Timothy Roemer: “As we look to the ceiling of this great historic Chamber in the direction of Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson, we…”

“As we look to the ceiling of this great historic Chamber in the direction of Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson, we see inscribed on this great Chamber ceiling an eagle with the words E Pluribus Unum. From the many, one. Today, I think it is from one to the many. From a detective and an officer, from their sacrifices, from their professionalism and expertise to the many families, the many Americans and the many freedoms that we enjoy in this great country. On Friday, I, like many of my fellow colleagues, brought children to this Chamber, my 5-year-old and 4-year-old. My 4-year-old fell asleep in this Chamber in the front row. It is because we feel, as Members of Congress, 435 of us, so secure with the professionalism of these officers and what we want our children to see up here with this great institution that we have this security. We thank the families of these officers. From the people of this great country, 6 to 8 million people visit this historic Chamber and this great Capitol, they are thankful to these families and these two courageous officers. And finally, Mr. Speaker, what price, what price can you put on freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the ability of legislators to get together to make laws and the people in these chambers to watch with sunshine, these officers, this Capitol Hill Police force, allows that to take place.”