>> would you welcome the vice president of the united states and mrs. pence. [applause] ♪ >> we will direct our attention

to our heavenly father who sees, who knows and who cares. [singing] heard a tender whisper of love in the dead of night that you are pleased and that i am never alone your good, good father i am loved by you that is who i am that is who i am that is who i am [talking] i have seen many

searching. [sining] i have seen many searching for answers i know we are all searching for answers only you provide you know just what we need before we can say a word you're a good, good father it's who you are it's who you are it's who you are i am loved by you that is who i am that is who i am that is who i am you are perfect in all of your way you are perfect in all of your way

you are perfect in all of your ways to us because you are perfect in all of your ways you are perfect in all of your ways you are perfect in all of your ways to us your good, good father it's who you are, it's who you re you are good, good father it's who you are am loved by you

that is who im that is who i am that is who i am one more time because you are perfect in all of your ways you are perfect in all of your ays you are perfect in all of your ways o us amen, thank you, jesus. father, in jesus name, we thank you, that you are a good god. we ask your manifest presence with these friends tonight and with all of us, in jesus name, amen. he seated, please. let me welcome our beloved governor of texas, governor gray cap it -- governor gray.

>> as governor of texas, and with the first lady here with me, we wanted to to know that join with of texas you, a heavy heart, as we mourn the loss of innocent lives. that,k we can all agree what has happened is not capable of explanation. occur that are beyond explanation, there is only one source that has the answers. that is god almighty. so it is righteous and rifle that we gather tonight, coming praying to god for healing and for help. why, asalso the reason

governor of texas, i bring also a proclamation. this sunday,ng november the 12th, to be a day of prayer across the entire state of texas as we unite as one state. [applause] we pray for those who have been injured so that they may heal. we pray for the families who have lost a loved one. inthat they may be reunited heaven one of these days. we pray for all of the affected communities. that they may have the resilience to be strong in the ,ake of this horrific inexplicable evil. that in timesnow of tragedy texans come together.

just two months ago in the aftermath of hurricane harvey will we saw texans coming together helping each other. it is what we do. we have seen it right here. in the seen it communities surrounding the , and theregion communities surrounding sutherland springs. thatve seen the way families have helped families, friends have helped friends, strangers have helped strangers. yes, the way neighbors have helped neighbors. there was ad neighbor who helped save lives on that tragic day. [applause]

>> this is what texas is all about, us coming together. even though anguish and sorrow hangover the community, we will evil. overcome by together we will overcome evil with good. [applause] >> you all have already shown that. here on sunday afternoon and sunday night and i was at the prayer vigil on sunday night. many of you. we cried together. we held hands together.

we held candles together. i can remember the way that that evening prayer vigil concluded. you had already shown that you were focused on a common principle. that is that love will conquer evil. me inspired. left hours before that, your saw the very face of evil. hours later, you reflected the very grace of god. of are a demonstrations god's grace across this entire world. times like this there is a of thisand that is, all in these communities are facing a norm is challenges, especially those who have been most affected. when we face challenges,

sometimes we question our faith in god. hours ago we had the opportunity to visit brooke army medical center. some of the victims who had been shot. i met with chris workmen and his mom. chris is a young man who was shot in the back. he was hit in the vertebrae called lumbars level one and lumbar level two. the irony is, that is the same location on my back where i was injured in a completely said in an unexpected accident that forever changed my life and may be forever unable to walk again. , i was prouds mom

to me and other future governor of the state of texas. [applause] but i will be honest with you , when that accident destroyed my life, i questioned god and my faith in god was question. the you know who do not give up on me? god did not give up on me. every step of the way, i felt god reaching up for me. all i had to do was to reach back and fill his grasp, it was god who has brought me all the way forward. [applause] i say that because i know there is nothing that i can say that will suddenly heal the suffering that these families and your communities are going through right now. nothing can prepare you for the loss, or the pain that you are

feeling. i cannot tell you that someday you will suddenly wake up and all of the pain will be gone. but what i can tell you is that god will continue to reach out and connect with you, and all you need to do is -- due to heal, is to connect with god and you will find a way forward. [applause] >> let me close with a song that i love that seems like it was written for an occasion like this. 62.ms rests in god alone. my salvation comes from him. he alone is my rock and my salvation. he is my fortress. i will never be shaken.

you will never be shaken. we will never be shaken. the communities affected by this tragedy will never be shaken as long as we build our fortress on the rock of god. you all, god bless texas, and may god forever be with the communities and families affected by this tragedy. [applause] >> now it is my honor to introduce the next speaker. a personal friend of mine, but a dearlymerican who cares about the united states of america and the great state of texas. demonstratedf

faith in god, but a man who has demonstrated commitment to our great state. he has been here on multiple occasions as fellow texans have suffered through other tragedies. he knows your heart and he cares about who you are as people, as as texans., and i am proud to introduce, a friend of mine, the vice president of the united states of america, mike pence. [applause] vp pence: thank you, governor , for those inspiring words. and your wife cecilia's example of compassionate leadership for all

the people of texas. karen and i are deeply humbled. humbled to be here tonight with all of you. with the governor, the lieutenant governor, with our cruz,ey general, senator heard and it is especially humbling to be with the precious families of the fallen and injured. from the first baptist church in sutherland springs. you onerous by your presence tonight -- honor us by your presence tonight. when saints and heroes fall.

offer ourtonight to deepest condolences. the condolences of the american people to all of those affected by the horrific attack that took place three days ago. to all the members of this local community to the faith leaders who are here with us tonight, thank you for your outpouring of support for your fellow texans. your testimony of christian love is inspiring the nation. president trump wanted us to come to texas tonight to tell you.f you we are with the american people are with you , and as the president said

sunday, halfway around the world, we will never leave your side. [applause] mr. pence: as the president , when one part of america hurts we all hurt. one what -- one part of america struggles, we all struggle and when one part of america cries out for help, we come together and tonight, i know the hearts and prayers of every american are right here. three days ago, people descended on a small town and a small church not far from here. ofgather tonight in the wake an unspeakable act. as we all know, only a few miles from where we stand, the

congregation of the first baptist church came together as they do every sunday. to join hearts and hands in worship and prayer. and genuine fellowship. learned, withld horror and heartbreak that sunday morning, a deranged man entered that small sanctuary. he took the lives of 26 believers including nine , injured 20 more before his rampage came to an end. it was the worst mass shooting at a place of worship in american history. the cherished names of the fallen will live on forever in the hearts of all who knew theirut let me assure you names will also be enshrined in

the hearts of every american forever. [applause] mr. pence: among them haley krueger who even though just 16 of -- 16 years of age already knew she wanted to be a neonatal nurse and care for the most vulnerable in society. a 30 year veteran of the u.s. air force, to high school sweethearts whose son passed away a year ago. theall of america knows of holton family. including crystal holcomb and the unborn child she carried. to the families of these and all

the fallen, we extend the deepest sympathies of the first family, our little family and all the american people. the bible tells us that the lord is close to the brokenhearted. our prayer for you from this day forward. and so too we pray for all of those who are recovering from .njuries if you hours ago karen and i, the governor and the first lady visited the hospital where many of the injured are recovering. we spoke with them and their families and told them that every american is rooting for them. rooting for them to pull through to make a full recovery. i assured them for -- of our prayers. we met young zach who lost his grandmother. with his courage in that moment

he saved a little girl from stepping into harms way. and we walked into david's hospital room. he had -- and still had his bible study in his hospital room last night. david asked us if we would pray with him before we left. i said we would be honored. prepared when david bowed his head and prayed for us. young james and haley mcnulty. two of the bravest kits i have ever met. with bright futures before them. inspired. by the resilience and faith of

the people we met, by the families. we mourn with those who mourn and we grieve with those who grieve but we do not grieve like those who have no hope. because our faith gives us hope. and heroes give us hope. we find hope in the her out actions of the men and woman of law enforcement, the first responders and the doctors, surgeons, it and emts who saved lives by their swift actions that day. [applause] we find inspiration heroes, in those texas stephen willeford, the plumber johnnybbed his rifle and

langendorf, they pursued the attacker and a high-speed chase and saved the lives of americans as a result. [applause] mr. pence: and mostly we find and in a community of faith the courage of a mother who shielded children with her own body and in death saved her five-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter. her last moment living out the hash that no greater love more than this than they should lay down their life.

the faith in this community has inspired the nation. just the faith and courage of those we lost but survived. you see it in the expressions of faith we just heard in the library. from families who told us they were standing on the rock in these troubled times. and all of america marveled when the devoted pastor from the first baptist church is still grieving the loss of his own precious daughter found it in his heart to say to the world, and i quote, "lean on the lord rather than your own understanding. i do not understand but i know my god does."

i was humbled and inspired by that expression of eighth and i will never forget it. never forgeti will it. thatver animated the evil descended on that church last sunday, the attackers desire was to silence that faith, he failed. [applause] the voice of faith, the witness of faith in that small church and that small town echoes across the world. as president trump said on words, and/ors times like these we pull together, we joined hands, we lock arms, and through the tears and the sadness, we stand strong. what this because that is americans always do.

nation together as one and one people. to support our fellow americans in their hour of need. evil.is stronger than no attack, no act of violence will ever make our spirit or diminish the faith of the american people. [applause] my fellow americans, we live in challenging times. it seems like too often we hear of another tragedy, another senseless act of violence against the innocent. in these times, i expect it is easy for some to lose heart. but it is the good people of sutherland springs who taught the nation this week faith is the antidote.

-- the antidote to fear and despair. faith is now and always has been our source of strength and the summit of our national life. and i believe that faith has never been more important to the future of america. when the days are evil, as governor abbott just said, faith tells us we overcome evil with good. weekend, i hope a lot of americans do what we're hearing -- what we are doing here tonight. i hope the places of worship all across america will be filled to overflowing. i hope that americans of every background and belief will send a chorus of prayers from their hearts into the heart of heaven for these families, for this community. and for this land.

lost andor those we those they left behind. to pray for the injured and those who tend to their wounds even as we speak. to pray for the good congregation of the first baptist church. soon fill that century with the sounds of reason worship again. and to pray for all the good people of sutherland springs. and of the special state of texas. wouldile we're at it, i encourage you to pray for america. aselieve with all my heart long as we remember that we are god,ation, under indivisible, with liberty and willce for all, that god yet bless america.

[applause] mr. pence: so may god bless you, may god less these precious families of the fallen and the injured. and may god continue to bless the united states of america. before we depart, invite to the podium my wife of who is going to lead us in prayer tonight. we are a family that believes in prayer. welcoming my for wife karen. [applause]

pence: if you will bow with me. here thank you for being right now with us. father, sometimes the burdens just seem too heavy to carry. loss tootwo great -- great but your word says my yoke is easy and my burden is light so lord, today, we need you to come and carry this load. littlele says, let the children, and to me -- come unto me. help this precious community cling to that image of all of for alleautiful children of the victims are children of

god, so that all of these beautiful children would be in your arms today. help us to hold that vision of them in your arms close to us. father, giveort, your piece, the peace that passes all understanding because we do not understand. so come and hold this community help them to draw closer to you and to each other, and in this dark hour, heavenly father, help these precious how wide and long and deep is the love of christ conquered death and we pray all of these things in your precious name, amen. [applause]

>> thank you mr. vice president and mrs. pants. be seated, please. you will understand that schedules are difficult and tough and for them to carve out space to be here was an honor, what a joy. so they have to exit and get on to other assignments. so let's appreciate the last -- the vice president. [applause]

>> a seated, please. -- be seated, please. us.me say a word to all of >> tonight the senate commerce committee examines some of their recent data breaches at companies in the best way to protect consumer information. president trump's pick kirstjen nielsen testifies at her consummate -- confirmation hearing. and the markup of the proposal to overhaul the tax code. we will have live coverage of that at 9:00 a.m. eastern when the committee returns for day 4. on saturday vice president michael pence takes place in the wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier and will speak afterwards at the

memorial and for theater. live coverage from arlington national cemetery begins at 11:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. next, we turn to capitol hill where earlier today, the former ceos of equifax, yahoo!, and other companies affected by major data breaches with ways to better protect consumer information in the future. the senate commerce hearing runs 2.5 hours.