[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 86 (Friday, May 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H3343-H3344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IMPROVING WELLNESS SERVICES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

  (Mr. RUIZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, our men and women wearing the badge 
experience life-threatening risks every day.
  As an emergency medicine physician, the increasing access to both 
physical and mental health resources have been a priority of mine, 
which is why I have successfully advocated to increase funding to the 
law enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Program fivefold to $10 
million and am advocating to increase it to $12 million. This funding 
will improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness 
services for law enforcement.

[[Page H3344]]

  In closing, I want to take a moment to recognize the names of the 
officers from my district who have made the ultimate sacrifice: Deputy 
Sheriff Brett Harris, Deputy Sheriff Anthony Joel Redondo, Police 
Officer Efren Coronel, Police Officer Jose Gilbert Vega, Police Officer 
Lesley Marie Zerebny, and K9 Sultan of the Riverside County Sheriff's 
Department. I also recognize their families for their immense service 
and sacrifice.
  As we close National Police Week, I urge my colleagues to follow 
words with action that will improve the lives of fallen first 
responders' families.

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