[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 56 (Wednesday, May 10, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4379-S4380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMEMORATING THE DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of S. Res. 472 submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 472) commemorating and acknowledging 
     the dedication and sacrifice made by the men and women who 
     have lost their lives while serving as law enforcement 
     officers.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I join in introducing a bipartisan 
resolution to designate May 15, 2006, as National Peace Officers 
Memorial Day.
  This is the tenth year running that I have been involved in the 
introduction of this resolution to keep alive in the memory of all 
Americans the sacrifice and commitment of those law enforcement 
officers who lost their lives serving their communities. For 8 years I 
introduced this resolution with my old friend and our former colleague 
Senator Campbell, a former deputy sheriff who was a true leader on this 
issue. Now I have teamed with Senator Specter, another former 
prosecutor, in this worthy cause. We have all witnessed firsthand the 
risks faced by law enforcement officers every day while they serve and 
protect our communities.
  I also want to thank each of our Nation's law enforcement officers 
for their commitment to the safety and protection of their fellow 
citizens. They are the real-life heroes; too many of whom too often 
make the ultimate sacrifice. It is important to support and respect our 
state and local police officers and all of our first responders.
  Currently, more than 850,000 men and women who guard our communities 
do so at great risk. Each year, one in 16 officers is assaulted, one in 
56 officers is injured, and one in 5,500 officers is killed in the line 
of duty in the United States every other day. After the hijacked planes 
hit the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001, 72 
peace officers died while trying to ensure that their fellow citizens 
in those buildings got to safety. That act of terrorism resulted in the 
highest number of peace officers ever killed in a single incident in 
the history of our country, and is a tragic reminder of how important 
it is for the Congress to provide all of the resources necessary to 
protect officers in the line of duty.
  In 2005, 156 law enforcement officers died while serving in the line 
of duty, well below the decade-long average of 169 deaths annually, and 
a major drop from 2001 when a total of 237 officers were killed. A 
number of factors contributed to this reduction including better 
equipment and the increased use of bullet-resistant vests, improved

[[Page S4380]]

training and advanced emergency medical care. And, in total, more than 
17,500 men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice.
  In the 108th Congress, we shepherded into law a number of measures to 
make a difference in the lives of all police officers and the 
communities they serve. We improved the Justice Department's Public 
Safety Officers Benefits program by making law the Hometown Heroes 
Survivors Benefits Act, P.L. No. 108-182: which allows survivors of 
public safety officers who suffer fatal heart attacks or strokes while 
participating in nonroutine stressful or strenuous physical activities 
to qualify for Federal survivor benefits.
  We also enacted the Campbell-Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant 
Act, P.L. No. 108-372, which extends through FY 2007 the authorization 
of appropriations for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program. 
This program helps State, tribal and local jurisdictions purchase armor 
vests for use by law enforcement officers.
  Incredibly, President Bush has proposed significant cuts to the 
bulletproof vest program in his fiscal year 2007 budget proposal, but I 
will work with other Senators to make sure the program is fully funded. 
Bulletproof vests have saved the lives of thousands of officers and are 
a fundamental line of defense that no officer should be without. I know 
I am not alone in calling for the Senate to fully fund the bulletproof 
vest program and I truly hope Senators will agree that it is critical 
that we provide the funding authorized for this program. Hundreds of 
thousands of police officers are counting on us.
  The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, which Senator Campbell and I 
championed in the Senate, was signed into law, P.L. No: 108-277. This 
measure established national measures of uniformity and consistency to 
permit trained and certified on-duty, off-duty or retired law 
enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms in most situations so 
that they may respond immediately to crimes across State and other 
jurisdictional lines, as well as to protect themselves and their 
families from vindictive criminals.
  National Peace Officers Memorial Day will provide the people of the 
United States with the opportunity to honor the extraordinary service 
and sacrifice given year after year by our police forces. More than 
20,000 peace officers are expected to gather in Washington to join with 
the families of their fallen comrades. I hope all Senators will join me 
in honoring their service by passing this important bipartisan 
legislation.
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the resolution 
introduced by Senator Leahy and others to recognize May 15, 2006, as 
``Peace Officers Memorial Day. Peace Officers work tirelessly to 
protect our society from criminals who would prey on the weak and 
innocent. They are the front line in a battle for justice and the rule 
of law. They often are unheralded heroes, whose simple act of going to 
work puts them in harm's way for our sake.
  Tens of thousands of police officers were assaulted last year, and 
that number is likely to be similar this year. It is important that we 
take a moment to recognize the crucial service they provide.
  Last year, 156 police officers were killed in the line of duty. 
Justice for the families of slain officers often comes slowly. I have 
introduced legislation that would speed up the process for the most 
hardened of criminals, those who murder police men and women. The Law 
Enforcement Officers' Protection Act would guarantee tough punishment 
for criminals who murder or assault police officers. Part of the 
legislation is named after Dr. John B. Jamison, a Coconino County, AZ 
Reserve Sheriffs Deputy who was slain while responding to a fellow 
deputy's call for assistance. The killer fired 30 rounds from an 
assault rifle into Deputy Jamison's car, killing him before he could 
reach for his gun or even unbuckle his seatbelt. He is survived by two 
children. State courts completed their review of the killer's 
conviction and sentence in 1985. Federal courts then delayed the case 
for an additional 15 years. One judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for 
the Ninth Circuit even tried to postpone the killer's final execution 
date on the alleged basis that that killer was wrongfully denied Sate 
funds to investigate a rare neurological condition that his lawyer had 
learned of while watching television. Deputy Jamison's killer 
ultimately was executed in 2000--18 years after the crime occurred, and 
15 years after Federal habeas corpus proceedings began.
  So as we recognize the sacrifice that peace officers make to protect 
us every day--to protect the streets on which we drive to work, protect 
the neighborhoods where our children play, protect the stores where we 
shop, protect the very halls of government where I stand today--I urge 
my colleagues to help protect the peace officers and bring justice to 
the families of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for the 
benefit of the rest of us.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution and preamble 
be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, 
and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 472) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 472

       Whereas the well-being of all citizens of the United States 
     is preserved and enhanced as a direct result of the vigilance 
     and dedication of law enforcement personnel;
       Whereas more than 900,000 men and women, at great risk to 
     their personal safety, presently serve their fellow citizens 
     as guardians of peace;
       Whereas peace officers are on the front lines 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 156 peace officers across the United States were 
     killed in the line of duty during 2005, which is below the 
     decade-long annual average of 167 deaths;
       Whereas a number of factors contributed to this reduction 
     in deaths, including--
       (1) better equipment and increased use of bullet-resistant 
     vests;
       (2) improved training;
       (3) longer prison terms for violent offenders; and
       (4) advanced emergency medical care;
       Whereas every other day, 1 out of every 16 peace officers 
     is assaulted, 1 out of every 56 peace officers is injured, 
     and 1 out of every 5,500 peace officers is killed in the line 
     of duty somewhere in the United States; and
       Whereas on May 15, 2006, more than 20,000 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 Senate--
       (1) recognizes May 15, 2006, as ``Peace Officers Memorial 
     Day'', in honor of the Federal, State, and local officers 
     that have been killed or disabled in the line of duty; and
       (2) calls on the people of the United States to observe 
     that day with appropriate ceremonies and respect.

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