americans who support universal background checks legislation. i am here today with newtown action alliance and supporters who are in the process of delivering a letter signed by over 80 gun safety organizations across the nation representing over 10 million americans in support of universal background check legislation. i urge congress to listen to the 90% of americans who support universal background checks and take immediate action. in action is unacceptable, as is the loss of so many innocent lives. thank you everyone who came out and everyone who is listening. we will not forget what happened to us. we will continue to fight until congress stands up and does

something to make us safer from gun violence. now it is my pleasure to introduce senator harry reid. >> the work that you are doing on this issue is very important. sometimes people have very, very short memories. prior to coming here, my last meeting was with the group of people who are working nationally to prevent suicide. there were a mother and father there from nevada with the others who have lost their son to suicide, a 21-year-old young

man. the reason i mention that you is that those of us who experienced suicide in our lives understand how important it is to remember. my dad killed himself with a pistol. he was a relatively young man, especially as i get older. we have to remember what took place in connecticut at that little elementary school, and can never take those names out of our minds. 26 little boys and girls and six educators. your responsibility is to make sure that the american people do not forget what happened there. i could see the tears out here

as the names were being read, and i am here to tell you as the other members of congress who are behind me that we are not going to give up the fight. when republicans voted against this legislation on the senate floor, they voted against 90% of the american people. the fight is not over. it is just beginning. i am hard-pressed to find another issue where 90% of the american people think it is the right thing to do. this is the issue. 90% of the american people feel that someone who has mental problems, severe mental problems, and is a criminal, should not be able to buy a gun.

no wonder 9% of the people think -- 90% of people think this is the case. -- 90% of the people think this but i want everyone here to understand, the writing is on the wall. the republicans who voted against this, the writing is on the wall. and the democrats, the handful who voted against this. in the senate, 90% of the democratic senators agreed with 90% of the american people. the republicans did not even get 10%. the writing is on the wall. background checks will pass the united states senate, it is only a question of when. i want to be very clear, though. in order to be effective, the bill that passed the senate must include background checks and not a watered-down version of background checks.

we are not going to let the forces of an extreme minority water down and damage the content of this bill. the force against this bill cannot hold out forever. we are close. there are conversations going on. they cannot stand in the way of 90% of the american people. so i say to each of you today, don't give up. we are not going to give up. the fight is right and is one that we are going to win. i will never forget the 26 deaths, but sadly, there have been thousands of others since then. the american people identify with what happened at that little elementary school in connecticut. is my pleasure to introduce --my friend. shoulder tostood

shoulder with me and others wanted to get something done. i have had the good fortune to serve with a number of speakers and i am a student of history. as far as i am concerned, we have never, ever had a better speaker than nancy pelosi. [applause] >> thank you very much. thank you for your generous introduction, but more importantly, for your strong commitment to making sure that we honor our oath of office to protect and defend the american people and our constitution. your stronger words and determination are ones that we in the house and my colleagues who are here and those in the senate will be hearing from know that what you said is music to our ears. really sad music, and it is a humbling experience to be here with some of the families of newtown.

the soto family and how eloquently and beautifully they spoke about the tragedy and how determined they are to go forward. the father of lauren russo. peace on earth has to begin with us, in our hearts and in our communities. so i thank the families returning your grief into action. the grief is still there, but the action is essential. your unimaginable loss, turning that into unsurpassed determination to carry on. their agenda is non-partisan. we are not backing down.

this is not over. in many ways we have begun another face on this fight. -- phase in this fight. today the 5000 victims of gun violence since the newtown tragedy, these families and supporters are sending a clear message. let's honor the memories of every victim by ensuring that no other family is forced to endure such a terrible tragedy. for six months we have talked about a response to newtown. now we must act upon our promises. we must take inspiration from the families and he did moving words of the sandy hook promise. our hearts are broken, our spirit is not. we must pass legislation in the house and in the senate for gun

violence prevention, most notably now in the form of the background checks. it is something that will have a tremendous effect on safety, to protect and defend as what the newtown families are asking of us, that is what we must do in congress, and that is why employees to present to you a champion for this calls, senator blumenthal of connecticut. [applause] >> thank you, speaker pelosi, and thank you for your leadership over many, many years on this issue. thank you to harry reid, who has been an unshakable champion for this cause. i have been with him over these

past months and years, and not only is his mind, but his heart is in this cause. thank you most importantly to the families of newtown in the community, who have relived their grief, that unspeakable sadness, and made this calls it their mission. -- made this cause their mission. they have come here and demonstrated through the power of the courage and strength what it means to speak truth to power. i just want to urge all my colleagues in congress, and most especially in the senate, to please agree to meet with the newtown families. some of them have closed their doors or turn their backs. listening to them today in this forum, how could they refuse to hear out and meet with the newtown families and community?

i urge them to do so. >> the december 14 tragedy transformed america. it put us on an unstoppable trajectory toward gun violence prevention. there is a lot of talk these days about losing momentum, diminishing passion. we are here to say the momentum is not diminished. the passion is stronger, if anything. we lost the first vote, but we are going to win the last vote. the one who wins the last vote is the one who wins. [applause] eikenberry we will have another -- i can guarantee we will have another vote, and i believe that we will

win it. we don't need converts among the american people. we need converse in the congress. the continuing mobilization an organization that door group are doing will turn the tide and carry the day. because they will convert our colleagues who still have doubts or reservations and we will overcome those doubts and reservations. those conversations are on going right now. there is no need to transform this bill to achieve background checks and transform america and make it safer. i believe that we are within grasp, just a handful of votes, and we are moving forward in that effort. december 14 was a day of a searing sadness, but april 17 was a day of shame. you have heard here but i believe the american people

feel, in action is unacceptable, not only because of the 26 beautiful lives that were lost on that day, but also because of of the almost 5000 who have perished since then. they may not have been in the headlines, but the sadness for their families and loved ones and friends and neighbors is as palpable and important as it is for anyone. so i think today we should make no mistake. we had 55 votes in april. 55 votes ordinarily is a majority. we are going to win with 60 votes, but the 55 votes reflect the 90%, and it is a bipartisan 90%. there is nothing republican or democrat about saving americans from gun violence. that calls will be bipartisan -- cuasause will be

bipartisan and it will enable us to continue to stand up and speak out. make no mistake, the nra and special interests have been the schoolyard bullies here. they have ruled. six months ago, this issue was thought to be untouchable. now our calls is unstoppable. we stood up to the schoolyard bullies. we will continue to stand up to them, and eventually we will beat them. in part, it is because of my colleagues who are not here today, and very importantly, my colleague, my friend and partner in this effort, senator chris murphy. [applause] >> thank you very much, senator blumenthal. the shortage commencement address that was ever given was given by winston churchill. it was this.

never give up, never give up, never give up. we have a message to the nra, to the gun lobby, to the proponents of the status quo. we are never going to give up. we are never going to rest until we have done everything within our power to make sure that another community, another family does not have to go through what newtown families are going through today. we are never going to give up until we have an answer to the 5000 families across this country who have lost loved ones to gun violence since september 14 of last year. there are some encouraging but fruitless discussions happening

on the senate floor to try to revive a bill that passed but because of the senate rules did not make it to the house of representatives. why is that happening? why are we going to get a second chance on the issue of gun reform when very few other issues get a second chance on the floor of the senate? we will give you two reasons and and i will pass along the microphone. one reason is standing behind us today. it is the indomitable spirit of the families of newtown, who have refused to take no for an answer. it's unconscionable that there are members of the house and senate that will not meet with these families. have the courage to look these families in the eye and tell them no. if you hear their story and hear their plea, they are about rigid there will be something unlocked in your heart that will get you to yes. that is the first reason why we

will have a second chance at this. the second is that serious for the first time ever a political infrastructure built around gun violence reform that never existed before. the nra used to play an election in a back in. no longer. members to cast the wrong vote in april will bear political consequences at the ballot box next year. it is this political infrastructure that has grown out of this tragic incident that will force people to do the right thing later this year. i am so glad to be here with my former leader in the house and my present leader in the senate. i have just been so proud every minute of my time in both chambers to be able to serve under their leadership. there is no one who has shown greater concern for the families

of newotwn than they have. -- newtown than they have. i am proud to introduce someone who was with senator blumenthal and me that awful afternoon who has spiritually and symbolically never left that place, the congresswoman placenewtown, elizabeth's esty. >> thank you to my friend, my colleagues, and my neighbor and to richard blumenthal and to nancy pelosi, who has done so much to encourage us in the house and to senator harry reid for his leadership. i particularly want to thank you, those of you here, the wonderful soto children, to the proud father of lauren, another one of the educators who was cut down on that fateful day and to the action alliance for your leadership, your courage, and efforts. that is why we are here today. i am so honored to represent these people.

i am so honored to represent the brave people of newtown. mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, siblings, friends, neighbors -- a community that has endured unimaginable tragedy and unparalleled loss, and who have responded to that loss, not with anger and hate, which we could well expect, but with courage, with hope, and with love, and i will say, with resolve and resilience. a community of people who have stepped up and advocated for common sense laws to prevent gun violence, to save other communities in this great nation from the pain they are suffering.

you have inspired me and encouraged me and you have inspired people all across our country. you have driven change in hartford, where a bipartisan package, a comprehensive gun reform was enacted to prevent gun violence in this country. you are driving change in state capitals across this country, including colorado, with some of my colleagues here today. here in washington you have encountered inexplicable political cowardice. in the six months since that terrible day when we lost 26 lives in new town connecticut, nearly 4800 fellow americans have been cut down by gun violence. in that same time, the house of representatives has not held a single vote on common-sense efforts to reduce gun violence. not even a vote on enhanced background checks. 46 senators blocked an up or

down vote on that same bill in the senate. this is a reform that the families and members of the newtown community have asked our elected leaders to support, a reform supported by more than 90% american people. yet in the face of this shameful obstruction and misinformation, you, and you, and you have refused to give up. that even though tomorrow we mark if the fat and terrible day, the six-month anniversary of that day, seeing all of you here today -- even if we mark that fateful and terrible day, i am filled with renewed conviction that we must get this job done. no elected leader should be able to look jillian or anyone else across the country in the eye who have lost a loved one to gun violence if they are not willing to step up, without saying to them, we have met our

obligation. we have met your call to action. and the call to action of the american people. these families cannot forget and will not give up. neither can we. neither can the congress. it is time for us to take action on common sense gun laws. it is time to hold an up or down vote in the house and in the senate on enhanced background checks. i want to thank all of you activists and passionate americans here today for everything that you do. i am so honored to stand with you and support you, and as representative for newtown in congress, and more importantly as a mother, i can assure you i will never give up.

i will never surrender. as long as it takes, where every texas across this country. for those in newtown and nose last week in santa monica who are paying the price for continued political inaction, you have strong supporters and we stand strongly with you. now it is, honor to introduce my friend, colleague, and leader, congressman mike thompson. [applause] >> thank you very much for your leadership and work on this and to all my colleagues behind the, i could not be prouder to serve with them. they are that committed to making sure that we change the laws to do everything we can to prevent gun violence, and thank you to all of you who have shown the courage to stand tall and work on this issue to make sure that we do our job. i wish we were not here. this is an anniversary that i don't think anyone wants to

celebrate. we all wish it never would have happened, but the fact of the matter is, it did. it was a terrible, terrible chapter in the history of our country. it was so painful to so many. since that terrible day, a couple of other terrible things have happened. i believe some already mentioned, nearly 5000 people, 5000 americans have been killed by someone using a gun. 5000. and the other tragic thing is, the house of representatives hasn't done one single thing to try and bring about an end to this type of massacre, of tragedy. that is shameful. we need to do something. the senate took their vote, sadly, as has been pointed out,

they did not have the 60 votes necessary. i was as flat as all of you were -- sad as all of you were when that happened. but nancy pelosi reminded me, she said just remember, you promised you would walk through the gates of hell to make sure we had background checks before people could buy guns, and i think you heard that from everybody here who is in this for the long haul. we will not quit and we will not give up. it is our hopes that the house bill will help provide the courage that senators need in order to pass a background check bill. it is a bipartisan bill. i want to personally shout out to peter keane, republican from new york, it is my co-author on that. we have 182 members of the house of representatives who are co- authors of that bill. [applause] it does something to prevent gun

violence. it is pro-second amendment and anti-criminal, anti-terrorist, anti-anyone who is prohibited from buying a gun from getting a gun. and it should be passed. right now, you can buy a gun on line, you can buy a gun at a gun show, and you can be a criminal, a terrorist, a spousal abuser, and you can still buy that gun, because there is no background checks for purchases of that type. this bill would change that. doesn't do everything. it will not solve all the problems, but it is the best step forward. no one can be against criminals getting guns, against terrorists getting guns, or against the dangerously mentally ill getting done, and at the same time be against background checks. it is our first line of defense,

and we should be doing everything we can to strengthen that first line of defense. so i look forward to the day in the not too distant future when president obama signs that bill into law. [applause] is peter king here? he's probably still in the intelligence briefing, but i appreciate the fact that his sponsorship is on that bill. >> if i just make acknowledge, ron barber who is here was a victim himself, congressman ron barber. congressman elijah cummings, a senior democrat on the government reform committee has championed these issues as well. [applause] congressman joe courtney had to go back to committee, but i

wanted to acknowledge that he was here, congressman joe courtney of connecticut, and congresswoman sheila jackson lee was here as well. and this one and to acknowledge the other cast members who were here. >> i have been told we are going to take some questions. happy to do so. >> if you would be good enough to identify who you are so everybody knows. >> when you said you would not accept a watered-down version of the background check bill, what will you not let go? >> i will not accept a watered- down version of the bill. >> does that mean you will not let any kind of record keeping revision bill go? >> at this stage i got nothing. we have had some discussions. they have been helpful, but they have not borne fruit, as i said

before. >> you have any indication that the moderates who voted no last time will vote yes this time? >> all of you kind of revel in this, we have 90% of the democratic vote. we lost four out of 55, a pretty good deal. so focused on the republicans. we have a couple local possibilities in the democrats, but focus on the republicans. congressman barber -- he has this beautiful dimple on his face, but it is from a gunshot. i am not going to have some

watered-down version just to say we got it done. >> what are you waiting for, what has to be in place? >> we have to have the 60 votes. >> are there any signs that republicans are starting to come over on this? >> no. >> would you say there is at least one republican who is a yes privately right now? >> we have been doing well with more than one republican couple. >> do you believe that mayor bloomberg's efforts have been helpful or not helpful in going after the democrats who voted against this bill? >> we have been friends for some time, and i remind him just as i

reminded everyone here, to have republicans controlled the senate is a sure sign we will never ever get anything done. mayor bloomberg is a man of passion. he is fixated on this and i admire him for doing that. he is going to make some decisions on this. i gave my input. that is where raw with mayor bloomberg. he is kind of a free spirit, and a very rich one. >> the question is whether he should try to educate people on this bill. he is doing that and we'll do more of it. >> i would hope that while there is talk about seeing people at the polls, that we could do

something much sooner than that. and that a lot of the energy that is out there is really to persuade people who are in office now so that the issue can be served that we can pass legislation to make the people safer, starting now, rather than waiting until after an election. the ballot box has consequences, there is no question people will speak. our votes are our voices there. hopefully the energy of everyone focus now on having people, elected officials see the strength of support in their own district and state. president lincoln said public sentiment is everything. the public is there, 90% of the public, and almost impossible figure of agreement. to translate that sentiment into

public policy is what we want to do. we always want to shorten the time between what is inconceivable to the gun lobby but inevitable to us, shorten the distance. we would like to do that now and not wait for the election. the focus is on the senate with the leadership of mike thompson. we have 183 co-sponsors. many more say they will vote for the bill even if they don't co- sponsor it early on. we want that to be the message to the senate, if you have the courage to take the boat, it will go someplace. there is a life in the house.-- the vote, it will go someplace. there is a life in the house. think it is important to focus on getting as many supporters in

the house on the bill so that the senators don't think they are taking a political risk, which they should do anyway, for a bill that is not going to see like in the house. hopefully many of you will focus your attention on the house as well because we are making great progress there as well. [applause] members of the house also spoke on the shooting. here are some remarks. mr. speaker, our hearts are broken. but our spirit is not. that is the sandy hook promise. tomorrow marks six months since the tragedy in newtown, a tragedy seared into the minds of every person across america. indeed many, millions across the world. like the anniversaries of the shooting in tucson and arizona and oak creek, and so many other communities, tomorrow arks a anniversary of shock,

uncertainty, violence, horror. tomorrow marks another solemn reminder of the persistent plague of gun violence in our society, and the ongoing challenge to end it. over the past six months, many words have been spoken to offer our love and support to the community of newtown and to the students and teachers of sandy hook. from the start we have known that words of comfort would never be enough. it would be no substitute for the action that we must take, that would be a truly fitting memorial to the 20 children and six teachers and administrators lost that day. yesterday we had visits from the families, brought pictures of their loved ones who were lost. david gordon, lauren, ben, enjam wheeler, mary, dylan

heartbreaking photos of these children and family members who were lost. i don't know how much more note vation we need than to see -- motivation we need than to see the tears in oiler eyes and the resolve in their voices to use their grief as a source of strength to help save other people. that would start with a vote on bipartisan legislation by congressman mike thompson, congressman peter king, and 180 sponsors to expand and strengthen our background checks. no one knows better than the people of newtown, men, women, mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters who lost their loved ones on december 14, 2012.

since that dark day, the families of newtown and their supporters have turned their sorrow into strength, pain into perseverance, unspeakable loss into unmatched courage and determination to carry on. yesterday these mothers and fathers met with both republican a democratic leaders, yet they had come with no partisan agenda. they come as americans who wish to spare their fellow parents and famy members the mourning, fear, and terror they felt six months ago. their message is clear, honor the memories of the little children, of these educators by helping to ensure no other family is forced to endure such an unimaginable tragedy. it had been unimaginable. now we have seen it. now our task is plain. we must restore confidence in the safety of our communities by taking clear, effective steps to prevent gun violence in our schools, homes, and

neighborhoods. i just read the names and showed the pictures of a few, of a few of the people who -- whose lives were lost that day. for them and for oers and lives we want to save, again i mention the bipartisan thompson-king, king-thompson legislation. that means that using this anniversary certainly to memorialize the victims of newtown, but also answer t call of their families to give gun violence prevention legislation a vote in the congress of the united states. six months ago in newtown, a lone gunman took the lives of 26 americans. we all know that. emblazoned in our minds and souls. since then nearly 5,000 more americans have fallen victim to gun violence. 5,000, mr. speaker. if now in congrs we must

summon the courage to act. we must take inspiration from the courage of the newtown families, from the courage it has taken to turn their grief into aion. we must heethe loving words of the sandy hook promise, our hearts are broken. our spirit is not. as we mark this anniversary, we must upholdur most basic responsibility. the oath of office, to protect and defend, protect and defend the constitution and to protect and defend the people of the united states. . speaker, i thank our colleague, congresswoman esty, and our colleague, congressman mike thompson, for their leadership in bringing us together ts morning so that we cannot only remember but that we can have the courage to act. with that i yield. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from maryland, mr. hoyer, for five minutes.

mr. hoyer: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. hoyer: i rise to join the eader t i rise to join congresswoman esty and congressman thompson in recognizing this sad anniversary. mr. speaker, it is with sadness that we mark the six-month anniversary, tomorrow, of the tragic shooting at sandy hook elementary school in newtown. on that day as has been repeated and must be remembered, americans were united in shock and grief at the senseless murder by a crazed gunman of 26 innocent people. 20 innocent first graders and six courageous school staff members who took -- tried to protect them and help save the

lives of others. since that day approximately 4,500, the leader mentioned 5,000, but a figure in excess of 4,500 americans have died as a result of gun violence, accoing to the newtown action alliance. mr. speaker, this is not just a tragedy. it is a epidemic. one that congress has a moral responsibility to address. when nine out of 10 americans support stricter background checks to keep dangerous guns out of the hands of criminals, and those with mental illness, there is no reason why congress shouldn't be able to take swift and decisive action to enact tougher protections. i was deeply disappointed, mr. speaker, that the senate failed to move forward with

legislation to protect americans from gun violence by enacting effective background checks that safeguard the constitutional rights of responsible ownersnd safeguard americans. the american people are demanding action, and the house now has a chance to succeed where the senate failed. demonstrating that commonsense proposals to reduce gun violence can indeed command bipartisan support. democratic representave mike thompson of california, who chairshe house democratic task force on gun violence, and my friend, republican representative peter king of new york, have joined together to introduce legislation in this chamber similar to that which was blocked in the senate. there is not a single provision in their bill that should be worrisome to those concerned abt our ng-standing

tradition of protecting second amendment rights. not a single provision. it will help us keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous and ment unstable individuals likely to do harm to others or themselves. will they keep all of us safe all the time? it will not. we know that. it that is the tragic fact of life. but will it help? it will. and if we can help, should we? and the answer is an emphatic yes. this proposal contains commonsense proposal that i strongly support and that most americans have supported as well. congress has the opportunity to get this right by considering the thompson-king legislation in the house and senate, and get to the senate for consideration. i congratulate congresswoman esty in particular, as well as congressman thompson, for their leadership and efforts in this

regard. after the backlash, many senators received for opposing expanded background checks, i suspect that a number may be ready to reconsider. mr. speaker, i urge my colleagues to come together as representative thompson and king have done to advance this bipartisan solution to this pressing challenge facing our nation, not just for congress, but every american. it should not take, it must not take another tragedy such as newtown for us to act. we have a responsibility to keep our neighborhoods and our schools safe, and i urge speaker boehner and majority leader cantor to allow this bill to come to the floor for a vote. the speaker often says he wants

to allow the house to work its will. that's why the people of newtown sent congresswoman esty to congress. that's why the peoplef my district and every district represented in this house, people sent from -- them here to vote on policies. policies to make their country better. policies to make their country more safe. the memories of those two, the memories of those teachers, the memories of those 26, yes, the memories of those 4,500 plus wh since theewtown tragedy have lost their lives to gun violence, their memory, mr. spker, demands and deserves action by their representatives. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from connecticut, ms. esty, for five minutes.

ms. esty: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. esty: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, six months ago tomorrow the town of newtown experienced unimaginable tragedy and unparalleled loss. that loss, the painful loss of sons and daughters, spouses, siblings, and friends is stil very raw and will always run very deep for the people of newtown. and yet in the face of that unimaginable tragedy, on that y and on the days since, this small community that has been through so much has inspired our nation with tremendous courage and resilience. americans have been inspired by the six brave educators who gave their very lives to defend their -- and protect their students. americans have been inspired by

the brave first responders who arrived on the scene to save others and live with the trauma of what they saw that day. americans have been inspired by the sandy hook families who, despite living with the pain that one can only begin to imagine, have responded to loss not with anger or hate, but with unbelievable love, strength, and courage. they have taken their call to action to hartford where a comprehensive set of commonsense gun laws passed th bipartisan support. they have taken the call to action to state capitals around this country, and they have taken that call to action here in washington. but here they faced inexplicable political cowardess, in the six months since that terrible day, since we lost 26 precious lives in new town, nearly 4,800 mernts have also lost their lives to gun violence. during that same time this

house has not held a single vote on commonsense gun reform to reduce and prevent gun violence. not even enhanced criminal background checks. 46 senators brought an up or down vote on enhanced background checks. this is a reform thathe families and members of the newtown community have asked our elected leaders to support. it is a reform supported by over 90% of the american people , and it is shameful that we have not yet had a chance to vote. and yet in spite of that obstruction and misinformation, these families and this commity have refused to give up. on tuesday, i was honored to again meet with several of the newtown families as they traveled here to continue to lead the push for commonsense honored that 'm several mbers that have community of the newtown alliance are with us here in the gallery today. in meeting with the families i was given pictures of their loved ones that they have been

handing out to elected officials from across the country. this photo of school pshologist mary sherlock reads, one of six educators who on december 14 became first responders equipped with just their lives, can you show the same courage with your vote? . this photo on this card -- sorry -- we need to make sure with dylan card hochuli. stand -- dylan hockley. stand up for change. here is a picture of dylan hockley. the picture of 6-year-old benjamin wheeler asks, what is worth doing? mr. speaker, these words, these

faces, these lives mark the call to action for newtown. they mark the call to action in hartford and aurora, chicago and santa monica and every community torn apart by gun violence. and the sad truth is that this congress has not met this call to action. this congress has not shown the courage to ss commonsense gun reforms. but the go news is that it is not too late for this congress to do better. and now is the time. we must do it for mary. we must do better for dylan. we must do better for benjamin and for charlotte, for daniel and olivia, for joe is he a phone, for anna and for madeline, for kathryn and chase and jesse, for james, for grace and for emily. for jack, for noah and for caroline, for jessica, for

allison, for rachel, dawn and ann marie, for lauren and victoria. we can and we must do better. these families cannot forget and will not give up. neither can we. the speaopmrq:dtegt-n4 my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. larson: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise to associate myself with the remark of my dear colleague from connecticut, elizabeth esty, who's done such a remarkable job in representing that district and especially the families of newtown, connecticut, in the aftermath of this horrific tragedy. now, mr. speaker, the time for us to act is long overdue. the hard truth for the united states congress is, as

congressman mike thompson pointed out, that since newtown 5,000 amicans have lost their lives at the point of a gun. 5,000 americans since newtown. the united states congress has the responsibility to act and do its constitutionally get this esire to bill passed. now, whether you believe this is the correct course of action or not, as the president said in his state of the union message, you still have a responsibility to vote. this is a democracy.

every day that we delay a vote on this bipartisan bill, .ongress is complicit ngress is complicit in the deaths of those american action as o wait for more s sits by as 500 of a s die at the point gun. i commend the families of ewtown and the whole world was heartened. mark barredin stepped out into the rows garden with the president of the united states and reiterated a phrase that has held them all together that

their hearts are broken along with those of the entire world as we looked on as this tragedy, but their spirit is not and they are undaunted in their determination, driven by the memories of those teachers nd administrators and students who died so tragically. they -- they, both students and teachers were willing to stand in the way ofiolence, and the united states congress can't do its constitutionally responsibility and stand up and vote? all of us watched as the united states senate, with families in the gallery, voting on

background checks that 91% of the american people agree with voted it down. no teacher in america could explain the next day how the . te was 54-46 and it lost citizens all across this country take heed. do not give up. continue to fighthis fight. fight what's wrong with congress, about not taking votes when they should and about a system in the senate where a majority prevails and a vote goes down because of the clure rule, an arbitrary rule in the united states senate. the outrage has got to start outside of this building because here in this building, people remain complicit and the acts will only continue to take place if congress does not take action. i yield back my time.

the speaker pro tempor the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the chair recognizes the gentleman from arizona, mr. barber, for five minutes. mr. barber: tha you, mr. speaker. tomorrow we observe the sixth month anniversary of the senseless and tragic murders at sandy hook elementary school. we will never forget what happened in newtown, connecticut, on december 14, 2012, just as we'll never forget what happened in tucson, in oak creek, virginia tech, portland, milwaukee and columbine. and as we remember the precious lives lost, we must also renew our determination to work together to make sure that such a tragedy never happens again. as a survivor of the tucson shooting that tk place on

anuary 8, 2011, as the grandfather of children the same age as those who were slaughtered in newtown, and as a member of congress, i'm committed to taking the reasonable action to make sure that we prevent future deaths and injuries om such mass shootings. after the awful shooting and deaths in newtown, the sunday following i was reading a newspaper about the tragedy and i saw a photograph of one of the children that was killed and as i looked at that photograph of this little 6-year-old girl looking back at me from that page with my granddaughter the same age, i have to tell you that i sobbed along with my wife. i think no grandparent and no parent in this country could have had any other reaction.

weust take action here to make sure these mass shootings neve occur again. while there is no single answer to preventing mass shootings, we do kn some things. we know, for example, that untreated or undiagnosed serious mental illness has been a factor in many of these tragedies. it's important to note as we say this that more than 95% of people with a mental illness never will commit a violent act. they're far more likely to be the victims of violence than the perpetrators. the young man who killed six people in tucson and wounded 13 of us had displayed symptoms of mental illness for many, many months before the tragedy, and he never received either a diagnosis or treatment. he ended up getting a diagnosis and treatment when he was imprisoned. i believe this and other mass shootings could have been

averted if the public was more awareof the indications and symptoms of mental illness and how to get help. we must do more to rece the stigma of surrounding mental illness. we must invest in the early identification of mental illness and treatment programs. 60% of people living in this country with mental illness are not receiving the care they need. we must do better. it is clear we must expand mental health services and awareness for 100% of the individuals with mental illness in the country. that's one of the reasons i introduced the mental health first aid act earlier this year with strong bipartisan support. this legislation would provide training to help first responders, educators, students, the general public how to identify and respond to signs of mental illness. this is just but one of many actions. you've heard of -- from other speakers before me today. there are many things we can and must do but congress must act. i call on my colleagues on both

sides of the aisle to stand with me and the families of newtown and of tucson and all the other places where there have been mass tragedies, shooting tragedies in the last two years and take action. we must act. we must do it now. the families of newtown, oak creek, aurora, tucson and across this nation are waiting for our answer. will we answer? , ceoxt, randall stephenson technology mobile and government information gathering. then a discussion on high-tech cars of the future. after that, a discussion on the millions of americans who have security clearances. on newsmakers, minnesota and cronk -- congressman john kline, chairman of the education and workforce committee,