[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 16, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4005-S4006]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             LAW ENFORCEMENT SURVIVORS' EDUCATION BENEFITS

  Mr. ASHCROFT. Mr. President, I rise today to speak in tribute to all 
the men and women in law enforcement in this country. This week, May 
14-20, is National Police Week, set aside to honor the men and women 
behind the badge. In 1962, Congress passed and President Kennedy signed 
a joint resolution proclaiming May 15 of each year as Peace Officers 
Memorial Day and the calendar week of each year during which such May 
15 occurs as Police Week, ``in recognition of the service given by the 
men and women who, night and day, stand guard in our midst to protect 
us through enforcement of our laws,'' from Public Law 87-726.
  Sadly, between 140 and 160 law enforcement officers die in the line 
of duty each year. On average, 21,433 officers are injured in the line 
of duty each year.
  In honor of the thousands of officers who have given their lives to 
protect the people of this Nation, I am pleased to announce an 
important step that the Senate took yesterday in furtherance of a much 
needed change in the current federal law. Last September I introduced 
S. 1638, a bill to expand the educational opportunities under the 
Deegan program, named after slain Federal officer Bill Deegan, for the 
families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. This 
bill honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defending our 
communities by making available Federal funds to those officers' 
spouses and dependent children in order to pursue secondary education.
  Yesterday, on National Peace Officers Memorial Day, the Senate 
unanimously passed S. 1638. I want to thank

[[Page S4006]]

the Senate for taking this action, and urge the House to do the same.
  I want to thank the co-sponsors of this bill--Senators Collins, 
Grams, Robb, Tim Hutchinson, Dodd, Abraham, Specter, Bryan, Gregg, 
Helms, and Biden. I am very pleased by the bipartisan support for the 
bill, and for the endorsements of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers 
Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriffs' 
Association and other law enforcement organizations.
  This bill extends retroactively the benefits created under the 1992 
law to the surviving spouses and dependent children of law enforcement 
officials who were killed between 1978 and the current start dates of 
the program.
  It is important to extend these benefits back to the year 1978 
because under the existing program, a large number of dependent 
children currently between the ages 8 and 21, those born between 1978 
and 1992, are excluded from participating in the program merely because 
their parent was killed before 1992. Pushing back the date allows these 
dependent children, currently facing the prospect of paying for 
secondary education in the often financially strained environment of a 
single-parent family, also to benefit from this program.
  This goal is consistent with the intent of the original law: an 
effort to show our gratitude to the maximum number of dependent 
children of slain law enforcement officers.
  This provision affects the families of an estimated 4,100 officers, 
including more than 60 in Missouri. The bill makes these spouses and 
dependent children eligible for up to $5820 a year for 4 years if they 
enroll in full-time study at an approved secondary school. In short, it 
helps the loved ones of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in 
defending the rest of us by allowing them to pursue their dreams to 
move forward with their lives and continue their education.
  On this occasion, I also want to thank a very important organization 
headquartered in Camdenton, MO--the Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. 
[COPS]. COPS was organized in 1984 with 110 members. Today COPS' 
membership is over 10,000 families. Concerns of Police Survivors, 
provides resources to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of 
surviving families of slain law enforcement officers.
  Furthermore, COPS provides training to law enforcement agencies on 
survivor victimization issues and educates the public of the need to 
support the law enforcement profession and its survivors.
  To help those families begin rebuilding their shattered lives, COPS 
is again hosting the National Police Survivors' Seminars as part of 
National Police Week--the second day of this seminar is occurring today 
in Alexandria, VA. For 15 years, COPS' National Police Survivors' 
Seminars have provided survivors of law enforcement officers killed in 
the line of duty the opportunity to interact with other survivors and 
have access to some of the best mental health professionals available. 
I wish to thank COPS for the many programs that they operate in 
addition to the Police Survivors' Seminars, including scholarships, 
peer-support at the national, State, and local levels, ``C.O.P.S. 
Kids'' counseling programs, the ``C.O.P.S. Kids'' Summer Camp, Parents' 
Retreats, trial and parole support, and other assistance programs.
  We owe a debt of gratitude to the hundreds of thousands of police 
officers who protect the lives and property of their fellow Americans. 
By the enforcement of our laws, these same officers have given our 
country internal freedom from fear and are responsible for helping our 
nation lower its crime rates again this year. These men and women, by 
their patriotic service and their dedicated efforts, have earned the 
gratitude of us all.
  Officers who give their lives to protect our freedom leave behind 
families that must cope with the terrible loss. When this tragedy 
occurs, we have an obligation to help the spouses and children of 
fallen heroes. One way to help is to offer the opportunity to pursue 
their education. I thank the Senate for supporting this bill, and urge 
the House of Representatives to pass this legislation quickly.

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