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Floor Speech

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Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I rise during National Police Week, joining my colleagues to recognize the sacrifices of the brave men and women of law enforcement and honor those who choose to serve their communities while experiencing the reality every day that they may not return home to their loved ones.

It was nearly 2 years ago that I stood on the floor here in the U.S. Senate and spoke about one such example of that self-sacrifice in my State of North Dakota. In July 2023, Fargo Police Officer Jake Wallin was tragically killed in the line of duty. He and his fellow officers were ambushed while responding to a traffic incident. In addition to Officer Wallin, Officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes were shot and injured before a fourth Fargo police officer, Zach Robinson, overcame a barrage of gunfire and eventually subdued the assailant.

Last year during Police Week, Officer Robinson was recognized for his courage under fire by the National Association of Police Organizations and received the TOP COP Award for his actions during that tragic event.

At the same time, the name of Officer Wallin, along with another North Dakota hero, Mercer County Deputy Paul Martin, was inscribed onto the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial here in Washington, DC-- a lasting tribute for making the ultimate sacrifice.

We can never forget these officers, and we can never repay all of our police officers for the enormous sacrifices that they make, but we can continue to show respect for law enforcement, honor those we have lost, and recognize the sacrifices of their families and their loved ones.

To honor our men and women in blue, I helped to introduce a resolution, along with my colleague from Missouri and others, commemorating National Police Week and paying tribute to their bravery. National Police Week provides us with the opportunity to come together as a nation to honor the peace officers who put their lives on the line to protect and serve in our communities.

In addition, our resolution recognizes and honors the 233 law enforcement officers that were killed in the line of duty during 2024. Unfortunately, this number has increased since 2023, when 220 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty.

The recent examples we have seen of law enforcement officers being targeted, even in broad daylight, are unacceptable. That is why I have also helped introduce the Thin Blue Line Act, legislation to increase penalties for criminals who target law enforcement and first responders. I encourage my colleagues to support legislation like this to protect the men and women of law enforcement.

As we again mark National Police Week, let us recognize the selflessness and commitment of our police officers and the sacrifices they make on behalf of our communities. Today and every day, we recognize the bravery and dedication of our law enforcement to keep our communities safe. They are our neighbors, our friends, our family, and our leaders in our communities. May God bless our peace officers and keep them safe.

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