WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN), along with Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Representatives Kelly Morrison (D-MN), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Angie Craig (D-MN), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), and Brad Finstad (R-MN) introduced a resolution to honor the life of Minnesota State House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, and condemn political violence.
Full text of the resolution is available HERE and below:
Whereas, on June 14, 2025, a gunman entered the home of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and shot and critically injured him and his wife, Yvette Hoffman;
Whereas the gunman then entered the home of Minnesota State House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and assassinated her and her husband Mark Hortman;
Whereas the gunman had documents that listed dozens of lawmakers targeted for assassination;
Whereas the law enforcement officers of Brooklyn Park and Champlin saved additional lives by intervening with their bravery and rapid response to the attack;
Whereas Speaker Emerita Hortman was a formidable public servant who served her community and the people of Minnesota with deep devotion, compassion, and strength;
Whereas acts of political violence have no place in the United States and represent a grave threat;
Whereas swift condemnation of political violence by elected officials is necessary to preserve and protect the democracy of the United States;
Whereas, when these violent acts expose division, the people of the United States must persevere in the pursuit of democratic principles, resolving their differences through debate and civil discourse; and
Whereas political violence not only attacks the life and liberty of the representatives of the people of the United States, it also attacks the right of the people to be represented: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate, in this moment of tragic loss—
(1) strongly condemns and denounces the attacks on Minnesota State legislators in Brooklyn Park and Champlin, Minnesota on June 14, 2025;
(2) honors the life of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman for her devotion to public service and her tireless efforts to serve the people of Minnesota and the life of her husband, Mark Hortman;
(3) honors Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, who were shot and critically injured, and wishes for their full and speedy recovery;
(4) honors the courageous law enforcement officers who saved additional lives with their rapid response to the attack and successfully apprehended and charged the suspected perpetrator on June 15, 2025;
(5) calls on all community leaders and elected officials to publicly and unequivocally denounce acts of political violence; and
(6) calls on all people of the United States to unite in this moment of pain and tragedy and reaffirm the commitment of the people of the United States to a safe, civil, and peaceful democracy in which violent rhetoric and acts are not tolerated.
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