[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 17, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H5384-H5385]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  JASON CRISP FOREST SERVICE BUILDING

  Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4360) to designate the facility of the United States Forest 
Service for the Grandfather Ranger District located at 109 Lawing Drive 
in Nebo, North Carolina, as the ``Jason Crisp Forest Service 
Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4360

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF JASON CRISP FOREST SERVICE 
                   BUILDING, NEBO, NORTH CAROLINA.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the Grandfather Ranger 
     District of the United States Forest Service located at 109 
     Lawing Drive in Nebo, North Carolina, shall be known and 
     designated as the ``Jason Crisp Forest Service Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Jason Crisp Forest Service Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Benishek) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Clyburn) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
on the bill H.R. 4360.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4360, a bill that would 
name the administrative building for the Grandfather District of the 
Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina for Officer Jason Crisp.
  Officer Crisp spent 8 years serving in the McDowell County Sheriff's 
Office and serving in different roles in the community where he grew 
up. He graduated from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in 
2005, when he returned to western North Carolina to begin his career 
marking timber for the Forest Service and, later, to work in a K-9 
unit, along with his partner, Maros.
  Like other Forest Service officers, Officer Crisp and Maros were 
charged with protecting the National Forest and those in its 
boundaries, which they did with distinction. Officer Crisp and Maros 
often assisted in manhunts and other searches in the National Forest 
and surrounding community as part of their duty.
  Officer Crisp was not on duty on March 12 when he received a phone 
call about a murder suspect on the loose.

[[Page H5385]]

Nevertheless, he selflessly agreed to assist, demonstrating his 
commitment to keeping his community safe.
  This selfless attitude of dedication is prevalent among the men and 
women of the Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations 
division. Officer Crisp's life was senselessly taken in the line of 
duty on March 12, while assisting local and State police forces in the 
manhunt.
  He leaves behind a wife, Amanda, and two sons, Garrett and Logan.
  As we mourn the loss of Officer Crisp, we want to thank the Crisp 
family for Officer Crisp's years of service. Naming this building is a 
small token of thanks to Officer Crisp's family, in order to honor his 
memory and his service.
  While Officer Crisp will be missed, naming the Forest Service 
building in his honor will be a reminder to the citizens of western 
North Carolina of all that he meant to the community.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4360. H.R. 4360 designates a 
facility at the United States Forest Service Grandfather Ranger 
District of the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina the Jason 
Crisp Forest Service Building after United States Forest Service 
Officer Jason Crisp.
  Officer Crisp and his canine, Maros, were tragically killed in the 
line of duty on March 12 in Burke County, North Carolina. Officer Crisp 
was off duty, but nonetheless assisted local authorities in the manhunt 
for a murder suspect on the loose.
  This selflessness is demonstrative of Officer Crisp's commitment to 
the safety and security of his community, a commitment shared by our 
many dedicated Forest Service officers.
  Designating this building the Jason Crisp Forest Service Building is 
our way of thanking and honoring Officer Crisp and his family--his 
wife, sons, parents, sister, and brothers--for his 16 years of service 
to the United States Forest Service.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4360.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows), the author of this 
legislation.
  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan, and I 
thank my friend from South Carolina for their support of this bill.
  I also want to thank, Mr. Speaker, Chairman Lucas and Ranking Member 
Peterson for their help in bringing this bill to the floor. Without 
their help, truly, we would not be here today. It is an honor not only 
to work with them both, but their staffs on this legislation, and so I 
would also like to thank the entire North Carolina delegation for their 
support.
  On March 12, 2014, just this year, just a few months ago, Officer 
Jason Crisp and his canine, Maros, were shot and killed in Burke 
County, North Carolina. He was off duty at the time. The call came at 
home. When it came in, he was very quick to respond and participate in 
a manhunt to track down someone--a suspect who had committed two 
murders. It was the kind of selfless service that was not unique and 
not a one-time thing for Officer Crisp.
  Just 5 days later, a memorial service was held in his honor, and we 
had thousands of law enforcement officers from all across the region 
come to honor his service, as well as other elected officials in 
government.
  The bill we are considering today would name the United States Forest 
Service building in the Grandfather Ranger District in Nebo, North 
Carolina, as the Jason Crisp Forest Service Building, in honor of 
Officer Crisp's sacrifice.
  Officer Crisp--or Jason, as his family and friends knew him--was 38 
years old. He lived in Marion, North Carolina, in McDowell County, in 
the western part of North Carolina.
  He graduated from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in 
2005, and he became an officer for the Forest Service. He and his dog, 
Maros, routinely assisted in hunts for suspects in McDowell, Burke, 
Avery, Watauga, and Caldwell counties.

  He also served as a law enforcement reserve officer in the McDowell 
County Sheriff's Office. He also served as a deputy sheriff there prior 
to going to work for the U.S. Forest Service.
  His wife, Amanda, and his two sons, Garrett and Logan, his parents 
and sister and two brothers are a reminder that many times, when we 
have people that serve, there are other people who are involved in that 
service as well, and so I want to thank them today.
  Perhaps the best words were by some of his friends at his memorial 
that called him warmhearted, always looking out for others, a warrior, 
and, yes, someone who even played practical jokes.
  The release from his family said:

       Jason was a loving father, loving husband, and a great 
     friend. He was his wife's best friend and the love of her 
     life. He loved the Lord and was an honest Christian man, who 
     gave his life protecting his friends. He loved doing his job 
     with a passion. The only thing that he loved more than his 
     job was his family and friends. He died a hero. However, he 
     was a hero well before that day.
       Maros was also our family member, and he was loved like a 
     child. Jason loved working with Maros.
       Thank you to all of the agencies for your hard work, and 
     thank you for all of the prayers, calls, and visits from our 
     family and friends.

                              {time}  1615

  It is an honor for me today to not only recognize Officer Crisp but 
all the first responders who missed birthdays, anniversaries, dinners, 
and gatherings to answer the call to protect and serve our communities.
  Every day, Mr. Speaker, we expect them to answer the call, serving 
silently and selflessly. We also expect them to come home. Some do not.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I would encourage the passage of H.R. 4360 to 
rename the Grandfather Ranger District Forest Service building in Nebo, 
North Carolina, in honor of Officer Jason Crisp, the Jason Crisp Forest 
Service Building.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 4360 and yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4360.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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