OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Condemning the Horrific Shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 2021

Floor Speech

Date: May 18, 2021
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Criminal Justice

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Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, I thank my fellow Texan, Representative Fallon, for the opportunity to speak.

To my colleague, Judy Chu, I have enjoyed working with her and serving with her on the Ways and Means Committee, and I have respect for her.

Let me be clear, Madam Speaker, the Atlanta shootings were heartbreaking and absolutely unconscionable. I condemn, as I imagine all of my colleagues do, all hate and all violence against any person for any reason. I mourn for all Americans who have lost their lives to any senseless act of violence.

Today, my colleagues have brought forth a resolution that I believe is laced with political jabs and unsubstantiated assertions about labeling a virus by its geographical origin.

To say that the term ``Wuhan virus'' drove this individual to commit unthinkable crimes is both premature and illogical, and it needlessly politicizes this horrible tragedy. It is inappropriate, and I believe it is unwise, for Congress to presume a motive in the middle of an ongoing investigation.

For the sake of our country, we must stop politicizing heinous acts of violence committed by sick, evil individuals. We must stop making claims that supersede and ignore personal responsibility. When an individual commits a crime, they are responsible for that crime, and our judicial system is there to ensure that the individual is held accountable and brought to swift and certain justice.

Again, I mourn for the lives lost in Georgia, but today's resolution does not strike me as simply and only a sincere attempt to highlight injustice or to condemn hate crimes. It reeks, Madam Speaker, of scoring political points. That is my read.

It seems to be a veiled criticism of President Trump. It is needless and more divisive identity politics. We definitely don't need more of that in this country. I think it is political opportunism. So I encourage my Democrat colleagues and my Republican colleagues to reject this and to vote ``no'' for those reasons.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Mfume), who is a distinguished member of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

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