Restoring American Finacial Stability Act of 2010 - Continued

Floor Speech

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Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I thank my colleague for her leadership in having this resolution on the floor today. She is always focused on those who are on the front line of defense in our country and, clearly, in Washington State. I appreciate her leadership in honoring the fallen officers from Washington State.

This week does mark National Police Week where officers from across the
Nation will travel here to honor fallen comrades. Because we in Washington State have done so much of this lately, we understand how important this type of activity is for remembering the men and women who serve us. During this week, we reflect on the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to our community.

Mr. President, 2009 was one of the deadliest years in Washington State in more than 70 years. Seven officers were killed in the line of duty. These heroes put their lives at risk for our safety. They will be missed, but they will not be forgotten. The men and women in blue keep our communities safe, and they do so at tremendous sacrifices.

Deputy Mike Gallagher from Lewis County Sheriff's Office was killed after his car was struck on his way back from responding to a domestic violence incident. Timothy Brenton from Seattle was shot while sitting in his car on Halloween in Seattle. We thought those two incidents were enough to rock our community. But then, in one of the most heinous murders in the State of Washington history, four Lakewood police officers were shot and killed while on duty in Parkland: Sergeant Mark Renninger, Officer Ronald Owens, Officer Tina Griswold, and Officer Greg Richards. It was a short time later that Deputy Kent Mundell, Jr. of the Pierce County Sheriff's office died from wounds sustained in responding to a domestic violence call.

We have seen in Washington State the sacrifice of these men and women, all they do to keep us safe and all that their families go through when those who are in the line of duty pay the ultimate sacrifice.

I hope my colleagues will remember law enforcement across the country and in their individual States. I hope they will take time, as they see officers here in the Capitol and throughout the Washington, DC area, to thank them for their service. Let's commemorate the activities of those who have fallen and also remember those who are still working to protect us every single day.

I thank my colleague from Washington for this resolution, and I hope for its urgent passage today.

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