[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 82 (Tuesday, May 16, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H2353-H2354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING OFFICER TRUONG THAI

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Donalds). The Chair recognizes the 
gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a law 
enforcement officer hero from Nevada who made the ultimate sacrifice 
serving our community: Officer Truong Thai.
  Last October, while responding to a late-night domestic disturbance, 
Officer Thai was shot and killed at the age of 49, leaving behind his 
father, brother, four sisters, his daughter, Jada, and an entire 
community of law enforcement officers who relied on his mentorship and 
support.
  A 23-year veteran of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, 
Officer Thai's colleagues describe him as someone who could have served 
in the highest levels of the department as a sergeant or a lieutenant. 
Instead, he chose time and again to serve at all hours of the day and 
all hours of the night on the front lines of our communities because 
what he cared about most was keeping people safe.
  Officer Thai represented the best of our law enforcement, someone 
willing to put his life on the line for his community, but also a 
family man who never stopped giving back.

  He coached girls' volleyball and enjoyed playing with his daughter, 
Jada. He went on fishing trips with colleagues and their children. He 
never hesitated to help someone in need.
  We should all be grateful for the service of Officer Thai and 
inspired by his dedication and generosity as we remember his service.
  In addition, I take a moment to honor the sacrifices of far too many 
other law enforcement officers from Nevada, also lost in the line of 
duty, including: The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, 
Detective Justin Michael Terry; Officer Edward Aaron Contreras, Jr.; 
Sergeant Douglas Michael King; Officer Philip Carl Closi; Bailiff 
Gerald Raymond Smith from Pahrump Justice Court; and Officer Ray Edward 
East from Walker River.
  This week, I thank our law enforcement officers for their service and 
remember those like Officer Thai, whose dedication to his community and 
family we will never forget.

[[Page H2354]]

  



    Congratulating Ms. Dee Heard on winning the Clark County School 
                   District Teacher of the Year Award

  Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I rise in celebration of last week's 
Teacher Appreciation Week to congratulate my constituent and winner of 
the Clark County School District Teacher of the Year Award, Ms. Dee 
Heard.
  Ms. Heard is a sixth-grade teacher at Sedway Middle School and an 
innovative leader who is constantly thinking of ways to engage her 
students outside the textbook.
  When students struggled after the pandemic, she designed a schoolwide 
math competition, complete with pep rallies and digital workspaces, to 
create learning incentives and help students track their progress and 
goals over time.
  Ms. Heard also leads outside the classroom. She regularly 
collaborates with school staff to assist with everything from bus 
tickets to emotional support to food for her students.
  I could not be more proud to represent teachers like Ms. Heard, and 
to know that our next generation of leaders is in such great hands. I 
thank her for all her hard work, and I congratulate her on her well-
deserved honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank all the incredible southern Nevada teachers who 
deserve our appreciation, not just this week, but every week.

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