[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 44 (Monday, March 22, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2189-H2190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




MOMENT OF SILENCE IN MEMORY OF THE LATE HONORABLE FRED HEINEMAN, FORMER 
                           MEMBER OF CONGRESS

  (Mr. PRICE of North Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask our 
colleagues to observe a moment of silence in memory of our former 
colleague, Representative Fred Heineman, who represented North 
Carolina's Fourth District in the 104th Congress. Fred passed away 
Saturday, March 20, at the age of 80.
  Fred Heineman was first and foremost a man who sought to serve his 
country. He was a marine, a law enforcement professional, and a Member 
of Congress.
  He started out as a beat cop in Harlem. During his 25-year career 
with the New York Police Department, he shut down organized crime, he 
rooted out police corruption, and he tried to keep young people away 
from drugs and crime by giving them positive alternatives to the 
streets.
  In 1979, he came to Raleigh, North Carolina, to serve as the capital 
city's chief of police. Fred played a role in making that city what it 
is today, one of the best places to live and raise a family in our 
country. I worked with him while he served in that role and admired his 
commitment to the State that became his home.
  In 1995, Fred came to this body, serving in the 104th Congress from 
1995 to 1996. In the Halls of Congress, he eschewed the title of 
Congressman or Representative, preferring instead to be called, simply, 
``The Chief.''
  Over the last few days, I have heard his former colleagues on the 
police force and in this institution recount the ways he affected their 
lives. Fred's colleagues respected his expertise on issues of public 
safety and his strength of conviction. The nature of this institution, 
I firmly believe, is such that those who remain true to their 
convictions, who fight for what they believe in, leave it with pride in 
the service they have rendered.
  Fred is survived by his wife, Linda, and six children. I wish to 
offer condolences to her and the rest of the family on behalf of my 
wife, Lisa, and me, and on behalf of colleagues in this body.
  I would now like to yield to my colleague from North Carolina (Mr. 
Coble), the dean of our delegation, for his thoughts.
  Mr. COBLE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  When Fred Heineman--and you've pretty well touched on it, David, most 
of it--when Fred Heineman came to this people's House as a result of 
the 1994 election, I went to him one day and I said, what are your 
committees of choice? He said, well, I'm not sure. I said, why don't 
you select House Judiciary? He said, well, my legal background is not 
that formidable. I said, your law enforcement background is formidable 
indeed. He said, well, I'm

[[Page H2190]]

not sure I could be assigned to Judiciary.
  I then went to leadership and told them about Fred Heineman. They 
perhaps knew him but didn't know the great details that David has just 
shared with us, and I said I think he would like to be on the Judiciary 
Committee. He was, in fact, assigned to the Judiciary Committee. Then 
my chairman of the Judiciary Committee asked me if I would introduce 
Fred to the Judiciary Committee during his first meeting as a member.
  I went to Fred, and I said, Fred, I would like to introduce you as 
the former chief of police of the Raleigh, North Carolina, police 
department, but I would also like to introduce you as a cop. I said, 
would you be offended by that? He looked into my face, and he said very 
proudly, ``That's who I am. I am a New York cop.'' And with those 
words, he told me that he valued his time on the Raleigh police force 
as chief very significantly, but he valued equally significantly his 
time as a New York cop.
  I thank you, David, for taking time to honor the memory of Fred 
Heineman and, as you said, we wish our best to Mrs. Heineman and the 
family.
  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. I thank my colleague and now, Mr. 
Speaker, I would like to request that our colleagues rise and honor 
Fred Heineman with a moment of silence.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. If Members will please rise, the House will 
observe a moment of silence.

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