[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 68 (Thursday, May 17, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E837]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           FALLEN HERO SURVIVOR BENEFIT FAIRNESS ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 15, 2001

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1727, the 
Fallen Hero Survivor Benefit Fairness Act. This bill would allow a 
necessary extension of tax free benefits to the survivors of law 
enforcement and public safety officers killed in the line of duty 
before December 31, 1996. This bill provides all families of deceased 
public safety officers the opportunity to receive an exclusion from the 
income accumulated from any survivor annuity granted on account of the 
death of a public safety officer killed in the line of duty. This 
legislation will help the families who have endured the loss of their 
safety officer family member.
  Currently, 1.2 million men and women serve as firefighters or 
emergency medical technicians. Every year, our country can expect to 
lose over 100 men and women who bravely provide our communities with 
these essential public safety services. In 1999, the strong line held 
by our police and law enforcement agencies thinned by 134 officers 
killed in the line of duty. Many of these individuals left behind 
mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters, wives, husbands, sons and 
daughters to carry out legacies and lives without their beloved peace 
officers and safety officials. The families of our deceased public 
safety officers deserve to continue their lives as free from 
unnecessary obligation as possible.
  Law enforcement officers, their family and friends living in my 
district of El Paso, Texas will soon hold the El Paso Police Memorial 
Service in remembrance of police officers killed in the line of duty. 
This service will be held tomorrow, and will honor officers who have 
served El Paso and El Paso County from the late 19th century to the 
present. Officers of all description will be honored, such as Detective 
Charles Heinrich who died from a gunshot would to the head in 1985, two 
years after being shot by a perpetrator; Detective Norman Montion who 
was killed during a massive gunfight in October of 1989; and Officer 
Ernesto Serna, a Persian Gulf war veteran working off duty security who 
was fatally shot in November of 1991. They all served proudly and 
honorably in the face of danger. With the passage of this bill, their 
families may enjoy compensation without burdensome taxation.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1727 allows our country to lend assistance to 
families who have faced loss for the sake of public safety. We should 
approve this legislation as a tribute to the service of public safety 
officers, the lives that they save and protect, and the families who 
survive them.

                          ____________________