Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of an enthusiastic public servant, someone who works tirelessly in our community, and who has a big heart for young people and a dedication to law enforcement. Reid Johnson, a King County Sheriff's Office Sergeant and the Executive Director of the Greater King County Police Activities League (GKCPAL), continues to make a remarkable difference in the lives of thousands of young people throughout King County.

Madam Speaker, the GKCPAL is not an extension of the King County Sheriff's office. It is a chapter of the nationwide PAL program; in other words, everyone working on behalf of the GKCPAL is a volunteer. No one, Madam Speaker, gives more time than Reid. His name is now synonymous with law enforcement and public service in King County. He spends time at schools, gymnasiums, and local hangouts--anywhere young people may need guidance and direction. Reid is doing so much to make our community a better place, Madam Speaker, and I thank him for his service.

The national PAL program is recognized by the Department of Justice as a juvenile delinquency reduction program. In King County, PAL gives young people a productive outlet

through mentoring, music, and a variety of other activities. Reid doesn't sit in an office and direct these programs. He is constantly in engaging individuals and families, and developing new and unique ways to make a difference. Madam Speaker, I urge every one of my colleagues to support their local PAL chapter--the programs available make a big difference in the lives of our young people, and to our overall public safety.

Reid's work with PAL is helped by his work overseeing the School Resource Officers with the King County Sheriff's Office. Reid is efficient and effective at what he does because everyone he encounters knows he means what he says. Reid is a dedicated servant. He's a special man and King County is a better place because of him.

Madam Speaker, I ask this House to join me in thanking Reid for his service and to wish him the very best as he continues to mentor and affect the lives of our promising young people.

Madam Speaker, I rise today as a Congressman from the 8th District of Washington, a resident of the great Pacific Northwest, and a former law enforcement officer, to honor a man who acted courageously under perilous circumstances late last year. Seattle Police Department Officer Benjamin Kelly answered the call of duty in the wake of the heinous and unprecedented ambush of four officers in Lakewood, Washington. Because of his efforts, law enforcement officers and residents of Washington could breathe a sigh of relief knowing a violent gunman was no longer walking the streets.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund named Officer Kelly its ``Officer of the Month'' in March and Officer Kelly has received distinguished praise elsewhere for his brave actions in the early morning hours of December 1, 2009. That morning, Kelly encountered a parked car with its engine running. He pulled up behind the car--which he suspected was stolen--and started the process of documenting his discovery and determining the status of the vehicle. At the same time, Kelly noticed a man standing nearby who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt. Alert, Kelly focused on his task and his surroundings. Suddenly, Kelly spotted the man walking toward his patrol car from behind. Kelly left his vehicle, ordered the man to stop and immediately recognized him as the suspect in the terrible police ambush 48 hours earlier. Instead of stopping, the suspect darted away from the officer while reaching for a weapon. Kelly shot the suspect and killed him, ending the most extensive police manhunt in Washington's history and taking a ruthless killer off the street.

Officer Kelly acted bravely, there is no doubt. I know the courage it takes to confront a dangerous and cold-blooded suspect. He

didn't hesitate and placed himself in harm's way without thinking twice. Even more, what I believe distinguished Kelly's actions that morning was his intelligence. He was fully aware, didn't take any actions for granted, and his mind never stopped processing the scene. This entire House is proud of his distinguished service.

Madam Speaker, Officer Kelly is back on the job, serving the people of Seattle and trying his best to avoid the adulation and spotlight that accompanies his outstanding actions. He is a humble servant; he is an outstanding officer; he is a hero.

Madam Speaker, in January I recognized students and teachers at Tahoma High School for earning first place in the ``We the People'' competition.

Now, Madam Speaker, I'm happy to congratulate those same students and teachers for earning the national ``Unit Five Award'' by accruing the most points in the fifth unit of the ``We the People'' textbook--a unit that expounds on the rights protected by the Bill of Rights.

The students participated in a three-day academic competition that simulates a congressional hearing. Students demonstrate their knowledge and skills as they evaluate, take, and defend positions on historical and contemporary constitutional issues. Annual surveys consistently show that high school students who take part in ``We the People'' outperform national samples of high school students participating in the National Assessment of Educational Progress political test by at least 22%.

Madam Speaker, the names of these outstanding students from Tahoma High School are: Mariah Anderson, Austin Arnold,

Krzysztof Bieniek, McKenna Blenz, Chad Burgess, Casey Campbell, Matthew Cunningham, Wiley Duerson, Robin Hanson, Matthew Herman, John Iatesta, David Mahoney, Savannah Marstall, Melissa Moorehead, Tucker Murrey, Eric Nucci, Shelby Pelon, Chanse Pierson, Talitha Shiroma, Jordyn Sifferman, Karissa Smith, Carolyn Stevens, and Jonelle Thorsheim.

Also, I want to commend the teacher of the class, Mrs. Gretchen Wulfing, who is responsible for preparing these young constitutional experts for the National Finals. Also worthy of special recognition: Mr. Kathy Hand, the state coordinator, and Mr. Brad Ulrich, the district coordinator, who are responsible for implementing the ``We the People'' program in the 8th District. I know the ``We the People'' organization and the students of the 8th District will continue on the path to knowledge and wisdom. Thank you.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise today to join with Mr. Teague and Mr. Schiff to fight for Katie's Law. Think about what I just said, ``Katie's Law.'' We have a bill named after a young lady, a 22-year-old woman whose life was ripped away from her, so we name a law, and her name will live on. Katie Sepich from Carlsbad, New Mexico, 22 years old. Her life was ripped away from her by a monster.

I think most Members of Congress know that I had a full career as a police officer, a sheriff's deputy, SWAT

commander, homicide detective, hostage negotiator, a street cop for 33 years, and finally as the sheriff before I left the Sheriff's Office. I know firsthand what DNA does.

In 1982, I was a 31-year-old homicide detective standing by the riverside, collecting the bodies of three young women, 16 years old, dead. No DNA then. All we had was blood-typing. We were fortunate, though, that we had some bodily samples that we could take that we froze and we saved for 19 years. In 1987, the team of detectives that were together on that case had an opportunity to search the home of a suspect and take body fluids from him. He chewed on a piece of gauze. We put it in a test tube, and we froze that. In 1987, ``CSI'' of course had not been heard of, but we were still using science--entomology, biology, archaeology, forensic pathology, et cetera. No computers. No DNA. Still blood-typing.

In 1998-99, the first DNA science became known to law enforcement, so we sent our sample to the only two labs that were dealing with DNA at that time. They said, Your samples were too fragile, too small. We might destroy them if we tested them further, so come back in a couple of years. In 2001, we submitted the samples, and we came back with a DNA match on three of the bodies. With that DNA match, out of 40,000 tip sheets, 10,000 items of evidence, we solved 48 murders. We closed 50 cases. He pled guilty to 48 murders because of DNA.

I can't tell you how important Katie's Law is to saving lives. That person who committed these 48 crimes and many, many more took the deaths of these young women, ended their lives tragically and ruined the lives of their families for the rest of their lives. There can never be closure for those families and never be closure for their friends. There can only be answers to questions, Who killed my daughter? Who took her life and why? That's what DNA does. But it also protects the innocent, as most of you know. There have been some over the past several years that have actually been released from prison because they found the guilty person.

So there are all kinds of reasons why this law needs to be passed today, and I hope every Member votes ``yes'' to pass Katie's Law in honor of the tragedy, the loss of Katie's life, and in honor of all those who have been taken so senselessly.

Mr. Chairman, if I could have everyone's solemn attention, please.

As many of you know, this week is Law Enforcement Memorial Week. As I said earlier in the year when we lost four police officers in one shooting in Washington State, it's a time when all of us should stop and recognize and realize what our law enforcement family does for us each and every day.

Those Capitol Hill Police that are around us here in this building, outside these doors, the Washington, D.C., police officers who protect us to and from our place of work and to our homes and other places that we travel, we have a safe community as a result of men and women wanting to put themselves in harm's way and sometimes sacrificing their lives.

I was one of those for 33 years. I am proud to say that. As a sheriff's deputy in 1972, finally as the sheriff before coming here to Congress, I am proud to be a part of the law enforcement family. We are brothers and sisters. And being a police officer, as my friend, the

sheriff from Indiana, Sheriff Ellsworth, knows, it transcends everything. The cop world doesn't mean being Democrat or Republican. Being a cop doesn't mean I am a Catholic, I am a Lutheran, I am a Mormon. It doesn't mean any of those things. It means that we are men and women together as a family and a team, putting our lives on the line for people in this Nation every day.

In this year, 126 police officers were killed in the line of duty. And in Washington State alone we lost seven. So I would join with my friend Sheriff Ellsworth, the two sheriffs in the House, in a moment of silence, and I would yield time to Sheriff Ellsworth.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of H.R. 2478, the Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009. The legislation has the kind of broad support necessary for unanimous passage and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

I signed on as a co-sponsor to H.R. 2478 in November of last year. I am pleased to see that since that time, many of my colleagues have joined me in supporting this critical legislation. Unfortunately, the LRA's pattern of violence and intimidation in Uganda has shown no signs of slowing down. Joseph Kony, the LRA's leader, is overseeing atrocities and abductions in South Sudan, the Congo, and Central African Republic. Schools, churches, and community gathering places are often targeted by the LRA. Kony and two of his commanders are wanted by the International Criminal Court. The brutal and despicable nature of the LRA's crimes is unprecedented. We must act and we must act now.

H.R. 2478 would be a crucial step in ending the LRA's reign of terror and provide assistance to the victims of the violence in rebuilding their lives. The legislation is of paramount importance and I hope my colleagues join me and provide the leadership necessary to show our disapproval of Joseph Kony and the LRA.

I learned about this legislation when four young people came into my district office last year to urge me to support H.R. 2478. I was--and still am--incredibly impressed with their passion and knowledge. I have no doubt those young individuals will soon lead our nation forward; in fact, they already are. I hope this House will support their passion and knowledge and pass H.R. 2478.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank a special young man, Erik Martin, who helped save the day in Seattle and buoy the spirits of every person who watched or heard of his heroic actions.

Erik, pressed into service by a distress call from Spiderman, transformed into Electron Boy at a moment's notice. He helped release trapped Seattle Sounders FC players at Qwest Field in Seattle, saved a Puget Sound Energy employee stuck in his bucket truck in Bellevue, and then raced back to Seattle to help dozens of people trapped at the top of the Space Needle by his arch nemesis Dr. Dark and Blackout Boy. Electron Boy saved the day and we were all in awe.

Madam Speaker, Erik, Electron Boy, is often unable to get out of bed because of his struggles with liver cancer. No matter how brave and strong Electron Boy is, sometimes even he needs a little more rest. Thankfully, the morning Spiderman needed his special talents, he immediately leapt into action and acted heroically. We can't thank him enough.

Although Electron Boy did most of the work, Madam Speaker, he did have a little help. Therefore, I want to thank the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Seattle Sounders FC, the King County Sheriff's office, the Bellevue Police Department, Puget Sound Energy and everyone else who helped clear the way to make Electron Boy's heroism a reality. Madam Speaker, Erik Martin is a hero and this whole House thanks him for his ability to transform into Electron Boy. Perhaps one day Electron Boy will come to Washington, DC to save lives. Erik commented that his day of heroic actions was the best day of his life. Well, Madam Speaker, I'm thankful Erik had such a great day because it helped millions of others have a great day as well.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I'm glad there is some bipartisanship here. I think the American people really want us to work together. I mean, that's the bottom line here: we all want to create jobs, we all want to be more energy efficient, and especially in this economy, I think people want to lower their energy costs so they have more money in their pockets.

I think our focus, therefore, is in the right place, but I think there is a more effective way to achieve these goals rather than a rebate check that's before us today. That's why the House should instead take up a bipartisan package of tax incentives that I authored. Again, this is a bipartisan effort by Ron Kind, Geoff Davis, Earl Blumenauer, Chris Lee, and Tom Perriello.

This bill, H.R. 2426, Expanding Building Efficiency Incentives Act, is a more effective approach for several reasons. It puts incentives directly in the hands of the consumers through the Tax Code. It gives the people more choices to meet their needs. It's easier to administer. Tax incentives avoid the expensive and complicated ``middle man'' structure used to give rebate checks.

When I was the sheriff, we applied for grants. And I know that some of the grants were from the Federal Government; they passed through the State government. And as they passed through the State government, they cost an additional 20 percent in administrative fees, therefore reducing the amount of money that actually ended up in the hands of the sheriff's office or police chiefs across the country.

I think the administrative costs in this bill we're about to vote on today remove some of the incentives for homeowners. It includes commercial property and new construction as well as home retrofits. Forty percent of the energy used in our country is in buildings like office towers, warehouses, and shopping malls. If we were really committed to creating jobs and saving money through energy retrofits, let's tackle the problem head on, not just a piece of the problem.

Madam Speaker, I am a little disappointed--well, quite disappointed-- that the Rules Committee didn't make in order our amendment to consider this bipartisan tax bill, and I ask my colleagues to provide the House with an opportunity to do so.

Madam Speaker, many in this House do our part in promoting sustainable living, sustainable building and environmental responsibility. In my District--the 8th of Washington--an environmental science teacher is doing a masterful job at teaching the same values, and more--and he has received much deserved recognition for his efforts.

Redmond High School teacher Mike Town was awarded the inaugural $25,000 Green Prize in Environmental Education from the NEA Foundation on April 19. Mr. Town's curriculum, ``Cool School Challenge,'' teaches students how to perform energy audits of their school buildings and reduce their carbon footprint by doing simple things like powering down computers at night, composting, and recycling. Mr. Town's award comes after leading the entire school toward being one of the ``greenest'' schools in America. He has inspired his students and the rest of the student-body to ``think globally and act locally'' to beautify our schools, our neighborhoods, and our environment. Mr. Town--or simply `Town' to his students--is an innovative and dynamic high school teacher who is making a positive impact on every student who walks through the doors of Redmond High.

One of his former students and my former staffer, Marshall Reffett, described Mr. Town as an educator this way: ``Through his genuine enthusiasm for the subject, depth of knowledge, and hands on teaching methods, I developed a real sense for how the policies we adopt can have a profound effect on the sustainability of the Earth.''

Aside from his teaching work, Mr. Town is a policy advocate for sustainability and the preservation of public lands. He is a vocal wilderness advocate--and worked closely with my office helping to create my Alpine Lakes Wilderness Proposal--a citizen lobbyist, and eloquent speaker on behalf of environmental protection. The man practices what he preaches and is a great example for his students and his community.

What a delight it is for me to highlight the work of one of America's great professional educators. I'm pleased Mr. Town's efforts are not going unnoticed. His enthusiasm in the classroom and his tireless advocacy combine to make him a one-of-a-kind educator.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in recognition of a constituent, Dave Waggoner, who embodies the ``heart of a servant'' ideal that we all should strive to follow. Just recently honored as ``Man of the Year'' in Issaquah, Washington--a city in the 8th District of Washington--for his years of public service and volunteerism, Dave is also a veteran, community leader and member of the Freedom Fighter's Honor Flight project of which I am the honorary chair.

Dave, a veteran of the Vietnam War, works hard to help raise the money necessary to send World War II veterans to Washington, DC, to see the memorial constructed in honor of their great service. Dave considers it his personal mission. The amount of respect and reverence Dave has for the veterans who served before him is truly awesome. His leadership on the board is wonderful to see and I thank him for his selfless service.

Apart from his time with the board of Honor Flight, Dave has been a longtime fixture in the 8th District. An article in the local newspaper recently highlighted his years of community work: Docent for the Issaquah Historical Society, Docent for Friends of Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, Chairman of the Issaquah Cemetery Board, and post commander and assistant quartermaster of the Issaquah Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3436. Recently, Dave led the local fundraising effort for the families affected by the tragic murders of four police officers in Lakewood, Washington--an event people across our State will never forget. No one had to ask Dave to give his time for the cause; he volunteered. Men like Dave help make our local communities special and welcoming. Men like Dave deserve our heartfelt thanks.

So, Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing a man who has spent a lifetime serving his country and his community.

Madam Speaker, May 2010 is ``Building Safety Month,'' as declared by the International Code Council, ICC, and its affiliate Foundation. The ICC has a 30-year legacy of safe building and promoting longevity, responsibility, and sustainability in building practices.

I believe it's important to recognize the ICC and ``Building Safety Month'' because all of us take the painstaking work of code enforcement for granted. Every single day, codes and code enforcers provide safeguards for families, businesses, and governments. We take for granted the codes surrounding fire safety and structural efficiency. We walk through hallways, sleep in bedrooms, work in offices, and exercise in gyms and take our safety and security for granted. May is a month to think about the benefits of building codes and code enforcement and the safety we enjoy because of careful planning.

This year's ICC theme is ``Building Safety: Commemorating a 30-year Legacy of Leadership'' and a spotlight will shine on four specific areas of the built environment: energy and green building, disaster safety and mitigation, fire awareness and safety, and backyard safety. I applaud the ICC for promoting their safety and awareness values this year, especially considering the devastating effects of natural disasters in the recent past. Furthermore, the President of the ICC Board of Directors, Ronald L. Lynn, reiterated the Code Council's steadfast willingness to support and help lead, along with the State Department, the rebuilding of Haiti in a way that will create ``disaster resilience.'' The ICC is providing leadership and instilling value in an arena that, again, we too often take for granted.

The Code Council's emphasis on sustainable building is another aspect of Building Safety Month I want to acknowledge. This Congress, I introduced a comprehensive, bipartisan energy efficiency tax incentives package--The Expanding Building Efficiency Incentives Act of 2009--that has been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council as one of their top legislative initiatives of the 111th Congress. It is reassuring to know that the ICC is also working to promote and further the goals of sustainable building.

Madam Speaker, I offer my thanks to the International Code Council for their leadership on building safety, disaster awareness, and sustainable building. I believe the Code Council and this House can work together to help lead our Nation and this world into a more secure future.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the men and women of law enforcement, who put their lives on the line every day for us. In this past year, seven of our heroes from the State of Washington have been lost in the line of duty. Officer Deputy Sheriff Stephen M. Gallagher Jr., Officer Timothy Q. Brenton, Officer Tina G. Griswold, Officer Ronald W. Owens II, Sgt. Mark J. Renninger, Officer Gregory J. Richards, Deputy Sheriff Walter K. Mundell Jr.

Madam Speaker, most of us get up everyday and expect to come home to our families. Unfortunately, these men and women of law enforcement do not have such blessings. I ask that this poem in honor of these splendid men and women, and their magnificent families who in quiet courage, penned by Capitol Guide Albert Caswell be placed in the Record. And in memory of all the fallen this year.

True Blue

True!

True Blue

All in their most Heroic Hues!

All out there, On That Thin Blue Line . . . so True . . .

All out there, on their own! All, so all alone . . . on

death's edge, so very all alone!

Living and dying, with only micro seconds to react . . . to

find . . . to somehow so decide!

All in that moment of truth, when who lives or dies . . . as

so brilliantly in time, so lies the proof!

With, but only their most courageous of all hearts to use! As

so selflessly, they so do what they must do!

Leaving home, as this might be that one last kiss. . . . All

in their hearts of love, as so as this . . .

With families, who live from day to day . . . knowing that

death, but before them lays!

As they pray, as she or he walks out that door!

As it may be but that one last time, together, as so for

sure!

All because they so stood, so stood!

So stood for something! For something so much more . . .

For What is True . . . for What Is TRUE BLUE!

To SERVE and PROTECT, for all of us. . . . This, and nothing

less!

As all of their fine lives, have ours so blessed!

Ready to die for you and me! All in their most Heroic of

Hues, we see!

Is that but not what Heaven is for? One and all, The Kind of

Quiet Heroes the Angels adore!

As up in Heaven, their new beat for sure! All out there, On

That Thin Blue Line . . .

Could such courage, we all so find? Approaching death, as

it's out there they so feel its cold dark breath!

To save precious life, all in time! Oh so very fine, are but

all of these Heroes . . . who now so come to mind!

It's for them, we now so pray! As they start each new night

or day . . . all out there, On That Thin Blue Line!

Families hugging and crying, still intact . . . all because

heroes lay dying . . .

As this day, death came so very close!

As it's for us they all so died

As their precious gifts, their lives so mean the most!

All For What Is True!

True Blue!

Madam Speaker, more children will be diagnosed this year with autism than with diabetes, cancer, and AIDS combined. It is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the world.

In fact, the United Nations General Assembly has gone so far as to adopt a resolution declaring April 2 as annual ``World Autism Awareness Day'' (WAAD). Autism is only the third disorder to be recognized in this manner by the UN, showing the disorder's pervasive nature and ever-increasing effect on millions of people throughout the world.

Autism afflicts one in every 150 American children--nearly one in every 94 boys. This statistic is disturbing, especially when we know so little about the root causes of the disorder.

As the Founder and co-chair of the Congressional Children's Health Care Caucus, I recognize the destructive force of autism and am proud to do my part to raise awareness of this life-altering and little known disorder. Children deserve a solid foundation--and communities are starting to understand autism like never before, but there is more we can do.

By raising public awareness of autism, my goal is to see that resources are dedicated to research the disorder's cause and to develop treatments and possibly, one day, a cure. Funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is an important part of this equation, as it offers the best hope to finding treatments and cures for diseases and disorders like autism.

Collectively, we must commit every available resource to research and treatment in order to enhance the quality of life for children, their families, and the people who care for and assist them in their lives.

Currently there is no medical detection or cure for autism, but early diagnosis and intervention holds much promise. Through enhancing awareness of autism, together we will offer hope to people who desperately need it. I encourage my colleagues to join in this mission to raise awareness and recruit the resources that will bring hope to children, their families, and their caregivers.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the wonderful accomplishments and tireless efforts of two of my local newspapers--the Seattle Times and the Puget Sound Business Journal. Both papers captured the attention of their readership by searching for all the details, double checking all the facts and meticulously painting the full pictures of the two most noteworthy stories of 2009. For its efforts in reporting on the financial troubles of Washington Mutual, the PSBJ was recognized by the Pulitzer Committee for explanatory reporting. The Seattle Times took the lead in reporting every aspect of the heinous murders of four police officers in Lakewood, Washington and for their outstanding efforts have been awarded a Pulitzer Prize for breaking news.

When the fall of Washington Mutual first emerged, thousands of people throughout the Puget Sound area searched for the facts; the Puget Sound Business Journal supplied them. The incisive and thorough nature of their reporting allowed interested readers to understand the full scope of the issues at hand and the challenges facing their families, their pocketbooks and their neighborhoods. Although the coverage brought devastating news, it was fair, accurate and held a redeeming value. The Newspaper's journalists provided an invaluable public service and never looked for accolades--they simply did their jobs to the best of their abilities.

Washington residents were greeted with extremely grim news the morning of November 29: four police officers had been shot and

killed and the gunman was on the loose. The story--heartbreaking, complex, and infuriating--dragged on for more than 40 hours, with Times reporters, photographers, editors and producers working tirelessly to provide their readers with a comprehensive picture of the story as it unfolded. When the shooter was shot and killed early in the morning on a Seattle street, The Times was there to sift through the information and report the facts. The Times did a wonderful job reporting on an absolutely horrible and tragic string of events. I applaud them for their service to the community and congratulate them for the well deserved honor from the Pulitzer Committee.

The stories told by the Puget Sound Business Journal and the Seattle Times, although depressing and brutal in nature, prove that even in the midst of a sluggish economy and a fractured marketplace for quality journalism, our nation's newspapers play an absolutely vital role in society. It is especially gratifying, as a native of the Puget Sound region, to recognize the remarkable accomplishments of some ``hometown'' journalists. To name just a few individuals at the Times, I'd like to recognize Publisher Frank Blethen, Executive Editor David Boardman, Managing Editor Suki Dardarian and Assistant Managing Editor Jim Simon. In addition, Madam Speaker, it is nearly impossible to record the names of every person at The Times who contributed to the voluminous and detailed coverage of those difficult incidents, so I want to recognize the work of the entire newsroom staff and their giving and patient families. Additionally, I'd like to recognize Puget Sound Business Journal publisher Emory Thomas, Jr., Editor George Erb, reporter Kirsten Grind, and the rest of the wonderfully talented people at the PSBJ. At this time, it is almost impossible to determine how all of us will receive our news in the future. Whatever the answer, we all hope it comes from the dedicated and talented professionals highlighted here. professionals highlighted here.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that we take time to recognize National Crime Victims' Rights Week. As a law enforcement officer for 33 years, protecting victims of crime and their rights is a mission close to my heart.

In the King County Sheriff's office, I saw unspeakable tragedies firsthand. I saw the consequences of crime and how it affects victims-- sometimes for the rest of their lives. There are few things more painful than looking into the eyes of a victim, knowing that a criminal's selfish, terrible deed has done irreparable damage to an innocent life.

As a cop, you live with the hard truth that you can't prevent every crime. But what we can all do is provide as much support and aid to victims as possible. We can help them receive justice and return some normalcy to their lives.

I urge my colleagues to keep victims of crimes in their hearts and minds, especially when voting for measures that will support their ability to move beyond the tragedies they've suffered and are working to overcome.