Please have a seat.

Before I begin, let me say a few words

about the tragedy that's unfolding not far away from here

at the Washington Navy Yard.

That's part of why our event today was delayed.

I've been briefed by my team on the situation.

We still don't know all the facts,

but we do know that several people have been shot,

and some have been killed.

So we are confronting yet another mass shooting --

and today, it happened on a military installation

in our nation's capital.

It's a shooting that targeted

our military and civilian personnel.

These are men and women who were going to work,

doing their job, protecting all of us.

They're patriots, and they know the dangers of serving abroad --

but today, they faced unimaginable violence

that they wouldn't have expected here at home.

So we offer our gratitude to the Navy

and local law enforcement, federal authorities,

and the doctors who've responded with skill and bravery.

I've made it clear to my team that I want the investigation

to be seamless, so that federal and local authorities

are working together.

And as this investigation moves forward,

we will do everything in our power

to make sure whoever carried out this cowardly act

is held responsible.

In the meantime, we send our thoughts and prayers to all

at the Navy Yard who've been touched by this tragedy.

We thank them for their service.

We stand with the families of those who've been harmed.

They're going to need our love and support.

And as we learn more about the courageous Americans

who died today -- their lives, their families,

their patriotism -- we will honor their service

to the nation they helped to make great.

And obviously, we're going to be

investigating thoroughly what happened,

as we do so many of these shootings, sadly,

that have happened,

and do everything that we can to try to prevent them.