National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Scott for his comments.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of our brave men and women in blue who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities.
In recognition of their service, my co-chair, the co-chair of first responders and our police, he and I go beyond which side of the aisle we sit on to do what is right.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Rutherford, John Rutherford, for his bipartisan work in this area, a former long-time sheriff. So I am really talking about the gentleman also in this bill, because he put his life on the line for quite a few years in Duval County, I believe.
So in recognition of their service, I helped pass the National Law Enforcement Museum Act very early when I got to Congress. It was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. He signed it faster than I was able to get it passed. He signed it on November 9, 2000.
This museum honors the service of local, State, and Federal law enforcement officers in the United States.
A decade later, construction of the museum began at Judiciary Square in this great city, right across the street from the National Law Enforcement Memorial. Construction was just completed last year. This museum serves as a tribute to the lives, the sacrifices, and the service of our Nation's law enforcement.
This museum will play a vital role, as was mentioned before by the gentlewoman, in educating the public on the varied work of our Nation's law enforcement officers--which I contend most people in the Congress are ignorant of--as well as promoting the safety of the men and women in uniform.
To build on this support, I introduced H.R. 1865, the National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act, to direct the Department of the Treasury to mint a coin in commemoration of the opening of this great museum.
Proceeds from the sale of the commemorative coins will provide a much-needed funding stream to the nonprofit National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund for educational and outreach programs and exhibits at the National Law Enforcement Museum. This will ensure our Nation's finest are recognized properly for generations to come.
Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment now to recognize those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their communities. In 2018 and so far in 2019, we have mourned the loss of 266 men and women who died in the line of duty, three of whom served in the State of New Jersey.
The first officer that I will mention is Tamby Yagan of the Paterson Police Department--my town--who spent 13 years of service in the police department. Officer Yagan tragically died in an automobile crash on April 22, 2018.
Lieutenant Christopher Robateau from the Jersey City Police Department passed on January 5, 2018, after being struck by a vehicle.
And New Jersey State Police Trooper Robert Emmet Nagle, who passed on November 26, 2018, because of a 9/11-related illness.
I grieve for their families and loved ones. I know the House does also.
I thank Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Chairwoman Maxine Waters for bringing this legislation to the floor. I also thank my good friend and partner in chairing the bipartisan House Law Enforcement Caucus, Congressman John Rutherford, a former sheriff, as I said before. He co-authored this bill.
Finally, I thank Marcia Ferranto, the CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, for her and her colleagues' work on this bill and the efforts to make the National Law Enforcement Museum a success.
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Mr. PASCRELL. This bill has strong support from several law enforcement groups, including Concerns of Police Survivors, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Sheriffs' Association, and the Police Foundation.
Madam Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 1865, and I look forward to its passage and into law.
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