[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 21 (Thursday, February 4, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





    HONORING THE LIVES OF FBI SPECIAL AGENTS DANIEL ALFIN AND LAURA 
                            SCHWARTZENBERGER

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 4, 2021

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I 
rise to honor the lives of two fallen FBI agents, Daniel Alfin and 
Laura Schwartzenberger.
  While executing a federal warrant in a child exploitation 
investigation, Special Agent Daniel Alfin and Special Agent Laura 
Schwartzenberger were shot and killed in the line of duty in Sunrise, 
Florida.
  They died protecting our most vulnerable citizens and the community 
they loved.
  This was sadly the FBI's deadliest day since the tragic events on 9/
11. It has also been more than 30 years since two agents were gunned 
down together in the line of duty.
  A 16-year veteran of the FBI, Special Agent Laura Schwartzenberger's 
specialty was pursuing crimes against children.
  Her work with the FBl's Miami Field Office's Innocent Images National 
Initiative led to the arrests of those involved in the exploitation of 
children and ``sextortion.'' She leaves behind a husband and two 
children.
  Special Agent Daniel Alfin was a 12-year veteran of the FBI. He was a 
veteran agent who led the investigation into a dark web site called 
Playpen, one of the country's largest child pornography operations. He 
also leaves behind a wife and one child.
  While I did not have the good fortune of knowing these two Special 
Agents, I know this--these were two brave individuals taken from us and 
we lost them way too soon.
  These were incredible parents, ripped from their families before 
their time. They were extraordinary public servants trying to make our 
community a safer place to raise our families.
  To their families and loved ones, I struggle to find words that can 
offer solace and comfort in their time of distress.
  The great poet William Wordsworth once said, ``Not without hope we 
suffer and we mourn.''
  Perhaps he meant that we find hope in the belief that our thoughts 
and prayers will in time heal their families, and in the hope and 
belief that the children of these fallen heroes will grow up knowing 
that their parents made this sacrifice to make their world and our 
world a better place.
  Agents Alfin and Schwartzenberger put their lives on the line every 
day to make us safer.
  We lost them to a senseless act of violence by someone with a total 
disregard for the lives of others.
  We grieve their loss not only to the community they served, but to 
the families and loved ones they leave behind.
  They made the ultimate sacrifice, and we will be forever grateful.

                          ____________________