Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, this is National Police Week, and I rise in support of my legislation, H. Res. 364, the Gold Shield families resolution. Out of all of the priorities that we face in this Chamber, Mr. Speaker, none is more fundamental than ensuring public safety and protecting human life. It is the foundation for everything else--our economy, our freedoms, and our way of life--so the people on the front lines of that effort are our first responders. Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, correctional officers, and dispatchers are the tip of the proverbial spear. They put themselves in danger, often on a regular basis, in order to keep the rest of us safe. They are the thin blue line, the thin gold line, and the thin red line that holds society together. They serve not for accolades but out of duty and honor. Mr. Speaker, I know this personally. My father was a police officer and a detective, while my grandfather also was a firefighter. He was the captain of his house. I remember clearly the risks that my father took every day he walked out the door. I remember well what it meant to be a police family, and I know the courage it takes not just for the officer but for the family members who stand behind them.”