[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 21358]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    APPRECIATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

  Mr. DURBIN. A few weeks ago my colleague, who is now presiding, the 
Senator from Minnesota, introduced a resolution in the Senate 
acknowledging the hard work of the Capitol Police and all the security 
forces around Capitol Hill. I was happy to join with him and all the 
other Senators in that resolution.
  A few days ago, with the assistance of Jeri Thomson, who serves as 
the Secretary of the Senate, we prepared these buttons which are small 
and probably cannot be seen by anyone following this debate. But the 
word on them is ``heartfelt'' thank you to the Capitol Police. Most of 
these men and women have been working 12-hour shifts at least 6 days a 
week since September 11.
  I just had a few words with one of the officers at the Dirksen 
Building. She told me that while she is working 6 days a week 12 hours 
a day, her husband is working for the Red Cross 7 days a week and 12 
hours a day. They have two children--3 years old and 5 years old. I 
said: Did you have any chance to go trick or treating with the kids? 
She said, she didn't get home until 8:30; they would just have to wait 
until next year.
  That is part of the sacrifice by so many people who don't receive 
recognition in the Congress but deserve it.
  For those men and women who are standing out there protecting this 
House that belongs to the American people and this building that 
symbolizes so much in our democracy, I want them to know that from all 
the Members of the Senate this expression of gratitude is heartfelt.
  Thank you so much for all you do every single. I hope we can find a 
way to bring some relief to your life soon. I hope as well that we can 
see some relief in the lives of all Americans who have been troubled 
and worried over the events since September 11.

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