Richard Nugent

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. I thank Sheriff Reichert so very much for yielding. Mr. Speaker, we are here at a very solemn time in the law enforcement community. National Police Week is the week that we honor those who have fallen the year before and in all of the prior years. When Sheriff Reichert was talking about the statistics of assaults on law enforcement officers and about the number of law enforcement officers who are killed annually, behind each of those stories is a real person--a son or a daughter who is not coming home anymore, or a wife or a husband. I have been a police officer. I was a police officer for 38 years, and I was ultimately a sheriff in Hernando County, Florida. I have buried my share of fellow law enforcement officers in those 38 years-- too many to even talk about without bringing a tear. I can tell you, as a rookie police officer who was right out of the academy, in the first year I was on the street, one of the guys with whom I went through the academy was shot and killed. That was the first year out of the academy. I was held hostage at one point in time in my career by a guy who was intent on killing his wife. We all have stories like that. Sheriff Reichert is one of those true heroes in law enforcement. He is too modest to talk about the times that he has been assaulted, stabbed, or of the folks he has put in jail--the Green River Murderer. That is just the type of people we are. We are very humble. I was blessed to be in law enforcement for 38 years, and 12 of those years were outside the city of Chicago. I will tell you this: the brotherhood in law enforcement is the same wherever you go across this great Nation. We are made up of people, though, and we have flaws like anybody else. Whether you are a physician or a teacher or even a priest, sometimes they do wrong things, but 99.99 percent of those in law enforcement do it for all of the right reasons. It is not because they are going to make great pay, and it is not because: Oh, my gosh, I get to work the weekends or work holidays or work midnights or miss birthday parties. They do it because of the love that they have for the people whom they serve in whatever community it may be--as large as New York City and as small as Apopka, Florida. It doesn't matter. The feelings that go into being a law enforcement officer are those of service to his fellow man. I have been blessed. My wife and I have been married for 41 years, with three sons--all of them in the military--but the one middle son, who is a Blackhawk pilot for the Florida Army National Guard, is also a deputy sheriff in Hillsborough County, Florida. I know the feeling that his wife has every time he dons that uniform and goes to work: Is he going to come home tonight? That is the feeling that all of our wives and mothers and grandmothers felt for their children as they went out the door wearing that uniform of whatever city, county, township they supported or State police agency. We have been blessed in America, and it is because of those people-- that thin blue line--who are willing to stand in front of danger to protect the normal, average citizen, somebody they have never met and may never meet again. They run into burning buildings, just like on 9/ 11, to save people. They face down felons to save their fellow man. All they ask for is a little respect, and I don't think that is too much to ask. This week we passed a piece of legislation, the Fallen Heroes Flag Act, that allows us as Members of Congress and in the Senate to provide a flag. It is a small token of our everlasting appreciation for the sacrifices their families have made in the deaths of loved ones who served their country while wearing a law enforcement officer's uniform. We passed that here, and the President is going to sign it. It gives us the ability to provide that flag at no cost to the families. Go figure. At the end of the day, it is really about recognizing in a very small and symbolic way that it does matter. Blue lives matter, and all lives should matter. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished sheriff, the gentleman from Washington State, Dave Reichert.

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey for his support. We in law enforcement--and I still say ``we in law enforcement''--do appreciate it any time Congress reaches out and does something positive for our law enforcement families, even though it is after the fact. This is one of those times where, as sheriff, I had to preside over in-the-line-of-duty deaths. As a rookie police officer outside of Chicago, my first year on the job, one of the guys that I went to the academy with was shot and killed. I moved to Florida and became a deputy sheriff and rose up the ranks to sheriff. One of the things that I always worried about as a father and as a husband was: What am I leaving to my family? How are they going to be taken care of in the future? And what is going on in this country today in regards to belittling law enforcement? Trust me, we make mistakes, and I think that reasonable people understand that; but when you condemn a whole profession, it is unconscionable. I think this is the type of thing that we need to do. I do appreciate this is very bipartisan in nature and that it is really lifting up all of our first responders. We think back to 9/11, when those firemen and police officers rushed into the Twin Towers and those that lost their lives as others were leaving the towers toward safety. They did the unthinkable, and that is to rush into a burning building. Or they rush in somewhere where they know there is an armed intruder. They do it on a daily basis. They don't ask for much, but we as Members of Congress really stand up for them and their families by this simple act. This is not a huge, huge thing, but I will tell you what; to a grieving family, it is a small token of the appreciation that the United States of America, this Congress and the Senate, can bestow on a family in their deepest sorrow. It is not going to bring back their loved one, but I will tell you, they are going to look at that flag and remember the fallen and how great a person they were. So it is not just what we do today; it is really about what has happened. The gentleman from New Jersey talked about the Senate; and Mr. King, from this House, from New York, moved this legislation through. It has been a pleasure to stand here today, to come here today and talk for all those who can't talk for themselves; they can't speak for themselves. My 38 years in law enforcement was probably the best time of my life because I was actually doing something and protecting people on a regular basis. I can't think of a greater honor than to fly a flag of this Nation over this Capitol and give that to the grieving family of a fallen first responder. Mr. Speaker, knowing that this institution is behind them, so stand the American people. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2755, the Fallen Heroes Flag Act. The bill before us would allow Members of Congress to honor our heroes with a United States flag flown over this Capitol. These brave individuals include firefighters, law enforcement officers, and members of rescue squads and ambulance crews. The measure gives us the opportunity to express our Nation's gratitude towards those who have answered the call to serve and protect our communities. Our Nation's flag flown in their honor would also include a congressional certificate signed by both the Speaker of the House and the individual's Representative or the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Senator who is providing the flag for the family. When most people are running away from danger, our Nation's first responders run towards it. Whether it is a firefighter rushing into a burning building, an EMT responding at high speed to save someone's life, or a police officer pursuing a routine traffic stop, the job puts these individuals in harm's way on a daily basis. As our local communities know all too well, in far too many cases, brave men and women have paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe in America. I stand here today with my colleagues to thank each responder for their service and dedication to their communities. They answer our calls for help. As an institution and as a nation, it is right for us to remember the sacrifice and honor that these individuals make for America's families. As a 38-year veteran of law enforcement myself, it is a special honor to be able to stand here today and usher this legislation forward. I want to thank all of those who helped make this possible. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2755) to provide Capitol-flown flags to the immediate family of firefighters, law enforcement officers, members of rescue squads or ambulance crews, and public safety officers who are killed in the line of duty.

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous matter in the Record on the consideration of this bill.

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following: Whereas, stroke kills almost 130,000 Americans every year and it is responsible for one out of every twenty deaths, some of which could have been prevented; and Whereas, the CDC estimates that the cost of stroke to the United States is approximately, $34 billion each year; and Whereas, stroke reduces mobility in the majority of survivors and it is a leading cause of disability; and Whereas, stroke awareness is extremely important and early detection and treatment of stroke can vastly improve outcomes; Therefore, I, Richard B. Nugent, Member of Congress representing the Eleventh Congressional District of Florida, am proud to honor the victims of stroke and their families by recognizing October 29th as World Stroke Day.

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. Congresswoman Hartzler, I really appreciate you taking the time to do this today on the floor. Mr. Speaker, it is an outrage that the President would veto, as the Commander in Chief of our military in general. Think about this. I have three sons that have served in the military, that currently serve in United States Army, that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, that have done trips to Haiti to help during reconstruction as it related to an earthquake. The President of the United States has made them political pawns. One of the things that my wife and I felt when they were deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan was that they were the best equipped, best led, best trained troops on the face of the earth. By vetoing the National Defense Authorization Act, we are putting a dagger in the heart of what we are supposed to be holding up. The Constitution of the United States says that this Congress has the obligation to stand up an Army, to stand up a Navy, to support the President of the United States and the actions that we must take to protect this Nation. The actions today are strictly a political action when you do a press conference to hold up the fact that he vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act. You have heard so many members here today talk about the things that this act did or does. And so I call upon all of our friends across the aisle. Democrats, unite with us to overturn this veto because we live in the most dangerous of times. Go back in time. I can't think of a time--I don't know if you can-- where it has been more dangerous in regards to a resurgent Russia, to China, to Iran, to North Korea, to all of the non-state actors out there that are threatening this Nation and our friends and allies around the world. This is not the time to play political brinksmanship with our military. This is a time to hold them up, lift them up, and let them do their job and know that their Commander in Chief has their back. I truly do appreciate, Mrs. Hartzler, your doing this.

Mr. NUGENT. People forget that there is actually flesh and blood, parents and children, of those young men and women that are serving this country. They forget there are real people in those uniforms. And so that is why this is so important.

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss a simple solution to a straightforward problem. Eleven years after retiring from the military, one of my constituents received a bill for $1,500 for an alleged overpayment by the Department of Defense. This is more than a decade later, and the first she is hearing about it is in a letter, demanding payment. Moreover, the servicemember is expected to track down and find whatever receipts or documents may be relevant from 11 years ago. This isn't an isolated case. This is happening to veterans across this Nation. Often, these bills are the result of DOD accounting or system errors. Certainly, if there were an error, whether it be the fault of the servicemember or of the DOD, steps should be taken to remedy that; but the government should not wait a decade before sending the first letter. I am introducing a bill today that would place a statute of limitations on DOD's authority to initiate the collection process. This does not prevent the DOD from collecting debts; it simply says it must do it in a timely fashion. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the SOLDIER Act.

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of the city of Brooksville's vice mayor and a good friend of mine, Joe Johnston III. Joe was as straightforward and as good as they come. The loss of his life has impacted the entire Hernando County community, and for obvious reasons. Joe was a family man. He dedicated his life to his wife, Diana, their three daughters, his two brothers, and seven grandchildren in the same place where his parents raised him. He attended our local schools, graduated from the University of Florida, and moved back to be a paralegal in the firm which his father established and helped to build. More often than not, Joe's devotion was indicative of his love for the greater community. Twenty years ago, Joe ran successfully for a seat on the Brooksville City Council and proudly served in that seat until his untimely death just this month. He was compassionate and caring about those around him, whether he knew you or not. Joe was known for being a steady hand on the council and was never backing down, even when the odds were against him. And people respected that. He became well known in our small town not solely because of his politics or his career; in fact, it was mostly what he did outside of it. He was an outdoorsman, a traveler, a sailor, an adventurer, and a great member of the community. Mr. Speaker, he understood that true appreciation in life comes from the experiences you have and the memories you make, and he embraced it with his all. It pains me that, after 10 years, Joe lost his battle with cancer. So I stand here today to remember a leader I valued and to celebrate his great life.

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss a simple solution to a straightforward problem. A constituent of mine came to me with this issue. He had created college funds for each of his grandchildren in a 529 college savings plan. Some of his grandchildren decided not to go to college, while others went to college and graduated, but with student debt. While he wanted to use the leftover college savings to pay off those loans, which makes sense because the loans were the same expenses that the 529 plan money is intended for, he was not able to spend that money on the loans without being hit with both the capital gains taxes and an additional 10 percent penalty, the same as if he were using the money for some other purchase. Today, I am introducing a bill to strike the additional penalty when the 529 college savings plan money is used to pay for student loans that were taken out for qualified educational expenses. In this age of rising college costs, there is no reason to penalize families for paying down student debt.

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NUGENT. I absolutely appreciate the chairman doing that and would love to work with him.

Mr. NUGENT. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Chairman, I offer a very simple amendment that would help keep America's strategic forces strong and robust. My amendment would make sure that the U.S. Air Force keeps the air-launched cruise missile in their arsenal. That is the AGM-86 and its variants C and D. The replacement missile, which I agree needs to happen, the long- range standoff weapon, has faced continuous delays. At this point, the replacement missile still remains years and years away from fielding. I would like to applaud Chairman Frelinghuysen and the committee for taking action in light of the numerous setbacks and delays of this program by appropriately rephasing funds in the underlying bill. With such development uncertainty, I am disappointed to say that further delays are almost guaranteed. In this high-threat environment, with heightened Russian aggression, their violations of the INF Treaty, which are now public, and also hostile Chinese adventurism in the South Pacific, we need to ensure that this Nation's defense is without a gap. We simply can't afford to take these weapons out of the arsenal at this current moment until a replacement is up and operational. It is critically important that we maintain our existing inventory.

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. In reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the chairman of the subcommittee and I appreciate the ranking member in their support of this because it really is about how we deal with our fellow man. It is about a way that we shouldn't be criminalizing mental health disorders. That is the worst thing that we can do. As a police officer and as a sheriff for over 38 years, I have seen the effects of untreated mental illness, particularly in the county jails where they are now warehoused. I truly do appreciate the support across the board, and I will tell you that our law enforcement officers and our correctional officers will support it also. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah).

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins).

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Chairman, each day more and more Americans are realizing that we need to take action to deal with mental health issues in this country. We need to make it a priority. My amendment, in keeping with that sentiment, would provide additional funding for programs under the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act and for Veterans Treatment Courts. These are programs with proven track records of effectively addressing some of the important issues associated with mental health illnesses. My amendment would offset this increase by taking $4 million from the periodic censuses and programs account. Mr. Chairman, both of the programs that would receive an increase in funding under my amendment highlight the need for our justice and mental health systems to work together. As a former sheriff, I can tell you that cooperation is vital. If our justice and mental health systems are collaborating, we can provide more positive outcomes not only for those with mental health illnesses, but for our taxpayers as well. Grants provided under MIOTCRA are used, among other purposes, to set up mental health courts, for community reentry services, and for training State and local law enforcement officers to help identify and deescalate mental health crises, which saves the lives of both the mentally ill and of the responding officers. During my 37 years as a cop, I saw firsthand how our jails were becoming warehouses for people with mental health needs. No one is well served by this process, not those with mental illness, not our taxpayers, and, certainly, as I spoke earlier, not our veterans. Let me provide you with some numbers to illustrate what actually is going on within our jails. According to the Florida Mental Health Institute, over a 5-year period, 97 individuals from Miami-Dade County accounted for 2,200 bookings in the county jail; 27,000 days in the jail; and 13,000 days in crisis units, State hospitals, and emergency rooms. The cost to the State and to local taxpayers was nearly $13 million for just 97 people. However, the type of programs my amendment supports have been shown to dramatically reduce those rates. In Pinellas County, for instance, which is another Florida county, a mental health jail diversion program showed an 87 percent reduction in rearrests for the nearly 3,000 offenders who were enrolled. Not only does my amendment support these programs, but it also recognizes the unique responsibility that we have to our veterans. Veterans are disproportionately affected by mental health illnesses. Even more, they would likely not have these issues if it weren't for their service to this country. We owe them a better outcome, and Veterans Treatment Courts can help. My point is that they are some of the best investments we can make. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember the life of Captain Scott Bierwiler, a fellow colleague of the Hernando County Sheriff's Department, a dedicated husband and father of three, and my good friend. Captain Bierwiler met his untimely death in an automobile accident that devastated the community. The sadness and grief felt upon hearing the news of his passing still stings fresh in my mind, even though risk is an inherent part of the law enforcement description. As sheriff, it was a day that I always feared and hoped I would never have to face. Yet I found myself mourning my friend. It is tough to recall the days that followed and how full they were of tears, sorrow, and disbelief. However, the memories of Captain Bierwiler quickly came to light and the transition from sadness to acceptance began. As if it were from a page in his own book, the focus of his early death quickly became more about the celebration of his life and the impact he had on so many. I first met Scott through his parents, who are family friends, and I immediately recognized the potential he radiated even as a young man. After graduating from the police academy, Scott joined the Hernando Sheriff's Department where he served proudly for twenty-three years. He was a hard worker and was dedicated to his job, his fellow officers, and the community where he lived and worked. His work ethic was unlike any other. No matter how big or small the task, nor noteworthy or publicly known the result. And his determinations didn't go unnoticed. Scott was awarded the Hernando County Sheriff's Office Medal of Valor, the Hernando County Ribbon of Commendation, the New Jersey State Medal of Valor, the Meritorious Service Award from Bergen County Prosecutors Office, and the Combat Cross. But above all accolades, there was not one person who didn't have the upmost respect for Captain Bierwiler. Respect was mutual and he made sure that it was always known. There was no question that Captain Bierwiler would have made an honorable and just sheriff for Hernando County. He was a quintessential family man--loving, dependable, and as devoted as they come. There was never a question that his children were his sole purpose in life and his greatest achievement. He would tell stories of the moments of laughter they would share, the times spent together boating on the Gulf of Mexico, and the hopes he had for their futures. He gave all that he had to his family and I can only hope that as his children grow, they flourish in the love that surrounds them from their father. On Thursday, May 28, 2015, the Hernando County Sheriff's Department unveiled a memorial for Captain Scott M. Bierwiler. It will never be easy to look back on the day that Scott was taken from his family, his friends, and the Hernando community. But my hope for the memorial sign dedicated in his honor is to allow us to remember the times we shared with him, the happy and blessed life he lived, and the legacy he left behind. I am humbled and will forever be thankful to have been a friend of Captain Scott Bierwiler and I will continue to remember his memory fondly.

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. I thank Mr. McCaul for yielding me 1 minute. Mr. Chairman, I understand the opposition to this amendment is based on a misconception that it expands eligibility for surplus military equipment to include border security. Customs and Border Protection is already authorized to receive this equipment. It would just elevate their priority to where Justice Department is in allowing them to receive the equipment that they need. I was a sheriff in a 1033 program that provided equipment as it would exactly to Customs and Border Protection. It does not--it does not-- provide armed drones. Everything that they receive is demilitarized in regard to the fact they aren't receiving tanks, no military equipment that fires a rocket, or given rockets. That is a misconception that others have tried to move forward. Mr. Chairman, border security activities are the front lines of counternarcotics and counterterrorism before those threats hit American airspace, American waters, and American soil, and I support this amendment.

Mr. NUGENT

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is a proud day. Mr. Boyle, I do appreciate your comments in regard to those who serve us. Mr. King, I think your reputation precedes you in regard to caring about those who care for us every day. It is a thankless job a lot of times to be a fireman or a police officer or an EMT. Those folks go to work because they want to help people. They don't go to work because they want to hurt someone. They are driven by this desire to do right and to do good every day. It is really easy sometimes, I think, that we forget that these are men and women who, whether they wear the badge of a law enforcement officer or a firefighter or an EMT or any other public safety officer, do their job because they are committed to their community. They do it because they love their community. So when some folks want to rush to judgment, I would just suggest that until you walk in their shoes, until you know what it is like to serve in that capacity, I would ask that people use a little restraint and maybe wait until investigation is complete before we start making decisions in regards to guilt or innocence. I had to do that as sheriff. I had deputies who were involved in fire fights where other folks were killed. But you wanted to make sure that--listen, we want to know the facts. We want to know the truth. And if a police officer does something that is wrong, then he should be dealt with. But not all police officers do things wrong. They are human beings, and sometimes they do make mistakes. Mr. Speaker, this particular bill talks to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, no matter how they served this great country, whether it was in the fire service or the law enforcement service or public safety in any manner. This is about recognizing them and their families for their service. These first responders and public safety officers stand side by side with each other supporting each other in a common goal. Whether you are a fireman or a police officer, it is a common goal to do the right thing. They and their families live with these risks. They know what the job brings, the risks that are incurred, but they do that selflessly. Every time they put on that uniform to go to work, they do it knowing that something bad could happen to them that could change the lives of their children and their families forever. Mr. Speaker, this bill allows us in Congress to offer a simple yet meaningful expression, I believe, of sympathy. We can't make up the family's loss to them, but we can remember these fallen heroes, and we can offer their families our gratitude as we honor those loved ones' memories, as I think this body should do every day because there are folks that stand the line for us, whether it is fighting a fire, rescuing us from a trapped vehicle at a scene of horrific destruction, whether it is tornadoes or earthquakes, law enforcement officers have to go places that no other folks want to go. I just thank you, Mr. King, for bringing this bill forward. I want to thank my good friend on the other side of the aisle, Mr. Boyle, for standing for what is right, and I appreciate that. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NUGENT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. King). He is the distinguished sponsor of this bill.