PAYING TRIBUTE TO VICTIMS

On 2026-01-15, Representative Wesley Bell (D-MO-1) delivered a floor speech titled "PAYING TRIBUTE TO VICTIMS" in the House. The speech addressed agriculture.

PAYING TRIBUTE TO VICTIMS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 11 (Thursday, January 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 11 (Thursday, January 15, 2026)] [House] [Page H909] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PAYING TRIBUTE TO VICTIMS (Mr. BELL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, on June 22, 2020, while serving as St. Louis County prosecutor, we were notified of a crime scene at a local restaurant by homicide detectives. Myself and our outreach director at the time, Captain Clay Farmer, responded to that scene to support the investigation that shortly after would be issued by our office. What I witnessed at this scene still haunts me to this very day. I had intended this to be more celebratory to honor posthumously the great Demetrius Johnson and the legendary St. Louis American photographer Wiley Price on his retirement, and I will in the near future. In light of the conviction secured in this case yesterday, my thoughts are with the family of Kimberly Pelton and my friends, Lakeshia Finch and Arlydia Bufford. Arlydia is a remarkable young woman, full of energy, and she beat me in UNO. Lakeshia, who has documented her heroic recovery from this atrocity, exemplifies courage, resiliency, and an unrelenting determination. These three victims are our St. Louis stars. ____________________