Eighth Anniversary of Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting

Floor Speech

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Mrs. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of the 26 beautiful lives that were lost on December 14, 2012, at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Mr. Speaker, 8 years ago, 20 innocent children and six selfless educators were murdered in what should have been the safest places in their community: their school.

Today, I ask that we pause, reflect, remember, and recommit ourselves to working to ensure that this never happens again.

For many residents of Newtown, Connecticut, 8 years feels like yesterday. Time has stood still for so many families as they attempt to rebuild their community and honor the precious memory of their children and educators.

Mr. Speaker, much needs to be done to ensure that our schools and communities are safe places. We owe it to the 26 families from Sandy Hook to work together to make this happen. We owe it to the over 38,000 people who will die each year from gun violence to do better. We owe it to the 50 million people who are affected by mental health challenges each year. We owe it to ourselves, because we are capable of creating change.

Mr. Speaker, today, we honor, remember, and reflect, and then we get back to work.

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