Calling Upon Local Communities to Support Organizations That Provide Resources and Aid Gold Shield Families in Their Time of Need

Floor Speech

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Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Onder) for his leadership, and I also thank my good friend and colleague Congressman Rob Bresnahan for his participation and great work and support of this resolution.

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.

When the worst happens, when a first responder is lost in the line of duty, it is the family who bears the burden of that sacrifice for the long term. They are the ones picking up the pieces, mourning their loved ones, and carrying their legacy forward.

The term ``Gold Shield families'' is modeled after the Gold Star families, which honors the families of fallen military servicemembers. Gold Shield families are those whose loved ones wore a different kind of uniform and who served in our communities rather than abroad but whose sacrifice was no less significant.

The resolution simply acknowledges that reality, Mr. Speaker. It affirms that these families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty deserve the respect and support of the communities that they served. Their sacrifices and their struggles will not be forgotten, and our local communities must play their part to support nonprofit organizations that serve Gold Shield families during their time of grief and hardship.

H. Res. 364 encourages Gold Shield families to turn on these trusted groups for connection, care, and healing as they navigate life after loss. This resolution was inspired by one such organization, Camp Freedom in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. Their executive director, my good friend Matt Guedes, is in the Chamber with us tonight. He brought this idea forward, and I thank Matt very, very much for a great idea and for helping us see it through.

Mr. Speaker, Matt is a veteran and a passionate advocate for those who serve. He saw firsthand the need to give proper recognition to the families of fallen first responders, especially those who had once served our country in uniform and continued that service here at home.

Camp Freedom provides outdoor healing experiences for disabled veterans, first responders, and their families. Their mission is rooted in community, connection, and recovery. I thank Matt and all of his team for all that they do to support those who served our country.

To date, Camp Freedom has served more than 12,000 veterans', first responders', and servicemembers' families from across Pennsylvania and the country.

Mr. Speaker, I also recognize Bill Bachenberg, who founded Camp Freedom. His passion and vision have made Camp Freedom what it is today: a special place for many.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution is only two pages long, but its message is powerful. It recognizes these families. It thanks them and affirms that their sacrifices are worthy of our continued support.

This resolution has strong bipartisan backing, and I thank all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have joined as cosponsors.

During National Police Week, let me say this to every police officer, firefighter, EMT, dispatcher, and emergency responder: I thank them for their service. They are the thin gold line that separates us from chaos. They are the reason that our Constitution is more than words on paper.

Mr. Speaker, to every Gold Shield family, their loved one's service mattered. The sacrifice of their loved one will not be forgotten, and neither will theirs.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 364. Let's pass this resolution and give these families the recognition and community support that they have long deserved.

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