National Police Week

Floor Speech

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Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our Nation's law enforcement officers and to recognize their sacrifice.

Today marks the first day of National Police Week, and our fallen heroes and their families are weighing heavily on my mind.

Six years ago in my district, Palm Springs Police Department Officers Lesley Zerebny and Gil Vega were tragically shot and killed in the line of duty. In their memories, I authored the Heroes Lesley Zerebny and Gil Vega First Responders Survivors Support Act to ensure that their families receive the financial support they need.

Last fall, when the Protecting America's First Responders Act became law, we took a momentous step toward fulfilling this mission. With portions of my bill included, we fixed bureaucratic loopholes in the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program that cost families up to tens of thousands of dollars.

Now, we must build on this success and pass my bill in its entirety to fully honor our fallen heroes. This police week, I urge my colleagues to follow words with action and follow praise with pragmatic solutions that will improve the lives of fallen first responders' families.

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