[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 77 (Monday, May 16, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2819-S2820]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL POLICE WEEK

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I will be submitting a bipartisan 
resolution to commemorate National Police Week, which this year began 
on Sunday, May 15, and ends on Saturday, May 21.
  Senator Leahy and 52 others have joined me as original cosponsors of 
the measure. The theme of this year's Police Week is ``Honoring Our 
Heroes.''
  National Police Week is dedicated to the brave men and women in blue 
who selflessly protect and serve our communities every hour of every 
day of every week and in every community across the United States.
  The week affords an opportunity to honor those who have made the 
ultimate sacrifice while striving to make our neighborhoods safer and 
more secure.
  Multiple events have taken place in Washington, DC over the past week 
to not only remember those officers who tragically lost their lives in 
the line of duty but also to honor outstanding acts of valor and 
service by many others.
  Tens of thousands of police officers as well as their friends and 
family members have gathered in our nation's capital for these events, 
which included the Annual Blue Mass, a Candlelight Vigil and a Police 
Unity Tour Arrival Ceremony, among others.
  Yesterday was National Peace Officers Memorial Day and thousands 
gathered on the West Front of the Capitol for the 35th Annual National 
Peace Officers Memorial Service.
  This solemn service offered an opportunity for all of us to pay our 
respects to fallen officers and the families, communities, and law 
enforcement agencies that have been permanently altered because they 
paid the ultimate sacrifice.
  We owe these brave men and women our utmost respect and gratitude as 
we honor their noble profession this week.
  Each of the officers killed in the line of duty this year started 
their shift with the same goals: do some good, backup my fellow 
officers, and return home safely.
  Some of these officers had dedicated decades of their lives to 
protecting their communities.
  One of these officers was murdered mere hours after being sworn to 
her oath of service.
  At the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, the names of some 
200 Iowans are inscribed amongst their law enforcement family.
  Carved into the Memorial's walls are the names of more than 20,000 
men and

[[Page S2820]]

women who have been killed in the line of duty throughout U.S. history.
  Each are unique in their own personal stories but they are uniform in 
their fidelity to truth and justice.
  The individuals are heroes, not because of the manner in which they 
died but because time and again they answered a call to do right, 
impervious to the constant lurking of danger.
  Regrettably, 123 new names of officers killed in the line of duty in 
2015 will be added to the rolls this week and we know that they will 
not be the last.
  Mr. President, the men and women of law enforcement make sacrifices 
both big and small, frequently missing family celebrations and holidays 
because they believe in serving something greater than themselves.
  The work of law enforcement is not a job, it is a calling.
  That calling and those officers' devotion to duty merits our 
admiration and we are deeply indebted to them.
  I call on all Americans this week to pause and contemplate the safety 
and security they enjoy.
  We all must recognize that such peace is the result of sacrifices 
made by the brave men and women of law enforcement.
  I also want to take this opportunity to urge my colleagues to support 
this year's resolution designating National Police Week.

                          ____________________