[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 6]
[House]
[Pages 7971-7974]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   OFFICER DANIEL FAULKNER CHILDREN OF FALLEN HEROES SCHOLARSHIP ACT

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 959) to increase Federal Pell Grants for the children of 
fallen public safety officers, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 959

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Officer Daniel Faulkner 
     Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act of 2010''.

     SEC. 2. CALCULATION OF ELIGIBILITY.

        Section 473(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 1087mm(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting 
     ``(in the case of a student who meets the requirement of 
     subparagraph (B)(i)), or academic year 2011-2012 (in the case 
     of a student who meets the requirement of subparagraph 
     (B)(ii)),'' after ``academic year 2009-2010''; and
       (B) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:
       ``(B) whose parent or guardian was--
       ``(i) a member of the Armed Forces of the United States and 
     died as a result of performing military service in Iraq or 
     Afghanistan after September 11, 2001; or
       ``(ii) was actively serving as a public safety officer and 
     died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety 
     officer; and'';
       (2) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) by striking ``Notwithstanding'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(A) Armed forces.--Notwithstanding'';
       (B) by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and inserting 
     ``subparagraphs (A), (B)(i), and (C) of paragraph (2)''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) Public safety officers.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, unless the Secretary establishes an 
     alternate method to adjust the expected family contribution, 
     for each student who meets the requirements of subparagraphs 
     (A), (B)(ii), and (C) of paragraph (2), a financial aid 
     administrator shall--
       ``(i) verify with the student that the student is eligible 
     for the adjustment;
       ``(ii) adjust the expected family contribution in 
     accordance with this subsection; and
       ``(iii) notify the Secretary of the adjustment and the 
     student's eligibility for the adjustment.''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) Treatment of pell amount.--Notwithstanding section 
     1212 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 
     1968, in the case of a student who receives an increased 
     Federal Pell Grant amount under this section, the total 
     amount of such Federal Pell Grant, including the increase 
     under this subsection, shall not be considered in calculating 
     that student's educational assistance benefits under the 
     Public Safety Officer's Benefits program.
       ``(5) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
       ``(A) the term `public safety officer' means an individual 
     serving a public agency in an official capacity, with or 
     without compensation, as a law enforcement officer, as a 
     firefighter, or as a member of a rescue squad or ambulance 
     crew;
       ``(B) the term `law enforcement officer' means an 
     individual who--
       ``(i) is authorized by law to engage in or supervise the 
     prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of, or 
     the incarceration of any person for, any violation of law; 
     and
       ``(ii) has statutory powers of arrest or apprehension;
       ``(C) the term `firefighter' means an individual who is 
     trained in the suppression of fire or hazardous-materials 
     response and has the legal authority to engage in these 
     duties;
       ``(D) the term `member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew' 
     means an individual who is an officially recognized or 
     designated public employee member of a rescue squad or 
     ambulance crew; and
       ``(E) the term `public agency' means the United States, any 
     State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United 
     States, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the 
     Pacific Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
     Islands, any territory or possession of the United States, or 
     any unit of local government, department, agency, or 
     instrumentality of any of the foregoing, and the Amtrak 
     Police and Federal Reserve Police departments.''.

     SEC. 3. CALCULATION OF PELL GRANT AMOUNT.

       Section 401(b)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as 
     amended by the SAFRA Act (Public Law 111-152), is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause 
     (i), by striking ``The Amount'' and inserting ``Subject to 
     subparagraph (C), the amount''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(C) In the case of a student who meet the requirements of 
     subparagraphs (A), (B)(ii), and (C) of section 473(b)(2)--
       ``(i) clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph 
     shall be applied by substituting `from the amounts 
     appropriated in the last enacted appropriation Act applicable 
     to that award year, an amount equal to the amount of the 
     increase calculated under paragraph (8)(B) for that year' for 
     `the amount of the increase calculated under paragraph (8)(B) 
     for that year'; and
       ``(ii) such student--

       ``(I) shall be provided an amount under clause (i) of this 
     subparagraph only to the extent that funds are specifically 
     provided in advance in an appropriation Act to such students 
     for that award year; and
       ``(II) shall not be eligible for the amounts made available 
     pursuant to clauses (i) through (iii) of paragraph (8)(A).''.

     SEC. 4. BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

       The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
     complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall 
     be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 
     ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, 
     submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the 
     Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such 
     statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

     SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take 
     effect on July 1, 2011.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Woolsey) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.

                              {time}  1230


                             General Leave

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H.R. 
959 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in full support of H.R. 959, which offers 
financial assistance for higher education to the children of police 
officers, firefighters, and other first responders who made the 
ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
  Madam Speaker, it is an American responsibility to look after the 
children of our fallen heroes. A small but important gesture to 
fulfilling this commitment is to make a college education possible for 
the children who have lost a parent in the line of duty. These mothers 
and fathers have given their lives so that we might be safe. We should 
do all that we can to help their sons and daughters be successful.
  We know that the loss of a parent can make it difficult for families 
to make ends meet, let alone send their kids to college. Making their 
children eligible for the maximum Pell Grant is the way to thank the 
officers for their sacrifice and to give their children an education 
which they might not otherwise be able to afford.
  Under this bill, a child of a fallen police officer, firefighter, or 
other first responder who is eligible for a Pell Grant would become 
automatically eligible for the maximum Pell award. This legislation 
would waive the income eligibility requirements in such cases.
  With passage of the 2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act, we 
expanded Pell Grants to survivors of soldiers killed in Iraq and 
Afghanistan in a similar manner. As a result, these children will be 
eligible for more than $20,000 in grants for college over 4 years.
  Whether it's a sacrifice made on a distant battlefield or protecting 
our citizens here at home, it's time we extended this benefit to all of 
the children of our fallen heroes. Our fallen heroes deserve our thanks 
and they deserve our respect, and we can honor

[[Page 7972]]

them by supporting their children as they seek out a higher education.
  I ask that my colleagues join me in full support of H.R. 959, and to 
take a moment to appreciate the daily sacrifices made by America's 
police officers, firefighters, and first responders.
  I want to thank Representative Murphy for bringing this resolution to 
the floor, and I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution.
  I also want to thank Chairman Conyers of the Judiciary Committee for 
working with the Education and Labor Committee on allowing this bill to 
move expeditiously to the floor.

                                         House of Representatives,


                                   Committee on the Judiciary,

                                     Washington, DC, May 10, 2010.
     Hon. George Miller,
     Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Miller: In recognition of the desire to 
     expedite consideration of H.R. 959, the Officer Daniel 
     Faulkner Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act of 2010, 
     the Committee on the Judiciary agrees to waive formal 
     consideration of the bill as to provisions that fall within 
     its rule X jurisdiction.
       The Committee takes this action with our mutual 
     understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 959 at 
     this time, it does not waive any jurisdiction over subject 
     matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that our 
     Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as the 
     bill or similar legislation moves forward, so that we may 
     address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction. The 
     Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an 
     appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate 
     conference involving this or similar legislation, and 
     requests your support for any such request.
       I would appreciate your including this letter in the 
     Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the 
     House floor.
       Thank you for your attention to this matter, and for the 
     cooperative working relationship between our two committees.
           Sincerely,
                                                John Conyers, Jr.,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                             Committee on Education and Labor,

                                     Washington, DC, May 10, 2010.
     Hon. John Conyers,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, Rayburn House Office 
         Building, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Conyers: Thank you for your May 10, 2010, 
     letter regarding H.R. 959, Officer Daniel Faulkner Children 
     of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act of 2010. Your support for 
     this legislation and your assistance in ensuring its timely 
     consideration are greatly appreciated.
       I agree that provisions in the bill are within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary. I acknowledge 
     that by waiving rights to further consideration at this time 
     of H.R. 959, your Committee is not relinquishing its 
     jurisdiction and I will fully support your request to be 
     represented in a House-Senate conference on those provisions 
     over which the Committee on the Judiciary has jurisdiction in 
     H.R. 959, or similar legislation. A copy of our letters will 
     be placed in the Congressional Record during consideration of 
     the bill on the House floor.
       I value your cooperation and look forward to working with 
     you as we move ahead with this important legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                    George Miller,
                                                         Chairman.

  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KLINE of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 959, the Officer 
Daniel Faulkner Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act of 2010. I'm 
sure we're going to hear from my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Patrick J. Murphy) something about Officer Daniel Faulkner.
  He represents a profession where the men and women serving put their 
lives on the line every day. And H.R. 959 honors this ultimate 
sacrifice that fallen heroic police officers and firefighters make by 
providing their children with a helping hand that they cannot be there 
to provide in furthering their education.
  Children of fallen Active Duty service men and women are already 
afforded this same assistance. This act ensures police officers and 
firefighters are honored in the same manner as our brave soldiers, 
sailors, airmen, and Marines for giving their lives to protect our 
safety.
  Every year hundreds of police officers, firefighters, and other 
public safety officers die in the line of duty. Their jobs are 
inherently dangerous, and they accept this risk to protect America's 
citizens. It is important that we recognize their sacrifice and honor 
their lives. The Officer Daniel Faulkner Children of Fallen Heroes 
Scholarship Act provides a fiscally responsible way to convey our 
gratitude and respect for those who sacrifice their lives to protect 
us.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the author of 
H.R. 959, the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Congressman Patrick Murphy, 
for as much time as he may consume.
  Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I thank the 
gentlelady from California, and also the gentleman from Minnesota, 
Congressman Kline, my Republican colleague, thank you so much for your 
service to our country in the Marine Corps and for supporting this 
bill. I do appreciate it.
  Madam Speaker, I would also like to thank my colleague from across 
the aisle, Republican Todd Platts from Pennsylvania. He has been my 
battle buddy and my partner on this bipartisan bill. But his steadfast 
commitment to our Nation's first responders is second to none. We've 
worked on this bill together for 3 years now and today, finally, it 
will come to fruition, and it's been an honor to partner with him.
  Madam Speaker, you know that this is National Police Week and 
Saturday is National Peace Officers Memorial Day. During these times of 
recognition and reflection, it's critical that we pause and thank those 
who bravely and selflessly protect us and our families.
  But unfortunately, Madam Speaker, far too often we never get the 
chance to truly express our deep appreciation because too often a 
police officer, a firefighter, an EMS professional is taken from us too 
soon.
  Last year, in 2009 alone, 126 law enforcement officers and 90 
firefighters were killed in the line of duty. They and their families 
gave the ultimate sacrifice. These heroes sacrificed their lives for 
the most noble of causes, serving their community and their country.
  And Madam Speaker, as so many of us remember, such was a tragedy 29 
years ago when Officer Daniel Faulkner was murdered in Philadelphia 
during a routine traffic stop in Center City.
  Officer Faulkner served in the Army prior to joining the Philadelphia 
Police Department. At the time of his death, just a few weeks before 
his 26th birthday, Danny was working toward his bachelor's degree in 
criminal justice at night, hoping to eventually work in the district 
attorney's office as a prosecutor. But because of the actions of a 
cold-blooded killer, he never got that chance.
  Madam Speaker, it was his example of service, of valor and dedication 
that inspired me to introduce the Officer Daniel Faulkner Children of 
Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act. Under our legislation, if a child of one 
of these fallen heroes is eligible for any amount of Pell Grant money, 
they will become automatically eligible for the maximum grant 
available. In 2010, this means $5,550 to help pay for college and 
nearly $6,000 by 2017.
  This bill is in honor of Officer Faulkner and the thousands of other 
heroes, including 11 officers, 21 firefighters, and two EMS workers who 
have lost their lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This bill is for 
Middletown Police Officer Christopher Jones, killed in 2009; for 
paramedic Daniel McIntosh, killed just a few months ago in March 2010; 
and for countless others who have made the ultimate sacrifice. I'd like 
to submit for the Record the list of names of Bucks County police 
officers, firefighters, and EMS workers who did give the ultimate 
sacrifice. They are our community's heroes.

        Bucks County First Responders Killed in the Line of Duty

       Following is the list of Bucks County's fallen Police, 
     Firefighters, and Paramedics killed over the past century:


                                 POLICE

       Sheriff Abraham L. Kulp
       Shot to death on Feb. 24th, 1927 while trying to serve a 
     warrant in Bedminster Township.
       Chief Eli Myers

[[Page 7973]]

       Chief of Police Myers was directing traffic at the scene of 
     a brush fire when he was struck from behind by a vehicle he 
     had waved through the intersection. Chief Myers was 
     transported to a nearby hospital where he died a short time 
     later. Dublin Borough, died Oct. 31, 1965. Struck on foot by 
     vehicle. Aged 50 years, Chief Myers served 10 years.
       Sgt. George Stuckey
       Detective Sergeant Stuckey was shot and killed during a 
     traffic stop. The suspects were speeding when Sergeant 
     Stuckey pulled them over in front of the Bristol Twp Police 
     Department. Unbeknownst to Sergeant Stuckey, the suspects had 
     just robbed a bank. Bristol Township, died March 29, 1972. 
     Aged 33 years, Sergeant Stuckey served 7 years.
       Officer James Armstrong
       Officer Armstrong was overpowered by a robbery suspect. The 
     suspect gained control of Officer Armstrong's service weapon 
     and shot him with his own gun. Officer Armstrong's K-9 dog 
     was also killed by the suspect. The suspect received a life 
     sentence. Officer Armstrong died Apr. 15, 1975. He was aged 
     27 years and had served 4.
       Officer Robert Yezzi
       Officer Yezzi was struck by a passing vehicle while 
     struggling with suspect. Bensalem Township, died Aug. 12th, 
     1980. Aged 29 years, Officer Yezzi served 5 years.
       Deputy Sheriffs Thomas Bateman and George Warta
       Deputy Bateman and Deputy George Warta were killed when 
     their patrol car was struck head on by a tractor trailer on 
     Sept. 22, 1986. Deputy Bateman was aged 31 years, and served 
     9 and Deputy Warta was aged 47 years and served 7 years.
       Ranger Stanley Flynn
       On September 22nd, 1986, Deputy Bateman was returning to 
     his patrol area after leaving a prisoner at the jail. He and 
     Deputy George Warta were involved in a traffic accident on 
     Street Road in Warrington Township. Their vehicle went out of 
     control and they were struck head on by a vehicle traveling 
     in the opposite direction.
       Officer Joseph E. Hanusey
       Officer Hanusey was killed in an automobile accident while 
     responding to assist another officer. The officer requesting 
     back up had initiated a DUI traffic stop and was not 
     responding to the Bucks County Dispatch Officer's calls. 
     While en route, in heavy rain, Patrolman Hanusey's patrol car 
     left the roadway and struck some trees at US Route 611 and 
     Haring Road in Plumville, Pennsylvania. Officer Hanusey died 
     May 18th, 2002. He was aged 30 years, and had served 5.5 
     years.
       Officer Brian Gregg
       Newtown Police Officer Gregg was killed on September 29, 
     2005 in an emergency room massacre at St. Mary Medical Center 
     in Middletown Township.
       Officer Chris Jones
       Detective Chris Jones was struck and killed by a drunk 
     driver while conducting a traffic stop on Route 1, near the 
     I-95 interchange. As he was returning to his patrol car, two 
     cars collided and careened into his vehicle, which then 
     struck him. He was transported to a local hospital where he 
     succumbed to his injuries a short time later. The driver who 
     struck Detective Jones was charged with homicide by vehicle 
     and several other charges. Detective Jones had served with 
     the Middletown Township Police Department for 10 years and 
     was posthumously promoted to the rank of Detective. He is 
     survived by his wife and three children. Officer Jones died 
     Jan. 29th, 2009. He was aged 37 years, and served 10 years.


                                  FIRE

       Walter L. Moore, Foreman:
       Bristol Fire Company No. 1, Station 51
       On April 21st 1915, Foreman Moore was killed in the line of 
     duty while his apparatus he was riding in was struck by a 
     train while responding to house boat fires.
       Willis Sames, Fireman:
       Perkasie Fire Company, Station 26
       On April 1st 1926, firefighter Sames was killed in the line 
     of duty when his apparatus he was in crashed while going to a 
     drill in Quakertown.
       Jacob C. Crouthamel, Fireman:
       Perkasie Fire Company, Station 26
       On April 1st 1926, firefighter Crouthamel was killed in the 
     line of duty when his apparatus he was in crashed while going 
     to a drill in Quakertown.
       James F. Hurley, Fireman:
       Yardley-Makefield Fire Company, Sta-
     tion 0
       In April 1949, firefighter Hurley was killed in the line of 
     duty on box 0-1, when he was crushed between the ladder truck 
     and the fire station bay door.
       William Bell, Fire Police Captain:
       Warrington Fire Company, Station 29
       On January 19th, 1964, fire police captain Bell was killed 
     in the line of duty while directing traffic at an accident 
     scene.
       David S. Rubright, Assistant Chief:
       Levittown Fire Company No. 1, Station 32
       On November 15th, 1969, Assistant Chief Rubright was killed 
     in the line of duty with a heart attack shortly after 
     performing search and rescue on box 32-4, 16 Narcissus Lane.
       Walter D. Miller, Fireman:
       Croydon Fire Company, Station 11
       On September 28th, 1970, Firefighter Miller was killed in 
     the line of duty while operating on box 11-34, falling from 
     the apparatus at State Road and Cedar Avenue.
       Rudolph W. Bisler, Fireman:
       Feasterville Fire Company, Station 1
       On April 8th, 1971, firefighter Bisler died in the line of 
     duty after a suffering a heart attack while driving an engine 
     to a fire at the Phoenix Swim Club in Lower Southampton Twp.
       Robert Roberts, Fireman:
       Hartsville Fire Company Station 93
       Watson Eyre Wright Jr., Fireman:
       Warwick Fire Company Station 66
       On Dec. 7th, 1974, died in the line of duty of a heart 
     attack after returning from a dwelling fire.
       Henry Costello, Fire Police Captain:
       Line Lexington Fire Company, Station 60
       On October 21st, 1975, fire police captain Costello died in 
     the line of duty on box 60-01, the Hillside Inn 1903 
     Bethlehem Pike.
       Wesley Evans, Fireman:
       Bristol Consolidated Fire Company, Station 50
       On December 12th, 1975, firefighter Evans died in the line 
     of duty of a heart attack while operating on box 53-35, 332 
     Cleveland Street.
       Geary Von Hoffman, Fireman:
       Falls Township Fire Company No. 1, Station 30
       On April 26th, 1976, firefighter Hoffman was killed in the 
     line of duty while operating on box 30-41 when a flashover 
     occurred at the St. George's Diner on Lincoln Highway.
       John S. Buranich III, Fireman:
       Edgely Fire Company, Station 10
       On November 10th, 1976, firefighter Buranich died in the 
     line of duty from injuries which occurred on July 23, 1976, 
     while responding on box 10-36.
       Julian R. Bley, Sr., Assistant Chief:
       Bristol Fire Company No. 1, Station 51
       On June 8th, 1984, Assistant Chief Bley was killed in the 
     line of duty when he was electrocuted on box 53-16 at the 
     Purex Corp, Radcliffe Street.
       Thomas J. Gibson, Fireman:
       Union Fire Company, Station 37
       On March 6th, 1985 firefighter Gibson was killed in the 
     line of duty when he fell from an aerial ladder while 
     operating on box 11-33.
       Stanley R. Konefal, Fire Chief:
       Cornwells Fire Company No. 1, Station 16
       On November 15th, 1986, Chief Konefal died in the line of 
     duty when he was overcome by fumes while operating on box 16-
     4, 1154 Tennis Avenue.
       Milton E. Majors, Fire Police Captain:
       Union Fire Company, Station 37
       Tom Graver, Fire Police Captain:
       Feasterville Fire Company, Station 1
       On February 19th, 1974, Fire Police Captain Graver was 
     killed in the line of duty while directing traffic at Street 
     Road and Pennsylvania Blvd.
       Nelson ``Snooky'' Margerum, Fire Chief:
       Yardley-Makefield Fire Company, Sta-
     tion 0
       Chief Margerum died in the line of duty on March 15th, 
     1992, after suffering a heart attack while operating on box 
     0-5, 326 Big Oak Road.
       Walter F. Vaughan, Fire Police Officer:
       Warminster Fire Company, Station 90
       On November 13th, 1999 fire police officer Vaughan was 
     killed in the line of duty while directing traffic on box 92-
     36, 1575 West Street Road.


                             EMS/PARAMEDIC:

       Dale Francis
       Died in 2001
       Dan Macintosh (Paramedic)
       Died in 2010
       March 7, 2010

  Madam Speaker, every first responder deserves to know that if the 
unthinkable were to happen, their children would be taken care of and 
that their family would not be alone. This legislation is a small step 
in that direction.
  The work these heroes do every day puts an incredible strain on their 
families, too. I know it because my father, Jack Murphy, spent over 20 
years in the Philadelphia Police Department. Fortunately for my family, 
he came home every night. But when he left for work, I could see the 
strain in my mother's face. She always said to us three children, Make 
sure you kiss your father good-bye because you never know if that's the 
last time you'll see him. She knew the risks of my dad's profession. 
But she also knew that he was doing his duty to protect all of us.
  So many families in our communities are just like mine. And with this 
bill, this Congress can come together as Democrats and Republicans, as 
Americans, to do our part to ensure that the children of our fallen 
heroes can still afford to go to college despite their profound loss.
  We have received tremendous support for this bill. It has been 
endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, the International 
Association of Firefighters, and Members on both sides of this aisle.

[[Page 7974]]

  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill because we 
must never forget what American heroes like Danny Faulkner, like 
Christopher Jones, like Daniel McIntosh, and countless others have 
given, and we must keep faith with those who love them.
  Mr. KLINE of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to 
support H.R. 959, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. SCHWARTZ. Madam Speaker, I strongly support the families of the 
brave men and women who fight every day to keep our communities safe 
and that is why I believe the Officer Daniel Faulkner Children of 
Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act is such an important piece of 
legislation.
  Inspired by the heroic service of Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel 
Faulkner, this legislation would offer financial assistance for higher 
education to the children of police officers, firefighters, and other 
first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. 
Officer Faulkner's own life was tragically cut short when he was 
murdered performing a simple traffic stop.
  Officer Faulkner is one example of the countless first responders who 
put themselves into harm's way every day. Tragically, since 2006, seven 
police officers from my district have died in the line of duty: Officer 
John Pawlowski, Officer Gary Skerski, Officer Chuck Cassidy, Officer 
Isabel Nazario, Sergeant Patrick McDonald, Sergeant Tim Simpson and 
Officer Stephen Liczbinski. These men and women selflessly risk 
everything so the rest of us may live in peace and safety. This Act 
will help the children of fallen heroes to be all they can be. It is 
yet another way for us to honor their service and their sacrifice.
  This legislation is one way to meet our shared debt of gratitude to 
our police officers, firefighters, and other first responders, to their 
families and to their children.
  Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 959, the 
Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship Act, which provides financial 
assistance for higher education to the children of police officers, 
firefighters, and other first responders who made the ultimate 
sacrifice in the line of duty. Representative Patrick Murphy and I 
introduced this legislation so that a child of one of these fallen 
service men and women would become automatically eligible for the 
maximum Pell Grant amount. This benefit already exists for the children 
of military service members who are killed in action.
  This legislation is aimed at ensuring we do right by police officers, 
firefighters and other first responders who put their own lives at risk 
everyday to keep us safe. Making a college education more accessible to 
the children of these fallen heroes is an important expression of our 
Nation's gratitude. This legislation is a justified price for our 
Nation to pay to ensure that those serving on the front lines in our 
communities know that a higher education will be within their 
children's reach should the unthinkable happen. I urge all of my 
colleagues to support this important legislation.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 959, 
which offers financial assistance for higher education to the children 
of police officers, firefighters, and other first responders who made 
the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 959, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________