[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 66 (Thursday, May 10, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S3103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to S. Res. 456, 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. 456) commemorating and acknowledging 
     the dedication and sacrifice made by the Federal, State, and 
     local law enforcement officers who have been killed or 
     injured in the line of duty.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I commend the Senate for agreeing to this 
resolution to honor the men and women who serve in law enforcement and 
to officially recognize May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day.
  Despite the progress that has been made in improving officer safety, 
there is much work to be done. The year 2011 was an especially tragic 
one for the law enforcement community. Last year, 163 State and Federal 
law enforcement officers lost their lives in the line of duty. This is 
an increase from 2010 and a grim reminder of the sacrifices far too 
many individuals make serving their communities and fellow citizens. 
The Senate should continue to do all it can to support officer safety.
  To recognize these sacrifices, as they do every year, law enforcement 
officers and their families from across the United States will come to 
Washington to pay tribute and honor the men and women who have lost 
their lives. And as I do each year, I will stand with them.
  In 1962, President Kennedy designated May 15 as National Peace 
Officers Memorial Day. Once again I am proud to have introduced a 
resolution officially recognizing that designation and honoring these 
men and women, and all of those that came before them. I am glad we 
passed this official recognition today.
  The safety of law enforcement officers across the United States 
should be something on which we can all agree. I hope the quick passage 
of this resolution will foreshadow future bipartisan work on behalf of 
the men and women who work day after day to protect all of us.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I will take a moment to recognize the 
significance of that measure. I know the Presiding Officer, in his many 
years as attorney general of the State of Connecticut, became keenly 
aware of the sacrifices our law enforcement officers are too often 
called upon to make to protect our communities. In the State of Rhode 
Island, we recently lost a Providence police officer who was killed in 
the line of duty. So it is a somber and important act that we take.
  I ask unanimous consent that this resolution be agreed to, the 
preamble be agreed to, that the motions to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 456) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 456

 (Commemorating and acknowledging the dedication and sacrifice made by 
 the Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers who have been 
                 killed or injured in the line of duty)

       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 in 2011, 163 peace officers across the United 
     States were killed in the line of duty;
       Whereas Congress should strongly support initiatives to 
     reduce violent crime and to increase the factors that 
     contribute to the safety of law enforcement officers;
       Whereas there are more than 19,000 Federal, State, and 
     local law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the 
     line of duty while protecting their fellow citizens, and 
     whose names are engraved upon the National Law Enforcement 
     Officers Memorial in Washington, District of Columbia;
       Whereas in 1962, President John F. Kennedy designated May 
     15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day; and
       Whereas on May 15, 2012, more than 20,000 peace officers 
     are expected to gather in Washington, District of Columbia, 
     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) commemorates and acknowledges the dedication and 
     sacrifices made by the Federal, State, and local law 
     enforcement officers who have been killed or injured in the 
     line of duty;
       (2) recognizes May 15, 2012, as ``National Peace Officers 
     Memorial Day''; and
       (3) calls on the people of the United States to observe 
     that day with appropriate ceremony, solemnity, appreciation, 
     and respect.

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