OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Michel O. Maceda Memorial Act

Floor Speech

Date: Sept. 24, 2024
Location: Washington, DC


Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are considering H.R. 5302, the Michel O. Maceda Memorial Act. This legislation reminds us of the men and women in law enforcement and the risks that they face every day to keep our communities safe. Marine Interdiction Agent Michel Maceda is one of those heroes.

For years, Agent Maceda served as a U.S. Army veteran, a former Border Patrol agent, and a Marine Corps interdiction agent for CBP's Air and Marine Operations. He was a dedicated public servant who put his life on the line time and time again.

On November 17, 2022, Agent Maceda was doing his job stopping drug smugglers in the high seas. On that day, Agent Maceda and other marine agents interdicted a narcotics-smuggling vessel just 12 miles off the coast of Puerto Rico.

During the ensuing gunfight, Agent Maceda was killed and two other agents were seriously injured. Thanks to their heroic actions that day, 3,000 pounds of cocaine did not reach our country.

This bill renames the CBP Air and Marine Operations unit in Puerto Rico after Agent Maceda.

A few months ago, I visited Puerto Rico, and Agent Maceda's name came up again and again and again. It is clear that Agent Maceda is missed by his community and his colleagues.

With this bill, we honor Agent Maceda's sacrifice and commitment to our Nation, as well as the work of others like Agent Maceda, those who put their lives at stake on a day-to-day basis to protect the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

In closing, I thank Congresswoman Gonzalez-Colon for introducing this legislation and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support. By passing this bill, we honor the memory of Agent Maceda and the other men and women of DHS who, like Agent Maceda, risk their lives on a daily basis to protect us here in this great country.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5302, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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