Supporting the goals and ideals of Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague from the District for yielding me this time.

Madam Speaker, I do rise in support of this resolution which is supporting the goals and the ideals of the Peace Officers Memorial.

Madam Speaker, as a former prosecutor and special prosecutor in the State of Wisconsin, it was my honor, or privilege really, of being able to work each day with these law enforcement officers in our community and throughout the State. I have always been impressed with their dedication and professionalism, their commitment to the community.

These men and women in uniform wake up every morning with a shared goal of trying to make our communities just a little bit safer, trying to make us and our children and grandchildren and all of our families just a little bit safer during the day.

And all too often we hear the tragic stories or read about it or see on the

news of fallen officers who fell in the line of duty. And it is right and proper that we have a National Peace Officers Memorial Day to honor their sacrifice made on behalf of all of us.

But what we do not hear about is the tremendous courage and dedication that officers exhibit each and every day and the cases that they sometimes find themselves in, which places their life and safety in great danger. And this, unfortunately, occurs on an all too frequent basis.

Madam Speaker, I also want to just take a moment and commend a member of my own family, my youngest brother, Terry Kind, for his years of dedicated service as a police officer for the Town of Holmen Police Department in western Wisconsin.

I have the chance to talk to him from time to time to try to keep a foot in the law enforcement community back home. And sometimes the stories that he relates to me are blood-curdling and quite startling. Not only talking about the victims of crime, but also the incredible danger that our officers face from time to time.

Madam Speaker, I would encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution today. I want to commend my colleagues on the floor here for bringing this resolution forward and speaking so favorably about it. I also want to commend and thank those law enforcement officers across our country who do a tremendous job under very difficult and dangerous circumstances each and every day of their dedicated lives.

Mr. CANTOR, Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution to support the goals and ideals of Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Recently, Virginia lost Detective Vicky Armel with the Fairfax County Police Department. Our Nation and the Commonwealth of Virginia experienced great loss as this fine police officer gave her life in line of duty.

Law enforcement officers take a solemn oath to protect and serve the communities they serve. With honor, they uphold our laws and protect the innocent.

As a nine-year veteran of the force, Detective Armel specialized in burglary crimes. She worked tirelessly each day to investigate and bring to justice those criminals who violated our homes, property, and peace of mind.

Her loss is felt deeply by her husband, Tyler, who is also a proud member of the Fairfax County Police Department, and their two children, 4-year-old daughter Mason and 7-year-old son Thomas. I stand with Detective Armel's community and congregation in support of her family.

Detective Armel's dedication and the sacrifices she made symbolize the honor of the law enforcement profession. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and the community in which she served as we honor her passing on this Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Recently, Virginia lost Officer Gary J. Buro of the Chesterfield County Police Department. Our Nation and the Commonwealth of Virginia experienced great loss as this fine police officer gave his life in line of duty.

Law enforcement officers take a solemn oath to protect and serve the communities they serve. With honor, they uphold our laws and protect the innocent.

Officer Buro proudly served his Nation at home and abroad. As a U.S. Marine during the Gulf War, he defended our Constitution and fought to liberate Kuwait from Saddam Hussein's grasp. After returning home, he began a distinguished 11-year career in law enforcement. He served with the Lantana, Florida and New York City Police Departments. Only recently, Officer Buro brought his experience and dedication to Virginia and joined the Chesterfield County Police Department in January of this year.

Officer Buro's dedication and the sacrifices he made symbolize the honor of the law enforcement profession. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and the community in which he served as we honor his passing on this Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 788) supporting the goals and ideals of Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, each day, law enforcement officers in this country face grave danger as they protect the rights and freedoms we enjoy as Americans. Their commitment and sacrifice make our streets safer, our neighborhoods stronger, and our families more secure.

May 15 is set aside each year to honor the service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers and their families. It also promotes increased public support for the law enforcement profession and helps to promote law enforcement safety. The more than 850,000 men and women who guard our communities do so at great risk. Each year, one in 15 officers is assaulted, one in 46 is injured, and one in 5,255 is killed in the line of duty.

After the hijacked planes hit the World Trade Center in New York City on 9/11, 72 peace officers died while trying to ensure their fellow citizens got to safety. That act of terrorism resulted in the highest number of peace officers killed in a single incident in the history of this country.

Just 8 days ago, the tragedy of an officer killed in the line of duty struck my community in Fairfax County. Police officer Vicky Armel was killed and two officers were wounded after a gunman opened fire with high-powered weapons in the parking lot of a Chantilly police station during a shift change. These tragic events shook the community, and the Fairfax police force, to the core.

It is important to recognize the sacrifices that these officers and their families make each day to ensure that we will have a safe environment in which to live, work, and raise our families. National Peace Officers Memorial Day will provide the people of the United States with an opportunity to honor the extraordinary service and sacrifice given year after year by our police forces.

The annual ceremony, which was held the evening of May 13, featured several contributions from police officers all over the country, including the singing of the National Anthem by Fairfax County, Virginia, police officer Laura Zambron. Following the ceremony, prominent law enforcement leaders, survivors, and law enforcement supporters read the names of the 466 fallen officers whose names were officially added to the memorial.

I urge all Members to come together to honor the dedication of these brave men and women, like Detective Armel, by adopting House Resolution 788.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley), the author of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and urge Members to support the adoption of House Resolution 788.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, each day, peace officers nobly protect our families, friends, and neighbors from crime and work to improve the quality of life for all of us. For that, they deserve our sincere appreciation and respect.

While it is impossible to suitably thank these brave Americans for the tremendous sacrifices they make, we pause this week to salute them for their courage, dedication, and service and to pay our respects to those who have fallen in the line of duty.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy designated May 15 of every year as Peace Officers Memorial Day. This day was set forth to give special recognition to the brave men and women who protect our lives every day, often at great risk to their health and lives.

On average, a crime is committed in this country every 2 seconds, and you can rest assured that one of the nearly 800,000 law enforcement officers in this great country will respond promptly and courageously, no matter how dangerous the situation might be. It is appropriate that we both honor current peace officers and memorialize fallen heroes for the safety and assistance they provide us all.

Recent events just miles from this building in Fairfax, Virginia, offered a clear and present example of the dangers law enforcement officers face each day. In this past year alone, 155 law officers were killed and over 10,000 were assaulted in the line of duty as they protected and served their communities. While this number is down from the previous decade's average of 169 annually, it is still very unacceptable.

This week, thousands of law enforcement officers from around the country gathered in Washington, D.C., to pay tribute and to mourn together. Those of us who benefit from their hard work and sacrifice also honor their work and sacrifices. We all owe them a debt of gratitude that we can never repay.

Madam Speaker, I support the goals and ideals of Peace Officers Memorial Day, as I am sure every Member of the House does, to honor Federal, State and local peace officers killed or disabled in the line of duty; and I support this day to honor those who stand for us every day in the line of duty. I call upon the people of the United States to observe such a day with appropriate ceremonies and respect, wherever they are.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind).

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for bringing this to the floor today. This is something we don't have to sell.

Madam Speaker, I rise, as the chairman and ranking member have to honor more than 20,000 peace officers from around the Nation who are visiting Washington, D.C., this week in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week. These officers will commemorate the lives of 155 officers who died last year in the line of duty.

Today, we recognize May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and pay tribute to the commitment, sacrifice, and public safety and the services these officers provide for all Americans on a daily basis.

As we all know, September 11 stands out as one of the most tragic days in American history. We lost 72 police officers on that one day. That is the most on any single day in history. While that was unusual and an extreme example, these law enforcement officers are serving us and sacrificing and protecting us, showing heroism and valor every day in every community around the Nation.

Last year, as I said, 155 police officers were killed in the line of duty. Though unquestionably this is tragic, the 155 deaths were below the decade-long average of 163. Still, this is the second consecutive year that the numbers have increased and a trend that must come to an end in 2006, and thankfully is on track to do so so far.

Peace officers in every community have an admirable record of service and sacrifice, yet too many Americans lack a true understanding and appreciation of law enforcement's worth. This is why several years ago I participated in establishing the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C. This past Saturday, 466 names of brave men and women were officially added to the memorial, including seven from my own home State of Colorado.

Peace officers face unprecedented risks, while bravely protecting our communities and our freedoms, and I hope my colleagues will join me today in paying tribute to our Nation's fallen officers and expressing our gratitude for the work these men and women do for us every day.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 788, a resolution that honors and celebrates the 25th Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service Observance Day on May 15, 2006. President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers' Memorial Day in 1962. However, it was not until May 15, 1982 that the first National Peace Officers' Memorial Day Service was held in Washington, DC. It is important that all citizens know and understand the duties, responsibilities, hazards, and sacrifices of their law enforcement agencies. The memorial that was created in Washington, DC stands as a daily reminder of these dangers facing our law enforcement officers and of how these brave men and women died facing them.

As a former police officer, I salute those law enforcement officials who died in the line of duty in 2005 and continue to honor those police officers who gave their lives in past years. As a member of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, I strongly support critical funding for programs, such as the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, to hire additional police officers and help law enforcement acquire the latest crime-fighting technologies. I will continue to be a strong supporter of the law enforcement community and will advocate on behalf of public safety in Congress.

Madam Speaker, in honor of the law enforcement officers who, through their courageous deeds, have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their community or have become disabled in the performance of duty, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and paying respect to our fallen heroes. As a proud cosponsor of H. Res. 788, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.