Senator Collins Speaks from the Senate Floor on Today’s Shooting at Republican Baseball Practice

Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ remarks on the Senate floor
Note to assignment editors and news directors: Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ remarks on the Senate floor

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins spoke on the Senate floor today in response to today’s shooting at a baseball practice held by Republican Members of Congress. The transcript of Senator Collins’ floor remarks follows:

“Mr. President, before I join with my colleague to talk about our bill, let me first express the sentiments of all of us who were stunned and saddened to learn first thing this morning of the attack on our colleagues and their staff on the House side as they practiced for the Republican team for the annual congressional baseball game.

"Senator Rand Paul, who was present, told us at lunch about what happened. And he emphasized time and again the absolutely heroic behavior, the extraordinary bravery of the Capitol Police officers who were part of Representative Scalise’s detail. He said that without these two police officers, that he has no doubt that many more people would have been injured and likely killed.

"So I think it's important for us to pause and express our gratitude to the men and women of the Capitol Police force, and indeed the first responders and law enforcement officers everywhere who day after day put their lives on the line for our country. And without their help today, the terrible attack would have been far, far worse. So I thank them.”