María Elvira Salazar: “I rise this afternoon to raise my voice in strong support of H.R. 3093, the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations…”

“I rise this afternoon to raise my voice in strong support of H.R. 3093, the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act of 2007. I wish to thank and congratulate Chairwoman Mikulski and Ranking Member Shelby, Chairman Byrd and Ranking Member Cochran for their strong leadership on this bill. As a former attorney general for Colorado, I am particularly proud of the investment that this bill will make in the local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies across our country, the more than 800,000 officers who patrol America's streets and put their lives on the line every day to help make our communities safe and secure. They are truly the frontlines of America's homeland security. In my 6 years as attorney general of Colorado, and in the last 2 rac{1}{2} years as a Senator, I have traveled thousands of miles through my State to visit with county sheriffs, police chiefs, and law enforcement officers working in our small towns, rural counties, and big cities. They are public servants through and through. They know that security is the foundation of a free society. They know that to enjoy our liberties and a prosperous economy, Americans must live in a society governed by the rule of law, free from the threat of violence and secure in their place of residence. It is the voices of these men and women in uniform across our country, America's peace officers, that should help guide our law enforcement efforts in this country.”