[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8543-8544]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING CONCERNS OF POLICE SURVIVORS

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 562, which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 562) honoring Concerns of Police 
     Survivors as the organization begins its 25th year of service 
     to family members of law enforcement officers killed in the 
     line of duty.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, our Nation is blessed by the selfless 
service of more than 26 million Americans who come to the aid of their 
fellow citizens through countless volunteer organizations at the 
national, State and local levels. Some of these organizations are 
household names, like the American Legion, Scouting, the American Red 
Cross, and the American Cancer Society. Others perform their good work 
in relative obscurity.
  This week, on the occasion of National Police Week, I rise to 
acknowledge the good work of a voluntary organization that few outside 
the law enforcement community may ever have heard of. But for those in 
the law enforcement community, it is the organization to which families 
turn in times of tragedy. I am referring to Concerns of Police 
Survivors, C.O.P.S. It serves some 15,000 surviving family members of 
law enforcement tragedies.
  Last year, 181 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of 
duty. Their names are being added to the National Law Enforcement 
Officers Memorial on Judiciary Square this week, bringing the total 
number of names on that memorial to 18,274. This evening, the annual 
candlelight vigil is being held at the memorial to honor our fallen law 
enforcement officers and on Thursday, Peace Officers Memorial Day, 
another ceremony will be held at the Capitol. These ceremonies are 
visible to all of us. They are attended by law enforcement officers 
from around the Nation and the surviving family members of our fallen 
law enforcement officers.
  But there is another event that occurs every year during National 
Police Week that few know about. That event is the National Police 
Survivors Seminar which is underway at a hotel in Alexandria, VA. I had 
the privilege of visiting the National Police Survivors Seminar one 
Saturday morning in 2006. It is a peaceful place and a safe place where 
families of fallen law enforcement officers can laugh, cry, grieve, and 
heal in the presence of others who have suffered similar losses. There 
are special programs for children of fallen law enforcement officers 
known as ``C.O.P.S. Kids'' and ``C.O.P.S Teens.''
  The National Police Survivors Seminar is the outgrowth of a dinner 
that occurred 25 years ago on May 14, 2003. At this dinner 10 widows of 
fallen law enforcement officers came together to ask the question, 
``What about us?'' During the National Police Week gatherings, everyone 
focuses on the loved one whose life is lost, but it also is important 
to focus on the needs of survivors who must rebuild their lives from 
the ashes.
  One year later, the first National Police Survivors Seminar was 
convened. It drew 110 law enforcement survivors. Concerns of Police 
Survivors was created at that first seminar. Suzie Sawyer was selected 
to be the first Executive Director of Concerns of Police Survivors, a 
position she still holds today. Some things have changed though. The 
National Police Survivors Seminar no longer draws hundreds now it draws 
thousands. That is both a tragedy and a blessing. It is a tragedy that 
so many law enforcement families have been touched by a line of duty 
death. It is a blessing that the volunteers of Concerns of Police 
Survivors are there looking out for them. This is but one of many 
programs that Concerns of Police Survivors offers to survivors 
throughout the year.
  Tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of that dinner meeting that 
launched Concerns of Police Survivors. I rise today to offer a 
resolution commemorating the 25th anniversary of

[[Page 8544]]

that meeting and to honor Concerns of Police Survivors for the quarter 
century of service it has provided to law enforcement families that 
have suffered a line of duty death.
  I know first hand of two Alaska families whose lives have been 
touched by the good works of Concerns of Police Survivors. They have 
touched families in every one of our States. Concerns of Police 
Survivors does not seek recognition for its good works and it's not a 
household name. But it has certainly earned our respect and admiration. 
On the occasion of its 25th anniversary I am pleased to call this 
organization's fine work to the attention of the Senate and the 
American people.
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 562) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 562

       Whereas Concerns of Police Survivors has showed the highest 
     amount of concern and respect for tens of thousands of family 
     members of officers killed in the line of duty;
       Whereas those families bear the most immediate and profound 
     burden of the absences of their loved ones;
       Whereas Concerns of Police Survivors is starting its 25th 
     year as a bedrock of strength for the families of the 
     Nation's lost heroes;
       Whereas it is essential that the Nation recognize the 
     contributions of Concerns of Police Survivors to those 
     families; and
       Whereas National Police Week, observed each year in the 
     week containing May 15, is the most appropriate time to honor 
     Concerns of Police Survivors: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes and thanks Concerns of Police Survivors for 
     assisting in the rebuilding of the lives of family members of 
     law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty across 
     the United States;
       (2) honors Concerns of Police Survivors and recognizes the 
     organization as it begins its 25th year of service to the 
     families of the fallen heroes of the Nation;
       (3) urges the people of the United States to join with the 
     Senate in thanking Concerns of Police Survivors; and
       (4) recognizes with great appreciation the sacrifices made 
     by police families and thanks them for providing essential 
     support to one another.

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