Perlmutter Honors Rep. Gabby Giffords
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) paid tribute to Rep. Gabby Giffords who remains in serious condition after being shot at a Congress on Your Corner event in Tucson, AZ on Saturday.
Since being elected in 2006, Perlmutter has held more than 70 meetings with constituents in grocery stores within the 7th Congressional District.
Perlmutter delivered the following speech on the floor of
the House of Representatives today. Click HERE for a video of the
speech:
“I thank the gentleman from Arizona and, Madam Speaker, I
had the opportunity to know Gabby before we were elected to the Congress. She
was in the state legislature in Arizona, I was in the state legislature in
Colorado. She was one of the youngest people ever elected to the state
legislature there in Arizona, and she's been a friend of mine for some time
now. And I'm having a hard time processing what actually occurred last Saturday
to her and to those other people. Our prayers obviously are with her, with the
families of those who were murdered and for the swift recovery of everybody who
was injured in that shooting.
I rise in support of the resolution, and I thank the
leadership for bringing it. The Second paragraph of the resolution says:
"Whereas on January 8, 2011, an armed gunman opened fire
at a Congress on Your Corner event hosted by Representative Gabrielle Giffords
in Tucson.”
And I want to explain what it was that she was doing,
because it's at the heart of our democracy.
We've heard about it from other speakers. But the
Congress on Your Corner -- I call it something similar called the Government in
the Grocery -- is about listening to your constituents. It's about being in a
less formal setting than on the floor of the House of Representatives or in an
assembly hall. It’s where people feel comfortable talking about anything
that’s on their mind to you.
This was such a successful program that she had everyone
from a 9-year-old, to the most one of the most powerful people in the state --
the chief Federal District Judge John Roll -- coming to a very informal
setting at a grocery store, to talk about America. To talk about their hopes,
their desires, their concerns.
This is what it's all about. This woman was
conducting something so essential to the fabric of our democracy.
To the grocery stores and the coffee shops and the flea
markets, those that provide these venues where people feel comfortable to come
and express their views, just thank you.
I do these every other Saturday. We obviously have to
work with the different grocery stores and law enforcement to see if we can continue to operate in
these fashion
But this is what it's all about. Gabby Giffords is as
good as they get. We pray for her speedy recovery.”
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