Authorizing the Use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition

Floor Speech

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Ms. TITUS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, H. Con. Res. 83 authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the 43rd annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition.

As the ranking member, as you heard, of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, it is an honor to carry this resolution alongside subcommittee chair, Mr. Perry.

The memorial service will be held on May 15. It will be coordinated with the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police, and it will honor law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty during 2023; that includes five from Nevada.

First, Correctional Officer Victor Hunter served with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police for 4 years.

During an altercation between two inmates, Officer Hunter rushed to the scene to calm the situation. In the aftermath, he began to feel ill and was sent home.

On his way home, he was involved in a car accident directly resulting from complications of his illness, and he passed away on September 16, 2011.

Trooper Clifford Fontaine served in the Nevada Highway Patrol for 15 years after previously working as an airline mechanic and as an advanced emergency medical technician. He is remembered for his kindness, his compassion, and for being a peacemaker in all facets of his life.

Trooper Fontaine passed away on November 27, 2021, from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

Officer Anthony Francone retired from law enforcement, but he still answered the call to serve with multiple agencies in Nevada, including the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Police Department.

Nothing was more important to him and his family, including his two sons, and his daughter, who he dedicated every waking moment to as she battled a rare form of muscular dystrophy.

During an attempt to stop a fleeing subject, Officer Francone put himself in harm's way to deploy spike strips and was tragically struck by the vehicle. He passed away on August 25, 2023.

Sergeant Michael Abbate served in the Nevada Highway Patrol for nearly 11 years. A former race car driver himself, he utilized his passion for fast cars by teaching cadets about road safety and by running the emergency vehicle operations course for southern Nevada.

Trooper Alberto Felix served in the Nevada Highway Patrol for 4 years. A United States Air Force veteran, his friends and family remember him for his selfless leadership, his sense of humor, and his love of helping people. He especially took pride in removing impaired drivers, which undoubtedly saved countless lives in Nevada throughout his career.

Both Sergeant Abbate and Trooper Felix passed away on November 30, 2023, after they were struck by a suspected drunk driver while they were going out of their way to check on the welfare of a driver asleep in his car. In recognition of their service and heroism, Sergeant Abbate and Trooper Felix were posthumously awarded the Nevada State Police Medal of Valor.

We cannot bring back those we have lost, but the least we can do is honor the sacrifices they made to keep ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities safe.

I join my colleagues in expressing my condolences to the families, friends, and other colleagues of these public servants, and all of those who mourn the loss of the brave men and women whose duty and sacrifice will be commemorated at this year's memorial.

Let me reiterate that we can't bring these heroes back, but we can acknowledge the work they did, the sacrifice they made, and the life they gave to help all of us live in safer communities and with safer families.

Madam Speaker, I urge support of this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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