[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 182 (Friday, November 3, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H5395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING AJ ORTIZ

  (Mr. LANGWORTHY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the heroic and 
selfless actions of Buffalo Police Detective AJ Ortiz.
  On the evening of August 29, Detective Ortiz was off duty and 
traveling in my district near the town of Concord when he noticed 
taillights partially submerged in a pond. Without hesitation, he 
rescued the three elderly individuals who were trapped inside that 
sinking vehicle, saving their lives.
  In that moment, Detective Ortiz went above and beyond the call of 
duty, but I want to emphasize that his heroism goes beyond just this 
single act.
  As the second in command of the Buffalo Police Underwater Recovery 
Team, he has demonstrated his dedication to public safety and 
extraordinary commitment to our community. His training and experience 
undoubtedly played a vital and pivotal role in the positive outcome 
that would and could have quickly become a tragic situation.
  I thank Detective AJ Ortiz for his heroic actions that night and his 
continued dedication to serving western New York every single day.

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