[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 68 (Thursday, May 17, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E819]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E819]]



           FALLEN HERO SURVIVOR BENEFIT FAIRNESS ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. JACK QUINN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 15, 2001

  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1727, the 
Fallen Hero Survivor Benefit Act.
  Under the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, survivor benefits are paid to 
the spouse and children of a slain public safety officer only if the 
officer was killed on or before December 31, 1996. H.R. 1727 would 
extend the inclusion to survivor benefits regardless of when the 
officer died. It will provide $46 million in tax relief over 10 years 
to the families of officers killed in the line of duty.
  On average, one law enforcement officer is killed every 57 hours. 
Since 1991, there have been 1,555 federal, state and local law 
enforcement fatalities, 72 percent of those officers killed were 
married. For every officer killed, 1.85 children lost a parent.
  Two police officers from my district of Buffalo, New York were killed 
in two years while honoring their duties. Officer Robert M. McClennan 
was hit by a car and killed while in pursuit of a suspect. Officer 
Charles ``Skip'' McDougal was off duty when he was brutally gunned down 
on the East Side of Buffalo. He left behind a wife and children. Too 
many families are left in this dire situation with out the help they 
need.
  While we cannot possibly remedy the emotional suffering these 
families have endured, we can help alleviate some of the financial 
hardship by passing this important legislation.

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