“The violent events and actions this past week and during the past two years are not reflective of everyday Americans. The rise in corrosive rhetoric, heated tensions, and a “win-at-all-cost” attitude has led to an unhealthy environment. It is unacceptable to see an increase in violence including attempts to scare representatives with suspicious packages, intimidating them at restaurants, and the shooting of my colleague and good friend Rep. Scalise.

We are Americans first, not Democrats or Republicans. We can’t allow our dialogue to deteriorate, while violence and intimidation grows. We live in the greatest country in the world and we have much more that unifies us than divides. I commit as I always have to debate and advocate for policies I think best for America with dignity, civility and decency.”