WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) today joined U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) in leading the House of Representatives in a moment of silence in honor of the 10 year anniversary of the shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Below are here comments as prepared for delivery:

“Madam Speaker, 10 years ago this week, as I sat in my office in the Longworth Office Building, I watched the horrific events of the Columbine shooting occur. Sadly, that was not the first time we've had a high school shooting, and even more sadly, it was not the last time we've seen a shooting of this nature.

“Every time this happens, for those of us in Colorado, the memory of the horrific events in April 10 years ago floods back to us. I'm joined today with the entire Colorado delegation; as Mr. Coffman said in mourning the loss of the teacher and the students at Columbine; Mr. Perlmutter had constituents who were killed in the shooting; I had constituents attending Columbine High School at that time, and we still do today. All of us share the hope that Principal Frank DeAngeles, who was the principal then and now shared with the country Monday this week at a ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of Columbine. The principal said on Monday, and we all agree with this, my hope is that school violence comes to an end and that our nation is not mourning the loss of more of our children and educators and that the members of our society come together to stop the senseless deaths that are occurring.

“Our children are our future, and we must continue to pave the way for a safe and successful journey. Let's remember Columbine and let's remember these words.”