[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 148]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   FIRST RESPONDER APPRECIATION WEEK

  (Mr. BILIRAKIS asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, this week is Florida's First Responder 
Appreciation Week. Every day, law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs 
put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe.
  Sadly, in my district, Tarpon Springs police officer Charles 
``Charlie K'' Kondek was shot and killed right before Christmas as he 
patrolled the streets on the midnight shift while the rest of us slept 
securely in our homes.
  There is no such thing as a typical day for first responders. On 
average, an officer dies in the line of duty every 58 hours--150 deaths 
per year.
  This week, and every day, we should be thankful for the first 
responders serving our communities. Let us never forget the sacrifices 
of Officer Kondek and others who have fallen in the line of duty. These 
brave officers and their families are in our prayers. They are 
remembered.

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