[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E26]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


     RETIRED DISABLED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS' COUNSELING NETWORK

                                 ______


                      HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR.

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 4, 1995
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce an important 
piece of legislation that I sponsored in the 103d Congress that would 
establish a national retired disabled law enforcement officers' 
counseling network, and I urge my colleagues to become cosponsors.
  We call on police officers in emergencies. We trust them with our 
lives, families, and homes. Day in and day out most of us take them for 
granted to ensure our safety. Yet few of us truly appreciate the 
overwhelming stress, both mental and physical, that they endure in 
order to serve us. But there has never been a national proposal to give 
disabled retired police officers the psychological counseling they may 
need. Until now.
  Too often, retired disabled police officers suffer from depression, 
feelings of isolation, uncertainty of their futures, and worsening 
medical conditions. With appropriate counseling, many of these officers 
will learn to cope with their new lives and some will be able to obtain 
meaningful employment.
  My legislation would establish up to eight officer counseling centers 
throughout the United States to provide counseling to retired disabled 
officers and members of their immediate families. Any retired disabled 
Federal, State, county, city law enforcement officer, or special agent 
would be eligible to participate in this innovative and necessary 
program.
  I ask all Members to help those who have helped us. Please cosponsor 
this important legislative initiative.


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