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Floor Speech

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Mrs. MOODY. Mr. President, the Senator from Oklahoma certainly said some powerful things. I want to thank him, as the son of a cop, for making those statements and for leading this floor event today and allowing me to assist him with that. As the wife of a cop, it was very meaningful to me, and I know it was meaningful to many in this Gallery.

Thank you.

I rise today in celebration of officers but with solemn reflection during National Police Week. It is a time when our Nation pauses to honor the men and women of law enforcement and to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

Certainly, as the newest Senator of the U.S. Senate, it is an honor for me to be here on the Senate floor to lead this floor event and these speeches that show united support for the men and women who serve.

I want to thank Sheriff Bill Prummell from Charlotte County, who is here with us. He is also the president of the Florida Sheriffs Association. We have 67 sheriffs within our State, and he leads the herd of them. We are grateful that he is here, along with other men and women of law enforcement from Florida.

He is certainly a hero whom I have become friends with and respect, not just for the person he is but for the person he was when he chose to take the oath and wear a badge. I think that takes a really selfless, special, brave person.

I know we have students with us and visitors here today in the Gallery, and I would like him to stand so that they can recognize and see a true Florida hero.

Thank you. Thank you, Sheriff Prummell.

Police Week is more than a yearly tradition. It is a promise that we will never forget, that we will never take for granted the courage it takes to wear that badge, and that we will never stop saying the names or praying for the families of those whom we have lost.

Every day, officers across the country put on their uniforms, they put on the badge, and they put on a bulletproof vest not knowing what that day will hold, and they do so out of a deep commitment and love for the communities they serve. They stand in the gap so that others may live in safety and peace, but that comes with risk.

In Florida, I say time and time again--and we pride ourselves--we may have a bit of a debate and a friendly competition here, but I believe we will win--that we are the most pro-law enforcement State in the Nation. Our leaders back the blue, tan, and green, and we do whatever it takes to help those brave officers do their jobs. Today, we gather to honor those who gave everything in service to that oath.

In honor of National Police Week, I was proud to join a bipartisan resolution designating May 11 through 17 as National Police Week. This Police Week resolution reiterates our unwavering support for law enforcement officers across this Nation.

As Florida's former attorney general and the wife of a law enforcement officer, I have had the opportunity to work closely with so many brave men and women in law enforcement across Florida and indeed our Nation. They stand on that thin line between good and evil, between order and chaos. They do so, so that we may sleep safely and soundly at night.

This week, we remember not only the uniforms and titles but the lives, the people behind them. I would like to recognize and ask for a moment to honor the following Florida heroes who gave their lives over the past year while protecting our communities: Deputy Sheriff William May from Walton County Sheriff's Office; Sergeant Elio Diaz from Charlotte County Sheriff's Office; Deputy Sheriff Ignacio ``Dan'' Diaz from Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office; Deputy Sheriff Ralph ``Butch'' Waller, Jr., from Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office; Corporal Luis Paez from Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office; Corrections Officer Bradford McNew from Jacksonville Sheriff's Office; Police Officer Jeremy Boykins from West Palm Beach Police Department; Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link from Lake County Sheriff's Office; and Trooper Zachary Fink from Florida Highway Patrol. Each of those names represents not only a terrible loss to our State, but they leave a legacy of bravery, selflessness, and unwavering service.

To the families, friends, and fellow officers of those we lost, we see you, we stand with you, we grieve with you, and we continue to pray for you.

As the wife of a career law enforcement officer, I cannot imagine this loss or express words to ease the pain, but we offer our deepest gratitude and our support, and we are here for you in every way possible and thank you that you stood by them while they stood for us in ensuring our communities could live in peace and safety.

Your loved ones were the heroes, the Florida heroes, and their memories live on in the communities they protected and the lives they touched.

To every active-duty officer here in Washington, DC, here this week for National Police Week and those back at home protecting our communities right now as I am speaking on the Senate floor, thank you for your courage. Thank you for answering this important call to stand strong and brave on that line. Thank you for serving even when it is difficult, even when it is dangerous, and even when it comes at great personal cost.

On a personal note, please let me thank those families that stand behind you. They stand behind you even when there is an unpredictable schedule, even when there are unique stressors that you bring home.

Thank you to those families for loving and supporting our brave Florida heroes.

Let us carry forward the legacy of the following: duty, honor, and service. Those indeed were the mission and the dedication and service of those that we have lost. That is how they lived their lives every day. They stood for something greater than themselves.

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