House Proceeding 04-28-09 on Apr 28th, 2009 :: 0:50:30 to 0:54:00
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0:50:16 to 0:50:36( Edit History Discussion )

Artur Davis: the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman continues to reserve. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. lynch: mr. speaker, at this point i would like to yield three minutes to the gentleman from alabama, mr. davis. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from alabama is recognized for three minutes. mr. dav: mr. speak, let me thank my friend of 10 years, the gentleman from alabama, bobby

0:50:30 to 0:54:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Artur Davis

0:50:37 to 0:50:58( Edit History Discussion )

Artur Davis: bright, for introducing this resolution giving the house a chance to vote on it and pass it today. let me pic out justwo things to say about this unspeakable tragedy if i can. one of the mysteries of human existence is that evil can exist in a divinely inspired world.

0:50:59 to 0:51:19( Edit History Discussion )

Artur Davis: and the people who live in south alabama are some of the most humble, god fearing, patriotic people on the face of this earth, their god and faith is an animating principle to them. and it is enormously difficult to contemplate how such good

0:51:20 to 0:51:40( Edit History Discussion )

Artur Davis: people could hav been visited by such remarkable afternoon horror. i am comforted as i know the people in that community were comforted, by all of the expressions of support from around the united states of america, by all the people who came to their aid, by all the

0:51:41 to 0:52:01( Edit History Discussion )

Artur Davis: people who lent their good wishes. the second observaon that i would make is there is one thing that stood out to me beyond the television images. we all saw the television images of shear terror. the next morning i made a phone call to one of the chiefs of police in one of these small communities and i asked him if

0:52:02 to 0:52:22( Edit History Discussion )

Artur Davis: he knew any of the people who had been killed or injured. without missing a beat, he said into the phone, mr. davis, i knew them all. i knew them all. he went on to say we are a small town. we go to church together. we play ballogether. we meet at each other's homes

0:52:23 to 0:52:43( Edit History Discussion )

Artur Davis: for holidays. we celebrate events together. we all know each other. and that is the other unique thing about this event, mr. speaker. that this community rips such a hole in the soul of a community or this event rips such a hole in the soul of a community of people who were n.i.t. -- knit

0:52:44 to 0:53:04( Edit History Discussion )

Artur Davis: close together. my final observation i want to thank again bobby bright from the second district. when i called him the morning after this event, his first instincts was to think like the very good mayor he was until he came here. he said, i'm getting on a plane, i'm going back home, because i want to know if they need anything. i want to know if they need

0:53:05 to 0:53:25( Edit History Discussion )

Artur Davis: help. that's how executives think. that's how this mayor thought. and the people of the second district are very privileged and fortunate to have that kind of individual whose first instinct was, what can i do? not just to lend support but to be of assistance. so i extend my condolences to these individuals, to their

0:53:26 to 0:53:48( Edit History Discussion )

Artur Davis: families, may god bless the souls of the lost. and may he mend the bodies of those who are left and wounded. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from georgia. mr. westmoreland: if the gentleman has no f speakers i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from georgia yields back. the gentleman from massachusetts. mr. lynch: thank you, mr. speaker.

0:53:49 to 0:54:00( Edit History Discussion )

Artur Davis: i simply urge my colleagues to join with congressman bright and congressman davis in support of this measure. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from massachusetts yields back. all time has expired.