[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 19991]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRESS NEEDS TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as I have said today on the floor and 
yesterday, the American people expect us to keep them safe.
  Let me thank my colleagues for the support they have given the 
Homeland Security Committee on a number of bills and particularly note 
the legislation that I introduced, the FRIENDS Act, the sole purpose of 
which is to ensure that those who are first responders who have to be 
away for a period of time, that their families are protected.
  I also think it is an important moment for bridging and building on 
law enforcement and community. I have had the opportunity to meet with 
a number of police chiefs of major cities. We have introduced--John 
Conyers and myself, along with a number of Members--the Law Enforcement 
Trust and Integrity Act, which really is an opportunity and a bridge to 
be able to provide an accreditation pathway for the law enforcement 
agencies to build upon the improvement and the best practices that they 
may have, including a medallion for those who have fallen in duty.
  It is also important, as we look forward to the security of this 
Nation, to recognize the tragedy of San Bernardino. I offer to those 
families my deepest sympathy. There was a major failure which we need 
to correct.
  Members of Congress need to come together so that we are not behind 
the terrorist act, but in front of it, to protect the American people.

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