[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 146 (Thursday, September 19, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H5454]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING SHERIFF BROCK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Rose) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a Tennessee hero 
who has dedicated his life to serving and protecting the members of his 
community: Van Buren County Sheriff Michael Brock.
  Sheriff Brock has shown outstanding loyalty to and performed 
exemplary service for his community. He should be recognized for his 
selfless actions, which go beyond his duties as sheriff.
  The people of Van Buren County, Tennessee, know their sheriff to be 
hardworking, compassionate, and sincere. Sheriff Brock does everything 
he can to protect his community under any and all conditions. For 
example, when Sheriff Brock learned that two of his townspeople were in 
danger due to knee-deep snow and subzero temperatures plaguing the 
Tennessee area of Van Buren County last January, he immediately set out 
to protect and assist them in any way possible.
  The first was a gentleman with a medical condition who had wandered 
towards the woods away from his mother's home on the night of January 
15.
  He was reported missing on the 16th, and Sheriff Brock immediately 
organized a search from the residence, tracking footsteps and working 
late into the night, only calling off the search when it became too 
dangerous for the search team to continue their efforts.
  Sheriff Brock demonstrated kindness and empathy as he personally 
updated the family through every effort, working closely with the 
Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the nearby State park 
officials.
  Devastatingly, the missing gentleman who was rescued from falling off 
a 700-foot drop in the forest, later succumbed to his injuries. Even 
after the search, Sheriff Brock was the first to console the family, 
moving from protecting them physically to fortifying their hearts.
  As the winter storm raged on, Sheriff Brock soon learned that a 
citizen on the outskirts of town needed critical medication. She had 
just undergone numerous back surgeries and spent over 1 month in the 
hospital.
  However, icy roads near her home had stranded her nurse and prevented 
her from getting the needed medications. Sheriff Brock saw that she was 
taken care of, driving across multiple counties to retrieve the 
medication. The roads were so hazardous that the trip took four times 
the normal period to make that journey. Time was not a concern to 
Sheriff Brock, but her safety and health certainly were.
  Sheriff Brock's actions and timely rescue meant she was safe from 
further medical complications and readmission to the hospital.
  Madam Speaker, Sheriff Brock is a blessing and a credit to his 
department, community, and people. His actions and tireless protections 
of his community have left people with a sincere sense of security 
knowing that they have him and his department watching out for them.
  He expects no praise, no credit, and no notice of his tireless 
selflessness.
  However, today I rise to recognize him. His leadership and heroism 
serve as an example to us all.

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