[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 643]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         REMEMBERING U.S. CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER VERNON ALSTON

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, Officer Alston was an exemplary police 
officer.
  If his death accomplishes nothing more than the fact that people need 
to be very aware of what happens during times of exertion--there were 
18 people who died during the snowstorm from shoveling snow.
  Officer Alston was a picture of fitness. He was a weight lifter. He 
took care of himself as well as anybody could. It is such a shame that 
he is no longer going to be able to take care of his family. As Senator 
McConnell said, our hearts go out to him.
  But, as I said, if nothing else, please, everyone, focus on this: Be 
very careful. There is still lots of snow out there, and if there is 
not snow now, there will be at some subsequent time. Please be very 
careful. You may think that you are powerful and you lift weights and 
all of that stuff, but be careful because that snow is very hard to 
shovel. It is very heavy, and it can create problems.
  My condolences go out to the family of Officer Alston. He was a 
police officer, and we look out for our own. I am very sorry he passed 
away.

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