[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 462]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY AND THE SIX-MONTH ANNIVERSARY 
                         OF THE DALLAS SHOOTING

                                  _____
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 9, 2017

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join 
communities and individuals all across the United States in recognizing 
Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Today is just one of many 
opportunities throughout the year when we come together to recognize 
the bravery and sacrifice of our fellow men and women in law 
enforcement, who work day in and day out to protect our families, 
friends, and communities.
  Our recognition here today is timely, given that the six-month 
anniversary of the shooting in Dallas on July 7, 2016 took place over 
the weekend. This tragic shooting claimed the lives of four Dallas 
Police offices and one DART officer, while injuring nine others. It was 
a traumatic day for our city. However, the people of Dallas came 
together in unprecedented numbers to honor the fallen and support the 
Dallas Police Department through this most trying time. It was a 
testament to the focus and resolve of the American people as 
individuals from all across the country came together to denounce the 
violence and support our law enforcement officers.
  Last year alone, 135 law enforcement officers lost their lives in the 
line of duty. This was the highest number of line of duty deaths in 
five years, and represents a ten percent increase over 2015. While I do 
not believe that this is a normal trend, we need to be cognizant of the 
violence within our communities and ensure that we are taking steps in 
our everyday lives to reduce the tension between law enforcement and 
the communities they protect.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand with my colleagues today in honor of 
this day of recognition. Law enforcement officers--including the brave 
men and women of the Dallas Police Department--perform their duties 
often without praise or recognition of the day-to-day challenges that 
they face. While it is important to recognize law enforcement officers 
on special occasions such as these, we must not forget that these brave 
men and women are patrolling our streets each and every day and rightly 
deserve the same recognition.

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