Recognizing the anniversary of the tragic shootings that occurred at Fort Hood, Texas, on November 5, 2009.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 319 and want to commend my colleague from Texas (Mr. Carter) for offering this resolution and also for his tremendous leadership day in and day out on behalf of the incredible soldiers and families of Ft. Hood.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of citizens all across America, we rise today to express our deepest respect for the soldiers and families of Ft. Hood, Texas, as we approach the 1-year anniversary of the tragic shooting there. I want to reaffirm to the Ft. Hood families that they are still in the thoughts and prayers of our Nation.

It is a tragedy beyond words that Americans who were willing to risk their lives for our country and combat abroad ended up losing their lives here at home in an attack that just 1 year ago would have seemed unimaginable. While the 12 soldiers and one civilian killed at Ft. Hood last November did not die in combat in a foreign country, they gave their lives defending America, and for that, we will always consider them heroes. The spouses, children, and families of the fallen may not have worn our Nation's uniform, but they, too, have served our Nation through their deep personal sacrifice. We will never ever forget that sacrifice. We cannot bring back their loved ones, but I hope that they will forever feel the collective love and gratitude and prayers of millions of their fellow Americans.

Mr. Speaker, during this attack last year, Ft. Hood was a scene of unspeakable tragedy, but I know it as a place of great triumph--a place where service to country isn't just an idea; it is a way of life, a place where the American spirit is alive and well.

I hope the world will see the Ft. Hood I saw as its Representative in Congress for 14 years through three combat deployments. When I think of Ft. Hood, I think of soldiers, their families, their children, and their neighbors in nearby communities who care for each other and are proud to serve and, yes, sacrifice for our Nation's freedom.

Ft. Hood is known as ``The Great Place'' because that is what it is: past, present, and future. The actions of one deranged gunman should not, and will not, change that fact. The servicemen and -women of Ft. Hood, their families, and the neighboring communities are a very special, unique family. They make Ft. Hood what it is--a shining star in our Nation's defense, a star that will burn brightly for decades to come.

While we honor the sacrifice of our veterans and our troops on Veterans Day and Memorial Day, I hope Americans will remember every day how blessed we are to live in a land where our servicemen and -women and their families are willing to sacrifice so much in service to country. Let us all rededicate ourselves to honoring our troops, our veterans, and their families. Let us remember them not just on Veterans Day and Memorial Day with our words but every day.

Today, we send our prayers to those who were wounded, physically and emotionally, by the unprovoked attack last year at Ft. Hood, and we ask that God keep them in His loving arms, those who gave that day, in the words of Lincoln, ``their last full measure of devotion to country.''

Michael Grant Cahill, civilian physician assistant; Major L. Eduardo Caraveo; Staff Sergeant Justin M. DeCrow; Captain John P. Gaffaney; Specialist Frederick Greene; Specialist Jason Dean Hunt; Sergeant Amy Krueger; Private First Class Aaron Thomas Nemelka; Private First Class Michael Pearson; Captain Russell Seager; Private Francheska Velez; Lieutenant Colonel Juanita Warman; and Private First Class Kham Xiong.

While these heroes are now in God's loving arms, we here on Earth shall not forget them.

I thank my friend for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 319 commemorating the 1-year anniversary of the terrible shooting at Ft. Hood, Texas.

On November 5, 2009, a gunman entered the Soldier Readiness Processing Center at Ft. Hood, Texas, and mercilessly opened fire on military and civilian personnel who were preparing for deployment or who had recently returned from being overseas in a deployment. Thirteen people were killed in this attack, including 12 soldiers, one of whom was an expecting mother and one former soldier. Thirty-one people were wounded. Some of the wounded, like Staff Sergeant Patrick Zeigler, have required months of care and rehabilitation, and that is an ongoing situation.

But wonderful stories come out of this. One story that I heard, as a young soldier saw his sergeant get shot the third time, he jumped between his sergeant and the shooter and took the rest of the rounds into his body because he just was afraid his sergeant wouldn't be able to survive any more.

At the time there was a graduation ceremony going on at Ft. Hood from college, and a bunch of young soldiers were graduating from college right next door. When the call went out for medics, multiple members of that group threw off their cap and gown before they graduated and took off next door to the processing center to work with the wounded. Without regard to their own safety, civilian and military law enforcement personnel, including Sergeants Munley and Todd, acted swiftly and courageously to neutralize the threat, using the active shooter training program they had recently completed.

Army medics immediately reverted to their combat-honed training and began treating the wounded, greatly reducing the loss of more life. Fellow soldiers from everywhere descended upon this area and, while the shooting was going on, risked their lives to evacuate their brethren safely to Darnall Army Hospital.

Fort Hood regional communities, the State of Texas, military service organizations, and countless Americans united in support of Fort Hood victims and their families, collecting millions of dollars in charitable donations. My office has worked hard to ensure that the Fort Hood victims receive all the benefits to which they are entitled as combat victims. Additionally, we are working with the Department of Defense to overcome regulatory obstacles that have prevented the victims and their families from receiving charitable donations. I am hopeful our Senate colleagues will agree to these legislative adjustments included in this year's defense authorization bill to ensure that Fort Hood victims and their families receive every benefit to which they are rightly entitled.

I want to thank the House Armed Services Committee and the House leadership for working with my office to swiftly bring this resolution to the floor.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Fort Hood victims and their families by passing this House Concurrent Resolution 319.

Mr. Speaker, I intentionally did not discuss the accused shooter in an effort to protect his right to a fair and impartial trial when that trial occurs.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 319) recognizing the anniversary of the tragic shootings that occurred at Fort Hood, Texas, on November 5, 2009.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 319, recognizing the anniversary of the tragic shootings that occurred at Fort Hood, Texas, on November 5, 2009.

I am grateful to my colleague from Texas (Mr. Carter) for his work in authoring this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, last November a gunman opened fire at the Soldier Readiness Processing Center at Fort Hood, where military and civilian personnel had recently returned from deployment or were preparing to go overseas. This was an event that saddened every American, and it is important that we as a Nation remember those killed and injured and that we honor those who responded with courage and skill to assist the victims.

Ultimately, 12 soldiers and one civilian lost their lives in this atrocious attack. In addition to these 13 unfortunate Americans who were murdered that day, 31 more were wounded. Many of them were seriously wounded, but a quick response from Army medics saved lives and mitigated the severity of some of the injuries. Soldiers and civilians rushed to remove those in need of medical attention from the building, even while the threat of the gunman was still present. At the same time, law enforcement personnel worked to eliminate the danger to Fort Hood and to the surrounding community.

I would like to convey my deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those killed and injured in the Fort Hood shootings and express gratitude to the soldiers, Army civilians, and local residents who assisted in the rescue and recuperation of the victims, especially as the anniversary of this event draws closer.

I urge my colleagues to recognize the soldiers and civilians killed and wounded by voting in favor of House Concurrent Resolution 319.

List of Soldiers and the Former Soldier Who Lost Their Lives at Ford

Hood

Lieutenant Colonel Juanita Warman.

Major Libardo Caraveo.

Captain John Gaffaney.

Captain Russell Seager.

Staff Sergeant Justin Decrow.

Sergeant Amy Krueger.

Specialist Jason Hunt.

Specialist Frederick Greene.

Private First Class Aaron Nemelka.

Private First Class Michael Pearson.

Private First Class Kham Xiong.

Private Francheska Velez.

Michael Cahill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my friend and colleague, the chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee and original cosponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as the House considers H. Con. Res. 319 recognizing the anniversary of the shootings at Fort Hood last November, I would like to pay tribute to all of the 43 shooting casualties and recognize two of my constituents.

Staff Sergeant Amy Krueger of Kiel, Wisconsin, was one of those who lost their lives that day. Following the 9/11 terrorists attacks, she was moved to join the Army because she wanted to help keep America safe. She was proud of her military service and returned to Kiel High School to share her experiences with current students. Staff Sergeant Krueger had been to Afghanistan previously and, like others in the Soldier Readiness Processing

Center that day, was about to be deployed again.

In his remarks at the Fort Hood memorial service shortly after the shooting, President Obama shared a story that symbolizes Staff Sergeant Krueger's energy, drive and determination. He said, ``When her mother told her she couldn't take on Osama bin Laden by herself, Amy replied `Watch me.' '' That spirit was evident to all who knew her.

In the small Wisconsin town of Kiel, the news of Staff Sergeant Krueger's death was met with an outpouring of love and support for her family and friends, as well as respect for her service to our country. On Memorial Day this year, the town unveiled a memorial in her honor that includes words that meant so much to her: ``All Gave Some--Some Gave All.'' As we mark this sad day one year later, we remember Staff Sergeant Krueger and send our thoughts and prayers to her loved ones.

Private First Class Amber Bahr of Random Lake, Wisconsin, is a Sixth District resident who was injured in the shootings. As the events unfolded that terrible day, Amber immediately reacted to help her injured comrades and did not even realize that she too had been shot. This generous spirit was also cited by President Obama as an example of the bravery and caring of these soldiers for one another.

Our service men and women have joined the military to serve their country; many, like Amy, to join the fight against terrorism. I am sure they did not expect that they would be fighting it here on U.S. soil.

I join my colleagues in supporting H. Con. Res. 319 as we take time to remember and pay our respects to those lives lost, as well as commend and thank the civilian and military law enforcement personnel, the medics and all others who helped those in need that day.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, on November 5, 2009, 13 people were killed and 31 wounded at Ft. Hood, Texas, when a gunman attacked unarmed military civilian personnel who were preparing for deployment or who recently returned to the United States from deployments. This was an attack that devastated the people there and across this Nation. It was a senseless act of horror that betrayed our respect and dignity for human life.

I want to thank my colleague, Representative John Carter of Texas, for introducing this legislation to give all Members the opportunity today to once again stand in support of the men and women at Ft. Hood and their families who suffered in that time of trial.

This resolution also honors those military and civilian law enforcement officers who acted swiftly and courageously to neutralize the threat, as well as the medical personnel who immediately began treating the wounded, thereby reducing the loss of life.

While we wait for the justice system to decide the fate of the gunman, it is

important that we also recognize that Ft. Hood's preparations beforehand enabled a timely response and situational control once the attack occurred. Unfortunately, the attack at Ft. Hood signals the requirement that such preparation apply to all of our military installations.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter), who introduced this resolution, as much time as he might consume.

I yield back the balance of my time.