[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H3403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING NATIONAL POLICE WEEK AND HONORING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS

  (Mr. RUIZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise during National Police Week to honor 
the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to keep our 
community safe.
  In 2016, Palm Springs Police Officers Lesley Zerebny and Gil Vega 
were killed in the line of duty. Because of their tragedy, I introduced 
the Heroes Lesley Zerebny and Gilbert Vega First Responders Survivors 
Support Act to strengthen the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program 
and make sure the families of fallen officers receive the support they 
deserve. With today's cost of living, they are struggling to make ends 
meet.
  This bill will increase death benefits, so surviving families can pay 
off most of their debt, if not all of it. It will increase education 
benefits to cover the rising cost of an education. It will help 
officers' widows and children get on a stable footing.
  Mr. Speaker, we can honor the sacrifice that families of fallen 
officers have made by passing this legislation, and we must.

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