[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 16, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2940-S2941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          National Police Week

  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I noted yesterday that this week we 
celebrate National Police Week. In particular, we recognize and 
remember those law enforcement officers who have paid the ultimate 
price and sacrificed their lives to protect the communities in which 
they serve. Yesterday, I had the chance to speak about Javier Vega, 
Jr., a Border Patrol agent who served in South Texas and was tragically 
killed by two illegal immigrant criminals.
  Today, I want to talk about the attack on law enforcement officers in 
Dallas almost a year ago. Last July, about 800 people gathered in 
downtown Dallas for a peaceful march. Given the size of the event, 
dozens of law enforcement officers were on hand to protect the 
protesters so they could exercise their fundamental constitutional 
right. Before 9 p.m., the event had been going very well, by any 
standard. There wasn't any violence reported in the crowd, even though 
some similar events across the country hadn't been as calm. But in 
Dallas, it was clear that there existed a mutual respect between the 
citizens protesting and law enforcement. There were even social media 
posts of protesters embracing police officers in a show of solidarity 
and friendship.
  Unfortunately, the night would soon be robbed of any enduring image 
of that sort of positive scene. A man--someone who came that night 
explicitly to target law enforcement officers--opened fire, killing 
five officers and wounding seven more--the deadliest day for American 
law enforcement since 9/11. The officers who lost their lives that 
day--Brent Thompson, Patrick Zamarippa, Lorne Aherns, Michael Krol, and 
Michael Smith--will not be forgotten. They, like the other officers on 
duty that night--many of whom were injured by the gunmen--didn't look 
the other way or run the other way when the violence erupted. Like the 
heroes they are, they ran to the danger, not away from the gunshots and 
the uproar. They, like law enforcement officers across the country, 
weren't about to shy away from doing their job, even if that meant 
putting their own lives on the line.
  So today, I want to commend the men and women of the Dallas police 
force, a group of men and women with incredible courage and unflinching 
valor in the face of danger. This Police Week I am particularly 
grateful to them and to the officers and first responders all over the 
State of Texas and all around our Nation who count the costs and choose 
to serve their communities day after day, often with little thanks or 
recognition.
  As I said last summer, it shouldn't take an event of this scale to 
jolt our consciences into action. As legislators, we have tremendous 
opportunities to better support our men and women in blue who risk 
their lives to protect ours. We have a duty to do all we can to keep 
them safe and to keep our society safe and peaceful. So as we celebrate 
Police Week, I hope we can each do our part to better support the men 
and women serving in law enforcement.
  Later today, Mr. President, I plan to introduce a piece of 
legislation called the Back the Blue Act, along with Senator Cruz and 
Senator Tillis. This is legislation that makes clear our support for 
these public servants who spend their lives protecting us and serving 
us. The Back the Blue Act would create a new Federal crime for killing 
or attempting to kill a Federal judge, a law enforcement officer, or a 
federally funded public safety officer.

[[Page S2941]]

It would create a new crime for assaulting a law enforcement officer, 
as well.
  There is no justification--none at all--for attacking a police 
officer. It is an act of anarchy to attack the very people who help 
keep our society safe and protected.
  We need to know and need to show that we value their lives, and we 
need to make it absolutely clear that we will hold those who carry out 
crimes against our police officers accountable. The Back the Blue Act 
sends that message loud and clear.
  I think it is important to point out that this legislation would also 
help make our communities stronger by allowing grant funds to be used 
for efforts to help foster more trust between police and the 
communities they protect. This bill would better serve the men and 
women who work tirelessly in our communities every day. So I would hope 
our colleagues would join me in supporting it.
  We can do more to protect and support our law enforcement officers, 
and we can start with the Back the Blue Act to do just exactly that.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Perdue). The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, I would like to commemorate National 
Police Week and the lives and sacrifices of two extraordinary 
Massachusetts law enforcement officers who fell in 2016: Thomas Clardy, 
a trooper with the Massachusetts State Police, and Ronald Tarantino, a 
police officer with the Auburn Police Department. Their names will be 
inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial here in 
Washington, DC, in honor of their service.
  By the end of this year, more than 21,000 names will be on that wall. 
We will never forget their service and sacrifice to our communities and 
to our country. With the help of the National Law Enforcement Officers 
Memorial Fund, we pledge to their families and loved ones that they 
will have the support and resources they need.