Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, let me state the obvious. All of us are appalled and saddened by the loss of this correctional officer. We express again our sadness and sympathy to his family although 3 years later. Eric Williams did not deserve to die. Our Federal prisons across America are dangerously overcrowded. Such conditions can frequently lead or at least contribute to unnecessary violence. High- and medium-level security facilities make up 42 percent of the total Bureau of Prisons population. In FY 2013, these facilities were operating 52 percent and 45 percent over capacity, respectively. Officers in these facilities must be equipped to protect themselves. In 2010, there were almost 1,700 assaults on BOP staff and about 49 per 5,000 inmates. BOP requires officers of regular duty to carry a radio, body alarm, and keys. Outside the pilot program and aside from the emergency situation and special teams, officers do not carry pepper spray all the time. Officers must rely on communication skills and training to deescalate confrontations. Sometimes that is not enough. These are important skills. We know that well-trained Federal correctional officers are generally able to use these skills to avoid violence, but not all the time. We must not have one single time where we have an officer at the risk of losing their life and they have no protection. In some instances, however, these skills may not be enough.…”