National Police Week

Floor Speech

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Ms. SPANBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the courage and the sacrifice of the brave law enforcement officers who work each day to keep our communities safe and to honor those who have given their lives.

This week, as we commemorate Police Week, a week of appreciation and of solemnity that was first honored and created back in 1962, when President Kennedy designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which it falls Police Week, we know that this week draws between 25,000 and 40,000 attendees from across the Nation, including from Virginia; people who come to honor the sacrifice and the service of their fellow officers and their family members.

I grew up in a law enforcement household. My father was a career law enforcement officer, and I grew up with a deep appreciation of those who commit themselves to service. I stand here today during National Police Week to recognize every officer who works to keep Virginia's communities safe.

I am proud to represent many brave men and women who have answered the call to serve their fellow Americans, their neighbors, and our communities, and I am grateful for their service and their sacrifice.

This week, we remember with reverence their colleagues and friends who have laid down their lives in the line of duty. We owe these heroes a debt of gratitude that can never fully be repaid. Their legacies live on in the continued dedication of the officers who served alongside them and the families who mourn and miss them.

In Congress, I will continue to advocate for legislation to support our local police departments and sheriff's departments in carrying out the vital mission that they hold in our communities.

Together, we can honor their dedication to duty by connecting them with the resources, the training, the support, and everything necessary for them to perform their jobs effectively, and importantly, to get home safely.

To all those who wear the badge, I offer my deepest gratitude. This week and every week, we extend our appreciation to the men and women who continue to serve, and we remember those who did not come home. May their sacrifice never be forgotten, and may their legacies continue to inspire the next generation to serve and protect. Honoring the Life of Terry Anderson

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Ms. SPANBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the remarkable life and the legacy of a former constituent, Mr. Terry Anderson.

When I was first running for Congress, I had the occasion of meeting someone who was known to be a local advocate and a local activist, but the name was familiar to me, Terry Anderson. I met with this gentleman, and I heard his story. It was one that was familiar to me from my childhood and one that was familiar probably to many of you.

In 1985, Mr. Anderson became quite well known the world over when he was kidnapped in Lebanon and held hostage by Hezbollah until his release in the very late days of 1991.

He was kidnapped when he was a reporter for the Associated Press. He was a correspondent who fearlessly pursued truth in some of the world's most volatile regions. His commitment to on-the-ground eyewitness reporting was unwavering.

This continued his path as he had begun his inquisitive time in life through his service in the Marine Corps where he rose to the rank of staff sergeant, and he saw combat during the Vietnam war.

It was from this time when he was in captivity in Lebanon that he brought back home a support for those who continue the mission of collecting knowledge, who continue the mission of reporting hard facts on the ground.

Mr. Anderson continued to advocate for press freedom worldwide throughout the remainder of his career. Once he returned back home to the United States, he lived in many places. He even once ran for elected office in Ohio. He taught university-level journalism. He opened a few restaurants, a horse ranch, and a blues bar. For a time, he lived on a farm in Orange County, Virginia, which is when I had the opportunity to meet him, and, frankly, eat some of his extraordinary cooking.

Terry was a man of many interests. He was a man of great passion. He was a man who loved and spoke often of his children. He was a man who inspired me. I am grateful I had the opportunity to meet him, to learn from him, and upon his passing, I wish his family the very best.

Towards the end of his life he once remarked: I have lived so much, and I have done so much; I am content. His legacy has left an indelible mark on our world. His resilience and his courage have set an example for so many of us. I ask my colleagues to please join me in remembering Terry Anderson.

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