[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 23, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S7179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 621--HONORING AND COMMEMORATING THE SELFLESS ACTS OF 
HEROISM DISPLAYED BY THE LATE DETECTIVE JOHN MICHAEL GIBSON AND PRIVATE 
 FIRST CLASS JACOB JOSEPH CHESTNUT OF THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE 
ON JULY 24, 1998, AND EXPRESSING THE GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION OF THE 
  SENATE FOR THE PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION OF THE UNITED STATES 
                             CAPITOL POLICE

  Mr. REID (for himself, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Alexander, Mr. 
Allard, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Biden, Mr. 
Bingaman, Mr. Bond, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Brown, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Bunning, 
Mr. Burr, Mr. Byrd, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, 
Mr. Chambliss, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Coleman, Ms. 
Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Corker, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Craig, Mr. Crapo, Mr. 
DeMint, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Dole, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. 
Ensign, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Feingold, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Graham, Mr. 
Grassley, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Hatch, Mrs. Hutchison, 
Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. 
Kerry, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Kyl, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, 
Mr. Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Lugar, Mr. 
Martinez, Mr. McCain, Mrs. McCaskill, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Mikulski, Ms. 
Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, 
Mr. Obama, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Reed, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. 
Salazar, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Smith, 
Ms. Snowe, Mr. Specter, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Sununu, Mr. 
Tester, Mr. Thune, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Warner, Mr. Webb, Mr. 
Whitehouse, Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 621

       Whereas Detective Gibson, born March 29, 1956, was killed 
     in the line of duty while protecting the office complex of 
     the House Majority Whip;
       Whereas Private First Class Chestnut, born April 28, 1940, 
     was killed in the line of duty while guarding the Document 
     Room Door entrance of the Capitol;
       Whereas Detective Gibson and Private First Class Chestnut 
     were the first police officers to lie in honor in the rotunda 
     of the Capitol;
       Whereas Private First Class Chestnut was the first African-
     American to lie in honor in the rotunda of the Capitol;
       Whereas Detective Gibson was married to Evelyn and was the 
     father of 3 children;
       Whereas Private First Class Chestnut was married to Wen 
     Ling and was the father of 5 children;
       Whereas the United States Capitol Police force consists of 
     over 1,600 officers who are dedicated to the protection and 
     security of the Capitol Complex and its employees and 
     visitors;
       Whereas the United States Capitol Police continually 
     sacrifice to provide safety and security to the Members, 
     staff, and millions of visitors each year to the Capitol 
     Complex;
       Whereas the men and women of the United States Capitol 
     Police join with their colleagues in local law enforcement 
     from urban to rural areas coast to coast to perform their 
     duties with honor and courage;
       Whereas while the United States Capitol Police endure 
     physical and verbal assaults in some extreme cases, the 
     officers continue to provide courteous, responsible, and 
     diligent services in an unbiased and nonpartisan manner;
       Whereas the United States Capitol Police face many threats 
     to their safety and must remain constantly alert for 
     suspicious actions or for failure to respond to requests and 
     instructions;
       Whereas the United States Capitol Police, as the first line 
     of the defense of the Capitol, has shared in the ultimate 
     sacrifice in law enforcement;
       Whereas the United States Capitol Police are on the front 
     lines of the War on Terrorism and remain on constant alert 
     against unauthorized access to Capitol buildings, terrorism, 
     and other threats to the Capitol Complex;
       Whereas Capitol Police officers stationed throughout the 
     Capitol Complex act in a professional manner and treat 
     Members, staff, and visitors with dignity and respect;
       Whereas the United States Capitol Police consistently apply 
     security and safety measures to all, including Members of 
     Congress;
       Whereas 10 years have passed since Detective Gibson and 
     Private First Class Chestnut sacrificed their lives to 
     protect the lives of hundreds of tourists, staff, and Members 
     of Congress on July 24, 1998; and
       Whereas the United States Capitol Police is one of the best 
     trained, most highly respected law enforcement agencies in 
     the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors and commemorates the selfless acts of heroism 
     displayed by the late Private First Class Jacob Joseph 
     Chestnut and Detective John Michael Gibson of the United 
     States Capitol Police on July 24, 1998;
       (2) expresses its condolences to the wives, children, and 
     other family members of Private First Class Chestnut and 
     Detective Gibson on the 10 year anniversary of their passing;
       (3) expresses its gratitude and appreciation for the 
     professional manner in which the United States Capitol Police 
     carry out their diverse missions;
       (4) expresses appreciation for the dedication United States 
     Capitol Police officers have for protecting the Capitol 
     Complex; and
       (5) commends the United States Capitol Police for their 
     continued courage and professionalism in protecting the 
     Capitol Complex and its employees and visitors.

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