[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 67 (Thursday, May 13, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H3009-H3011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    TRIBUTE TO POLICE OFFICERS DURING NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Chocola). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 7, 2003, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak) is 
recognized for 60 minutes.
  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to address a couple of issues 
tonight, but first would like to start with National Law Enforcement 
Week. This week Congress has paid tribute to our law enforcement 
officers and first responders who so bravely protect and serve, often 
putting their own lives at risk. On September 11, 2001, many in this 
Nation and this Congress have come to recognize the importance of the 
sacrifices made by our law enforcement officers. As a former police 
officer and a Michigan State Police trooper as well as founder of the 
Law Enforcement Caucus and cochair of this caucus, this week has 
significant meaning to me. The focus of this important week will take 
place tonight at 8 o'clock, actually right about now, when this Nation 
pauses to add the names of the officers who have been killed in the 
line of duty. The addition of the officers' names to the memorial is 
one way our Nation can commemorate its fallen heroes who have died in 
the line of duty. This week allows peace officers and their families to 
gather together in one place and to honor those who have lost their 
lives.
  According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 
more than 16,000 Federal, State and local law enforcement men and women 
in the United States have been killed in the line of duty. In 2003, 
this past year, there have been 145 fallen officers and unfortunately 
in 2004, 53 officers have already died. The kind of sacrifice made by 
our law enforcement officers was all too clearly demonstrated in 
Detroit, Michigan, this year. Jennifer Fettig, a 26-year-old Detroit 
police officer, and her 21-year-old partner, Matthew Bowens, were 
killed during a routine traffic stop. For me, this terrible tragedy 
came close to home. Jennifer grew up in my district, in the Petosky 
area, and I have met with her family. This tragic killing illustrates 
the dangers our law enforcement officers face, not only during crisis 
situations but while performing routine duties.
  That is why it is especially important this special week that we not 
only recognize the dedication of those officers but also commit to 
providing our law enforcement officers the resources they need to meet 
the daily challenges of their jobs, particularly at a time when we 
place greater demands upon them to fight and prevent terrorism here and 
in America.
  As a Nation we can provide these resources only by fully funding 
important law enforcement programs that allow our local agencies to buy 
essential protective gear, hire the officers they need and obtain the 
resources they need to make themselves and our communities safe.
  Congress can provide these resources through grants, especially the 
Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS, and its universal hiring 
program. This program was so successful that it helped put 100,000 
police officers on the street under President Clinton. It is critical 
that Congress continue to fully fund this program. Unfortunately, 
President Bush's budget devastates the COPS program, providing only $97 
million, a $659 million cut below last year's level. That is a more 
than 75 percent cut in this amount.
  The President's budget also zeroes out the Edward Byrne Memorial 
State grant program. This program provides funding for 19 different 
programs, from counterdrug initiatives in rural communities to 
providing jailers for the local jail inmates.
  The budget also eliminates local law enforcement block grants which 
provide direct grants to local agencies for hiring and training of new 
officers and vital crime fighting initiatives.
  The President's budget cuts are simply unacceptable. It is my hope 
that Congress restores the cuts that the President has proposed in 
these valuable law enforcement programs.
  Congress also needs to provide assistance to help regional law 
enforcement and first responders talk to each other in times of 
emergency. Police officers right now with their radios cannot talk to 
each other. They do not have what we call interoperability. My bill, 
H.R. 3370, the Public Safety Interoperability Act, would provide grants 
to local law enforcement agencies to modernize their communication 
systems and become interoperable. Interoperability of an officer's 
communications system would allow different public safety agencies in 
different jurisdictions to communicate with each other in times of 
crisis.
  Currently, firefighters and law enforcement officials may not be able 
to communicate with each other even if they work in the same 
jurisdiction. The tragic events of September 11 illustrate why it is so 
important that our law enforcement officers are fully interoperable. 
Three hundred forty-three firefighters and 72 law enforcement officers 
lost their lives in the World Trade Center on September 11. When our 
first responders are confronted with an emergency situation, it is 
absolutely necessary that they are

[[Page H3010]]

able to communicate with one another so they can fully assess the 
situation and determine how best to handle it. These are the kind of 
resources and tools our responders need.
  Unfortunately on September 11 as one of the World Trade Centers 
collapsed, firefighters were stuck in the other World Trade Center and 
they had no way to tell them to exit the building because it was 
collapsing. Many of these firefighters did not have to die if they only 
would have had equipment, radios, that they could talk to each other. 
We need to do everything possible to ensure that our law enforcement 
officers that play an integral role in our Nation's antiterrorism 
efforts are fully interoperable.
  I am also very concerned about the homeland security funding needs of 
our local agencies. The question I am often asked back home in northern 
Michigan is where is the funding? On January 22 of this year, the 
Conference of Mayors corroborated this sentiment when it released its 
second homeland security monitoring survey. According to this survey, 
76 percent of the cities have not received any money from the largest 
homeland security program designated to assist first responders such as 
firefighters and police officers. Changes are obviously needed in the 
capital outlay process so homeland security money can get to our first 
responders in an efficient and timely manner. We need also to make sure 
that our first responders are informed about this process so they can 
receive this crucial funding in a timely manner.
  Moreover, the State must have the ability to directly release funds 
to the locals instead of reimbursing them only after they have already 
spent the money. It really does not make sense that cities are required 
to pay up front for the costs of updating their emergency service and 
funding their homeland security needs and then hope to be reimbursed at 
a later date.
  Not only do we need to get money out to our first responders but we 
need to fully fund these programs. The State homeland security grant 
program was funded at $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2004 but 
unfortunately, once again, the President's budget request slashes the 
program to $700 million. That is more than a 50 percent cut. Overall, 
the President's budget would reduce first responder assistance by more 
than 14.5 percent from the original $4.18 billion that Congress 
appropriated in fiscal year 2004 to $3.75 billion in fiscal year 2005.
  We also need to ensure that programs like Thin Blue Line of Michigan 
are fully funded. The Thin Blue Line is a nonprofit, volunteer 
organization that assists and supports families of injured or deceased 
officers. The Thin Blue Line began in Michigan and is now beginning to 
expand throughout the Nation. Thin Blue Line volunteers assist families 
when applying for benefits, counseling, and answer their questions 
during the most difficult of circumstances. These officers have made 
the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty and their families deserve 
to be honored, respected, and supported in any way we can.
  I am hopeful that we can continue to show our commitment to law 
enforcement by supporting their important funding needs, including 
showing our full support for the National Law Enforcement Officers 
Memorial. It is the least we can do for those who put their lives on 
the line for us each and every day.
  The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) could not be here tonight 
because unfortunately he is at a memorial service for a State trooper 
who was just killed in Maryland. The gentleman from Maryland asked me 
to read his statement into the Record. At this time I will do so.
  ``The 958,000 Americans who make up the Nation's Federal, State and 
local police forces live the true meaning of duty, sacrifice and honor 
each day. They routinely put their lives on the line to enforce the 
laws that govern our society. Officers keep the streets safe, they 
pursue those who would steal from our homes and businesses and protect 
us from those who would prey on our children and our elderly.
  ``Tonight we especially remember Maryland State Trooper Anthony Jones 
who was killed this week while on duty assisting another trooper. 
Trooper First Class Jones every day exemplified the service and 
sacrifice that we honor this week. As the recipient of awards for his 
valor and bravery and as the anticipated recipient of the ``Top Cop'' 
award from the College Park Barracks this month, Trooper Jones 
demonstrated a commitment to public service and a sincere desire to 
protecting and serving our community.
  ``Trooper First Class Jones joined the State police after retiring 
from the United States Air Force in 1998. He spent his entire police 
career working as a road patrol trooper. He was on patrol duty early 
Sunday morning when he stopped shortly after 2 a.m. to assist another 
trooper working at the scene of a single-vehicle crash in Prince 
George's County.
  ``Investigators said Jones crossed the four-lane highway on foot to 
remove a tire that was part of the accident debris and was making his 
way back across the road, using a flashlight to warn oncoming traffic, 
when he was struck and killed.
  ``Every day, law enforcement officers like Trooper Jones risk their 
lives in dangerous situations on our highways and roads to protect the 
citizens who travel along our roadways. This week we join together in 
commemorating Trooper Jones and all of the law enforcement officers 
whose brave deeds led them to make the ultimate sacrifice, or left them 
disabled.
  ``Trooper Jones is the 39th Maryland trooper to die in the line of 
duty. This week we say a special prayer for the 145 Federal, State and 
local law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty just 
last year. The Joneses and all of the families and loved ones of fallen 
officers must know that a grateful Nation mourns their loss and shares 
their pain.
  ``As we pay tribute to law enforcement officials who have fallen in 
the line of duty, we especially honor Trooper First Class Jones. His 
service to our country and to his community will long be remembered 
with the utmost gratitude and respect.

                              {time}  2015

  ``Although we do not often thank them for it, officers like Trooper 
Jones help protect our most cherished rights as laid out by Thomas 
Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence: The right to life, 
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We owe these fine and 
hardworking people a great deal for their contribution to our freedom 
and security.
  ``The words of John F. Kennedy strike a cord this week,'' when he 
said, `` `a Nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but 
also by the men it honors and the men it remembers.' As these valiant 
men and women died because they made it their duty to protect and 
serve, it is our duty to honor and remember them for their selfless 
contribution to our communities.''
  That concludes the gentleman from Maryland's (Mr. Hoyer) statement.
  Mr. Speaker, while I have a little more time left, I want to talk 
about law enforcement. But this week, as was alluded to earlier by some 
other Special Orders and statements tonight, we had the prison abuse in 
Iraq, and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), majority leader, when 
asked if we could do some investigation, he responded by saying `` . . 
. a full-fledged congressional investigation, that's like saying we 
need an investigation every time there's police brutality on the 
street.'' So is the majority actually trying to imply that police 
brutality is common practice in our country and that reports of such 
abuse should not be investigated?
  I have a big problem with such an inference like that. As I said, I 
am a former police officer of 12 years, and I am highly offended by 
such an assault on our country's peace officers.
  Let me tell my colleagues what is going on here. The Republican 
leadership appear to have zero interest in getting to the bottom of 
this matter to determine the extent of the prison abuse in Iraq and who 
was involved, including contractors, military intelligence, military 
police, and higher-ups at the Pentagon who still refuse to take 
responsibility.
  Just today, the Washington Post reported there is an estimated tens 
of thousands of contractors in Iraq, which amounts to 10 percent of the 
total personnel there.
  As I said last week, once again I call on the House Committee on 
Government Reform to hold hearings into the

[[Page H3011]]

government-paid contractors in Iraq who may have played a role in the 
actions at Abu Ghraib prison. We have a crisis on our hands that needs 
accountability and leadership to fix it.
  The first thing President Bush should do is admit they made a mistake 
at the beginning of this war and apologize to the American people and 
the international community. This was simply a war of choice, not of 
necessity. Second, I believe the President needs to fully reach out to 
the international community to get them involved in the peacekeeping 
and rebuilding of Iraq and its new leadership so we can quickly bring 
our troops home. Third, we need to do more to protect our troops, 
provide them with the equipment they need and proper training and 
leadership.
  Instead, all we have seen has been finger-pointing and denial that 
anything is wrong, from the systemic prison abuse to the false 
information on the weapons of mass destruction that was used to declare 
war in the first place.
  I think the American people and our troops deserve better than that. 
They deserve the truth and, as I said, real leadership to get the job 
done and bring our men and women safely home.
  Some may accuse me or my Democratic colleagues of being unpatriotic 
and saying that we are using the war as a political tool. My patriotism 
to this country and the American troops means it is my responsibility 
to ask the tough questions of the military and of the Bush 
administration on their actions in general regarding this war. If we do 
not ask the tough questions, who will?
  We need to hold our government officials accountable, and that is 
going to have to mean more than court-martialing a handful of military 
police officers. The President needs to fire the Secretary of Defense, 
Mr. Rumsfeld.
  It seems very clear that these are not isolated incidents of abuse by 
a handful of military soldiers, but actually a systemic pattern of 
behavior and treatment that I believe was encouraged from the top on 
down.
  We need to get to the bottom of the situation and show the American 
citizens and, just as important, the international community that such 
actions will not be tolerated and that these actions are not the values 
of the America that I know and her people. The abuse and torture that 
occurred at Abu Ghraib prison has undermined America's credibility and 
the U.S. effort to bring peace, stability, and freedom to Iraq.
  The damage inflicted upon the United States' reputation will take 
years, if not decades, to repair. Today the Secretary of Defense 
acknowledged that much, as he was quoted in the Associated Press 
article today saying that these incidents ``sullied the reputation of 
our country.'' Yet despite this acknowledgement, he still refuses to 
take responsibility and to step down. So I once again call on President 
Bush to immediately take action to help restore our credibility and he 
should start by firing the Secretary of Defense.

  Mr. Speaker, just one more thing I would like to discuss before I 
leave the floor tonight. Twice this week my Republican colleagues had 
the opportunity to ensure overtime protection for millions of 
hardworking Americans, including first responders, emergency medical 
personnel, police and fire agencies and officers. And twice this week 
they chose to deny workers the overtime they deserve. The other body 
already did their part and passed legislation to block the new overtime 
regulations the Bush administration is planning to implement that robs 
millions of workers of their hard-earned overtime pay. The regulation 
is antiworker, it is antifamily, and it is bad economic policy.
  I hope that before the Memorial Day recess, which will be in the next 
week or 2, that the House will pass similar legislation to block these 
proposed cuts in overtime to hardworking Americans throughout this 
country.

                          ____________________