends of those affected can take comfort in the certain knowledge that unearned suffering is redemptive. My deepest sympathies are with the victims, their families, and everyone who is affected by this tragic situation. This devastation reaffirms why we, as public officials, must take steps to ensure that the United States is a safer environment where acts of violence based on hate are not tolerated. We cannot sufficiently articulate the feelings of sorrow that are universally felt. I extend my prayers and support to the bereaved families during this time of mourning.

I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation, and, in-so-doing, showing respect for the lives that were lost, sacrificed, and spared.