[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15401]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             THE SHIELD ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise once again this morning to thank 
the men and women of the Federal law enforcement community, as well as 
those brave soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, for what they do to 
protect this great Nation both abroad and here at home.
  Certainly, we are thankful for them each and every day for protecting 
us in our Nation, but recent events again remind us of their 
importance.
  After the Capitol was thrown into lock-down last week, Capitol Police 
and other Federal officers sprang into action to protect the building 
and those inside. In their rush to service, I'm sure none of them 
thought about the fact that as we continue in a partial government 
shutdown that they may not be paid even though, for some, that may have 
been the case.
  While there is uncertainty about the Nation's fiscal path in 
Washington, that uncertainty should never be passed along to our 
servicemembers and Federal law enforcement officers. The Strengthening 
Homeland Security, Intelligence, and Essential Law Enforcement 
Departments Act, or SHIELD Act, of 2013 would alleviate that doubt. 
This simple, bipartisan legislation that I have introduced prioritizes 
and protects pay for soldiers and law enforcement personnel if 
borrowing limits are reached or if there is an interruption in 
appropriations like there is right now.
  In our most difficult hours, we rely on our law enforcement officers 
and our military for the protection of our lives, liberty, and freedom. 
No servicemember or critical officer protecting the United States at 
home or abroad should have to worry about their paychecks in the event 
of a government shutdown, nor should they be used as a bargaining chip 
during partisan budget debates. Thankfully, during this current budget 
impasse, pay for our troops was secured early through a bipartisan 
vote, and I applaud the President for agreeing to it. However, the 
SHIELD Act would codify the measure into law, meaning paychecks would 
never again be threatened, and action would never have to be taken to 
protect this very basic principle.

                              {time}  1015

  This bill already has the strong support of organizations like the 
Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, which represents 
dedicated first responders. Just as important, it is commonsense 
legislation that everyday Americans understand and expect from a 
Congress that often stumbles in its responsibilities.
  Mr. Speaker, we owe it to the brave men and women who protect us--
both abroad and in your communities--to make sure their pay doesn't 
become a political pawn at the whim of battling ideologies.
  No members of our Federal law enforcement community or armed services 
should have to worry about the financial situation of their family back 
home while they are on the job; nor should we let our financial 
problems rest on the backs of those who selflessly serve the American 
people.
  By ensuring funding for critical Federal officers and our troops, we 
are allowing agencies and departments to sustain a strong law 
enforcement and military presence at all times, regardless of fiscal 
conditions.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this commonsense, bipartisan 
legislation, and I call for leadership in both parties to consider the 
SHIELD Act for quick passage.

                          ____________________