[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 11, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H2968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to fallen peace 
officers in California and all across this Nation. This week is Peace 
Officers Memorial Week, when Congress and the American people will 
honor our fallen officers. Law enforcement officers will come from all 
over the country to pay their respects at the National Law Enforcements 
Officer's Memorial. The memorial honors all of America's Federal, State 
and local law enforcers. Inscribed on its marble walls are the names of 
more than 14,000 officers who have been killed in the line of adult. 
Tragically, this week more names will be added to that list.
  Mr. Speaker, each day our Nation's officers are faced with rigors and 
risks that most of us could never even imagine. Sometimes these risks 
result in tragedy. We must provide law enforcement with our strongest 
level of support.
  Sadly, this year the State of California lost 17 brave law 
enforcement officers. These officers died while serving the people of 
my State. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to their 
families and to their loved ones. In particular, I want to single out 
two brave officers from the central coast of California, Britt Irvine 
and Rick Stovall. These two California Highway Patrol officers made the 
ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of public safety. They gave their 
lives while responding to an emergency call to assist a stranded truck 
driver on a local road during El Nino storms. They leave behind loving 
families, friends and coworkers. Officers Stovall and Irvine are our 
heroes as are all the fallen police officers in California and all 
across this Nation. We are forever indebted to them.
  Inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Memorial are these words 
that give us comfort at this solemn time:
  In valor there is hope.

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