Neil Abercrombie: “first, may I express my gratitude to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fox) for his leadership. I think it is…”

“first, may I express my gratitude to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fox) for his leadership. I think it is probably commonplace, Madam Speaker, that we extend gratitude to one another on the floor and, on occasion, it may seem to be almost perfunctory in nature. But as has been indicated by all of the speakers to this point on this bill that we are dealing here with issues of life and death. We are dealing with the most profound emotions, we are dealing with points of finality that go beyond philosophy, rhetoric or ideology. In that context and speaking as one who has been an officer of the court in my past professional life as a probation officer, having seen daily what police officers and what firefighters go through in terms of the anxiety brought to themselves and to their families, with the sure knowledge each time that they go from their homes and families that they face instances and circumstances, contexts and situations which may require of them literally the ultimate sacrifice of their life.”