[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 51 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            PAYING TRIBUTE TO CORPORAL RUSSELL W. BALBIRONA

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                           HON. JON C. PORTER

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 2006

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Corporal Russell W. 
Balbirona in recognition of his heroic act performed at the Bureau of 
Reclamation's Hoover Dam resulting in the saving of a life and to 
commend him for receiving the U.S. Department of the Interior Valor 
Award.
  Corporal Balbirona displayed outstanding dedication and commitment to 
the Hoover Dam Police Department when he assisted a fellow officer in 
preventing a suicide:
  On October 14, 2005, Corporal Balbirona responded to a radio call 
from Sergeant Jeffrey Stone reporting an individual standing on the 
wall overlooking the Dam. When Corporal Balbirona arrived at the top of 
the Dam he observed Sergeant Stone demanding that the man get down. The 
man told Sergeant Stone he was going to jump. Corporal Balbirona 
approached the man from behind and motioned to Sergeant Stone to 
distract the man by talking to him. Even with Sergeant Stone's word of 
encouragement, the man refused to get down.
  As the man was reaching for a cigarette that Sergeant Stone offered, 
Corporal Balbirona took this opportunity to rush towards him, grabbing 
him around the waist and pulling him to safety. After both fell to the 
sidewalk, the man continued to resist but with Sergeant Stone's 
assistance he was subdued and taken into custody. Prior to being 
transported to the hospital, the man thanked the officers for saving 
his life and apologized for creating a disturbance.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Corporal Russell W. Balbirona for 
his exceptional display of courage, quick thinking, and the heroic 
actions carried out in this life-saving incident. I further 
congratulate Corporal Balbirona for receiving the U.S. Department of 
the Interior Valor Award. I thank him for his distinguished service and 
wish him the best in all of his future endeavors.

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