[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 11, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H4811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL POLICE WEEK

  (Mr. RUIZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our Nation's law 
enforcement officers and to recognize their sacrifice.
  Today marks the first day of National Police Week, and our fallen 
heroes and their families are weighing heavily on my mind.
  Six years ago in my district, Palm Springs Police Department Officers 
Lesley Zerebny and Gil Vega were tragically shot and killed in the line 
of duty. In their memories, I authored the Heroes Lesley Zerebny and 
Gil Vega First Responders Survivors Support Act to ensure that their 
families receive the financial support they need.
  Last fall, when the Protecting America's First Responders Act became 
law, we took a momentous step toward fulfilling this mission. With 
portions of my bill included, we fixed bureaucratic loopholes in the 
Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program that cost families up to tens 
of thousands of dollars.
  Now, we must build on this success and pass my bill in its entirety 
to fully honor our fallen heroes. This police week, I urge my 
colleagues to follow words with action and follow praise with pragmatic 
solutions that will improve the lives of fallen first responders' 
families.

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