[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND STATE, THE JUDICIARY, AND RELATED 
                   AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. MATTHEW G. MARTINEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 24, 1996

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3814) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and 
     State, the Judiciary, and related agencies for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 1997, and for other purposes,

  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Chairman, I would like to begin by commending my 
colleague, Congressman Deutsch, on the exemplary work he has done on 
behalf of public safety officers nationwide.
  I understand that the impetus for the gentleman's efforts came about 
when two police officers in his district were critically injured in an 
attempt to defuse a highly volatile hostage situation. After being 
severely burned and prevented from returning to duty as a result of 
their injuries, Officers Alu and O'Hara were threatened with the 
termination of their health care policies.
  I find it unconscionable that we would reward public safety officers 
for making our lives safer and more secure by terminating their 
insurance policies and leaving their families vulnerable to financial 
destitution. Apparently the State of Florida agrees. In response to the 
situation in which Officers Alu and O'Hara found themselves, the 
Florida State Legislature promptly passed legislation guaranteeing 
health care coverage for public safety officers injured in the line of 
duty and unable to return to work.
  However, while Florida responded swiftly and humanely to this 
egregious loophole in the law, public safety officers in many other 
States  remain vulnerable to this blatantly unjust consequence of their 
jobs. For that reason, Congressman Deutsch introduced H.R. 2912, the 
Alu-O'Hara Public Safety Officers Health Benefits Act, of which I am 
proud to be a cosponsor. H.R. 2912, which is now being offered as an 
amendment to the Commerce-Justice-State Appropriations for fiscal year 
1997, gives incentives to States to ensure that they provide security 
for their public safety officers. While this amendment would not 
require that public safety officers receive additional benefits, it 
would ensure that they, and their families, would continue to receive 
the benefits they would have received had they not been injured on the 
job.
  Let Florida be an example to us all. Pass this amendment and provide 
protection for those who protect us.

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