[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 76 (Tuesday, June 11, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H3311-H3314]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMEMORATING AND ACKNOWLEDGING DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE MADE BY MEN
AND WOMEN KILLED OR DISABLED WHILE SERVING AS PEACE OFFICERS
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 406) commemorating and
acknowledging the dedication and sacrifice made by the men and women
killed or disabled while serving as peace officers, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 406
Whereas the well-being of all people of the United States
is preserved and enhanced as a direct result of the vigilance
and dedication of law enforcement personnel;
Whereas more than 700,000 law enforcement personnel, at
great risk to their personal safety, serve their fellow
citizens as guardians of peace;
Whereas peace officers are on the front line in preserving
the right of the children of the United States to receive an
education in a crime-free environment, a right that is all
too often threatened by the insidious fear caused by violence
in schools;
Whereas 70 peace officers died at the World Trade Center in
New York City on September 11, 2001, the most peace officers
ever killed in a single incident in the history of the
Nation;
Whereas more than 220 peace officers across the Nation were
killed in the line of duty during 2001, which represents 57
percent more police fatalities than the previous year and
makes 2001 the deadliest year for the law enforcement
community since 1974;
Whereas every year, 1 out of every 9 peace officers is
assaulted, 1 out of every 25 peace officers is injured, and 1
out of every 4,400 peace officers is killed in the line of
duty;
Whereas section 136 of title 36, United States Code,
requests that the President issue each year a proclamation
designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day in honor of
Federal, State, and local officers killed or disabled in the
line of duty; and
Whereas on May 15, 2002, more than 15,000 peace officers
are expected to gather in Washington, D.C. to join with the
families of their recently fallen comrades to honor those
comrades and all others who went before them: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the House--
(1) honors Federal, State, and local peace officers killed
or disabled in the line of duty;
(2) supports the goals and ideals of Peace Officers
Memorial Day; and
(3) calls upon the people of the United States to observe
such a day with appropriate ceremonies and respect.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Davis) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann
Davis).
General Leave
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that
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all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and
extend their remarks on H. Res. 406.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the House consider House Resolution
406, important legislation introduced by my distinguished colleague,
the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley). This resolution honors those
peace officers who have been disabled or killed in the line of duty,
and it supports the goals and ideal of Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Mr. Speaker, engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers
Memorial in Washington, D.C., is a verse from Proverbs 28:1: ``The
wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are as bold as a
lion.'' Today, over 740,000 sworn law enforcement personnel, which is
the highest figure ever, live by that quotation from Proverbs. These
740,000 men and women serve their communities and Nation as guardians
of peace, often at great risk to their personal safety.
The year 2001 was one of the deadliest years on record for law
enforcement in the United States. The deaths occurred in a wide variety
of circumstances, demonstrating that, no matter how routine an
assignment might seem, a police officer's life may be at risk.
The National Law Enforcement Memorial tells the story of those slain
in the line of duty.
The first fatality of 2001 occurred shortly after midnight on January
1 when Tennessee State Trooper John Mann was struck and killed while
struggling with a carjacker along an interstate highway.
On September 11, 2001, more law enforcement officers were killed in a
single incident than ever before in American history when 70 law
enforcement officers died at the World Trade Center in New York City.
The last law enforcement fatality in 2001 occurred on December 29 in
Horry County, South Carolina. Lieutenant Randy Gerald of the Horry
County Sheriff's Office stopped on his way home from work to assist a
woman who was being assaulted at a rest stop. As he pulled up, the
assailant walked over to Lieutenant Gerald's vehicle and shot him three
times.
Congress has recognized May 15 as the day on which all Americans
should honor the dedicated men and women of law enforcement. On May 15,
2002, over 15,000 law enforcement officers gathered here in our
Nation's capital to join with the families of their recently fallen
comrades to honor them and all others who went before them.
We keep in our prayers those whose loved ones have fallen while
serving as law enforcement officers. We keep in our prayers and thank
those who work as law enforcement officers today.
The National Law Enforcement Memorial has an engraved quote by the
Roman orator and great public official, Tacitus: ``In valor . . . there
is hope.''
Mr. Speaker, those who work in law enforcement, and especially those
who have sacrificed their lives, prove the truth of those words. We
thank them for that.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
might consume.
Mr. Speaker, the first recorded law enforcement fatality in the
performance of duty occurred on May 17, 1792. The officer's name was
Isaac Smith, a sheriff's deputy in New York City, who was shot to death
while attempting to make an arrest. Since that time, more than 15,000
other officers have been killed in the line of duty; and today, roughly
740,000 officers continue to put their lives on the line for the
safety, welfare, and protection of others.
May 15 is Peace Officers Memorial Day, and it is fitting that this
resolution honoring the men and women of this country who were killed
or disabled while serving as law enforcement officers be brought before
this body.
September 11, 2001, provided a somber perspective of the importance
of Peace Officers Memorial Day. In addition to the 70 law enforcement
officers who died at the World Trade Center, another 158 officers died
in the line of duty last year. Those 228 deaths represent the sixth
deadliest year in law enforcement history in this country.
The first fatality of 2001 occurred shortly after midnight on January
1, when Tennessee State Trooper John Mann was struck and killed while
struggling with a carjacker along an interstate highway.
The 228th law enforcement fatality occurred on December 29 when
Lieutenant Randy Gerald, a South Carolina sheriff, stopped on his way
home from work to assist a woman who was being assaulted at a rest
stop. As he pulled up, the assailant walked over to Lieutenant Gerald
and shot him three times.
These incidents, and countless others, bring to the forefront the
sacrifice, acts of heroism and valor that police officers across the
Nation perform every day. Their bravery and commitment to the job
deserves to be remembered and revered, for it is obviously true that no
greater gift can one give than to use his or her life for the safety
and protection of others.
I would urge all Members to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he
may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley), and I would
like to thank him for introducing this important piece of legislation.
Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs.
Jo Ann Davis) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for their
support of this resolution. How could we not support this kind of a
resolution? Where would our society be without those people who are
willing to lay their lives on the line for us every day out there in
the trenches of the front line?
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the peace officers from around the
country, those who came to Washington last month to commemorate the
deaths of over 230 peace officers last year and, particularly, to honor
the memory of those 230 peace officers who gave their lives last year.
Today, we pay tribute to the commitment, the sacrifice and public
safety services peace officers have provided on a daily basis and
continue to do so.
As we all know, September 11 stands out as one of the most tragic
days in American history. That fateful Tuesday we lost 72 police
officers, the largest single loss of law enforcement personnel in a
single day in the history of our country.
While September 11 offered an extreme glimpse of law enforcement
service and sacrifice, similar acts of heroism and valor are performed
every day by police officers across our Nation; and the two speakers
that preceded me illustrated some of those just in this 1 year, leading
up to this day, less than a year, those who have died and lost their
lives and given of themselves.
In addition to the 72 officers that died on September 11, another 158
officers died in the line of duty last year; and these 230 deaths
represent the sixth deadliest year in law enforcement history, as has
already been said.
Peace officers in every community have an admirable record of service
and sacrifice; yet too many Americans lack a true understanding and
appreciation of law enforcement's worth. That is why I worked 2 years
ago to help establish the National Law Enforcement Museum in
Washington, D.C.; and once construction is completed, the museum will
highlight the proud history of the law enforcement profession and
educate the people about the dangers and the importance of this job.
Unlike any other job, peace officers face unprecedented risks while
bravely protecting our communities and our freedoms. I hope my
colleagues will join with me today in paying tribute to our Nation's
fallen officers and expressing our gratitude for the work that these
men and women do day in and day out. While we are awake, while we are
asleep, they are out there on the job.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such
time as he might consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner).
Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Davis) for yielding me the time.
I thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) for introducing this
very
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important resolution. I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo
Ann Davis) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for their
eloquent statements on behalf of law enforcement officers and how much
they mean to our Nation.
I rise today, though, to point out an irony and hope to get support
from my colleagues for law enforcement officers in our Federal
agencies.
I hope that those who are on the floor today know that there are law
enforcement officers throughout the Federal Government who protect us
day and night. They may be in INS. They may be in U.S. Customs. They
may be postal police. They may be police officers for the Veterans
Administration. They work to protect our airports, the Library of
Congress, the Supreme Court. They are members of the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms.
These are law enforcement officers who do not have law enforcement
status in terms of their pay and their retirement benefits. Mr.
Speaker, these are people who are trained to carry a weapon. They wear
bulletproof vests. They have a badge. They face the risk every day that
police officers in our cities and States have to face.
I have watched mainly the inspectors at the U.S.-Mexico border in the
district I represent in San Diego. I have watched members of the INS
and U.S. Customs literally face death in confrontations with those who
are trying to cross the border illegally or those who are trying to
bring drugs and probably at some future point with terrorists; and yet
I say again they are trained as law enforcement officers. They have the
risk of law enforcement officers, but they do not have the status of
law enforcement officers. That means that they do not get either the
pay or the retirement benefits of those who are so classified.
{time} 1515
Mr. Speaker, we talk today about honoring our law enforcement
officers, and how their names are engraved at the National Law
Enforcement Memorial several blocks away. It is ironic that some of
these people that I refer to in the Department of Customs or INS, their
names are engraved on the Law Enforcement Memorial, and they are
recognized as law enforcement officers when they died, but we do not
recognize them as such when they are living when we should pay
recognition to them.
I hope those who are honoring our law enforcement officers today will
look at H.R. 1841, the Law Enforcement Equity Act. It has over 180
sponsors, Democrat and Republican, from all across the country. I think
it is time as we think today of our peace officers and law enforcement
officers all over this Nation who have died in the line of duty, as we
recall September 11 and the bravery of our peace officers there, I
think it is time to say to our officers throughout the Federal
Government, let us recognize them, too. Let us classify, and take the
training that they have been given and the risks that they face, and
give them the status that they deserve. I hope as we all vote for this
resolution on the floor, we will think about H.R. 1841, the Law
Enforcement Equity Act, and move forward in those situations also.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, over 14,500 Federal, State, and local law enforcement
officers have been killed in the line of duty since 1900. It is
appropriate that the House and the people of the United States
recognize the men and women who work as law enforcement officers.
There are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and
sisters, friends and neighbors, and they deserve this recognition. I
urge all Members to support this resolution, as amended.
Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House
Resolution 406 offered by the gentleman of Colorado, Mr. Hefley.
Today, we honor some of our nation's most courageous citizens: local
law enforcement officers. On September 11, 2001, many New York officers
risked their lives to come to the rescue of those in crisis as the
World Trade Towers came crashing down. And tragically, many of these
courageous men and women perished.
In the nine months since September 11, the world watched the United
States recover. The remains of the World Trade Center have been cleared
away, but the memory of tremendous heroism remained in the trying days,
weeks, and months that followed. Our nation will never forget the brave
law enforcement officers who selflessly answered the call to duty on
that dark September day.
Today, we honor law enforcement for their committed response to the
September 11 terrorist attacks, but we also give tribute to our local
officers for the important work and sacrifice they offer each and every
day. In cities, towns and villages throughout our great nation, they
protect Americans from violence and fight crime in our streets and
schools. We depend on our community's law enforcement, not just times
of great tragedy, but in our daily lives.
I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution and
encourage all Americans to respect and honor the remarkable
contributions of local law enforcement. They make our nation strong and
proud.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, colleagues, and Representative Joel Hefley
of Colorado for introducing House Resolution 406 to the floor.
It is important that Congress, as well as all Americans' realize how
much dedication peace keeping officers have. In the great tragedy of
September 11th, 70 peace keeping officers made the ultimate sacrifice
in the line of duty. This does not stop there however, this year there
was a 57 percent rise in police fatalities than the previous year. The
risks which these officers take every day is considerably great. House
Resolution 406 it will allow Congress to recognize all of the
sacrifices which these people have made while serving as Peace
Officers.
It is important to realize that these dedicated officers are here for
us. The amount of negativity which has to be put up with on a day to
day basis is above and beyond what any person should be expected to
deal with. Every day that they leave for work their lives are in
danger. If 1 out of every 4,400 peace officers is killed in the line of
duty that is sadly a high rate. In 2001 there was a rise in deaths by
over one and a half times that of the previous year. This makes 2001
the most fatal year for police fatalities since 1974. The last that
their government could do, would be to recognize and acknowledge the
sacrifice these people make.
House Resolution 406 does just that. This bill will honor all
Federal, State, and local peace officers who have been killed or
disabled in the line of duty. It will support all of the goals and
ideals of Peace Officers Memorial Day. Finally it calls upon all
Americans to observe such a day with appropriate ceremonies and
respect.
Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 406 to
commemorate and acknowledge the dedication and sacrifices made by the
men and women killed or disabled while serving as Peace Officers.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Americans have been called
upon as a nation to show courage. The Peace Officers are protecting our
daily freedoms. Law enforcement is the front line protector of freedom.
In an unpredictable and constantly changing world, where communities
and families expect safety and security, Peace Officers continually
strive to be the best law enforcement officers recognized for their
responsiveness and integrity. These Peace Officers put their lives on
the line everyday for their communities with courage and honor.
Courage is the feeling of one's own power when summoned to duty.
Courage comes not from facing the everyday but from standing fast
against uncertainty. Courage is not inherited and not a matter of
biological chance.
We may never understand the grief that the family suffers with the
loss of a Peace Officer. However, those of us left behind recognize
that these officers did not die in vain. We owe a debt to those who
have given their lives, and the peace officers of this country want
this memory to stay fresh in the minds of the citizens.
Therefore, I rise to lend my support and urge the establishment of a
Peace Officers Memorial Day in honor of Federal, State, and local peace
officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. They must never be
forgotten, and we will remember their courage and duty.
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance
of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Dan Miller of Florida). The question is
on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann
Davis) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H.
Res. 406, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was
agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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