[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 137 (Friday, October 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1879]]
        IN HONOR OF SPECIAL AGENTS GIL AMOROSO AND EMIR BENITEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ERIC CANTOR

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 12, 2001

  Mr. CANTOR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to Special Agent 
Gil Amoroso and Special Agent Emir Benitez.
  Agent Amoroso provided a great service for Richmond, Virginia, during 
his time with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
  Agent Benitez served America's communities, as well, through the DEA, 
sacrificing his life on duty.
  These two individuals greatly sacrificed to help fight America's war 
on drugs.
  The DEA is an essential law-enforcement agency, contributing to the 
safety and well-being of our schools, our playgrounds, and the streets 
in our communities.
  Each of us can recall an individual, either an acquaintance or a 
public figure, whose life has been ravaged by drugs.
  In America, drugs have become a very destructive force affecting our 
children.
  Now, each of us who is a parent knows the importance of sitting down 
with our children and warning them about the danger of drugs.
  But men and women, like Amoroso and Benitez, who serve in the DEA, 
help our nation to curb the drug problem at its source. They work to 
keep illegal substances out of our country and investigate the culprits 
who are making illegal drugs available to our children, our 
communities, and even our workplaces.
  In addition to their personal efforts to curb drug offenses, Amoroso 
and Benitez have left a legacy. They both have family members who fight 
the war on drugs today in Richmond.
  Drug enforcement efforts have heightened in importance in the wake of 
the September 11 terrorist attacks in Washington and New York.
  As confirmed by DEA Administrator Hutchinson, there is a lot of 
evidence to suggest that the ruling Taliban regime in Afghanistan 
receives financial benefit from the drug trade. This fuels the 
terrorist attacks on the civilized world. DEA efforts to target 
international drug trafficking are critical to America's war against 
terrorism.
  The fight against drugs is essential to the security of our homes and 
of our country.
  Thank you for your service.
  Thank you, Mrs. Amoroso and Mrs. LaRosa, for your ongoing efforts on 
behalf of our country.
  May God continue to bless America.

                          ____________________