[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 159 (Friday, November 16, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING OUR CAPITOL POLICE AND ALL THE CAPITOL HILL WORKERS

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 16, 2001

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a brief moment of our 
time today to give my hearty thanks to the U.S. Capitol Police and all 
the other people who work with us and protect us day in and day out.
  Since the tragic events of September 11th, the U.S. Capitol has been 
the center of threats both physical and biological. Our Capitol Police 
have seen their overtime and workloads grow two and three times what 
they were before the tragedy. We depend now more then ever on their 
hard work and commitment to our safety.
  But this pace is overwhelming and could, in time, seriously damage 
moral. As a former fighter pilot, I am well aware of the impact the 
increased operations tempo during the 1990's had on the U.S. military. 
Repeatedly, our nation's military men and women were asked to serve 
longer and longer tours away from their families. This continued 
pressure led to record retirements and gaps in manpower that we are 
still working to replace today.
  Our Capitol Police are now facing similar demands. While we work to 
give them the tools and resources they need, we should take a moment to 
give them our thanks for their commitment to protecting the people who 
visit and work on Capitol Hill.
  However, it isn't just the Capitol Police who are looking out for us. 
All over Capitol Hill there are people working for us everyday. From 
our personal office staff to committee staffs, from the janitors, 
mailroom clerks, and parking security staff. All over Capitol Hill 
there are people who come to work everyday and face the threat of just 
working in the Capitol, but they face it bravely and stand defiantly to 
keep us running. I am reminded just how committed the people are each 
morning as I drive to work. As long as I have been here Tommy Maggio, a 
parking security officer in the Rayburn garage, always greets me with 
the same smile and commitment to duty. He had done this job for 29 
years regardless of the circumstances or threats facing Congress and 
America. All the people like Tommy keep Congress up and running. These 
hard working Americans will keep us moving forward through tragedy.

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