[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 11, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H2950-H2954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING AND RECOGNIZING SLAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 165) acknowledging the dedication and sacrifice 
made by the men and women who have lost their lives while serving as 
law enforcement officers.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 165

       Whereas the well-being of all citizens of this country is 
     preserved and enhanced as a

[[Page H2951]]

     direct result of the vigilance and dedication of law 
     enforcement personnel;
       Whereas more than 700,000 men and women, at great risk to 
     their personal safety, presently serve their fellow citizens 
     in their capacity as guardians of peace;
       Whereas peace officers are the front line in preserving our 
     children's right to receive an education in a crime-free 
     environment that is too often threatened by the insidious 
     fear caused by violence in schools;
       Whereas 158 peace officers lost their lives in the 
     performance of their duty in 1998, and a total of more than 
     15,000 men and women have now made that supreme sacrifice; 
     and
       Whereas every year 1 in 9 officers is assaulted, 1 in 25 
     officers is injured, and 1 in 4,400 officers is killed in the 
     line of duty: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that--
       (1) all peace officers slain in the line of duty should be 
     honored and recognized; and
       (2) the President should issue a proclamation calling upon 
     the people of the United States to honor and recognize slain 
     peace officers with appropriate ceremonies and respect.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Chabot) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot).
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. CHABOT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, as the eyes of most Americans are fixed on 
events in Yugoslavia and the brave service of our military forces 
there, it is easy to overlook the courageous service of another group 
of men and women who protect us much closer to home.
  Over 700,000 law enforcement officers, serving at every level of 
government and in communities of every size, stand guard over our lives 
and our property every single day. These officers patrol our streets. 
They pursue those who threaten our security. They are just a phone call 
away.
  Today, with the consideration of this resolution, we honor the 
dedication and devotion of America's law enforcement community. But, in 
particular, we honor the sacrifice of a specific heroic group of law 
enforcement officers. We honor those who have given their lives in the 
service to the rule of law.
  Mr. Speaker, mere words cannot fully express the significance of this 
sacrifice. How do we adequately express our appreciation for those who 
are willing to die to protect us and our families? Police officers 
enjoy life just as much as of the rest of us. They long to see their 
children grow up and be successful and to some day hold their 
grandchildren, just like all of us do. And yet they are willing to risk 
all of their hopes and all of their dreams for us to ensure the safety 
and well-being of our communities.
  It is far too easy for us to take for granted their devotion to duty. 
It is for this reason that we bring H.Res. 165 to the floor today. It 
is to honor the 158 peace officers who lost their lives in the 
performance of their duties just last year. It is also to commemorate 
the more than 15,000 officers who have made the supreme sacrifice over 
the course of our Nation's history.
  The names of these heroes are now enshrined on the Law Enforcement 
Memorial Wall only a few blocks away from this very House Chamber. That 
wall and this simple resolution are among the many ways that we can 
encourage all Americans to remember, to never forget, the extraordinary 
service of these extraordinary public servants.
  This Saturday, Mr. Speaker, we will celebrate Law Enforcement Officer 
Memorial Day. The main event will be a ceremony in memory of peace 
officers killed in the line of duty in 1998 held on the West Lawn of 
the Capitol. This resolution calls on the President to issue a 
proclamation calling on the people of the United States to honor and 
recognize slain peace officers with ceremonies similar to Saturday's 
event. I am pleased that this Congress has the honor of hosting the 
annual memorial service.
  Last night, in my hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, I had the privilege 
of speaking at our local police memorial service. Over the last year, 
our community has suffered the tragic loss of three officers: 
Cincinnati Officer Daniel Pope and Specialist Ronald Jeter, and Officer 
Michael Partin from neighboring Covington, Kentucky, just across the 
river. Now today we honor officers from throughout the country who have 
made the ultimate sacrifice.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) for 
introducing this resolution and taking the lead in ensuring that this 
House expresses its profound appreciation for the commitment and 
sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. 
Hefley) for his work on this important issue and for sponsoring the 
resolution to honor the men and women in law enforcement who each day 
proudly put their lives on the line to protect and serve communities 
across the Nation.
  I also want to commend the Law Enforcement Caucus, particularly the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak), for making sure that the concerns 
of law enforcement officers and their families are heard in Congress.
  Today's law enforcement officers face numerous risks as they perform 
their duties. Last year over 150 law enforcement officers were killed 
in this country; and it is appropriate that at this time, during Police 
Week, that Congress take out time to salute these officers and their 
families.
  All week long, thousands of law enforcement officers and their 
families will take part in events around the country to honor those who 
have fallen and to salute the daily heroic efforts of men and women who 
continue to walk the beat.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution comes at a time when many of us in 
Congress still feel the loss of two members of the law enforcement 
community who died last year while protecting the people's House. The 
names of Special Agent John Gibson and Officer Jacob Chestnut are now 
listed alongside the names of 15,000 men and women who gave their lives 
in order to keep our community safe.
  I also want to take time to extend my deep appreciation to the law 
enforcement officers who are currently serving in my home State of 
Virginia and to the families of those who lost their lives in the line 
of duty. Their dedication in preserving the safety of communities in 
Virginia has not gone unnoticed.
  This resolution correctly acknowledges the sacrifices of law 
enforcement officers who have made the keeping of our communities, 
especially our schools and children, safe. I encourage my colleagues to 
support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Gilman), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on 
International Relations.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in strong support 
of the slain peace officers resolution, H.Res. 165.
  I want to commend the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) for 
introducing this resolution, and I want to thank the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Chabot) for bringing it to the floor at this time, along with 
the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the ranking minority member.
  Our law enforcement officials represent an integral part of our 
society in which we have instilled public trust. As the vanguard of our 
public safety, we sometimes take for granted the risks that they assume 
in the course of their duties. Regrettably, we are far too often 
reminded of those risks.
  In 1998, 158 law enforcement officers lost their lives in the line of 
duty, bringing the total number of slain officers to some 15,000 over 
the last 10 years. In July of that same year, we were witness to a 
tragedy here in our Nation's capital as two of our Capitol Police, 
Officer Jacob Chestnut and Officer John Gibson, were killed in an 
unforeseen act of violence by a lone, deranged gunman.
  This resolution, which expresses the sense of Congress that all peace 
officers slain in the line of duty should be honored and recognized as 
well as stating that the President should issue a proclamation calling 
on the people of our

[[Page H2952]]

Nation to honor and recognize slain peace officers with appropriate 
ceremonies and respect, is an important measure. Properly recognizing 
and honoring those officers who lost their lives in the fulfillment of 
their duties is important to our Nation.

                              {time}  1530

  On May 15, the annually celebrated Law Enforcement Memorial Day, more 
than 15,000 law enforcement officers are expected to gather in our 
Nation's capital with their families to honor their comrades who have 
been killed in the line of duty. This resolution is an excellent 
tribute to those officers who have fallen while exercising their solemn 
duty to ensure the safety and livelihood of all of our citizens.
  Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of 
this vital resolution. I urge my colleagues to join in supporting its 
passage.
  Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from the 
District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I very much thank the gentleman for yielding 
me this time, and I thank the gentleman from Ohio and the gentleman 
from Virginia for bringing this very timely and solemn resolution to 
the floor and the gentleman from Colorado for introducing it.
  I rise to pay honor and respect to the officers of this country who 
have been slain in the line of duty.
  Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Congressional Black Caucus sponsored a 
compelling hearing on police brutality in this country, which 
tragically has gone up as crime has gone down, especially in many black 
and Hispanic communities. The Nation's capital has been number one in 
police shootings of civilians. These are matters that must be answered 
and attended to.
  At the same time, Mr. Speaker, I reported at that hearing that there 
is enormous respect and appreciation for police officers in the 
District of Columbia as residents have clamored for more of them, 
particularly as we now come out of one of the worst crime epidemics in 
our history. The depth of the feeling was revealed especially during 
the 1990s when 11 police officers in the District of Columbia lost 
their lives in the line of duty. There was deep feeling, as well, in 
the District and across the Nation at the tragic slayings of Officers 
Chestnut and Gibson and, of course, of other public safety officers in 
the District of Columbia and throughout the country.
  One of these especially brutal killings in the District led me to 
introduce, and Congress to pass, the Brian Gibson Tax-Free Pension 
Equity Act, which allows the family of a slain Federal or local law 
enforcement officer killed in the line of duty to receive that 
officer's pension tax free, just as officers for some time who retired 
on disability could receive their pension tax free. I want to thank the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak) and the gentleman from Minnesota 
(Mr. Ramstad), who are cochairs of the Congressional Law Enforcement 
Caucus, and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Archer) and the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Rangel), who helped me get this through the 
Taxpayers Relief Act of 1997.
  Mr. Speaker, the next order of business is to build the Visitors 
Center. I have long had a bill and ultimately named it for Officers 
Chestnut and Gibson for a Visitors Center. In the wake of the tragedy, 
an appropriation allowed a Visitors Center to go forward. It would make 
the Capitol more secure for all of us and especially more secure for 
the officers. The Visitors Center would help avoid tragedies like the 
killings of two brave officers in this Capitol in 1997.
  I salute the Capitol Police and the District of Columbia Police and 
especially the families of the slain peace officers in this country who 
have died in the line of duty and whom we honor this week.
  Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would like to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) for his 
leadership in advancing this legislation. I urge my colleagues to 
support it.
  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this resolution to 
honor law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty. I 
want to thank my colleague, Mr. Hefley,  for sponsoring this important 
legislation. I am pleased to be here to participate in this debate.
  Before coming to Congress in 1993, I served for 12 years as a police 
officer, both as a city officer and as a state trooper. I have known 
many officers who have given their lives for the people they serve and 
understand the importance of the House of Representatives taking this 
step to honor law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate 
sacrifice.
  In May of 1998, in my district, Traverse City Sgt. Dennis Finch was 
killed while on duty. A 30 year veteran of the police force, Sgt. Finch 
was shot during a stand off with an armed gunman. He was survived by 
his wife and two daughters who will be in Washington this week 
participating in many of the Police Week activities.
  Just last summer everybody in this body was reminded of the extreme 
sacrifice our nation's law enforcement and public safety officers make 
to our communities and our nation when Officers Chestnut and Gibson 
were killed here in the Capitol.
  Unfortunately, there were many more officers killed last year. In 
1998, 158 officers lost their lives while on the job. This brings the 
total to more than 15,000 men and women who have given their lives 
serving the public as law enforcement officers.
  This legislation recognizes the value our government places on the 
work of our public safety officers. It is important that we take time 
this week to show our respect and recognition for the jobs that police 
officers do every day in every city and town in America.
  Join me to support this resolution. It is the least we can do for 
those who put their lives on the line every day.
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the purpose of honoring 
those police officers who have given their lives for the sake of 
others. A reflection on the sacrifice made by these officers can only 
lead one to feelings of sadness, humility, and pride. These Americans 
have demonstrated a commitment to the public good that could not be 
eclipsed, and their courage serves as a profound testament to the 
strength of our nation and our purpose.
  I was privileged last Congress to introduce the Public Safety 
Memorial Scholarship Act. This bill sought to provide education funding 
to the families of state and local public safety officers who were 
killed in the line of duty. I was certainly gratified when legislation 
which was very similar to my bill was signed into law last year.
  In honoring the memories of these fallen officers, we in Congress 
must continue our efforts to create safer and stronger communities 
through an active commitment to supporting those in the law enforcement 
community. I know that I speak for all of my colleagues when I say that 
our constituents deserve nothing less than our best efforts as we work 
towards this goal.
  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this House 
Resolution to honor law enforcement officers killed in the line of 
duty.
  This resolution is in recognition of National Peace Officers Memorial 
Day, which serves as a solemn reminder of the sacrifice and commitment 
to safety that law enforcement officers make on our behalf every day.
  Law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty sacrifice 
not only their own lives, but also the lives of their spouses, 
children, parents, and friends. In fact, the whole community suffers a 
profound loss when a law enforcement officer dies.
  Last year, in 1998, 155 of our country's brave law enforcement 
officers died protecting the citizens of this nation. This resolution 
serves as a tribute to those fallen officers and their families.
  This simple gesture will send a signal across the country that our 
law enforcement officers deserve our utmost respect for putting their 
lives on the line day-in and day-out.
  Every day, law enforcement officers are at war against criminals that 
threaten the security of this country. Passing this resolution to honor 
those officers is the least that we in Congress can do to thank them 
for their sacrifices.
  I am proud to support this resolution that is before us today.
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a cosponsor and strong supporter 
of the important resolution before us today to honor those brave police 
officers who have given their lives to keep our communities safe.
  As co-chair of the bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus, I applaud the 
courage and dedication to duty of all peace and police officers serving 
their communities. These officers put their lives on the line for us, 
every day they put on the badge. Their courage and sacrifice was 
demonstrated in a very dramatic way last summer, when shots rang out in 
the Capitol and two of the U.S. Capitol Police's finest lost their 
lives.
  It is fitting that we consider this resolution during National Police 
Week. I encourage members of this body and the public to participate in 
other events this week honoring America's fallen police officers. On 
May 13, the

[[Page H2953]]

11th Annual Candlelight Vigil will take place at 8 p.m. at the National 
Law Enforcement Memorial grounds, followed by a reading of the 312 
names newly engraved on the Memorial. At noon on May 15, the 18th 
Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Day Service will take place on 
the west front of the Capitol, with a wreath-laying ceremony to follow.
  In my home state of Minnesota, May 8 was Law Enforcement Appreciation 
Day at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, where ``Top Cops'' were honored 
during the Minnesota Twins game. I encourage my fellow Minnesotans to 
attend events on May 15, in which uniformed officers will stand in 
silence all day at the Peace Officers Memorial on the State Capitol 
grounds. Also, a 5-kilometer ``Race to Remember'' will be held in St. 
Paul, and a candlelight service will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Peace 
Officers Memorial.
  Mr. Speaker, 156 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of 
duty in 1998, and over 15,000 officers have been killed since our 
nation began recording their deaths. My home state of Minnesota has 
lost 207 officers.
  On average, a law enforcement officer is killed every other day in 
America. Each year, one in nine officers is assaulted and one in 25 is 
injured while on duty. These sacrifices are made daily to fight crime 
and make our citizens safer.
  These law enforcement heroes and their families deserve our gratitude 
and respect, during National Police Week and throughout the year. We 
must never forget their sacrifices, including the ultimate sacrifice 
paid by too many officers.
  We must all work for a day when no more names will be added to the 
Law Enforcement Memorial wall, and a resolution like this will no 
longer be necessary.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in honoring the 40th annual observance of 
Peace Officers Memorial Day. Flint Memorial Park is the setting for 
this observance on May 14 in my hometown of Flint, Michigan. On this 
day the Flint community will take time to reflect on the loss of some 
of its finest police officers.
  For the past 40 years, Flint Memorial Park has honored Peace Officers 
that have fallen in the line of duty. A memorial service is held 
annually to remind us of their bravery and sacrifice. The names of the 
officers that have been immortalized on the monument at Flint Memorial 
Park are:
  Patrolman Terry Lee Thompson--Burton Police Department July 5, 1983.
  Patrolman Russell A. Herrick--Burton Police Department May 8, 1980.
  Trooper Norman Killough--Michigan State Police, Detroit Post October 
6, 1978.
  Deputy Ben R. Walker--Genesee County Sheriff Department April 6, 
1971.
  Detective Alton C. Fritcher--Flint Police Department January 5, 1969.
  Trooper Albert Souden--Michigan State Police, Brighton Post September 
3, 1959.
  Trooper Burt Pozza--Michigan State Police, Flint Post November 19, 
1956.
  Patrolman Karl J. Liebengood--Burton Township Police Department 
January 11, 1955.
  Trooper George Lappi--Michigan State Police, Flint Post November 19, 
1956.
  Detective James McCullough--Flint Police Department February 28, 
1952.
  Patrolman Neil Krantz--Flint Police Department April 24, 1951.
  Deputy James W. Cranston--Genesee County Sheriff Department July 26, 
1945.
  Patrolman Gerald Leach--Flint Police Department September 21, 1940.
  Patrolman John Wopinski--Flint Police Department August 9, 1932.
  Detective Matthew Hauer--Flint Police Department April 18, 1924.
  Patrolman Avera M. Hudson--Flint Police Department June 28, 1924.
  In addition to the memorial to slain Peace Officers a monument to 
police dogs that have been killed in the line of duty will be unveiled 
at this year's ceremony. The names of the canines and their handlers 
are: Aiko--Handler--Trooper Joel Service, Symmon--Handler--Sgt. 
Richard. E. King, Gillette--Handler--Officer Bruce Burton, Romel--
Handler--Sgt. Dan Spaniola, Charlie--Handler--Deputy Dale Glover, 
Major--Handler--Sgt. Jerry Wilhelm.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to please reflect on 
these individuals and their families and pay tribute to their ultimate 
sacrifice. We pay homage these slain officers and all peace officers 
everywhere that are asked to give so that the rest of us can live in a 
safer world.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution that pays honor to slain law enforcement officials.
  Law enforcement officers place themselves in harms way every day to 
protect all Americans. Despite these inherent risks, peace officers go 
out and make our streets, our businesses, and our country safe.
  It takes a special person to respond to this call to duty. It takes 
someone with courage, honor, bravery, integrity, a sense of community, 
and concern for their fellow man.
  Today we come together to honor the memories of those men and women 
who have fallen while in the line of duty. We gather to remember and 
honor the memory of those law enforcement agents who made the ultimate 
sacrifice.
  There is no greater sacrifice than to lay down your life for your 
fellow man.
  Their sacrifices came while these brave individuals were doing their 
duty of protecting us, fighting crime, and making our community a 
better place.
  While today we honor the memories of those persons who have passed 
away, we must remember and never forget their sacrifice. The duty they 
felt will always be felt in our hearts, and will be carried on by their 
fellow officers, friends and family.
  Our hearts go out to the family, friends, and colleagues that have 
had to say good bye to a loved one. We are indebted to every spouse, 
every child, every parent, sister, brother, grandchild, aunt, uncle, 
and every friend of all those whom we come here to honor today. We pay 
tribute not only to those who have died, but to those who have lost 
them, to their survivors. And we pay tribute to the more than half 
million law enforcement officers who continue to go to work every day, 
not knowing for sure if on that day they will be required to make the 
ultimate sacrifice.
  Today, I would say that, more than anything else, we ought to 
rededicate ourselves to becoming a country worthy of the heroes we come 
here to honor. Every day, law enforcement officers take the oath to 
uphold the law and defend citizens. Danger is a constant companion; 
still, law enforcement officers go out every day carrying the badge 
that symbolizes their commitment.
  The job of law enforcement is so dangerous today not only because 
criminals are better armed, but because our society is too often coming 
apart when it ought to be coming together.
  And so today we must dedicate ourselves--all of us--to making America 
worthy of the sacrifice of the law enforcement officials who have 
fallen, and those who still risk their lives every day. I ask today 
that we remember the law enforcement officers and their families who 
paid the ultimate sacrifice.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the men and women of 
law enforcement who made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting our civil 
society.
  Yesterday, I joined the families and colleagues of Officers 
Christopher Eney and Jacob Chestnut and Detective John Gibson in 
dedicating the Capitol Police Headquarters in their honor. Their 
deaths, as tragic as they were, are only three of more than 15,000 men 
and women who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
  Thousands of law enforcement officers are converging on Washington 
for the Annual National Law Enforcement Week. This year, the names of 
Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson will be read at the Candlelight 
Vigil along with the names of 156 other officers from around the 
Nation. The names of those 158 officers will forever be remembered on 
the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
  Whether in the Capitol Building, on the highway, or in our 
neighborhoods, these men and women put on a badge and strapped on a 
gun, knowing that they risked their lives. No one escapes death. That 
is a fact that we have known since a young age. Our lives are precious, 
and a gift that is to be cherished and celebrated to its fullest. Yet, 
putting duty to their profession ahead of boundless risks, these 
officers forfeited that gift for what they believed in.
  For the 158 officers who lost their lives in 1998, their tragic 
deaths came too soon and without reasonable cause. In an instant, the 
families and colleagues of these officers had someone they loved and 
cared for taken away from them. And in an instant, we lost a dedicated 
and committed community servant.
  Abraham Lincoln once stated that ``Those brave men who here gave 
their lives that that Nation might live.'' The fallen men and women 
that we honor today gave their lives upholding the laws vital to 
maintaining our democratic form of government. Just as President 
Lincoln honored the fallen heroes of a war between brothers, we honor 
the brave husbands, wives, fathers and mothers from departments across 
the country that sacrificed their lives, enforcing the laws of rural 
towns and urban cities across America.
  God bless our fallen officers.
  Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Police Week 
to pay tribute to the men and women who serve as Law Enforcement 
officers across the United States. This includes police officers, 
sheriff's deputies, correctional officers, parole and probation agents, 
and pretrial services officers.
  Police officers are on the front lines everyday protecting our 
streets, communities, and neighborhoods. So often we overlook the

[[Page H2954]]

many duties that police officers perform on a daily basis.
  Crime statistics nationwide have shown a dramatic decrease over the 
past 3 years in homicides, violent crimes, and property crimes. But, 
until those statistics become nonexistent, we need to support our law 
enforcement officials at every level of government.
  On a federal level, we need to give local law enforcement the support 
they need to be successful and safe. Programs like the Bulletproof Vest 
Initiative, has given rural communities the chance to quality for 
grants to increase officer safety. Advancements in the Criminal Justice 
Information Network have given local agencies the ability to better 
communicate and exchange critical information.
  Mr. Speaker, we will also be celebrating Peace Officers Memorial Day 
this week. Two communities in my district in North Carolina have been 
leaders in paying tribute to fallen officers. Ann Cannon led the effort 
in my hometown, Concord, N.C., to erect a memorial in the center of 
town. Even today, citizens in Albermarle, N.C., are dedicating a 
memorial to their fallen officers.
  I want to highlight the efforts of one local sheriff in my district. 
Sheriff Tony Frick, of Stanly County, is looking inward to community 
members to help solve crime problems. Stanly County residents are 
sponsoring the Save our Sheriff (S.O.S.) Walk-a-thon in support of the 
Sheriff's Department and updating obsolete equipment.
  I would remiss if I did not mention the families of those we 
recognize today. The families of our peace officers deserve our 
admiration for their steadfast support of those selfless citizens who 
willingly make the necessary sacrifices to preserve public safety.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, President John F. Kennedy once 
remarked, ``A man does what he must--in spite of personal consequences, 
in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures--and that is the basis 
of all human morality.'' These slain officers truly uphold this lofty 
standard. As responsible defenders of our country, they protected our 
citizens from mortal danger, and it cost them their very lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this House Resolution. This bill 
expresses the sense of the House that law enforcement officers killed 
in the line of duty should be honored, their dedication and sacrifice 
recognized and their service to the nation remembered.
  Today, I would like to acknowledge the courage and dedication that 
these slain officers exemplified in their careers. The resolution 
before us seeks to honors the memories of these brave men who served 
their country with the utmost dignity.
  Whenever an officer is killed in the line of duty the pall of sorrow 
falls upon our great Nation. We all pause today to remember our heroes 
whose lives were prematurely ended. In 1997, some 159-law enforcement 
officers died in the line of duty.
  Mr. Speaker, it is fitting that as we pause today to remember our 
nation's fallen officers, that we remember the two Capitol Hill Police 
officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. Officer Chestnut and 
Officer Gibson protected the very core of our American society, our 
belief in the preservation of life. I am also honored that the names of 
Officer Chestnut and Gibson will be associated with the building, which 
houses the Capitol Hill Police. This small gesture will ensure that we 
remember their selfless acts of valor.
  I offer my utmost sympathy to the families and friends of our fallen 
heroes who will gather in Washington on May 15, 1999 to honor the 
memories of their loved ones. Given their loss, I feel that we must 
ensure the memory of the courage displayed by these fallen officers by 
supporting this House resolution.
  Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the 
resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, House Resolution 165.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________