House rolls out Giffords resolution

Giffords resolution will come to House floor tomorrow
Tomorrow the House will take up a resolution [pdf] condemning Saturday's shooting in Arizona, and honoring the Victims, recognizing them in detail and offering condolences to their families. The resolution also “reaffirms the bedrock principle of American Democracy and representative government, which is memorialized in the First Amendment,” and mentions that Giffords herself read that amendment on Jan. 6, when the lower chamber read the Constitution on the floor. It is a product of...

Boehner in tribute: 'Our hearts are broken, but our spirit is not'
An emotional Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) paid tribute Wednesday to the Victims of the Tucson shooting, lauding the stricken Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) while pledging the House would “lock arms” in prayer and resolve. “These are difficult hours for our country,” Boehner said as the House opened debate on a resolution denouncing the massacre and honoring its victims. “Our hearts are broken, but our spirit is not,” he said. “This is a time for the House to l

An Emotional Congress Honors Victims of Tucson Shooting
In its first meeting since Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 19 others were wounded or killed in an attack on Saturday in Tucson, Ariz., Congress paid homage to the Arizona Democrat and the legacy of the lives lost over the weekend. Speaker of the House John Boehner, overcome with emotion, paused several times during a Speech Wednesday as he pledged renewed "commitment to fulfill our oaths of office." "Let us not let this inhuman act frighten us into doing otherwise," Boehner cautioned. "The free exc...

Honoring Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (Speaker John Boehner)
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) gave these remarks Wednesday morning on the House floor. Today, we are called here to mourn.  An unspeakable act of violence has taken six innocent lives, and left several more - including our colleague, Gabrielle Giffords - battling for theirs.  These are difficult hours for our country. Among the fallen is Gabe Zimmerman, a member of Congresswoman Giffords’ staff … a public servant of the highest caliber … one of our own.   Even

'Our hearts are broken, but our spirit is not'
Today, we are called here to mourn.  An unspeakable act of violence has taken six innocent lives, and left several more – including our colleague, Gabrielle Giffords – battling for theirs.  These are difficult hours for our country. Among the fallen is Gabe Zimmerman, a member of Congresswoman Giffords’ staff … a public servant of the highest caliber … one of our own.   Even in our shock, we are composed and determined to fulfill our calli...

Video: Boehner, Pelosi Praise Giffords
John Boehner teared up on the House floor today as he praised Gabrielle Giffords, alongside his Democratic counterpart Nancy Pelosi, just five days after she was shot outside a Safeway in Tucson. The House came back into full session today for the first time since the attack, voting on a resolution to honor the congresswoman and the other Victims. From Boehner's remarks: "Our heart is broken, but our spirit is not. This is a time for the House to lock arms in prayer for the fallen and the wound...

'No assailant's bullet no twisted act of violence or cruelty can silence the sacred dialogue of democracy.'
Leading and joining his fellow members of Congress in prayer, House Speaker John Boehner taps into the best of our shared civil religious tradition. In the prepared remarks for this afternoon’s prayer service in the Capitol, John Boehner says: On the morning of January 8, 2011, an act of unspeakable violence rocked the morning air in Tucson, Arizona, where our colleague, Gabby Giffords, was busy with her staff conducting the business of the people. The senseless assault claimed the lives o...

Congress to honor Giffords, others
Published: Jan. 12, 2011 at 12:40 PM House Speaker John Boehner decried the rampage in Tucson, Ariz., in which six people died and 14 people were injured, including Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. UPI/Kevin Dietsch Ariz. lawmakers seek ban on Funeral Protests WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- House Speaker John Boehner decried the rampage in Tucson, Ariz., in which six people died and 14 people were injured, including Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. "These are difficult hours for our country," Boeh...

Sarah Palin Reloads: Blood Libel and a Big Lie
Tuesday night, I wondered if Sarah Palin would respond to mounting criticism over her “crosshair map” by retreating, or reloading. Early this morning, that question was answered, as Palin posted a video response that took on the criticism. While there is widespread outrage over Palin’s misappropriation of the term “blood Libel,” very little attention is being paid to the fact that her response is fixed around the lie that criticism of Palin has centered around the u...

Did you hear what Speaker Boehner said on House Floor?
“Today, we are called here to mourn. An unspeakable act of violence has taken six innocent lives, and left several more - including our colleague, Gabrielle Giffords - battling for theirs. These are difficult hours for our country. “Among the fallen is Gabe Zimmerman, a member of Congresswoman Giffords’ staff … a public servant of the highest caliber … one of our own. “Even in our shock, we are composed and determined to fulfill our calling to rep...

Cantor speaks in favor of resolution honoring Giffords
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia, saying "our hearts hang heavy," this morning spoke in favor of a Bipartisan resolution to honor Arizona Rep. Gabielle Giffords and the six people slain in Saturday's attack on the congresswoman. The resolution condemns the attack; offers "heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and loved ones" of those slain; expresses hope that those wounded will recover; honors the memory of those who died; and applauds "the Bravery and quick thinking" of t...

House Speaker John Boehner: 'Our hearts are broken, but our spirit is not'
From House Speaker John Boehner's Speech given at the beginning of today’s House session: [...] We know that we gather here without distinction of party. The needs of this institution have always risen above Partisanship. And what this institution needs right now is strength -- holy, uplifting strength. The strength to grieve with the families of the fallen, to pray for the wounded, and to chart a way forward, no matter how painful and difficult i...

Boehner: 'Our Hearts Are Broken But Our Spirit Is Not'
Wednesday, January 12, 2011 By Staff House Speaker John Boehner at the swearing in of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., on Capitol Hill on Jan. 5, 2011. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (CNSNews.com) - House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) delivered the following remarks on the House floor Wednesday as the House considered a  resolution condemning the shooting in Tucson, Arizona and honoring the Victims.  Following are Speaker Boehner’s remarks as prepared for delivery: “Today, we are called

Boehner Calls Up House Resolution Honoring Tucson Victims, Responders
An emotional Speaker of the House, Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, took to the house floor Wednesday with a Speech calling up a resolution honoring those killed and wounded in Saturday's shooting at a "Congress on Your Corner" event hosted by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., in Tucson. Giffords is one of the wounded and remains in critical condition. "We're thankful, so thankful that Gabby is still with us," Boehner said fighting back tears. "Our hearts are broken, but our spirit is not. This is a ...

House offers tribute to victims of Tucson shooting rampage
As it reconvened for its first day of legislative business following Saturday's shooting rampage in Tucson, lawmakers on Wednesday paid tribute to the Victims of the tragedy in a resolution and a series of statements on the House floor. Shortly after 10 a.m., the House reading clerk read the four-page resolution, which was offered by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). Then, House leaders from both parties spoke from the floor about the Mass Shooting that killed six and wounded 14. Members are...

Heroes of Tucson
It is an instinct that is inherent in the animal kingdom and was present on January 8, 2011 when Jared Loughner opened fire with a Glocker gun spraying bullets at a crowd of people in Tucson. The heroes are mainly everyday Americans like Patricia Maisch a 61 year old that heeded the call to capture the magazine before Loughner reloaded his gun. She grabbed it and actually tackled him to the ground and Bill Badger jumped in and sat on him to stop him from shooting again. It as at this moment that...

Arizona Shooting Funeral Protest Strains the First Amendment
The tragic shootings in Tucson raise, yet again, a critical question in a country which cherishes the First Amendment: how much must we tolerate intolerance in the defense of free Speech? It’s not even about conservative rabble-rouser Glenn Beck, who commonly uses heated Rhetoric (and some outright misstatements) to rally his supporters—and who is now piously attacking the left for purportedly using the shootings to taint the Tea Party movement. The sad truth is that while the shoo...

Lawmakers try to balance safety with public access
Congress' chief Law Enforcement officers are briefing lawmakers on security issues as politicians struggle to balance safety concerns with an open Democracy. House Republicans said that Sergeant-at-Arms Bill Livingood offered practical security advice Wednesday, such as coordinating with local authorities when they hold public events in their districts. Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot and severely wounded at a public forum in Arizona on Saturday. The gunman killed six people in the r...

Its time to dial down the political rhetoric (Rep. John Lewis)
Last week, members of Congress took time out of the congressional schedule to read the words of the U.S. Constitution. It amazes me, in light of the critical condition Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) now confronts, that somehow by some twist of fate she fell in line at the place where she read the words of the First Amendment. The Constitution is the touchstone of every legislator; it is almost a sacred text in our Democracy. In view of our reverence for the document, I think some Americans ...

House unveils resolution honoring Giffords, others
The text of the resolution honoring Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D) and others who were killed or injured in Tucson, AZ on Saturday has been released. The resolution also honors those who acted bravely to subdue the gunman. GOP aides say the resolution was constructed in a Bipartisan manner with special input from Giffords' office. The expectation is that Speaker John Boehner will bring the resolution to the floor on Wednesday soon after the House is gaveled into session at 10:00 am ET. The resolut...

House Resolution Would Condemn Giffords Attack (Full Text)
Members of Congress and staff members observe a moment of silence for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and other Shooting Victims, Monday, Jan. 10, 2011, on the East Steps of the Capitol on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Credit: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) The House of Representatives on Wednesday will vote on a resolution declaring that the House "condemns in the strongest possible terms the horrific attack" in Tucson, Arizona that left six dead, a congresswoman in critical condition and 13 ot...

Palin Statement On Arizona Shooting
(Editor’s Note: This is a statement from a public figure. It does not necessarily reflect the editorial position of FITSNews.com. To submit your news release, email blast, media advisory or issues statement for publication, click here ). Like millions of Americans I learned of the tragic events in Arizona on Saturday, and my heart broke for the innocent Victims. No words can fill the hole left by the death of an innocent, but we do mourn for the victims’ families as we express our sy...

Sarah Palin statement: 'America's Enduring Strength'
The following is the full statement by Sarah Palin, which was posted to Facebook Wednesday, January 12, 2011. Please click here to view the video of this statement. Like millions of Americans I learned of the tragic events in Arizona on Saturday, and my heart broke for the innocent Victims. No words can fill the hole left by the death of an innocent, but we do mourn for the victims' families as we express our sympathy. I agree with the sentiments shared yesterday at the beautiful Catholic mass...

Sarah Palin: Journalists and Pundits Should Not Manufacture a Blood Libel
The below statement is from Sarah Palin. The video of the statement can be found here or below the statement: “Like millions of Americans I learned of the tragic events in Arizona on Saturday, and my heart broke for the innocent Victims. No words can fill the hole left by the death of an innocent, but we do mourn for the victims’ families as we express our sympathy. I agree with the sentiments shared yesterday at the beautiful Catholic mass held in honor of the Victims. The mass will...

Sarah Palin Responds - "America's Enduring Strength"
Sarah Palin responds to both the tragedy in Arizona and the political exploitation of this event. She doesn’t name names or point the finger defensively at any one person, but rather turns this into a teaching moment for America, suggesting that this is when America’s core values need protecting the most. This is perhaps her most Presidential Speech: Like millions of Americans I learned of the tragic events in Arizona on Saturday, and my heart broke for the innocent Victims. No words can f...