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Subscribe to RSSA bipartisan group of House members today unveiled a resolution to honor Gabe Zimmerman, the congressional staffer who was killed during the Arizona shooting that seriously wounded Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-AZ).
Both Zimmerman’s mother and brother, Ben, spoke.
Ben -- who took multiple moments to compose himself -- said this of his brother as the room went silent: "He was a committed, committed congressional staff member who approached his job with openness and kindness… What he taught me in that short time was that small acts of kindness make a tremendous difference."
If the House passes the resolution, it would rename one of the rooms in the Congressional Visitor Center after Zimmerman. The Republican-controlled House so far has shunned ceremonial resolutions, but this measure’s bipartisan support could help it find its way to the floor. It is co-sponsored by Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and David Schweikert (R-AZ) -- along with other members of the Arizona delegation who are hoping to work it in as an amendment to the legislative branch’s appropriations bill.
Both Schweikert and Wasserman Schultz said that naming the room in honor of Zimmerman was also a way to honor all congressional staffers. "This distinction would recognize the devoted service of not only Gabe, but also of the thousands of staffers in the Capitol and around this country who work for and have worked for the people of the United States by working for the United States Congress," Wasserman Schultz said.
Zimmerman's mother added, "It's right to honor Gabe here at the Capitol, where Congress is charged with responding to the needs of those people that stood in that line at that grocery store and to all Americans by crafting our nation's laws."
And with the backdrop of the acrimony of the current debt ceiling talks, Gabe's brother left the podium with this thought: "I hope Gabe's memory will serve to honor those congressional staff workers. Let the negativity of politics roll off of them with grace and a smile, and instead focus their energy on service to their communities and compassion to their constituents."
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Thoughts & prayers to Gabe's family & friends...
I hope Gabby continues on her amazing path to recovery...
PS: Debbie sure took the high road in responding to the pathetic attack from Alan West...
And what road was she on when she initiated her attack on West?
Libbies are only able to react to the most immediate thing they see. Anybody else think Feisty has no clue about DWS' initial attack on West on the House floor?
you mean comic relief fiesty? Chihuahua fiesty? or running off at the mouth fiesty?
Poor fiesty just can't help it, she always wants to go over the line.
american - you are a partisian PIG! Nuff said!
Then again - we all already KNOW that!
First I echo 'thoughts and prayers' for this tragic piece of history. No matter GOP or Dem, it was terrible. I don't mean to minimize the importance of the article but I would like to respond to the comment from Spanky.
It would seem that the first poster is referring to DWS' response today to West's email as 'taking the high road': Wasserman Schultz: "the attack was 'not surprising,' given the pressure he was under to defend the Republican position on Medicare and Social Security since he represents thousands of senior citizens". She also said West should "understand that when we're in debate on the House floor, members are going to go back and forth." Since she did not insult him personally, effectually she did take the high road.
I made sure that I read (and watched) both Wasserman Schultz's original floor speech and West's email response. Objectively, she was within the 'rules of decorum' for the chamber. West's response was unprofessional...an extremely offensive and very personal attack. Being called vile is no different than Ed Schultz calling Laura Ingraham a slut.
In my opinion I believe you are wrong on this particular one, Spanky, the debate should be about policy, not about personality. West may be an officer but he was no gentleman.
Whatever her attack was, she accomplished letting his state of Florida know his real intentions. His little hissy fit made even more people know. Go Debbie.
[PS: Debbie sure took the high road in responding to the pathetic attack from Alan West...]
I agree...West is just another in a long line of lunatics looking for attention, and Shultz is giving him all the attention he doesn't want: being called to the carpet to explain away his position. Now and forever, West will be on the defensive...he has to be, or lose his credibility...not that he had any with anyone other than the GOP/Teabagger crowd.
[Anybody else think Feisty has no clue about DWS' initial attack on West on the House floor?]
Apparently nobody else does...except you of course, Schpanky...
Feisty,
I Agree. Perhaps this current group of GOP good old boys club, new symbol should be changed from an elephant to a pig. It suits them well
"It is co-sponsored by Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and David Schweikert (R-AZ) -- along with other members of the Arizona delegation who are hoping to work it in as an amendment to the legislative branch’s appropriations bill."
While I appreciate the bi-partisanship sponsorship, is there really any good reason why this couldn't have been done as a simple stand-alone resolution? Months ago? I get that there are important issues to debate every day, but do we really need to take "shunning ceremonial resolutions" to this much of an extreme? I'm not really feeling the bi-partisanship here.....and if it was my brother, I'm not sure that him being "worked in as an amendment" would really give me a lot of comfort.
joanne, perhaps it is a form of stress relief for them to do it now. You are right, it would have been far more appropriate to have done this months ago.
Americans First-3238795 Good American
american-2051576 BAD American