Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order. Mr. Speaker, these are troubling times. The very…
Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order.
Mr. Speaker, these are troubling times. The very fabric of our society is being pulled apart. Violent protests are spreading across college campuses in our own Nation. Crime marches unchecked in our cities. The numbers of fentanyl overdoses rise unabated.
Now this: the tragic deaths of two of central New York's finest, their lives taken in the line of duty as they stood in the gap between civil society and chaos.
That night, what was another routine traffic stop turned into an unspeakable tragedy. Today, two more families endure indescribable pain.
Only a few weeks ago, I was right here with my colleagues, in this very place, to speak in honor of another New York police officer who was killed in the line of duty. Now, we are here again after two more heroes have been laid to rest in my own district.
The names of the officers who were killed are Lieutenant Michael Hoosock and Officer Michael Jensen.
Lieutenant Hoosock, known to his friends as Hootch, was a husband and the father of three young children. He
was a great dad--fun, spontaneous, present, and supportive.
In 2020, Lieutenant Hoosock was recognized with the Medal of Valor for his actions confronting an active shooter in Syracuse. He was a decades-long firefighter and the bomb squad commander in Onondaga County.
Officer Jensen was a son and brother with a career of service still ahead of him. Friends and family remember his dedication and optimism. His mother, Michelle, called him her handsome son. Syracuse Police Chief Joseph Cecile observed that ``you could tell he took his responsibility seriously,'' that is, of course, in between hockey matches.
Officer Jensen joined the Syracuse Police Department in early 2022. He served honorably in the Patrol Division on the Third Platoon day in and day out. Last December, he was recognized as Officer of the Month.
Just 2 weeks ago, thousands upon thousands attended their funerals to weep together, to support one another, and to honor their service and sacrifice.
All decent Americans mourn with the families of these fallen officers.
A functioning civil society gives its law enforcement officers the support and tools they need to carry out their work, protecting innocent people and restraining those who do harm to others. I am proud to say that I am pro-police and anti-criminal. When our society loses sight of these basic truths, our worst days follow.
To any law enforcement officers watching today, let me say this to you: Don't lose hope. Keep the faith. You hold the fabric of our society together against criminality and chaos. You alone stand between innocent people and those who would seek to victimize them. We need you. Your vigilance and your tireless service is deeply appreciated. We weep with you today, and we stand with you every day.
This Congress, we have passed numerous bills to support law enforcement. Many, however, inexplicably languish in the Senate, where support for law enforcement has waned.
We will not stop until our elected officials are doing everything in their capacity to empower our law enforcement professionals and to support their critical work to protect all Americans.
Mr. Speaker, it is my sacred and solemn privilege to welcome and acknowledge Michael Hoosock's widow, Caitlin. Cait and their three beautiful children are with us in the gallery this evening.
Would you mind standing for just a moment? Thank you for being here with us. Thank you for blessing us.
To Mrs. Hoosock: Today, this Nation honors your brave husband.
To his children: This Nation is grateful for his noble service.
Humbly, I will tell you that we mourn with you and that we recognize your suffering and sacrifice. May God bless and keep you and watch over each one of you. You will not be forgotten.
Since these tragic events just a few short weeks ago, countless Members of Congress have sought me out to express their shock, anger, and sorrow at the loss of our heroes. I have invited them to join me on this solemn occasion and will yield such time as necessary that they may stand with me.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. D'Esposito).
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand with Mr. D'Esposito. He has worn the badge and the uniform and knows of what he speaks.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Stauber for his experience.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney).
Mr. Speaker, I am so honored to be joined by my New York colleagues. I welcome one more.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Molinaro).
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Molinaro for his comments.
I am, again, honored to be joined by another veteran of law enforcement.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rutherford).
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Ezell), another veteran of law enforcement.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his words.
I yield to the gentlewoman from Utah (Ms. Maloy).
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her words.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Mrs. Fischbach).
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her words.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lawler).
Mr. Speaker, to the Hoosock family and to the Jensen family, I promised that those two would be honored by our Nation, that they would be honored in this esteemed place, and that you too would be recognized and honored. Mr. Speaker, I thank them for honoring us with their presence.
I am grateful to each Representative who spoke this evening. Somber times like these invite us to reflect and to take a closer look at many things that so often we take for granted.
There exists in this world profound evil, manifesting itself in many ways. What stands between that evil and innocent people? Every single day, the men and women serving in law enforcement across America stand courageously in that treacherous place.
As you go about your day in safety, in comfort, the vigilance of these men and women may fade into the background, but to them and to their families, the risk inherent in their line of work never fades. They clock in every day with the knowledge that they place themselves in heightened danger whenever they put on that uniform, and they do so for our sake.
We are privileged to forget, to enjoy the safety and comfort that are a direct result of their labor, but we are obliged to remember. Times like these remind us forcefully, tragically, that evil and danger are ever present, but that heroes still exist amongst us. They are heroes like Lieutenant Michael Hoosock, heroes like Officer Michael Jensen, heroes like every single man and woman behind the badge and
in front of all decent folks they protect and serve, and their families.
I thank them for joining us today.
To America, I would say, if you know any folks that serve in law enforcement, right now is a good time to thank them. Our police officers, firefighters, EMS, and their families dedicate their lives so that we may be safe. Recognizing the commitment and sacrifice they voluntarily make is something we all can and we should do. Words may only accomplish so much, but they do mean something. Convey it to those around you as you see them, that you recognize their sacrifice, and that they are not alone and not forgotten.
I will start by thanking Caitlin Hoosock and her children--Nikki, Gabe, Sam--who I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know today. I thank them for joining us. Once again, I humbly speak, for everyone here and for everyone watching, that you are not alone.
Mr. Speaker, I have concluded this Special Order, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.