[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9304-9305]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here tonight in the 
well in personal support of our law enforcement officers, all of them 
all across the United States. Along with our military members serving 
so bravely in harm's way overseas, our law enforcement officers deserve 
high recognition and a special place in our hearts for their service in 
the name of security and safety.
  With this being National Police Week and Saturday, May 15, being 
National Peace Officer's Memorial Day, I think it is important for us 
to pause to recognize the noble duty performed by our peace officers. I 
recognize the special difficulties that come with being both a crime 
fighter and a keeper of public safety. I cannot imagine the hazards 
faced by these brave men and women every day. Not only do law 
enforcement officers fight crime, they work tirelessly, night and day, 
to prevent crime from happening in the first place.
  According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 145 
law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in 2003. On 
average, more than 58,066 law enforcement officers are assaulted each 
year, resulting in some 16,494 serious injuries. We have all witnessed 
frightening scenes and events where no one else would want to go, but 
the first people who respond to these incidents and accidents are the 
police. To me that encapsulates the honorable service of our Nation's 
police officers. They go places that most folks want to avoid.
  In fact, just today an alert in the Rayburn House Office Building 
notified us of a suspicious substance that was found. I admired the 
officers of the Capitol Police who were there to cordon off a corridor 
during this alert. I thank God that the alert proved negative, but the 
mission and duties of all

[[Page 9305]]

law enforcement officers were brought into sharp relief, and at that 
moment I was thankful for the protection of us in this body of the 
Capitol Police.
  Fighting crime is not an easy job, and I am certainly not a police 
officer, but I think I am safe in that assertion. It is a scary job 
with a lot of danger, but the brave men and women of law enforcement 
take up the banner of justice and safety for us all. We should be very 
proud of that.
  Mr. Speaker, a tremendous amount of our homeland security falls on 
the shoulders of local police officers. Our police are the ones who 
investigate and apprehend suspects who would unleash terror in our 
homeland. They are the ones we look to for protection and safety 
against the tragedy of crime and disaster.
  Mr. Speaker, any investment that we make in public safety is a 
winning proposition. There is a great need to support law enforcement 
not only through our words but through our actions.
  Coming from a rural area, I know all too well the challenges faced by 
people who do not live in or near major cities. There is a unique set 
of circumstances that confront our rural law enforcement officers every 
day. That is why I am pleased to join my friend, the gentleman from 
Oklahoma (Mr. Carson) by cosponsoring H.R. 4276, the Rural Safety Law 
Enforcement Improvement Act. This is good legislation that not only 
goes a long way to making rural communities safer, but helps to heal 
some of the damage caused by drug abuse. Rural areas suffer from the 
same problems that urban and suburban areas do, but the rural areas 
must make do with fewer resources.
  Mr. Speaker, I am fully committed to honoring and providing for our 
law enforcement officers from all regions of our Nation. I am hopeful 
that we all remember them not just during National Police Week but year 
around. They provide immeasurable service to us and I hope that we 
remember them when it really counts.
  To all law enforcement officers, I thank you and may God continue to 
bless you and your families.

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