[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 1, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5437-S5438]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SACRIFICE MADE BY THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES WHILE 
                  SERVING AS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

  The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution (S. Res. 162) 
commemorating and acknowledging the dedication and sacrifice made by 
the men and women who have lost their lives while serving as law 
enforcement officers.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am pleased the Senate is considering 
today a bipartisan resolution to designate May 15, 2007, as National 
Peace Officers Memorial Day that Senator Specter and I introduced along 
with the majority leader, and Senators Biden, Grassley, Cornyn, 
Stabenow, Menendez, Durbin, Kohl, Kennedy and Brownback. Last week, the 
Judiciary Committee favorably reported this resolution unanimously. I 
thank all members of the Judiciary Committee and the cosponsors on this 
bipartisan resolution for their support in recognizing

[[Page S5438]]

the sacrifices that law enforcement officers make each day for the 
American people.
  This is now the eleventh year running that I have been involved in 
this resolution to honor the sacrifice and commitment of those law 
enforcement officers who give their lives serving their communities. 
For many years I introduced this resolution with my friend Senator 
Campbell, a former deputy sheriff. Both Senator Campbell, and I, as a 
former prosecutor, witnessed firsthand the risks faced by law 
enforcement officers every day while they serve and protect our 
communities. I am pleased that Senator Specter, himself a former 
prosecutor, former chair of the Judiciary Committee, and now our 
ranking member, has become the lead Republican sponsor of this 
bipartisan measure.
  Currently, more than 870,000 men and women who guard our communities 
do so at great risk. 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.
  Since the first recorded police death in 1792, there have been more 
than 17,900 law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate 
sacrifice. We are fortunate in Vermont that we rank as the State with 
the fewest officer deaths in history. With 19 deaths, however, that is 
19 deaths too many. In 2006, 147 law enforcement officers died while 
serving in the line of duty, well below the decade-long average of 165 
deaths annually, and a drop from 2005 when 156 officers were killed. 
That is 147 officers too many. We need to continue our support for 
better equipment and the increased use of bullet-resistant vests, 
improved training, and advanced emergency medical care. I hope as the 
110th Congress moves forward that all Senators can work together to 
ensure that all of our law enforcement officers and their families have 
the full support and the resources they need from the Federal 
Government.
  I am proud of the work I have been involved in to help make it safer 
on the beat for our officers. Back in 1998, Senator Campbell and I 
authored the Bulletproof Vest Grant Partnership Act in response to the 
tragic Carl Drega shootout on the Vermont-New Hampshire border, in 
which two State troopers who lacked bulletproof vests were killed. 
Since then, we have successfully reauthorized this program three more 
times: In the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 2000, in the 
State Justice Institute Reauthorization Act of 2004, and most recently 
as part of the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice 
Reauthorization Act of 2005. It is now authorized at $50 million per 
year through fiscal year 2009 to help State, tribal and local 
jurisdictions purchase armor vests for use by law enforcement officers. 
I have already begun to work with my colleagues to make sure that the 
bulletproof vest partnership grant program is fully funded this year. 
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 partnership program and I hope the Congress agrees that it is 
crucially important that we provide the funding authorized for this 
program. Hundreds of thousands of police officers are counting on us.
  I am also pleased to join with Senator Reed and others to introduce 
the Equity in Law Enforcement Act, which will provide parity in Federal 
benefits for law enforcement officers working in private educational 
institutions and for our Nation's rail carriers. Among these benefits 
are access to grants under the bulletproof vest partnership, and 
survivor benefits. All of the men and women who serve our society as 
law enforcement officers should be equally entitled to all of the 
benefits the Federal Government provides, no matter where they serve.
  I think we can all agree that the men and women in law enforcement 
who have sacrificed for our safety deserve our deep gratitude and 
respect. National Peace Officers Memorial Day will offer the people of 
the United States, in their communities, in their State capitals, and 
in the Nation's Capital, the opportunity to honor and reflect on the 
extraordinary service and sacrifice given year after year by our police 
forces.
  Our Nation's law enforcement officers deserve our commitment to 
protect those who help keep us all safe. 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, and to recognize their role in upholding the rule 
of law and keeping our Nation's citizens safe and secure. During the 
week of May 13, more than 20,000 peace officers are expected to gather 
in Washington to join with the families of their fallen comrades. I 
thank the Senate for joining in honoring their service and passing this 
bipartisan resolution.
  The amendment (No. 1007) was agreed to, as follows:


                           Amendment No. 1007

       On page 2, strike the first whereas clause and insert:
       Whereas peace officers are on the front lines in protecting 
     the schools and schoolchildren of the United States;

  The resolution (S. Res. 162), as amended, was agreed to.
  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, as amended, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 162

       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 the peace;
       Whereas peace officers are on the front lines in protecting 
     the schools and schoolchildren of the United States;
       Whereas 147 peace officers across the United States were 
     killed in the line of duty during 2006, 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, 2007, 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, 2007, 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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