[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 56 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E793]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIONAL CORRECTIONS OFFICERS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. J.C. WATTS, JR.

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 1998

  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, during this National Correctional 
Officers and Employees Week, I wish to commend all of the officers and 
staff who work in correctional facilities in my home state of Oklahoma. 
In fact, every American owes a debt of gratitude to the men and women 
who work in our Federal and State correctional facilities all across 
our country.
  Every day, hundreds of Americans are the victims of crime. Hopes and 
dreams are dashed by arsonists. Families are shattered by domestic 
abuse. Lives are taken and property lost. Often times, the only ones 
who stand between our personal safety and criminals are our brave men 
and women who work in law enforcement, especially those who work in 
correctional facilities. Correctional officers are given the special 
task of dealing with society's most incorrigible criminals, while 
seeking to reform those souls who may yet be turned away from a wasted 
life of crime.
  We owe special thanks this week to the 22 Federal Bureau of Prisons 
officers and employees who have died in the line of duty since 1901. 
They gave their lives and sacrificed their futures to keep our families 
safe. We must keep the families of some of the more recently lost 
officers and employees in our prayers.
  We also owe our gratitude to the public servants who have excelled in 
their duties and improved the quality of federal prison facilities. We 
owe our thanks to the people whom the Federal Bureau of Prisons has 
judged worthy of its highest awards for merit in 1998. These fine 
Americans include Thelma Olivares, who was named Supervisor of the 
Year; David Wedeking, who was named Department Head of the Year; 
Stephanie Gibson, who was named Employee of the Year; Charles Morris, 
who was named Correctional Officer of the Year; and Kristen Lunsford-
Holley, who was named the Doug Krittenbrink Rookie of the Year.
  America's correctional officers and employees are the difference 
between safe neighborhoods and senseless tragedy. Their efforts to 
reform young offenders while there is still hope, and their work to 
keep dangerous felons securely behind bars and away from our families 
are contributions which all too often go unnoticed. Hopefully, during 
this National Correctional Officers and Employees Week, we will all 
reflect and be thankful that our country enjoys protection because we 
have the world's finest correctional employees.

                          ____________________