Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of Robert Daniel Cuadra.

Fatally struck by a stray bullet on January 19, 2022, I stand before you to say goodbye to Robert and wish him well in the next life.

Robert was a kind, respectful and polite young man. He loved his family and cared deeply about his future. His life was not easy, but a rough start would not define him. He would work hard and chase after his dreams. Robert understood clearly that he would have to fight for every inch of progress.

A senior at HARP Academy and a participant in the Upward Bound Program at Montclair University, Robert challenged himself academically. Often so engrossed in his studies, Robert chose to forgo time with his friends to prepare for college. He was a self-described homebody and favored time alone with his immediate family.

While enrolled at Upward Bound, a program for disadvantaged high school students, Robert blossomed. Montclair University was a place he felt comfortable and accepted. Taking classes in subjects that inspired him and interacting with people who shared his interests motivated him. Robert was on track, there was light at the end of the tunnel. He could find himself and engage in the many wonderful experiences that make our youth a memorable time.

As a father and grandfather, I can only imagine the hurt. I ask the Cuadra family to continue to tell stories about Robert and breathe life into his memory for his siblings and extended family. Robert's passing is especially difficult and its tragic to have lost a young man with so much potential. Our community was enriched by people like him, and his actions set an example for all to follow.

My heart breaks for Robert and I know he will be missed by many people. It is my hope that the love and support of friends and all those whose lives he touched will help the Cuadra family manage the loss of Robert. My thoughts and prayers are with all of them during this time of mourning. Robert brought happiness into our lives and everyone around him.

As we honor him today, I know there are still many young men and women in similar situations. While this moment in time is undeniably sad, we should draw inspiration from his story. Robert struggled and fought to get ahead in life. We honor him because he reminds us that life can be difficult, but we should never give up in the face of adversity.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, friends, family, and the residents of New Jersey in recognizing the memory of Robert Daniel Cuadra. We keep him in prayer, and we commit to watch over his family. Robert, may he rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Pete J. Stilianessis in celebration of his decades of work as a father, police officer and leader in the law enforcement community. I am proud to have such a committed and hardworking individual here in the great State of New Jersey. A native son of Passaic County, Pete Stilianessis dedicated his life to the safety and security of our neighborhood. I wish him well as he retires from the New Jersey State Troopers Non-Commissioned Officers Association.

Born in Paterson, New Jersey to Jerry and Maryellen Stilianessis, Pete's story is one that begins with a love for public service. The son of a former marine, his mother's active duty in the United States Marine Corps would motivate Pete to do the same. Traveling the world as a machine gunner, Pete displayed his action-oriented personality. Most notably, he would answer the call to serve in the Gulf War and contribute his efforts in Iraq. A ``Task Force Ripper'' during Operation Desert Storm, Pete served as squad leader during ground combat operations liberating Kuwait City on February 27, 1991. Awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Kuwait Liberation Medal and two

Bronze Stars, Pete is a decorated veteran and a man worth our respect and admiration.

Following his career in the military, Pete would enter law enforcement. First a Corrections Officer with the Passaic County Sherriff's Department, then a police officer with several municipalities, Pete would eventually decide that his greatest aspiration was to serve as a New Jersey State Trooper. Graduating from the New Jersey State Police Academy in 1993, Pete would formally begin his storied career as a State Trooper.

Starting as a ``Road Trooper'', Pete would quickly ascend the ranks to reach Detective. Assigned to work on the Counter Terrorism Unit, FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration, Pete carried out intricate and high level international and domestic investigations. Working both as an undercover agent and lead investigator, Pete worked in Central and South America in addition to operations here in the United States.

As the President of the New Jersey State Troopers Non-Commissioned Officers Association, Pete advocated for his brothers and sisters in uniform. Embodying the principal of service over self, Pete traveled both to our State Capital of Trenton and Washington, D.C. to fight for improved benefits and funding. I know, he will be missed by so many as he retires from law enforcement. As he transitions into this new phase of life, I thank him for all his hard work.

The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to working with and recognizing the efforts of individuals like Mr. Pete J. Stilianessis.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, friends, family, and the residents of New Jersey in recognizing Pete J. Stilianessis, as we celebrate his years of distinguished service to the people of the Ninth Congressional District.

Madam Speaker, this weekend, I heard direct pleas for help from President Zelenskyy.

He asked for defense resources and supplies.

He asked us to cripple Russia's economy.

We heard his pleas and are acting with urgency.

Russia must be removed from the World Trade Organization for its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

There is no good reason for Russia to be part of our international and trade communities.

Good neighbors don't invade sovereign nations.

We are using America's economic might to isolate Russia as a pariah to the whole world.

Today, we take an essential step to weaken Putin and cripple his ability to save Russia's teetering economy.

In 2019, our former President withheld military aid from Ukraine to extort President Zelenskyy.

Then, 100 percent of House Republicans turned their backs on Ukraine. But I hope Republicans will support Ukrainians in their hour of need today.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for bringing this forward. It is going to affect the weaknesses that we have found in our trade deal.

So I rise in support of the America COMPETES Act. This includes my bipartisan, bicameral bill, the National Critical Capabilities Defense Act. Our bill will strengthen frayed supply chains. It will stop the bleeding of our industrial might being shipped to foreign adversaries.

The Chinese Communist Party government climbed our back to economic power. They are abusing that power to commit genocide, crush democratic norms, and undermine our workers. We must stop our adversaries from leeching off America's economic might to sow discord.

It is time to enhance supply chain visibility. We must empower trade that does not undermine American competitors.

I want to thank Representatives DeLauro, Spartz, and Fitzpatrick for working on this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record statements of support for the bill from the AFL-CIO, the Communications Workers of America, the United Steelworkers, and the Alliance for American Manufacturing.

Madam Speaker, our government is not a piggy bank to be pilfered and pillaged by public servants. Trump appointees abused their public office to line their pockets and corruptly retain power. The crime spree by Trump and his stooges is the worst corruption ever in our government.

According to a recent Office of Special Counsel report, they made a mockery of the law. They exploited Hatch Act gaps or ignored it altogether.

My amendment in the en bloc is based on the Political CRIMES Act. I thank Congressmam Mike Quigley and Senator Elizabeth Warren for their leadership. The amendment enhances the underlying provisions and gives the Hatch Act sharper teeth.

The amendment ensures political appointees cannot get away with crimes. It requires disclosure of investigations. It cracks down on subpoena evaders. It allows the Special Counsel to continue investigations after government service concludes. Offenders like Kellyanne Conway and Stephen Miller, and those masquerading as public servants like Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, violated the Hatch Act without major consequence. No longer.

The amendment also expands the fines for violations. For the first time, repeat violators can be held criminally liable. This is real accountability.

Most important, it extends the law to the President and Vice President when conducting official duties on federal property.

You fix a leaky roof in the sun. Not in a storm. With dark clouds ahead, we must protect our democracy.

I am glad my amendment was included, and for the Presidential tax return transparency provisions in the bill. Trump and his enablers refused to follow the law. For 981 days--longer than the siege of Leningrad--our tax return request was illegally blocked by a tag-team of the Trump Department of Justice and a Trump-appointed judge.

Now that the Biden administration will comply with the law, the returns should be sent to Congress.

I urge passage of my amendment and passage of the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the gentleman on his efforts in this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, last November the American people put Democrats in charge to raise this Nation from its knees, to improve the lives of working men and women, to confront powerful interests, and to rebuild for the next century. New Jersey taxpayers sent us to provide real relief from the odious SALT cap.

Don't pick out two or three districts in the country. Look at the whole situation, and then decide about this low-hanging fruit that you took to pay for your disaster in 2017.

This legislation is a blueprint for America to build back better.

And what was your answer?

We got back the next week to vote on the other bill, and you voted to adjourn. You want to go home. You don't want to vote on any of those things. You did it. Facts matter. Dispute it.

Only one party is making raising children affordable.

Only one party is creating a green future that aids unions and supports domestic manufacturing.

Only one party will close the tax gap and provide tax fairness for working Americans.

The American people elected Democrats to act with urgency for the present and the future, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

It is good to have something bipartisan on this floor, I will tell you that.

Mr. Speaker, during this devastating pandemic, our Nation's first responders have stood heroically on the very front lines keeping communities across America safe. Our firefighters, police, and EMS go to work every day, and they risk their lives and the lives of their families.

In my own district, we lost Paterson police officer Frank Scorpo and Passaic firefighter Israel Tolentino to COVID. These men made the ultimate sacrifice for their communities.

My heart bleeds for all of our fallen first responders and their families. Last year was the deadliest ever for our Nation's public safety officers. COVID has made it clear as day that more must be done to support these heroes.

As long-time co-chair of the Law Enforcement Caucus and the Fire Services Caucus, I have been proud to lead efforts to pass the bipartisan Protecting America's First Responders Act with Senator Chuck Grassley.

I want to thank Senator Grassley for working together to get this bill across the finish line. He has been a good partner to shepherd this through the other Chamber.

Currently, the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program only provides disability benefits to first responders who can never again perform any compensated work at all. This is so restrictive that officers practically need to be in a vegetative state to qualify.

Our bill will guarantee that first responders and their families get their owed benefits without delay or red tape.

Our legislation will expand the disability definition so permanently injured first responders can still receive benefits and perform work that is for therapeutic purposes, involves simple tasks, and provides special accommodations.

Our legislation also provides retroactive disability benefits to injured 9/11 first responders.

The bill extends these critical officer safety benefits to groups unfairly left out of the program. This includes trainees, fire police officers, and Good Samaritan first responders who protect the public while off duty.

Importantly, our bill extends the statutory presumption that guarantees the families of first responders fallen to COVID-19 receive full public safety officer benefits.

I was glad to work alongside Chairman Nadler to pass this presumption into law last year. I thank him for his efforts to bring the Protecting America's First Responders Act to the floor today. It is especially important because our bill provides an extension of this critical provision.

Finally, I want to recognize the fire and police organizations who support our bill. Thank you to the Fraternal Order of Police, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the National Association of Police Organizations, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and the National Volunteer Fire Council. I especially want to

recognize the International Association of Fire Fighters for their recent support.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record statements from each of these organizations.

Stakeholder Support for Protecting America's First Responders Act (S.

1511 / H.R. 2936)

Edward A. Kelly, General President of the International

Association of Firefighters (IAFF): ``On behalf of the

325,000 professional fire fighters and emergency medical

personnel of the International Association of Fire Fighters,

I respectfully request you vote in favor of S. 1511, the

Protecting America's First Responders Act (PAFRA). This

bipartisan legislation will help ensure the families of fire

fighters and emergency medical personnel who are disabled or

die in the line of duty receive the compensation and benefits

they deserve.

The Public Safety Officer Benefit (PSOB) provides

guaranteed death and disability benefits to emergency

responders who die or are disabled in the line of duty.

Unfortunately, current law places significant limits on

program awards, leaving the families of deceased or injured

public safety officers without deserved recompense. PAFRA

corrects these oversights by ensuring disabled responders may

qualify for necessary benefits, extending benefits to fire

department cadets who are killed or injured in the course of

their training, extending benefits to children of public

safety officers who had not been born at the time of the

officer's death or disability, and extending benefits for

officers who die from COVID-19 for the duration of the public

health emergency.

Fire fighters and emergency medical responders make

significant sacrifices to serve their communities everyday,

and should not need to worry about their families' financial

security should they sustain lasting injuries or lose their

life in the line of duty. PAFRA will help ensure responders'

families are cared for in the face of catastrophe, and

deserves your affirmative vote.''

Ken Stuebing, Acting President and Chairman of the Board of

the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC): ``I

would like to thank Representative Pascrell for introducing

the Protecting America's First Responders Act. This

legislation would revise the Public Safety Officers' Benefits

program to provide necessary assistance to more families of

fallen public safety officers during their time of need. The

IAFC looks forward to working with Congress to pass this

important legislation.''

Steven W. Hirsch, Chair of the National Volunteer Fire

Council (NVFC): ``PAFRA makes important improvements to the

process by which public safety officers are able to access

the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Disability

Program. It also makes necessary changes to how PSOB claims

are paid to the survivors of public safety officers who died

of occupational illnesses related to work at Ground Zero

after 9/11. Finally, I am very pleased that the PAFRA

includes language clarifying that members of volunteer fire

departments who perform scene security and traffic management

duties at emergency scenes are public safety officers''

Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of

Police (FOP): ``The PSOB program is currently burdened with

unreasonable definitions of the terms `catastrophic injury'

and `gainful work' that prevent officers who are disabled in

the line of duty from receiving the benefits to which they

are entitled. This legislation addresses this issue by making

the PSOB standards more consistent with similar Federal

benefit for programs which will improve the ability of our

injured and disabled officers to have their claims processed

more fairly and more quickly''

Larry Cosme, National President of the Federal Law

Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA): ``FLEOA fought for

years to have the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB)

program created in order to support officers killed or

injured in the line of duty. Congress meant for this

important program to support officers and their families.

Unfortunately far too many officers are unable to qualify for

any type of disability benefit due to how the law was

written, including heroic 9/11 responders who continue to

face lingering health issues metastasizing years later after

the attack. FLEOA appreciates the bipartisan and bicameral

leadership of Representative Pascrell and Senator Grassley to

ensure officers are able to access the PSOB program benefits

they are entitled to and have earned, and look forward to

working with their offices and other champions in Congress to

advance this critical reform''

Bill Johnson, Executive Director of the National

Association of Police Organizations (NAPO): ``The goal of the

Protecting America's First Responders Act is to help protect

the ability of survivors, disabled officers and their

families to get the death and disability benefits they so

rightly deserve. This important legislation will ensure that

officers who are disabled in the line of duty are not left

behind by the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program

and that all children of our fallen or disabled heroes are

able to benefit from the Public Safety Officers' Education

Assistance Program. NAPO supports the efforts of

Representative Pascrell and Senator Grassley to ensure that

America's public safety officers, who put their lives on the

line every day in service to our nation, get the benefits

promised to them, and we thank him for his leadership on this

issue.''

Mr. Speaker, the past 18 months have been difficult for our communities, difficult for all Americans. It has been especially unbearable for our men and women in uniform.

These brave individuals have protected us at our lowest moment. The least we can do is protect the benefits they have earned and stand with them.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise for truth and accountability. That is why we are here. We are dealing with common criminals. You see a guy running down the street in this city with a television on his back strapped to it, you start to wonder. We have had enough of those incidents to indicate to us that is what we are dealing with.

The gravest attack ever on the U.S. democracy came 288 days ago. It was born of lies. Steve Bannon spread those poisonous lies, and Bannon was guided by the dictator. We must pursue the truth. We go only where the facts take us. Refusing a subpoena is obstructing justice. We don't allow the plaintiff to prosecute or to decide. We decide it through the courts. If you can't take the Constitution, go to Russia. It shows you have something to hide. What are you hiding?

This is a vote of conscience.

Mr. Speaker, refusing a subpoena is obstructing justice. This is a vote of conscience.

Do you agree with the rioting terrorists or our democracy? Are we a country of laws or a country of men?

We must hold all involved accountable; this includes those who attacked the police and those organizers who spread the lies, and the President who organized it.

This is America, not Russia.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Malnutrition Awareness Week. This week marks the tenth observance of Malnutrition Awareness Week, which was founded by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition in 2012.

Each year during this week. participating organizations seek to educate health care professionals about early detection and treatment of malnutrition, educate consumers on the importance of discussing their nutrition status with health care professionals, and increase awareness of nutrition's role in patient recovery.

Malnutrition is particularly prevalent in vulnerable populations, such as hospitalized patients, older adults, and minority populations. For example, one in two older adults is either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.

Our Nation has financial as well as moral incentives to reduce malnutrition. Good nutrition can keep people healthy and out of health care institutions, thus reducing health care costs. Untreated malnutrition can lead to the loss of lean body mass, in turn causing complications such as delays in wound healing and recovery from surgery, illness, or disease. In fact, the current estimated cost for disease-associated malnutrition in older adults alone is $51.3 billion per year.

The good news is that common-sense solutions exist that can help reduce the prevalence of malnutrition now.

Clinical quality measures have been developed and tested to help improve nutrition screening and intervention and are being implemented by a learning collaborative of over 300 hospitals nationwide. Recognizing the linkages between malnutrition, food insecurity, and hunger, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should consider adding a malnutrition composite quality measure to its Medicare inpatient acute care reporting system.

Additionally, the Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture should work together to develop dietary guidance for the prevention and treatment of malnutrition in older adults and those with chronic conditions.

Malnutrition has been exacerbated by the global COVID-19 health pandemic that has intensified disparities, inequities, and social isolation and is further compounded by food insecurity. The importance of nutrition has been recognized by Congress with our passage of four different COVID-19 emergency funding bills, all of which I was proud to support.

I commend all those associated with Malnutrition Awareness Week, particularly the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition and the Defeat Malnutrition Today coalition. I also commend all those on the front lines of providing nutrition services to those in need, especially the national network of Meals on Wheels programs in our nation.

Working together, we can stop malnutrition in the United States. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to accomplish this goal.

Mr. Speaker, I support Israel's right to defend herself. I have always voted for defensive technology, which we should invest in.

The Congress first supported Iron Dome funding a decade ago after a request made by President Obama.

In 2014 I visited Israel. I saw with my own eyes how the Iron Dome stopped rockets and saved lives.

This year we saw the horrific launching of rockets from Gaza toward Israeli streets. It is never okay to target civilians.

While the deescalation prevailed, there was a tragic loss of life in Israel and Gaza. Extremism and vicious rhetoric breed instability.

This year the U.S. rightly provided millions in humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people. Thanks to the bill before us, Congress is reaffirming our commitment to Israel's right to defend itself.

Iron Dome technology keeps people safe, and it saves lives.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the truth and justice.

Twenty years ago, we suffered the worst external terrorist attack in our modern history. But the gravest attack ever on American democracy came 175 days ago. That attack was borne of big lies; big lies about the election, about voting, and about our democracy. The lies divided our country. They spread like a plague.

On December 11, I warned of elected officials amplifying big lies. The 14th Amendment is clear about traitors and seditionists on the day the electors tried to do their job. Think about it. We must now hold everyone responsible. We must know how the spark of insurrection was ignited and document who fanned the flames.

Madam Speaker, we have a duty to history. Our review will guide future generations.

Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Suozzi for yielding.

When talking about the SALT deduction, we are not griping about something that came about yesterday. The SALT deduction goes back to the Civil War. We are talking about 150 years of history when President Lincoln had to fund a brand-new army to crush the traitor States in the South. So we must use the 150-year history as a baseline for our tax policy when discussing reform.

It is not low-hanging fruit as it was in 2017 when they looked for the money for the false tax cuts and they got slammed out of office in 2018. Go to the facts.

Abe knew what he was doing, how it took money away from the States. They couldn't build hospitals. They couldn't build schools. They couldn't build roads. He knew what he was doing. The States needed money, too.

Republicans targeted blue States. They bragged about it. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe my ears when I heard them on the floor of the House openly admitting it. They made no qualms about it. They targeted these blue States when passing their 2017 tax scam. Talk about a hoax. They bragged about it.

Its motivations alone are disqualifying, but its impacts are worse. SALT was a lifeline to the middle class. Despite half-truths and outright falsehoods, SALT is about the middle class, and if you can't stand up for the middle class, you shouldn't be here.

In 2017, 42 percent of the Jersey taxpayers, nearly 2 million people, deducted their State and local taxes, averaging over $19,000 per household. That is a $9,000 increase in taxes. Those phonies did it. That is why they got smashed in 2018.

More than 81 percent of those who deducted SALT earned less than $200,000. Naysayers claim this deduction only benefits the well-off. They do not recognize the cost of living in our States. The same people who voted for the tax cuts that helped the 1 percent, the 1.5 percent, they felt badly about the rich people who--one clown who went to jail in New York State, before he went, he said that we had to take care of our donors. He said it. I didn't. I mean, he didn't go to jail for saying that. He played the stocks.

Middle income in New Jersey is not the same as Oklahoma or South Dakota. Housing, food, childcare, and transportation costs are much lower there. Our middle-class taxpayers are the pack mules of the U.S. tax system, and as one of our brothers from New Jersey would say, we are tired of being the lackeys for these other States. Look who is paying Federal taxes.

Our middle-class taxpayers will no longer sit idly by. This cap dumped even more weight on the backs of my constituents in my district, the Ninth District of New Jersey. I appreciate the growing recognition that relief is needed.

Senator Sanders' budget draft is an important step in the right direction. But we have got to think big. We demand relief now for our States and our middle-class constituents. They are the backbone of the Biden administration's coalition. Just last week, we stood shoulder to shoulder with working-class firefighters, police officers, and teachers who support our SALT demands. Our urgency is absolute.

We won't allow our neighbors' pay to be taken for granted. I will close with just four words: No SALT, no deals. And I will close by saying that Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest Presidents in the history of the country, a true patriot, he stood behind the middle class. He knew what the States went through.

This is the oldest deduction on the books, and they have criminalized it. And if anything I reported here is not right, I hope they stand up and say that it is not right. I have got the other facts here. What other facts are you talking about?

Yes, I did.

That is right. It is a fact of life, yes.

And they could build the hospitals and the schools and

the roads. Where were they going to get the money if the Federal Government took all of the money to fight the war?

Yes. And many of the first responders came out and supported this bill last week.

Mr. Speaker, on June 23, 2021, I missed one roll call vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote 175--Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule, H. Res. 486.

members recorded pursuant to house resolution 8, 117th congress

Aderholt (Moolenaar)

Amodei (Balderson)

Clarke (NY) (Jeffries)

DeFazio (Davids (KS))

DeSaulnier (Matsui)

Garcia (IL) (Garcia (TX))

Hoyer (Brown)

Johnson (TX) (Jeffries)

Kelly (IL) (Jeffries)

Kirkpatrick (Stanton)

Lawson (FL) (Evans)

Lieu (Beyer)

Lowenthal (Beyer)

Meng (Clark (MA))

Mullin (Cole)

Napolitano (Correa)

Pappas (Kuster)

Payne (Pallone)

Ruiz (Aguilar)

Rush (Underwood)

Sewell (DelBene)

Vela (Gomez)

Velazquez (Jeffries)

Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of truth and justice. The chairman and the ranking member are two honorable men. We all can see this, Madam Speaker, and I am happy about that.

That attack was born of lies. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the worst external terrorist attack in our modern history. The gravest attack ever on American democracy came 133 days ago. That attack was born of lies. It was born about the voting, about elections, and about our democracy. These lies divided our country. They spread across our land like a plague.

On December 11, I warned on this floor of elected officials across this Nation amplifying big lies. On January 6, the world saw the result. Like the 9/11 Commission it is modeled after, this commission must hold allegiance only to the truth. A full investigation of this attack must reflect on how the spark of insurrection was ignited and who fanned the flames. It is our sacred duty, Madam Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it is not unusual for Congresswoman Demings to lead and bring us together. I want to congratulate and thank her for her service in the past and now.

Mr. Speaker, during this devastating pandemic, our Nation's law enforcement officers have stood heroically on the front lines, keeping communities across America safe. Our police have risked their lives and the lives of their families every day they go to work. Many have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Since the start of the pandemic, we have lost over 464 officers, including 298 to COVID-19. In New Jersey, 15 officers have perished, including 13 to the virus.

In my own district, we lost Paterson police officer, Frank Scorpo, who was only 34 years old and left behind a wife and two young sons.

We lost Detective Anthony Lucanto, a 24-year veteran of the Paterson Police Department, who died of cancer tied to his heroic efforts at Ground Zero. Anthony leaves behind his wife and three children.

Our hearts bleed for all of our fallen officers and their families.

As the co-chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, I was proud to champion legislation signed into law to ensure those families of officers fallen to COVID-19 are guaranteed public safety officer benefits. But more must be done to support families of officers who make the ultimate sacrifice.

Earlier this month, we introduced the bipartisan Protecting America's First Responders Act. Our bill will guarantee first responders and their families get their owed benefits without delay or red tape. I hope it gets passed.

I wish I could say support of law enforcement is fully bipartisan, but I can't. Incredibly, when we passed the latest Capitol Police budget, 50 of our colleagues on the other side voted ``no.'' Thank God for those who did vote ``yes.''

When we voted to certify the Presidential election, hours after terrorists attacked the Capitol, 138 Members on the other side voted to throw out the election. 138. These votes are a slur on the Capitol Police and the officers across America who have given their lives.

This last year has been a difficult one for all communities, but unbearable for our men and women in uniform. They have protected us at our lowest moment. The least we can do is protect the benefits they have earned and stand by them.

Let us move what was started almost 20 years ago, community policing, so we protect our police and we encourage trust in them day in and day out. God bless our country.