there's one set of laws for elites and another for everyone else. they're doing their best to stymy every reform. ukraine's defense against corruption have to be just as strong as its military defenses. and we know what those defenses are. independent judiciary. free press. a vibrant civil society. free and fair elections. independent power and corruption investigations of prosecutors and judges. for decades, the yates and europe has been helping build these. we'll keep supporting you as you accelerate these reforms. that's part of the work of government and civil society. >> we're going to leave this, you can find the secretary's speech at c-span.org as the house gavels in for votes. end td

pass senate bill 546 and housetd resolution 7659. h.r. 7659. the first electronic vote will be conducted as a 15-minute vote. pursuant to clause 9 of rule 20, remaining electronic votes will be conducted as five-minute votes. pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion of the gentleman from texas, mr. hunt, to suspend the rules and pass senate bill 546 on which the yeas and nays are ordered. the clerk will report the title. the clerk: senate 546, an act to amend the omnibus crime control and safe streets act of 1968 to authorize law enforcement agencies to use cops grants for recruitment activities, and for

other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill. members will record their votes by electronic device. this is a 15-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the speaker pro tempore: on this vote the yeas are 370, the nays are

18, 2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the unfinished business is vote on the motion of the the gentleman from missouri, mr. graves, on suspend the rules and pass h.r. 7659 as amended. on which the yeas and nays are ordered the clerk will report the title. the clerk: h.r. 7659 a bill to authorize and amend authorities, programs and statutes administered by the coast guard. the speaker pro tempore: the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended. members will record their votes by electronic device. this is a

five-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.]

the speaker pro tempore: on this vote, the yeas --

the speaker pro tempore: on this vote, the yeas are 376, the nays are 16. 2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table.

>> order. members and staff, please take your conversations off the floor. the chair will recognize one-minute speeches. for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition? >> i request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized mr. burchett: the house is not in order.

mr. burchett: i rise to honor colonel julian who passed away on may 1. he served in the 34a aerial refueling wing. mr. burchett: can you hold it down? can i start over? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. burchett: i rise to honored colonel rich yard julian who served his country in the 134th and served for 38 years before he retired in 2004. he worked with me when i was knox county mayor and dear friend to me. we met and it was a mistake because he was talking to jack huddleston and jack invited me and having a baloney cutting campaign.

he had a big heart. when my daughter was singing down at the veterans' home she had her father's incigna and he got choked up. last conversation i had with him he told me he was going to be waiting in heaven and offer my condolences to his daughter and and melissa, warren and little grand son, logan and griffin. he and family and friends loved him and he was right for the lord and will be missed but will not be forgotten. thank you for giving me a good life and i yield. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from delaware seek recognition? >> i request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection the gentlewoman is recognized

for one minute. mr. speaker , i am excited that this week, the house is expected to take action on the bipartisan promoting see rill yent supply chains act. supply chains is an issue that touches americans whether they know it or not. from p.p.e. and lumber and glass to semiconductor chips that power our cars, weakened supply chains can delay critical goods that we rely on. this bill is so important and an issue we have been working on and dr. bucshon have worked to introduce this bill after weeks of negotiation. this legislation is man toring and strengthening our supply

chains, helping us identify shocks before they occur and enjoys the support of 150 organizations and was passed out of committee unanimously and will help us create jobs, lower costs and grow our economy and strengthen our national security. vote yes on this legislation. and i look forward to president biden signing it. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from south carolina seek recognition? >> i request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. wilson: as america recognizes national police week. we show our appreciation for the officers who serve and protect us bravely and those who lost their lives. unfortunately biden and far left for defund police movement has resulted in violent crime across

the country threatening families. . he continues his witch hunt against donald trump. merchan's incompetence has caused rallies for trump. he is re-electing trump in. conclusion, god bless our troops who successfully protected america for 20 years as the global war on terror -- war on terror moved from afghanistan to our country. as more 9/11 attacks across america are imminent as repeatedly warned by the f.b.i. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from ohio seek recognition?

the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. ms. kaptur: mr. speaker, i rise to celebrate national police week. this week comes at a time where republicans have spent the past year trying to cut local law enforcement budgets to the bone. current republican study committee plans threat ton cut funning for nearly 30,000 law enforcement jobs nationwide. our police forces perform their dews with great honor and courage. however, republican efforts to defend our local police will only make their jobs harder. i urge my colleagues to support cops funding. please co-sponsor our bipartisan legislation that equip ours law enforce wment the tools they need to adequately address the ongoing mental health crisis, in the field, in our jail, in our prisons. h.r. 3501, the law enforcement training for mental health crisis response act will provide funding to law enforcement for responding to behavioral health crises.

our nation has a severe meantal health crisis. law enforcement offers are often the first to respond. it's vie physical for -- vital for them to have the right tools to manage these sensitive incidents safely and effectively. a big salute tour officers across america, we value you. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition? mr. carter: i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. carter: i rise today to recognize national fentanyl awareness day which was celebrated last week on may 7. in 2023, a record number of our sons and daughters' lives were taken by opioid overdose, the majority of which were caused by illicit fentanyl poisoning. fentanyl poisoning is the leading cause of death for americans age 18-45, and is predominantly sourced from our southwest border.

this is unacceptable. we must close that southern border but there are additional steps we can take to ensure everyone, especially our youth, are protected. i've been a longtime advocate for in a lox sewn -- for naloxone to be available over the counter. i'm glad the f.d.a. took this step so more people can access this life-saving medication. i carry some around with me in my backpack everywhere i go. i've never had to use it, i hope i don't have to use it, but it's there in case of an emergency. i've introduced legislation, the saving lives in schools act which would require schools to carry naloxone. wherever you sea a defibrillator, you should see nalaxone. it's safe and easesy to use and could save a life. we must commit to ending the fentanyl poisoning epidemic for good. thank you, mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the

gentlewoman from michigan seek recognition? without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. >> thank you, mr. speaker, i rise to highlight asian american and pacific islander heritage month, an annual celebration that recognizes the many historical and cultural contributions of asian and pacific islanders who came to the united states. ms. stevens: from science to medicine, literature and art, sports, education, our asian american community is so vital to our country's success and i would like to shine a brief light on the eying pacific american chamber of congress, back in my home state of michigan i had the honor of celebrating their 23rd annual anniversary and gaza that was -- that included so many constituents, leaders from throughout michigan, and yet again michigan continues to lead the way alongside our aapi

community. thank you, mr. speaker, and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? >> i request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. thompson: i rise today to celebrate 50 years of the center area transportation authority. for the last 50 years cata has connected the college with areas for transportation. whether you're a college student looking to run errands or novel time resident trying to get to your job, you can count on the bus to get you where you need to go. as state college continues to grow, the bus service did as well. today cata continues to develop and provide for residents. cata remains a premier small transit system and is continually recognized for its growth, service and ingenuity. i congratulate cata on 50 years

of service to the community. thank you, mr. speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from indiana seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the jell is recognized for one minute. >> it is with great respect i rise in recognition of national police week. mr. m mrvan: we have we work to make sure they have the resources they need to protect themselves and perform their duties to the best of their abilities. that's why in my time as a member of congress i've been proud to secure funding measures for police departments throughout northwest indiana, including most recently for gary, hammond, maryville, michigan city and muenster. let's continue to build on this success and support our law enforcement officers and their families not just during police week but every day throughout the year. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for

what purpose does the gentleman from ohio seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i rise with a heavy heart to recognize the service of officer jacob durbin and celebrate his life. he gave the ultimate sacrifice when he was ambushed and killed in the line of duty last sunday. mr. miller: from brooklyn heightings, he joined the euclid police department less than a year ago after serving in the army national guard. he protected his family, his country, his community. officer durbin's fellow officers will remember him as an incredible person with a great heart and an incredible smile. i echo ohio attorney general yost in saying it is a cruel irony that a mother lost her son on mother's day and that this

murder happened just as we begin to solemn nice our fall -- solemnize our fallen during police week. i'm grateful for our officers who put their lives on the line every single day to protect us. my deepest condolences to the family, friends and fiancee of officer durbin and to the euclid police department. god bless euclid, god bless ohio and thank you mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition? >> to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my rashes. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. >> mr. speaker, two years ago, a gunman drove to a black neighborhood with an assault rifle in his hand and hate in his heart, opening fire and killing 10 people in buffalo, new york. mr. bowman: he was radicalized by the great replacement theory, a white sprem sis, racist, anti-semitic conspiracy. we are still mourning the 10 souls lost to this senseless

violence. the only way to move forward is to acknowledge that what is killing us in droves is hatred and continued white supremacy. congress cannot continue to ignore these hateful and discriminatory ideologies being promoted by far right maga extremists. i introduced a resolution to condemn the great replacement theory, racism, anti-semitism and bigotry in all its forms. we must stand up together and say clearly that white supremacy is an existential threat. we need reparations for the black community in buffalo and around the country, like food justice for community members and free mental health to support and address community trauma. i urge my colleagues to join me in condemning the great replacement theory, preparing the homes of white supremacy and fighting to rule out hatred once and for all. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from north carolina seek recognition? without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute.

>> mr. speaker, after putting on a bulletproof vest, i hopped in a police cruiser to help patrol the town. joining snow hill police chief josh smith for a ride along was enlightening. mr. davis: during our patrol, chief smith and i spoke about equipment needs, funding channels, and staffing issues police officers face. we also took a moment to connect with our community, waving at kids skateboarding and passing by memaw's house to make sure she was ok. dedicated officers work hard daily. indeed, they are the backbone of our communities. as we observe national police week, let us recognize the bravery and sacrifice of our law enforcement personnel.

thank you, chief. and to all the men and women who faithfully protect and serve communities across eastern north carolina and the nation. mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: under the speaker's announced policy of january 9, 2023, the gentleman from new york, mr. d'esposito, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader. mr. d'esposito: thank you, mr. speaker. i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this special order. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. d'esposito: thank you, mr. speaker. beginning on sunday evening, the united states of america welcomed thousands upon thousands of men and women who

wear the uniform who protect and serve their communities throughout this country. mr. speaker, police week 2024 welcomes law enforcement professionals from every corner of this great nation. some are here to share important information. some are here for training. some are here for camaraderie. we have members of the nassau county emerald society here celebrating their 50th anniversary. but the main reason we are here, mr. speaker, the key to why

thousands upon thousands travel to capitol hill for police week, is to recognize, to remember, and to honor the men and women of law enforcement who have laid down their life for the sake of others. just last week we gathered here on the house floor paying honor to syracuse police officer michael jensen, an on -- and onondaigua sheriff cusack. we pay tribute to law enforcement officers in north carolina. who on monday, april 29, 2024, experienced the deadliest attack on law enforcement since 2016.

when joshua ire, thomas weeks jr., alden elliot and sam peloach died and were killed in the line of duty. mr. speaker, just minutes ago, the f.b.i. released their 2023 law enforcement officers killed or assaulted report. and there were 60 who were killed or assaulted in the line of duty across this country. you see, mr. speaker, we are here on capitol hill for police week to honor the more than 26,000 law enforcement officers that have died or been killed in the line of duty since 1786.

mr. speaker. 136 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in 2023 and their names forever etched on the wall at the law enforcement officers' memorial just blocks from here. mr. speaker, i was proud before coming to congress to serve in what some would argue the greatest police department in the world, the new york city police department. and i had the honor to serve with some of the best of the best. the greatest detectives as an nypd detective. but, mr. speaker, last year, 5,000 363 of my brothers and sisters of the ny pmp d were injured on the job. the president, patrick hendry

has been calling assault on the nypd quote, a full-blown epidemic. the 5,000 of my brothers and sisters that were assaulted or attacked in 2023 was 13% higher than the previous year. mr. speaker, there are many reasons as to why we could argue that that number continues to rise and all one would have to do is turn on the news or scroll through social media or perhaps listen to news radio. you see radical protests and influx of criminal migrants and cashless bail which has been a

failed policy in the new york state legislature from our governor and working its way down through the senate and assembly, it has failed new yorkers and failed in places just like here in washington, d.c., and what do they have in common where we see criminals having more rights than law-abiding citizens? what is the common denominator in communities and cities and counties throughout this country that have emboldened criminals that have taken the handcuffs that are on the gunbelt of law enforcement officers and those handcuffs are being utilized against police, not allowing them to do their job, not allowing them to go out there and live out the oath to protect and serve. and what do they have in

common? they are governed by democrats, radical democrats who continue each and every day to put criminals ahead of law-abiding citizens. you see, we have seen the increase in police assaults. we have seen the increase in police officers being killed. why? because of radical protests and inintroduction of criminal migrants. criminal justice reform and apartmenty cop rhetoric and soft on crime, rogue district attorneys like alvin brag g. 1, 287 of my brothers and sisters died from suicide between 2016 and 2022. mr. speaker, that number is

startling. and there are many reasons as to why we see law enforcement officers struggle and if one of the reasons as to why i'm working with my colleagues to erase that significance stigma and make law enforcement officers realize that there is health available and mental health is so critically important. but we cannot put our head in the sand. we cannot ignore the fact that law enforcement officers are seeing even more stress because of the failed policies of so many so-called leaders throughout this country. law enforcement work is challenging and dangerous. and very often we hear a police officer responding to a routine

911 call. mr. speaker, and to those listening at home, no 911 call is routine. no car stop is routine. mr. speaker, just months ago, police officer jonathan diller of the nypd was outdoing what he does best, taking illegal firearms off the street. and him and his team stopped a car, which for most would probably seem like a routine car stop, someone sitting another a bus stop, police officer diller exited and approached the car and was met with bullets, from an illegal firearm, carried by

an individual who was arrested 21 times prior. mr. speaker, the individual who murdered police officer jonathan diller was arrested over 20 times and let back out on the street to commit more crimes. that individual should have rotted in a cell. and i pray that prosecutors give him that destiny. because jonathan diller went to work that morning and put on his bullet-proof vest and went out to the streets of the city of new york to reduce crime, to make life safer for every day new yorkers, and he was murdered

by a career criminal who should have been behind bars. and in a split second, a family was destroyed and jonathan diller's son will wake up every single day for the rest of his life without his father. jonathan's widow stephanie will wake up every single day without her husband. and mr. speaker, we are gathered here in washington, d.c., for police week to remember people, heroes, just like jonathan diller. and jonathan's funeral when he was post humanously promoted to detective first grade, his wife

spoke from the altar and said two years earlier she listened in on the funeral of other two other nypd officers who were murdered and thought to herself, something needs to change. the laws in new york needs to change. and she stood on that will altar y lies beginning her husband, pleading with elected officials in new york state to rethink their justice reform and cashless bail. but unfortunately, it's not going to change because democrats in new york have doubled down. you see, i made a promise when i was sworn in to the new york city police department, i put my

hand up and took an oath, i took an oath to protect and serve the contusion and protect the city of new york i would never ever forget the men and women the honor to serve with. and that day at that funeral, i made that same promise to detective first grade jonathan diller that we will never forget him and we won't. and i am thankful that i have colleagues to pay tribute to law enforcement officers throughout this country and i urge you to visit the memorial blocks away and read a quote below the statue of the lion that you enter that memorial. it says, it is not how they died that made them heroes, it's how

they lived. mr. speaker, it is not how jonathan diller died that made him a hero, it's how he lived. it is not how officers ramos and liu, it's how they lived. over 30 years ago, police officers steven mcdonald from my congressional district was shot at point-blank range in central park by a group of teenaged thugs. he went to the hospital where they said he wasn't expected to live. but steven mcdonald fought back every single day. his wife patty prayed by his bedside.

his sign conner, my good friend, was baptized at his hospital bed. and steven mcdonald spent his life advocating for the new york city police department and for law enforcement throughout this country and he talked about peace and forgiveness and forgave his near assassins. and steven mcdonald, who was from the 4th congressional district, just a couple of weeks ago, i got to witness his son promoted to captain of the new york city police department. and conner continues to preserve the legacy of his great father steven. mr. speaker, another example of it's not how he died that made him a hero it's how steven

mcdonald lived that made him a hero. so we are gathered here in washington, d.c., for police week to honor those, to honor those men and women who are heroes, because we promised to never forget. and now, mr. speaker, i would like to yield five minutes to my good friend and fellow brother in blue, mr. rutherford from florida. mr. rutherford: thank you for yielding. as a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind, to safeguard lives and property and protect the innocent the weak against oppression and the peaceful against violence and respect the

constitutional rights of all men of liberty, equality and justice. mr. speaker, that is the opening line of the law enforcement officers' code of ethics, a code every officer whose name is etched into the national law enforcement officers' memorial live and died buy. i rise to honor two police officers from my district whose names were added to the memorial wall this year, sergeant michael paul kodovich and deputy sheriff peter thomas johnson. on friday, may 19, 2023 following the arrest of an suspect armed with a knife, sergeant michael suffered a

heart attack from the stress caused while apprehended this fleeing suspect. he served 26 years in the st. john's county sheriffs' office and award and service award in 2023 and 2013 and exceptional service award in 2010 and many letters of commend dation. he served on the s.w.a.t. team for five years while earning his bachelor's degree in public administration from flagler college. through and through, the sergeant was a servant leader dedicated to protecting his community. he will be greatly missed by the whole northeast florida law enforcement community. my thoughts and prayers are with his family and his two sons matthew junior and max and his

friends and women of the st. johns' county sheriff's i also rise to honor the life and service of peter thomas johnson who was shot and killed while investigating report ports of a firearms discharge on december 21, 19136789 that's right, 1913. you see, deputy johnson served with the duvall county sheriff's office for 11 months before his end of watch over 110 years ago. but until this year he had never been recognized we are forever grateful for his service and the heroic legacy he left behind. you know, we promise our officers every day, as has been said so eloquently by my colleague here, that we will

never forget. and this is evidence tonight that we will never forget if an officer is called upon to lay down that full measure of devotion. ralph waldo emmerson once said, the purpose of life is not to be happy, it's to be useful. it's to be honorable, to be compassionate. to have it make some difference that you lived and lived well. mr. speaker, these two men that we honor tonight lived well. may these heroes never be forgotten. mr. speaker, as a law enforcement officer for over 40

years, including 12 years as sheriff of jacksonville, i'm dedicated my life to serving my northeast florida community alongside some of the finest men and women. now it's my job in congress to call on protecting those men and women who are serving today. anyone who has put on a badge and answered the call of duty knows the dangers that may await. sadly, this is the reality officers and their families accept each time they leave home. in 2023 with a 30% increase inft officers, 378 law enforcement officers were shot in the line of duty compared to 331 in 2022. that's a 13% increase. in just one year. these attacks must end. that's why i introduced the

protect and serve act, a bipartisan bill to increase penalties on those who want to target and ambush and harm our police officers. and i urge congress to pass it. if these bad actors wan to target the police, we in congress should target them. it's our responsibility to protect those who protect us. as anyone who has worked in law enforcement knows, losing a loved one, a colleague, or a friend in the line of duty chains you forever. i know what officers go through every day as they put on their uniform and say good-bye to their families. during my over 40-year career, i lost 26 colleagues and friends who laid down their lives in service to our community. one police officer killed in an ambush is one too many.

the increase of ambushes and dangerous rhetoric about law enforcement has left many agencies struggling now to hire and retain the best and brightest. we must help give agencies the tools they need to hire and keep these officers. that is also why i introduced the helper act, a bicameral, bipartisan bill that i introduced in the house to make it easier for police officers in other public -- and other public servants in our community to buy their first home. families everywhere are struggling to get by. many of our nation's first responders and teachers are priced out of the very neighborhoods that they are called to serve. by making home ownership easier, the helper act would work to boost the recruitment and retention of our dedicated public servants and help make our communities safer. everyone benefits from being neighbors with those serving and

protecting our way of life. i urge the house to pass these important bills to make our community safer and deliver for our law enforcement officers nationwide. mr. speaker, i just hope that -- and pray that all of us, all of us, can lead lives that are worthy of their sacrifice. with that, mr. speaker, i yield back. mr. d'esposito: thank you, mr. rutherford. i now yield three minutes to my friend from new jersey and the co-chair of the law enforcement caucus, mr. pascrell. mr. pascrell: thank you, congressman. i'm always proud to stand in support of our brave law enforcement officers who suit up every day. that is especially true during national police week.

this year, national law enforcement officers memorial will add 282 names of officers who have died in the line of duty. i'm thinking of my good friend sheriff richard bergman, a dedicated public servant, we will never forget his sacrifices that made our community a better place. as a longtime chair of the law -- co-chair of the law enforcement caucus, i know any successful effort to fund and support the police must be bipartisan. i'm deeply disappointed to see law enforcement politicized the last several years. we must stand united against all attacks on police.

not just certain attacks, all attacks. that includes our brothers and sisters who work at the federal agencies too. many times they're forgotten. when i say all attacks, i mean even attacks on january 6, 2021. you don't need a cannon on the front lawn of the greatest country in the world to say there's actions against our police and law enforcement. there was no cannon on the front lawn that day. so this is police week. this is police week. that could be any week. in our society. it should be every week. the respect that we show for

those people who protect our live days in and day out. i'm proud of the bipartisan solutions we've enacted to improve the physical and mental health of our officers. same thing with our firefighters. in 2015, we enacted the bipartisan national blue alert act to protect law enforcement officers who become targets of violent criminal attacks. this law was -- has resulted in 37 states developing blue alert plans to help catch those who seek to hurt our police. in 2019 we permanently authorized the life-saving bulletproof vest partnership grant program. vests are directly attributable to saving the lives of over 300

officers in the last 10 years. last congress, i introduced law enforcement training act which authorized 270 million to support officer counseling and training for addressing mental health. there cannot be a stigma. we need to address it. it should be something that someone comes forth with. to seek help. and we have to create that environment within our departments. and within our society. this police week, let us do right by law enforcement communities. let us pass bills that actually fund the police. no words, but actions. frankly, i regret that each of the police bills coming to the floor this week are more

partisan and political than the next. take a look at them. read them. conversely, across the build, i'm glad to see the senate acting by advancing honoring our fallen heroes act. this bill would ensure first responders who die or become disabled from occupational cancer get their public safety officers benefits. this bill -- the bill to reform and expand federal debt and -- death and disability benefits we passed in police week in 2021, pay benefits, health care, housing assistance, fair retirement treatment, bills addressing these items can make a real difference for our officers. and their families. i hope we can get the honor act, and other important priorities to the president's desk this congress. thank you.

god bless our police. and god bless our america. i yield back. thank you, mr. chairman. mr. d'esposito: thank you. i was hoping that tonight was about honoring the -- we want to i guess talk about the bills that are on the floor this week, we can do that prior to debating. but to say that the bills this week are partisan, that they're supporting law enforcement, would have to disagree. one of them i actually wrote myself and it is about providing law enforcement, the law enforcement officers who are actually being attacked, in city streets like new york, by illegal migrants, the bill requires that law enforcement agencies throughout the country are given updates as to how this migrant crisis, the biden border

crisis, how it is affecting law enforcement so that congress and local municipalities can do the job they need to to make sure that law enforcement has the resources they need to protect themselves. that does not seem partisan to me. and with that, mr. speaker, i'd like to yield three minutes to another brother-in-law enforcement, my good friend from minnesota, mr. stauber -- another brother in law enforcement, my good friend from minnesota, mr. stauber. mr. stauber: i would like to thank my colleague if new york, mr. d'esposito, for leading this discussion this evening. i'm proud to stand here on this -- in this hallowed institution in police week to honor my fallen brothers and sisters. i know firsthand the sacrifices law enforcement officers make for the safety and security of our communities. policing is a noble and honorable profession and it can be a dangerous one.

however, in the years since i have left the profession, there has been a dramatic increase in violent attacks on law enforcement. in 2023 alone, as previously stated, 378 police officers were shot in the line of duty. the highest number ever recorded. this increase in violence against law enforcement is the direct result of the extreme democrats' disastrous defund the police movement, soft on crime policies, and activist prosecutors that have that have emboldened violent criminals and allowed them to remain free. in my colleague's state of new york we recently lost officer jonathan diller, killed by a career criminal who had been released from jail 21 times. 21 times.

let that sink in for a moment. i watched the eulogy givenly biofficer diller's widow stephanie and what she asked, a heartbreaking and very powerful question. she asked, how many more officers have to make the ultimate sacrifice before we start protecting them? similar questions have been echoed by the law enforcement officers in my home state of minnesota, where burnsville police officers paul elmstrand, matt derugi and paramedic michael finseth were gunned down responding to a domestic crisis. much like new york, minnesota is minnesota is filled with officials who have a soft on crime, anti-law enforcement agenda. and there is no better example of this dysfunction than the

county attorney m moriarti who s consistently handing out lenient sentences to violent criminals. she attempted to give someone who had committed murder a sentence of two years in a rehabilitation program. meanwhile, ms. m moriart s is leading a political prosecution against a minnesota state troop who are acted to safe the life of his partner. mr. speaker, i am sick and tired of seeing people in power attacking our law enforcement heroes while going easy on criminals who wreak havoc in our communities. because of these continued attacks on law enforcement by criminals and elected officials, we are unable to attract young people to the policing

profession. meanwhile, more and more officers are retiring early from the force. this has, of course, allowed crime to skyrocket, leaving remaining officers and the communities they swore to protect less safe. on national police week, i demand that all of our nation's leaders do a better job standing up against the ugly attacks on law enforcement. there are too many politicians who are all too eager to show up to the funerals of our fallen heroes while doing absolutely nothing to protect the brave men and wip who remain in this -- women who remain in noble profession. we have a responsibility to defend those who defend us. so with that said, i ask all of my colleagues in this chamber to consider stephanie diller's questions once more.

how many more officers have to make the ultimate sacrifice before we start protecting them? mr. speaker, i yield back. mr. d'esposito: mr. speaker, i yield one minute to mr. baird from indiana. mr. baird: i thank my colleague for yielding me this time. and, mr. speaker, every day our men and women in blue, they leave their homes and their families, not knowing whether they'll return. this is a heartbreaking reality that we do not give enough credit to. these heroes selflessly go out into our communities every day to ensure the safety of their families, their friends and strangers that they do not know. and ask for nothing in return. mr. speaker, this year alone 98

officers were killed in the line of duty. that's 98 too many. one of them is deputy sheriff fred fisler of hendrix county, indiana. deputy fishle rervetion's life -- fisler's life tragically ended on april 16, 2024, while he responded to a deadly car crash. the officer is survived by his wife and two children. i pray for his family and every other officer who has been killed in the line of duty. they sacrificed their lives for our safety. as we honor their lives during national police week, let us not forget how we are all impacted by these unsung heroes, whether we see it or not, we must always back the whether you. with that -- back the blue. with that, i yield back. mr. d'esposito: mr. speaker, i yield two minutes to my friend and fellow new yorker,

mr. williams. mr. williams: mr. speaker, thank you, mr. d'esposito. i know that you speak with experience and from the heart. and i speak on behalf of this body, i thank you for your leadership in this important area. thank you. you know, we remember lieutenant michael husac and officer michael jens tonight. drng general -- jensen tonight. gotd bless -- god bless their families as they mourn. thinking about what is it we're doing here during police week, my mind goes to how we can best support law enforcement through our work here in congress. that support can take many forms but it certainly must be more than just rhetoric. what resources do they need to carry out their work safely and successfully? the madness and stupidity of defund the police is over.

in my district in central new york, we worked through the appropriations process, keeping the needs of our district's police top of mind. some of the most fulfilling work i've had the honor of doing since coming to congress has involved sitting down with local law enforcement, hear being their needs directly from -- hearing about their needs directly from them and advocating for them here in washington. when you speak with these folks, you get a real sense of the gravity of their work. they know all too well that they place their lives at risk every time they clock in. and they do so for our sake. and every opportunity i get, i tell them to make sure that they go home to their family at the end of their shift. they kiss their wife and kids and be able to suit up the next day. how can we expect law enforcement to have the backs of americans when so often

politicians with a duty to represent them turn their backs on the police? when our police are facing the most difficult challenges, it's up to those with the ability to support them to do so in any capacity that they can. and i was proud to join many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle last year to pass the police act of 2023, which would make assaulting a law officer a deportable offense. it's a shame that the senate is not -- has not voted on this bill for a year. now in my home state of new york especially, the police community has faced significant trials in recent memory. and i ask again, what more can we do? what more must we do? i call on my colleagues to offer support to those who do so much to support us. i'm honored to be here to speak on behalf of the law enforcement community today. i yield back.

mr. d'esposito: i now yield two minutes to my friend, mr. guest. mr. guest: blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called children of god. this week, national police week, we thank and we reaffirm our support for our peace makers. this week we honor those men and women who lost their lives in the line of duty, the brave men and women who serve and protect, who ted kate their lives to de-- who dedicate their lives to protecting citizens from those who seek to do evil and who routinely place themselves in harm's way. they are the heroes we call in our time of need. president ronald reagan once said, there can be no more noble

vocation than the protection of one's fellow citizens. no single group is more fully committed to the well-being of their fellow americans and to the faithful discharging of duty than our law enforcement personnel. in the performance of their duties, danger is a routine part of their job. and we on occasion lose some valiant men and women. mr. speaker, let us never forget those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to their fellow man. and let the families of our fallen officers be comforted by the words and the gospel of john. john 15:13. greater love has no man than this, to lay down his life for another. may we never forget our heroes and their sacrifice. i yield back.

mr. d'esposito: mr. speaker, as was said, we gathered over the last few days and will continue to gather this week for police week. to honor men and women throughout this great nation who have worn the uniform. who kissed their loved ones good-bye and never came home. people like detective jonathan diller. heroes like patrick rafferty.

like paul tizolo. i actually met with eileen rafferty and lisa tizulo today. two women who didn't know each other but have now formed a beautiful bond. not a bond out of happiness, but a bond from losing their husband, losing their husbands on the streets of new york city. both to illegal firearms. murdered and taken from this world because they wore the uniform.

lisa and eileen made their trip to washington, d.c., this week from new york not by train, not by bus, not by air. but by bike. they pedaled from ground zero in lower manhattan, they pedaled their way here to washington, d.c., and arrived at the law enforcement officers' memorial. and they did it to continue to honor their husbands. they did it with other line of duty families who are honoring their loved ones.

so that's what this week is about. it's about raising awareness to the dangers that members of law enforcement face each and every day. it's about raising awareness to the fact that in places like new york, democrats have made the jobs and the lives of law enforcement less safe. we heard it from the widow of jonathan diller. who was pleading during her eulogy for elected officials to do something. mr. speaker, i am thankful, truly thankful, to my colleagues who came this evening to not just pay tribute to individuals

from their district, but to pay tribute to law enforcement throughout this country. and i have to disagree with my friend on the other side of the aisle who talked about the bills this week being partisan. because i look at them as a way to keep this community safe. this country safe. mr. van drew's detain and deport illegal aliens who assault cops act. we've seen it on the streets of new york city, cops being assaulted in broad daylight by illegal migrants from the biden border crisis. or how about the police our border act, my piece of legislation. that will authorize the justice department to provide information to law enforcement agencies throughout this country about the migrant crisis so that

law enforcement has the resources they need to be safe. or legislation from don bacon that broadens the ability of qualified, trained, active and retired law enforcement officers to carry firearms. that is not partisan. that is giving trained law enforcement professionals the right to carry and broaden their right to carry fierp arms -- firearms. the d.c. crimes act of 2024, from my good friend, byron donalds, allows congress to exert their oversight power over the d.c. council and promote safety in washington, d.c. the common denominator again in d.c. is it's led by radical democrats who have made this nation's capital less safe. ...

that's not partisan, it's actually common sense. or mr. bishop's improving law enforcement officer safety and wellness through data act which requires the attorney general to assemble reports on violence against law enforcement officers. requires the attorney general to assemble reports on violence against law enforcement officers. mr. speaker, i don't see how that's partisan. it's about keeping law enforcement safe. that's not a republican issue. it's not a democrat issue. it's a united states of america issue. or my brother in blue, clay higgins, which condemns president biden's border crisis and the burdens it has created for america's law enforcement officers. that's not partisan. the facts and the data tell the story. joe biden and secretary mayorkas

have allowed millions of illegal migrant into this country. they have been arrested for assaulting and attacking law enforcement. again, not partisan. attacking law enforcement is not a republican concern. or a democrat concern. it's an american people concern. or the resolution by mr. stauber regarding violence against law enforcement officers. 374 officers killed since 2021. record breaking. 378 officers shot in the line of duty in 2023. a 60% increase. since 2018. the nypd estimates record number of assaults on officers for 2

2023. so that doesn't seem partisan either. so mr. speaker, we gather here this week to recognize and remember men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice. we also gatter to raise awareness. that law enforcement in this country is under attack. and they're under attack because there are reckless policies and laws being put in place, promoting a far-left agenda that emboldens criminals and restricting law enforcement from doing the job they took the oath to do. that's what police week is ab about. and as i just read down that line of legislation that speaker johnson and leader scalise and whip emmer and our conference

chair el elise stefanik have pun the agenda for this week, i find my colleague's comment that they are partisan even more ridiculous. because as i read through each piece of that legislation right now, it's a commonsense approach. it's about standing with law enforcement. it's about giving them the tools and the resources that they need to give their job, and mr. speaker, that is not a partisan issue. every piece of legislation on the floor this week should have every vote of every member of this chamber. so mr. speaker, again i thank my colleagues from both sides of the aisle for being here this evening. for saluting heroes. for welcoming men and women in blue from throughout this country to their offices and to this hill this week.

i truly mean when i say thank you from the bottom of my heart, i speak to the children and the widows. this week matters to them. it matters to the men and women right now. who are in locker rooms throughout this country. suiting up. for their night out on the street. it matters. that we stand with them. so mr. speaker, thank you and i leave you with, it's not how they died that made them heroes. it's how they lived. mr. speaker, i thank you. may they all rest in peace. and they remain the model of the new york city police department, faithful unto death. mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: under

the speaker's announced policy of january 9, 2023, the gentlewoman from florida, mrs. cherfilus-mccormick is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. mrs. cherfilus-mccormick: i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this special order hour. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mrs. cherfilus-mccormick: it is with great honor i rise today as co-anchor of this c.b.c. special order hour alongside my colleague, representative jonathan jackson. for the next 60 minutes, members of the c.d.c. have the opportunity to discuss the importance of 70th abversery -- anniversary of brown vs. board of education, a law that's important to congress, the constituents we represent and all americans. today i rise to reflect upon the 70th anniversary of one of the most pivotal moments in our

nation's history. the landmark supreme court case brown vs. board of education. this ruling forever altered the course of our nation, shattering the chains of segregation and paving the way for more just and equitable society. our educational institutions with were affected by segregation, denying millions of children the opportunity for an education because of the co-or lohr of their skin. the brown vs. board of education struck down the doctrine of separate but equal, declaring the facilities were inherently unequal and therefore unconstitutional. this not only dismantled legal segregation in school but sent a powerful message that racism has no police in our society. but the significance of brown vs. board of education extends far beyond the realm of education. it laid the groundwork for a

more incluesive and equitable society, one in which every individual is afforded the same right and tuns regardless of race creed or background. it ignites a spark of chang that reverberated throughout the nation, catalizing the civil rights movement and inspiring generations of activists to fight for equality and justice. it emboldened individuals to challenge institutionalized racism and discrimination in all of its forms. paving the way for monumental legislative victories such as the civil rights act of 1964 and the voting rights act of 1965. today we can see the impact of brown vs. board of education an every corner -- in every corner of our nation. us has transformed our economy, unleashing the untapped potential of millions of african-americans who now have the opportunity to pursue their dreams and contribute to the prosperity of our country. it has strengthened our social fabric, fostering greater

understanding and empathy among people of different races and backgrounds. it has rereaffirmed our commitment to justice and equality ha lie at the heart of democracy. but our work is far from over. despite the progress we have made we still face inequalities that divide our society. the legacy of brown vs. the board of education reminds us that the fight for civil rights is ongoing. and that we must remain vigilant in our pursuit of a more perfect union. let us honor this legacy by redirecting ourselves to the cause of justice and equality. let us continue to strive for a future where every child, regardless of their race or background, has the opportunity to succeed and thrive. and let us never forget the power of our collective voices to bring about meaningful change in our communities and in our nation. i'd like to now yield to my co-anchor, representative

jonathan jackson. mr. jackson: i would like to thank the honorable congresswoman sheila cherfilus-mccormick from florida, co-anchor of this special order hour. thank you, congresswoman mccormick. tonight, just a few of my colleagues and i gather in this place and at this time to remind the members of the body and the american people of the cost of progress in this country. i submit to you that there are too many people who have come to believe that progress is inevitable. that history is slanted upward. and that if left to its own devices, this country will magically always do the right things. and it is not ironic that those are usually also the same people who believe that marchs and demonstrations are untimely and excessive. in a very real sense, these are

the people who said that reverend martin luther king was a rabble-rouser. that thurgood marshall was delusional. that college pro tests are inconvenient -- protests are inconveniences and not to be taken seriously. that the preservation of the status quo is of more social value than the expansion of opportunity and liberty. and that they do further believe that public demonstrations of discontent are more about law and order than about the irrepressible yearning in every human being to unapologetically be free. but they -- what they miss is that what all of us want and deserve is to be treated with respect and have our dignity intact. what they fail to realize is all of us want to see our children live in communities where they are safe and valued and have opportunity. but regrettably, not all of us

have access to the thingses that make for peace and the words of reverend martin luther king, peace is not the absence of noise. but it's the presence of justice. not all of us are judged by the content of our character nor simply the co-already of our skin. and as long as not every child in brooklyn cannot read and every child in atlanta and the appalachias may not have desire to learn we cannot be complais innocent a nation of great wealth. what the purveyors of inevitability fail to understand is that freedom and justice have never come to those who waited for someone else to decide it was time for them to be free. even in this body there are far too many individuals under the impression that this nation will become a more perfect union if we just leave things alone. but nothing could be further from the truth. today and this week we commemorate the 70th anniversary

of brown vs. the board of education. and what made this a landmark decision was not just that it undermined the fall ashes reasog that made segregation possible but also the fact that the decision itself was the result of generations of american citizens working diligently in the shadows of american history to push this nation forward. brown vs. the board of education didn't just happen 70 years ago. and entire movement made it possible for the supreme court, not to ignore the arrival of an idea whose time had come. we are only able to have this commemoration because black people and honorable white people in this country refuse to wait another generation before we can enjoy some of the promises of america. and what happened in that courtroom in 1954 in arkansas

cannot be understood apart from what is happening in the streets of america today. progress in america is a fact that cannot be denied but it did not happen because america wanted to change. this nation is not a better place to live in because southern segregationists changed their minds. change happened in america because though the wills of -- wheels of god grind slow, they grind exceedingly small but forward. that is to say it was nothing but the righteous indignation of ordinary people doing extraordinary things that made justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. just the other day, not far from here in the capitol, in statuary hall, we celebrated the statue of daisy bates, taking her rightful place in statuary hall. as a child i grew up in chicago

and mrs. bates oftentimes came and shared the holidays with my family. it was indeed and honor to be a member of the 118th congress and to see the unveiling of her statue. an african-american woman who at the age of 8 lost her mother to men that had raped her and killed her and put her in a mill pond in arkansas, never having faced justice. but to see president bill clinton and governor mike huckabee unveil a statue and a highway in her honor was truly an honor in 1998. as we celebrate the valorization and venn ration of her likeness, i would remind us of how many different kinds of people it takes to move a nation forward in this direction for its principles on paper. daisy bates was a publisher and

activist who gave counsel to the little rock nine, nine children denied access to a public education. under the governor of arkansas. the little rock nine she was instrumental in a jim crow era law that still remained. she didn't come out of her mother's womb wanting to be an activist but she lived in a country where activism was as much a necessity as breathing. when our young children are gathering up on the campuses today, they yearn for freedom. so she did what she had to do for herself and her progeny. this nation owes her our deepest gratitude for laying such a costly sacrifice upon the altars of equity and equality in america. to teach and all of the remarkable trailblazers who dedicated their lives to the possibilities of unbridled

opportunity in this country, we owe you, ms. dacey bates, our de-- ms. daisy bates, our devotion and our children commonsense. but do not be deceived. we still need people who are willing to do extraordinary things in the case of freedom and justice. because when a black united states airman can be murdered in his house for expressing his second amendment right to bear arms, while kyle rit ten -- rittenhouse can shoot people and nobody even asks him a question, clearly there is work that still needs to be done in our country. be not deceived, my friends. as long as women do not get equal pay for equal work, we have work to do. as long as anti-semitism is taking on a life of its own, while anti-blackness has never truly subsided, there is still

work that must be done. and we are the ones to do it. so let us continue the work. let us continue to fight for what is right. let us challenge our friends to do more. our enemies to do better. and ourselves to never give up. god bless the memory of all of those that kept america strong and make america better. we commemorate this day for ms. daisy bates and the children of little rock and those that brought in a new era of desegregation. i yield back to the honorable congresswoman sheila cherfilus-mccormick. mrs. cherfilus-mccormick: thank you so much for those eloquent words. the landmark ruling in brown v. board of education not only shattered the doctrine of separate but equal, but firmly established that racial segregation is abhorrent to the principles enshrined in our constitution. it affirmed unequivocally that every child in america, regardless of race, deserves

equal protections and opportunities under law. today as we reflect on the pivotal moment, we reminded of its profound impact on our journey towards civil rights and educational equality. yet despite the progress we have made, we must confront the realities that still persist. inequalities that continue to hold back our youth from reaching their full potential, especially in marginalized communities. innovation and education has been monumental, but not yoormy felt -- uniformy felt. as we gap -- uniformly felt. as we grapple with disparities and systemic barriers, we're called upon to what dr. martin luther jr. described as the fierce urgency of now. the fight for education opportunity and the quest for civil rights are inextricably intertwined. focusing on education as a civil rights issue changes the cadence of our conversation. we must ensure that the promise

of brown v. board of education extends beyond our history and into our lived experiences of every student. let us champion policies that foster innovation and collaboration across all sectors, to create holistic solutions that uplift every child. we must secure the necessary investments to revitalize our educational system and affirm our unwavering commitment to the next generation. this is not just an educational mandate, it is a moral imperative. in addition, the economic significance of brown vs. board of education cannot be overstated. by dismantling the legal framework of segregation in education, it opened up doors that had long been closed to black americans. education is not just a means of imparting knowledge. it is the key to economic opportunity, the gateway to prosperity. prior to this ruling, black

students were assigned to underfunded standard schools deprived of resources and opportunities afforded to their white counterparts. this perpetuated a cycle of poverty and limited upward mobility for generations of black americans. but with the desegregation of schools mandated by brown vs. board of education, black students gained access to better-funded schools, qualified teachers and educational opportunities previously denied to them. this led to bouying the black middle class and contributed to overall economic growth and prosperity for our entire nation. yet despite the gains made since brown, racial disparities persist in our educational system and in our economy. these disparities have far reaching economic consequences. for example, a recent report from the national urban league finds that racial income gaps between stagnant -- has been

stagnant for over 20 years, with black americans earning an average of 64% of the income a white american -- of white americans. as we commemorate board vs. the board of education, let us recommit ourselves to the unfinished work of achieving true equality in education and economic opportunity for all. mr. speaker, you've heard from my distinguished colleagues about the anniversary of brown vs. board of education, all issues of great importance to the congressional black caucus, our constituents, congress and all americans tonight. with that, mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: under the speaker's announced policy of january 9, 2023, the chair recognizes the gentleman from new york, mr. kennedy, for 30 minutes.

mr. kennedy: mr. speaker, i ask for unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to submit extraneous material into the record. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. kennedy: i rise this evening to mark the solemn anniversary of the racist mass shooting in buffalo, new york. on this day two years ago, good people who simply made an afternoon stop at a grocery store were gunned down in broad

daylight. 10 innocent lives stolen from friends, a phenomenals and -- families and our community. it's important their names continue to live on in our hearts and the record. celeste, roberta, andre, kathryn, ma rarvetion gus -- margus, heyward, aaron, geraldine, ruth and pearl. the perpetrator was not from the city of good neighbors. this racist white supremacist

intentionally came to our community and targeted the only grocery store in a predominantly black neighborhood. every western new yorker remembers the first phone call we received, the horror as we realized the full extent of what had happened and then the heartbreak of burying people whose lives were taken simply for the color of their skin. and it's changed buffalo forever. but rather than divide us, the people of buffalo came together. as we often do during the toughest of times, embracing one another and championing for change. we prayed together. we fed our cold springs neighbors who were forced into a food desert with the closing of their only grocery store, and we

rallied for change. my dear friend, now buffalo common councilwoman everheart nearly lost her son, zaire, that day. he worked at tops. he was just doing his job helping a customer when a bullet entered his neck. he fell to the ground and when the shooter moved on, he was able to escape and place most terrifying phone call of his mother's life. miraculously, by the grace of god, zaire is alive and thriving today. i had the privilege of joining zanetta and she traveled right here to washington and testified before congress, refusing to hold back details as she explained the horror of what had

happened to zaire and the other victims. zanetta gave powerful testimony, along with former fire commissioner garnell whitfield whose 86-year-old mother was murdered right in front of zaire when he was carrying her groceries to her car for her. zanetta and garnell were supported in their testimony by the families of the other buffalo victims. and for the first time in 30 years congress acted, passing the safer communities act. still, in the two years since the buffalo tragedy, senseless mass shootings have continued throughout the nation. more cities and families have endured the pain of burying their loved ones due to gun

violence. we need to do better. that means passing representative mcbath's assault weapons ban of 2023. representative clyburn's enhanced background checks act of 2023. representative fitzpatrick's bipartisan background checks act of 2023. representative meng's responsible body armor possession act. reprrepresentative krish in a me think's hate crimes conditions act. condemning the great replacement theory. and representative schiff's equal access to justice for victims of gun violence act of 2023. just to name a few. but this package represents

commonsense legislation that rejects hate and will help keep weapons of war out of the hands of dangerous individuals. public safety is not a partisan issue. mass murders like the one that happened in buffalo happen in red states and blue states, cities and suburbs, farming communities, schools, churches, synagogues, mosques, grocery stores all across this nation. and it shouldn't happen at all. further action is needed and it's long overdue. we must find common ground to stop the pain felt by our community in buffalo, but so many other communities across this nation. buffalo and western new york will continue to persevere as we always do.

these past few days have been a rollercoaster of emotions to say the least. as we relive these awful moments of two years ago today and continue down the path of honoring and remembering the lives that were lost. on monday, just yesterday, we unveiled the final design for the 514 memorial that will be built in buffalo. it's an amazing concept and it will serve as a permanent testament to the character of our city and the beautiful commemoration of the victims of this hate crime. ... it features 10 interconnected pillar, each inscribed with the niesms victims and survivors. each will be unique in its arc

and height, reflective of the uniqueness and irreplaceability of each of the victims. and it will feature a new building to serve as a gathering place to bring the community together to unite us. when it's completed, i hope my colleagues will join me to visit this moving space, this memorial, to gain a greater understanding for the loss we've experienced and perhaps a greater commitment to preventing future tragedies. following the shooting, an impromptu memorial sprung up at the corner of jefferson and landon streets. the corner was filled with flowers. toys. photos. candles, cards and much more. much of that was archived at the

buffalo history museum to make way for a permanent honor space. today that space at the tops on jefferson was dead tated, permanently commemorating the lives lost at that location. ensuring that the supermarket, already a neighborhood landmark, becomes a living memorial. as we honor these beautiful souls, it's important we take a moment to thank the brave first responders who got there almost immediately that day to secure the scene, tend to the wounded, and prevent more bloodshed. the buffalo police department had the suspect in custody within six minutes of the first 911 call. but because of the weapons of war that this terrorist had, he was able to inflict horrible

damage in a very short amount of time. these 10 people taken from us two years ago today aren't just statistics. they were mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, leaders in our community. i'd like to take a moment to talk about each of them. pearl young. pearl young was 77 years old. pearl was a native of fayette, alabama, coming to buffalo following her marriage to oliver young jr. in 1967. she was a substitute teacher, a sunday schoolteacher, and an active member of the church of god in christ where she helped to run the food pantry for a quarter of a century. she was the loving mother of james, pamela, and dana.

sister of annie ruth winston and gene craig. grandmother to 10. great grandmother to seven. and beloved by countless nieces and nephews. ruth whitfield. ruth whitfield was 86 years old. she was a longtime parishioner at durham memorial a.m.e. zion church where she sang in the choir. she was a devoted wife, caring for her husband and soul mate, garnell whitfield of 68 years, every day, for eight years in a nursing home, everything from clipping his nails to doing his laundry and of course visiting him on a daily basis. she left behind her husband,

garnell whitfield sr., her children, rob and harris, former buffalo fire commissioner garnell whitfield jr., angela you lee, and raymond whit feel. nine grandchildren. eight great grandchildren. five great-great grandchildren. and numerous extended family. margusd. morrison. margus morrison was 52 years old, one of three brothers who graduated from bennett high school in 1990. margu survetion was a bus save for the early childhood center. his colleagues remember him as a puntule, reliable and filled with a wonderful sense of humor.

when he was killed, he was out buying saturday evening dinner for his family. margus morrison left behind six beloved children and his adored companion of the last 25 years, regina patterson. andre mcneill. andre was 53 years old. and a brother to seven siblings. he was a buffalo native. attending south park high school. he loved basketball. playing guitar. writing poetry. listening to music. and of course spending time with his family, including his fiancee tracy. he was the adoring father to his five children, sound rah

rogers -- shandra rogers, elliot, andre mcneill jr. known affectionately as a.j. when andre was murdered, he was out buying a birthday cake for a.j.'s 3*rd birthday. he also left behind eight siblings. brothers devon james elliot, marcus elliot, malik elliot, and jimmy elliot. and sisters andrea anna, rose white, darlissa elliot and marchette elliot. as well as three grandchildren,

numerous ahns, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. aaron salter jr. lieutenant aaron salter jr. 55 years old. he died a hero. delaying the shooter and giving more people precious seconds to escape. he saved lives that day. lieutenant salter was a retired buffalo police officer working that day as an armed security guard. when the shooter walks in, armed with an ar-15-style rifle and clad in body armor, lieutenant salter didn't hesitate.

he opened fire. hitting the target. but because of the shooter's body armor, he was unharm and fired back. killing lieutenant salter. affluent salter retired from the buffalo police department in 2018, he began working as a security guard at tops, where he'd engage with customers and employees, making everyone feel safe, seen, and appreciated. he was the son of carol and aaron salter sr. the husband to kimberly. adoring father to letiticia -- leticia salter, aaron salter iii. he leaves behind a sister,

nieces, nephew, cousins, friends and his beloved pets. geraldine talley known as jerry to her friends and family was 62 years old. she was a native of grove hill, alabama. moving to buffalo in 1971 with her family. she earned her degree in secretarial science from bryan and stratton college, eventually working for a nonprofit, assisting people with mental illness and related substance abuse issues. she was famous for her las vegas of baking and for sharing her creations with others. her specialty was banana pudding cakes. when she was at tops she was shopping for a few ingredients for her weekly waterfront picnic with her fiance. she left behind her children,

genesea smith and mark talley jr., her stepdaughter, markishe jacobs, three sisters, and one brother, her beloved fiance, gregory allen, and numerous family and friends. katherine massie. katherine, known to many simply as cat, was 72 years old. cat worked for 40 years for blue cross blue shield and was always committed to the betterment of our community. she worked to educate kids on healthy diets. to rid our nation of gun violence. and to beauty her neighborhood. in fact, she was a longtime campaigner against gun violence, founding we are women warriors

with her beloved friends betty jean grant and dr. eva doyle. she was a regular contributor to the buffalo challenger and the buffalo criterion. cat wuss also an active resident in buffalo's fruit belt neighborhood, helping to form a block club and successfully lobbying for the creation of a new public park on her home street of cherry street. she was survived by her dear siblings, barbara and warren, as well as her adored nieces and nephew, adriana, tyrone, damien, tyrell, demetrius and dawn, numerous great nieces and nephews and one great-great niece. roberta a. drury. roberta drury was 32 years old. she was originally from cicero, new york.

attending cicero north syracuse high school. it was her love for family that brought her to buffalo, relocating to our community to help care for her brother who was recovering from his battle with leukemia. her greatest passion was family, highlighted by their annual trips to wildwood, new jersey. she was survived by her dear mother, leslie, father, phillip, grandfather, john traiger, her beloved siblings, christopher moyer, daniel moyer, amanda drury, nicole van geesen, and brett van geesen, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nephew, cousins and friends. heyward patterson. heyward patterson was 67 years old.

he was in his truck waiting for a friend he drove to tops to pick up groceries, something he did often. he was a deacon at the state tabernacle church of god in christ in buffalo, located on greenwood avenue, reflecting his devotion and faith in god. according to his fellow church goers, deacon patterson was often the first one to arrive and the last to leave. he helped open and close the church, clean, shovel, he volunteered in every capacity including in the church's soup kitchen. plate of love ministry. he is survived by his three children, deanna, sherita and jake. his beloved wife terza, as well as his parents, siblings, grandchildren, and great

grandchildren, and many more. celestine cheney. he was 65 years old. when she was killed, she was out purchasing ingredients for strawberry short cake. for her family. she was a fighter. surviving three aneurysms and breast cancer. celestine was a graduate of girls vocational high school where she learned to sew,lating attending bryan stratton college for business administration she worked at several large manufacturers, she attended fellow christian church in buffalo and was survived by raymond johnson, her only son wayne jones, nine

grandchildren, kayla, sheron, shana, denelle, dominique, latifah and latoya. nine great-grandchildren, one sister and a host of nieces and nephews. to conclude my remarks, mr. speaker, i would ask that my colleagues and those in the gallery join me in a moment of the beautiful souls that were stolen from the city of buffalo two years ago today, may 14,

2022. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: does the gentleman yield back? >> mr. speaker, i now yield my time as my honor to yield my time to my colleague, representative clyburn from south carolina who is here. i recognize my colleague, the sponsor of the enhanced background checks act, to speak.

mr. clyburn: thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. as we mark the second anniversary of the tragic events that unfolded on may 14, 2022 at the tops supermarket in buffalo, new york, it's a solemn reminder of the devastating impact of hate-fueled violence. this is not just an attack on innocent individuals, but an assault on the very fabric of the buffalo community. a self-professed whielt supremacist targeted the tops supermarket and drove more than

200 miles to get there. because of this location in a predominantly black community. his actions took 10 precious lives. they were sons, daughters, parents and friends, whose absences continued to be felt deeply. the pain that new yorkers feel is known all too well by us in south carolina. in 2015, a white supremacist walked into the mother emmanuel, the oldest african-american methodist church in the south.

dylan roof targeted that church because of its historical significance. he wore chipped with them and prayed with them. he was welcomed into their bible study with open arms and he repaid that kindness by opening fire on the innocent group of worshippers killing nine. these horrific acts must serve as a stark reminder of the dangerous consequences of online radicalization, racism and all-too-easy access to weapons of war. the online writings praised his

actions and although he obtained his weapon legally, he made modifications to make them much more deadly. in the case of mother emmanuel a.m.e. church, a simple background check could have helped to prevent the tragedy. he should have never been allowed to buy the gun. but a loophole in our federal laws allowed him to do just that. if the required background checks process takes more than three business days, the charleston loopholes allows firearms to be transferred before the mple transfer is complete. and that is how he is able to

get a gun. i have introduced legislation to close the close the gentleman loophole and there is a only solves one piece of the puzzle. our communities have emerged from these strategies stronger than ever. white supremes shy is the scourge on our society that we must confront head on. we must join together to push back against the harmful ideologies that tear us apart. representative contentedy, thank -- kennedy, thank you for your leadership and i yield

back. senator kennedy: mr. speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. i move that the house do now adjourn. the speaker pro tempore: the question is on the motion to adjourn. those in favor, say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion. the house >>od house members worked on measures recruiting law enforcement officers. they continue to work on the reauthorization of faa funding that clear this sending last week. a final vote is expected with current faa program s t expire this friday at midnight. watch live coverage of the house when members return here on c-span. >> c-span's washington journal,

a live forum involving you to discuss the latest issues in government, politics and public policy. from washington, d.c. and across the country. wednesday morning jacob of in sign election discusses key senate races to watch in campaign 2024 that will determine control of the senate. maryland democratic congressman glenn ivey on the israel-hamas war, u.s. military aid to israel and black voters in campaign 2024. the international association of chief of police vice president will johnson talks about national police week and the association's priority. c-span's washington journal, join in the conversation live at 7:00 eastern wednesday morning on c-span, c-span now are free mobile app or online at c-span.org. on wednesday, federal officials testify on the ongoing investigation into the collapse of baltimore's francis scott key bridge.

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