[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 87 (Friday, May 19, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              AMERICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT HEROES ACT OF 2017

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                               speech of

                  HON. HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 16, 2017

  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1428, 
the American Law Enforcement Heroes Act of 2017. This bill will 
positively affect the way we fight crime in our nation.
  The American Law Enforcement Heroes Act of 2017 provides for the 
prioritization of the hiring of veterans to police forces across the 
nation and will allow public funds granted by the Community Oriented 
Policing Services program to be allocated towards the hiring and 
training of veterans entering local police forces.
  Our veterans are some of the bravest and most honorable men and women 
in this nation. They have voluntarily risen to the occasion to protect 
our nation from foreign threats. These men and women have served in far 
flung, dangerous places around the globe, from Iraq and Afghanistan to 
Vietnam to Lebanon. They have risked their lives to fulfill the goal of 
President Woodrow Wilson: to ``make the world safe for democracy.'' 
These veterans helped bring freedom and security to oppressed peoples, 
while protecting and serving all Americans, to protect our unique and 
comfortable existence.
  Our veterans are currently plagued with issues such as mental health 
issues often stemming from combat experience, drug abuse, unemployment, 
and homelessness. Veterans are currently more likely to become homeless 
after serving, more likely to be unemployed, and more likely to fall 
under the oppression of hard drugs. By implementing the American Law 
Enforcement Heroes Act of 2017, we, as a Congress, will be continuing 
our commitment to our veterans by helping to provide them with jobs. 
These jobs will provide a stable income and resources for our veterans 
to access, in case of debilitating mental health issues such as Post 
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
  Our veterans will be able to continue serving the American people 
with the particular training and expertise provided by the greatest 
military in the world. They have had access to education and are highly 
skilled at a plethora of jobs that municipal police departments can 
utilize to their advantage. By hiring these men and women, police 
forces around the nation can make the nation a safer, more secure 
place.
  I give my full support to the American Law Enforcement Heroes Act of 
2017. This bill not only provides employment for our veterans, who have 
provided so much for our nation, but also makes our cities safer places 
to live.

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