Val Demings: “I retired from law enforcement 8 years ago, but I am still amazed by and grateful for the men and women who rush towards…”

“I retired from law enforcement 8 years ago, but I am still amazed by and grateful for the men and women who rush towards danger with little regard for their own safety. First responders already do so much, but when there is a true emergency, a crisis, there is no one else who can do the job. That is why, when America was attacked on September 11, off-duty firefighters, law enforcement officers, and medical professionals showed up, and they joined their brothers and sisters on the front line, rushing into burning buildings. Being a first responder is not just what they do, it is who they are. They have earned our unwavering and timely support. We cannot ask our first responders to do this job while failing to cope with the consequences. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation. Let us never forget our heroes.”