[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 11849-11850]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




MOMENT OF SILENCE TO HONOR OFFICER JACOB J. CHESTNUT AND DETECTIVE JOHN 
                               M. GIBSON

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the 
Senate will observe a moment of silence in memory of Officer Jacob J. 
Chestnut and Detective John M. Gibson of the U.S. Capitol Police.
  (Moment of silence.)
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Oregon.
  Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I thank the Chair for leading the moment 
of silence we just had for Officer Jacob Chestnut and Detective John 
Gibson of the U.S. Capitol Police.
  It is important to recognize that each and every day the citizens of 
the United States come to the Capitol. They are able to visit this 
Chamber and visit the offices of their elected Senators and, across the 
building, the offices of the Members of the House of Representatives. 
They are able to do so because the Capitol Police maintain a form of 
security that gives us this access while at the same time protects the 
functioning of democracy from the very real threats of a changing 
world.
  So it is appropriate that the east front door was renamed the 
Memorial Door in honor of Officer Jacob Chestnut and Detective John 
Gibson and that we take this moment to recognize the service of all of 
the members of the Capitol Police who not only protect all of those who 
work here, all of those who legislate here, but all of the citizens of 
the country who come to advocate for their concerns.
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I want to take this opportunity to pay 
tribute to two law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the 
line of duty at the U.S. Capitol on July 24, 1998.
  Thirteen years ago today, Officer Jacob Chestnut and Detective John 
Michael Gibson each of whom had spent 18 years on the Capitol Police 
force, lost their lives while safeguarding the Capitol against an 
armed, emotionally disturbed individual. As a Member of the U.S. House 
of Representatives at this time, I interacted with these officers on a 
regular basis. Their tragic, violent deaths profoundly affected us all.
  We want these officers' family members and friends to know that these 
two fine police officers did not die in vain; if not for their 
courageous and immediate response, many more innocent people could have 
been injured or killed on that day in 1998.
  On this date, we take a moment to remember the sacrifice made by 
these law enforcement officers on our behalf. We keep them, their 
families, friends, and former colleagues in our thoughts and prayers.
  I also want to take this opportunity to thank all law enforcement 
officers serving at the local, State, and Federal

[[Page 11850]]

level who put their lives on the line for the American public every 
day. Our Nation is fortunate to have so many fine men and women serving 
as law enforcement officers in Mississippi and across the Nation.
  Mr. MERKLEY. Thank you, Mr. President. I note the absence of a 
quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Merkley). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

                          ____________________