Congressional Record—House H1531
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March 13, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1531 It sounds compassionate, but it only REMEMBERING OFFICER GREGORY sadly has failed to act; and because we offers fake hope. An FDA process al- JONATHAN CASILLAS failed to act, our young people are act- ready exists to allow terminally ill pa- (Mrs. TORRES asked and was given ing tomorrow. tients to try experimental drugs at no permission to address the House for 1 Mr. Speaker, 2,808 people have died in charge. But the difference is that the minute.) 2018 already because of this scourge of proposal that we just voted on strips Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, it is gun violence. consumer protections and charges pa- with a heavy heart that I report to you Why isn’t that enough for us to act? tients. an incident that occurred the evening It is only March, and already we have The FDA program receives about of March 9. almost 3,000 people dead. I guess that is 1,000 requests each year and responds Officers of the Pomona Police De- not a surprise because at least 15,549 in a few days, often recommending partment were involved in a short pur- people died from gun violence in 2017 changes to enhance safety for the pa- suit that resulted in a 15-hour-long last year. tient. Removing the FDA from the ap- standoff. At the onset of that standoff, Isn’t that enough? proval process does not add value and Officer Gregory Jonathan Casillas was We know why this is going on: power- could instead be detrimental. killed in the line of duty. ful commercial interests in Wash- The bill would open up access to Officer Casillas was at the beginning ington—gun manufacturers led by their drugs after phase I trials, which are of his career in law enforcement. He lawyer, I guess the NRA—are pre- very small and, more often than not, was a dedicated public servant. He was venting basic, commonsense ap- unsuccessful. This bill allows pharma- young, energetic, and honest. He never proaches to safety. You can’t even study it. The Centers ceutical companies to profit off of ex- lost hope or sight of his dreams. for Disease Control is prohibited from perimental drugs that could ruin the Officer Casillas joined the Pomona studying gun violence. We don’t have quality of life that is left. Police Department in December of 2014, enough resources to really make a true This bill creates the wrong incentives working his way up as a records spe- database so that you can find the peo- and pushes care for the terminally ill cialist, jailer, recruit, to his gradua- ple who are, in fact, legally prohibited in the wrong direction, which is why I tion in 2017 from the San Bernardino from getting guns, so they sneak join patient and consumer advocates in County Sheriff’s Academy Class No. through the holes. There are many their strong opposition to this bill. 207. He died doing what he loved: serv- other problems. This was under suspension and, there- ing our community. Now is the time, Mr. Speaker. We fore, did not pass. I remain opposed to He is survived by his wife and his 5- have to act with those young people the bill. month-old and 4-year-old sons. who are walking out tomorrow. Officer Casillas, your memory and f spirit will live on. May you rest in f peace. NATIONAL K–9 VETERANS DAY FIRST FEMALE FIREFIGHTER f The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. HIG- (Ms. TENNEY asked and was given GINS of Louisiana). Under the Speaker’s permission to address the House for 1 HONORING THE LIFE OF ANGIE GOMEZ announced policy of January 3, 2017, minute and to revise and extend her re- the gentleman from Florida (Mr. YOHO) marks.) (Mr. KIHUEN asked and was given is recognized for 60 minutes as the des- Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise permission to address the House for 1 ignee of the majority leader. today to recognize an outstanding minute and to revise and extend his re- Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, in my pre- member of my community, Mary View marks.) vious life, before Congress—I am a vet- from Ilion, New York. Mary recently Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, today I erinarian in the practice for 30 years— made history by becoming the first fe- rise to remember the life of Angie I have had the pleasure of taking care male firefighter in the Village of Ilion. Gomez. Angie visited Las Vegas on Oc- of all of God’s creatures. It has been a Mary was raised in a family of fire- tober 1 for the Route 91 music festival. privilege, a pleasure, and an honor. fighters. Her father, Ed View III, is cur- Angie is described by her friends as a So much is going on in Washington rently the deputy chief of the Her- natural-born caregiver. It was only and the world, and we hear a lot of bad kimer Fire Department; and her grand- natural for her to want to get certified things going on, so tonight we are father, Ed View II, also served in the as a nursing assistant, so she did. Out- going to do a Special Order honoring Herkimer Fire Department and is now side of caring for others, she loved the- K–9 Veterans Day, March 13. This happily retired. ater and choir, participating in both evening, my colleagues and I would As a young girl, she would spend a lot throughout middle school and high like to take a moment and pay tribute of time at the fire station. She remem- school. to the thousands of working dogs that bers being in the car with her father Angie loved nothing more than to serve our Nation. when he would receive emergency spend time with her two nieces, whom They serve in the military. They calls, and she would be happy to join she adored. Friends and family remem- serve in the fire department, the police along with him to respond. ber her as a team player who wasn’t department, and the Drug Enforcement Serving in the fire department is a afraid of being herself. She was fun-lov- Agency. They serve in your neighbor’s bit of a legacy, as we described, for the ing, sweet, and had a great sense of house next door to alert people of in- View family. Mary always thought she humor. truders, maybe a fire, or finding a lost would grow up to become a firefighter, I would like to extend my condo- child. There is a group of people who do and despite a brief time thinking she lences to Angie’s family and friends. search and rescue only on a volunteer was going to take up a career in crimi- Please know that the city of Las basis. nal justice, the urge to become a fire- Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the These unsung heroes, our K–9s, serve fighter was irresistible, and Mary whole country grieve with you. our Nation in many ways. Their con- ended up doing just that. f tributions to our neighborhoods, com- Mary is not only making history, but munities, towns, cities, States, and also living her lifelong dream. She GUN VIOLENCE even Nation cannot be overstated. hopes to be an inspiration to all women (Mr. ELLISON asked and was given The biggest thank-you goes out to all who want to pursue the same career in permission to address the House for 1 of these K–9s serving our Nation’s mili- the fire service. minute.) tary and working to keep the homeland Mr. Speaker, please join me in con- Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, tomor- safe both here and abroad, as well as gratulating Mary View on making his- row is a very important day. Students our local law enforcement K–9s. To- tory as the first woman firefighter in in my district are walking out of night we honor you. the Village of Ilion. She is part of the school because they expect their lead- Over the past few months, I have had next generation of women leaders, and ers to do something about this problem the honor of getting to know the work- I know she will do an amazing job. of gun violence. For years, this body ing K–9s and their handlers that serve VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:38 Mar 14, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13MR7.048 H13MRPT1 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with HOUSE H1532 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 13, 2018 Florida’s Third Congressional District. Deputy Sheriff Chris Drake and K–9 appreciate their service and the service After great visits, demonstrations, dis- Rous arrived, knowing full well that of their trainers and the soldiers who cussions—and I even had the experi- the suspect had not only stolen the vic- use them on the battlefield. ence yesterday with our team in our tim’s car with a gun inside earlier, but Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, next I yield district; I experienced the subdued tac- dug a hole and buried himself to elude to the gentleman from my Pennsyl- tics of these dogs, wearing protective a helicopter searchlight and a floor vania, Brigadier General SCOTT PERRY, gear, of course—I am convinced more camera the night before. With that in- my good friend. than ever that these amazing animals formation, Chris and his dog, Rous, Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I also want and their handlers need support and began to track the suspect.