Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I never met Judge Roll, but if you were judged by the comments, the love, the number of touches I've received just in the last 24 hours, we have a gentleman here with an amazing history, an amazing reputation. Just walking up the stairs, while coming here onto the floor of the House, I was on the floor with a local attorney, named Steve Twist, who could not stop sharing comments of the fairness and of the devotion to his faith.

The fact of the matter is Judge Roll was tough, but you were always going to get your appropriate day in court. Therefore, I hope naming this courthouse in Yuma that he painstakingly spent time on helping design and get right is just the first step in a fitting tribute to a life well lived.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I come to the floor today to offer these thoughts on this tragic event this past Saturday outside Tucson that took the lives of John M. Roll, Christina Taylor Green, Dorwan Stoddard, Dorothy Morris, Gabe Zimmerman, and Phyllis Schneck, and gravely injured our colleague, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

It was just last week that my wife and I had the opportunity to visit with Gabby in Statuary Hall before the ceremonial swearing in. And as so many of you know, our interactions with her were gracious, energetic, and she was willing to help us as we were setting up our freshman office. We took a few photos. We talked about ways we could work together, and of course we engaged in the banter and teasing of Arizona's favorite rivalry, ASU versus U of A.

Gabby takes enormous pride in the job in representing the communities of southern Arizona. And my wife and I send our thoughts and prayers to Mark during this difficult time. We deeply appreciate the gift Mark generously shares with all of us here in Washington and back in Arizona.

It is also important not to forget the individuals who lost their lives or who were injured while they were exercising their right to participate and have a say in this Republic. Indeed, they became victims while exercising a fundamental right that has served as a backbone of this country since its founding, a right our Nation's Founders sacrificed so dearly for, just as the victims this last Saturday have tragically also sacrificed for.

We are stunned by the tragedy, but we remain resolute in our commitment to assemble peacefully, engage civilly in the types of discourse that are fundamental to maintaining this Republic. Although words may not sufficiently capture the sorrow and grief we are experiencing, particularly in Arizona, Joyce and I send our thoughts, our prayers to Gabby; Mark; Roxanna and John Green, the parents of little Christina Taylor Green; and the loved ones of Judge Roll, Dorwan Stoddard, Dorothy Morris, Gabe Zimmerman, Phyllis Schneck, the community of Tucson and southern Arizona, all Arizona, this Nation. Our hearts are heavy, but our prayers are with all of you.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution.

It is with a heavy heart that I come to the floor today to offer these thoughts on the tragic events of this past Saturday in Tucson that took the lives of Judge John M. Roll, Christina Taylor Green, Dorwin Stoddard, Dorothy Morris, Gabe Zimmerman, and Phyllis Schneck and gravely injured Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and many others.

Just last week my wife Joyce and I had the opportunity to visit with Gabby in Statuary Hall before the ceremonial swearing-in.

As in so many of my other interactions with her, Gabby was gracious, energetic, and willing to offer a lending hand as I got settled.

We took a few photos and talked about ways we would work together in good spirits. Of course, Gabby and I also went back-and-forth about our favorite rivalry, ASU versus U of A.

Gabby takes enormous pride in her job representing the communities and people of the 8th district.

My wife Joyce and I send our thoughts and prayers to Mark during this difficult time. We are deeply appreciative of Mark's generosity in sharing Gabby with us in Washington and Arizona.

It is also important to not forget that these individuals lost their lives or were injured while they were exercising their right to participate and have a say in our nation's republic.

Indeed, they became victims while exercising a fundamental right that has served as the backbone of our nation since its founding--a right our nation's founders sacrificed so dearly for. Just as the victims of this past Saturday's tragedy did as well.

We are stunned by the tragedy, but we remain resolute in our commitment assemble peacefully and engage civilly in the type of discourse that is fundamental to our republic.

Although words may not be sufficient to capture the sorrow and grief we are experiencing, Joyce and I send our thoughts and prayers to Gabby, Mark, Roxanna and John Green, the parents of Christina Taylor Green and the loved ones of Judge Roll, Dorwin Stoddard, Dorothy Morris, Gabe Zimmerman, Phyllis Schneck, and the Tucson community.

Our hearts and prayers are with you.