[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 20544]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                  COPS

  (Mr. KELLER of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. KELLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the 
appropriation bill before us today. This legislation addresses the 
violent crime problem head on by investing $100 million into the COPS 
program to put more cops on the street.
  We need additional cops now more than ever. For example, in my 
hometown of Orlando, Florida, we experienced a 123 percent increase in 
the murder rate last year. Yesterday I received a letter from a 7-year-
old boy in Orlando. He writes, ``My name is Santiago Valera. I am a 7-
year-old boy. I live with my grandma. We live in Orlando, Florida. 
Every day bad people rob and kill good people. They even shot my Auntie 
Connie in her neck. I'm afraid to go outside and play. I don't want 
someone to kill my little brother or me or my grandma. Please help 
us.''
  To Santiago and all the other little boys and girls of central 
Florida, please know that we hear your concerns, and help is on the 
way.

                          ____________________