[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 150 (Monday, September 18, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H4353-H4354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PAYING TRIBUTE TO DEPUTY RYAN CLINKUNBROOMER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr.  Mike Garcia) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MIKE GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay 
tribute to a lost hero.
  This past Saturday evening, around 6 p.m., L.A. County Sheriff Deputy 
Ryan Clinkunbroomer was ambushed and brutally executed while sitting in 
his patrol vehicle in broad daylight in my district's Antelope Valley.
  At the young age of just 30 years old, Ryan had proposed to his 
beautiful fiancee, Brittany, just 4 days before he was murdered. He was 
a field training officer and was by all accounts one of the best 
sheriffs in the Palmdale station.
  Ryan was a third-generation sheriff. His dad, Mike, served as a 
sheriff, as well as his grandfather.
  Mr. Speaker, there are no words that can give solace to his family 
and fellow sheriffs in the station. The healing will take decades and 
even then will only just begin to close these very deep wounds.
  This morning, his alleged killer was apprehended.
  In the midst of the unbearable pain, Mr. Speaker, we have an 
obligation to seek justice and full accountability. We have an 
obligation to compel all elected officials at all levels of government 
and all citizens, regardless of political party, to unequivocally 
support our precious and vulnerable police officers, not just with 
words but also with resources, and not just with resources, but also 
with respect.
  The killing of a police officer should be a Federal felony punishable 
by death or life in prison, and I will do all I can to make sure that 
that happens.
  It is an indication of a failing society and culture that develops a 
human being that is comfortable with executing a hero like Deputy Ryan 
Clinkunbroomer.
  Ryan served every day of his life with honor and dignity to protect 
the good guys from the bad guys. He did it right. We owe him and his 
family and his fellow law enforcement officers a level of gratitude 
that will never be sufficient. As hard as we may try to appreciate what 
they have done, it will still only just be at the feet of their 
towering service and sacrifices.
  Praise be to God and His Son, the Father of compassion, to give the

[[Page H4354]]

Clinkunbroomer family comfort now at their darkest hour. May He and we 
hold Ryan's killer accountable with the fury of a thousand suns.
  I implore District Attorney Gascon of Los Angeles to file maximum 
charges against his alleged killer.
  May God, with Ryan by his side, protect and bless our police officers 
who put their lives on the line every day while they provide the rest 
of us with our security blanket.


                          Honoring Carl Raggio

  Mr. MIKE GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay 
tribute to my good friend, the former mayor of Glendale, and my mentor, 
Mr. Carl Raggio, who passed away on June 20 of this year.
  Carl, despite his nearly 95 years of age, remained a wise and 
sprightly man until he left us.
  A resident of my hometown, Santa Clarita, Carl was a family man. He 
is survived by his lovely bride of 72 years, Lynne; as well as their 
sons, Carl and Paul; and their daughter, Lisa; 15 grandchildren; and 8 
great-grandchildren.
  Carl was, in fact, a rocket scientist. Working at JPL for 39 years, 
he was instrumental in the design of several pioneering spacecraft, 
including Explorer 1, which was the first satellite launched by the 
United States into space in 1958, and he did it all with just a slide 
rule. Can you imagine that?
  Today, Carl is in Heaven, flying higher than any spacecraft he 
developed in this world.
  Godspeed, Carl Raggio. Thank you for your love of country and your 
service to our beautiful Nation.

                          ____________________