|
 Printer-Friendly Version
As Delivered
Remarks to the Fraternal Order of Police National
Convention
Providence, R.I.
August 4, 2003
Thank you for that kind introduction, Chuck [Canterbury, National
President, Fraternal Order of Police]. I want to thank you and all the members
of the Fraternal Order of Police for the opportunity to address you this
morning. It’s a pleasure to work with you, with your executive board, and
with Executive Director Jim Pasco.
Before I begin, I also want to give a big hello to my home state
delegation from Kentucky!
For all of us, as Americans, and as members and friends of the Fraternal
Order of Police (FOP), the last several months have seen triumph and trial. Our
men and women in uniform achieved one of the most stunning military victories
the world has ever witnessed in Iraq. But now we grapple with the difficult,
and sometimes costly, task of winning the peace.
I want you to be assured that this Administration will do all in its
power to protect American lives, to give our soldiers the full support they
need, and to bring the last vestiges of Saddam Hussein’s regime to final
justice.
We’ve had success—and struggle—in our economy as well. It
is a testimony to the resilience and strength of America that just two months
after the devastating terrorist attacks of September 11th, our
economy came out of a recession that began in mid-2000. Make no mistake
about it, those attacks were intended to bring our economy to its knees. The
terrorists believed that if they hit us, America would be too soft to respond,
that we would simply crumble. They were wrong. Instead, the opposite happened.
This nation picked itself up, got back in the game, and started the difficult
process of rebuilding and recovery.
I don’t need to tell you it hasn’t been easy. Even though the
economy is clearly coming back, there are still too many people who want jobs
but can’t find them. That is why we’ve started something at the
Department of Labor called the High Growth Job Training Initiative—to
train people for jobs in sectors that are growing and hiring
workers.
And that is why the President fought for and passed a Jobs and Growth
Plan that will give families more money to spend, and employers more incentive
to buy new equipment, expand their operations and create jobs.
Over the last two years, we have been through some tough times as a
nation. Someday, each of us in this room will tell the next generation what
America went through, and what part we played in all of it. They will ask us,
“What was it like? How did the country respond?” And we will say: it
was challenging, even frightening. Many people suffered. But we all learned one
thing: this is a country that doesn’t back down, that doesn’t give
up, and that doesn’t stop caring about those who need help.
As I said at the outset, this has also been a period of triumph and
trial for all of you. First of all, you’ve got a lot to be proud of. The
Fraternal Order of Police is recognized as the preeminent police
organization in the country—in terms of membership, in terms of
leadership, in terms of clout, and in terms of heart. All of you have
made the FOP number one in this country.
You’ve experienced growing success as an organization. But
you’ve also felt some deep sorrow. I share your grief over the loss of
three shining stars in the FOP leadership: former President Pat Stark, FOP Vice
President Ray Franklin, and FOP President Steve Young.
Pat, of course, passed away after a long, distinguished career. Ray was
from my home state of Kentucky. We send our special thoughts to his wife Edith
and family.
Steve Young was a giant in your organization: a national leader, a
friend to both the mighty and the lowly, and—above all else—a police
officer who cared most about making his home community of Marion, Ohio a safer
place to live. When I became Secretary of Labor, Steve Young was the
first labor leader to reach out and seek ways we could work together to
improve the lives of law enforcement officers and thereby make our streets and
neighborhoods safer. That kind of outreach and relationship building made Steve
so successful at turning the FOP into a more visible and effective
organization, emphasizing its labor credentials as never before.
In the same way, I appreciate the fact that one of the first meetings
Chuck Canterbury had as newly installed President of the FOP was at the
Department of Labor—seeking to continue the productive relationship we
have built to help law enforcement officers.
These efforts have made the Fraternal Order of Police one of the most
respected and effective legislative operations in Washington. My friend, FOP
Executive Director Jim Pasco, is an indispensable part of this team. Jim heads
up a Washington operation that you can be proud of, because it is protecting
and advancing your interests every day.
Let me give you just two examples of how our close relationship has
borne fruit.
In May of 2001, I was privileged to be the first Secretary of Labor to
attend the National Peace Officers Memorial. I have attended that very special
ceremony every year since. The Memorial Service is a tribute to the memories of
fallen officers. But for me, it was also a time to meet the families of these
heroes. After hearing their stories, I felt that the Department of Labor needed
to do something to help these families.
We worked with your FOP leadership to create a $2 million scholarship
program that will help spouses of fallen law enforcement officers provide for
their families and carry on with their lives. The money comes from the Labor
Department and goes to the National FOP Foundation, to pay for education and
job training, such as community college certification courses. This will help
surviving spouses upgrade their job skills and find good employment
opportunities so they can support themselves and their families.
Steve Young helped conceive and develop this scholarship program.
That’s because he was not only a great leader, but also a devoted family
man who was deeply concerned about the spouses and children of fallen officers.
That is why I’m pleased that Denise Young is here today as I announce that
this program will hereafter be named the Steve Young Memorial Scholarship
program. It is a fitting tribute to a patriot, police officer and dedicated
husband and father.
I am also pleased to announce that, later this fall, the Department of
Labor will be honoring Steve Young, the labor leader. The Department
houses a permanent exhibit called The Labor Hall of Fame. This is a museum that
honors America’s greatest labor figures. Past inductees have included
Walter Reuther, John L. Lewis, Samuel Gompers and Lane Kirkland.
This September, we will induct another great labor leader to the Hall of
Fame: the FOP’s own Steve Young. If I invite all of you, will you all
come?
Finally, I really appreciate that President Canterbury is continuing
Steve Young’s legacy of working with the Department and the Administration
to improve the lives of police officers. And let me tell all of you,
Chuck’s approach is getting results and building respect for your
organization.
Under Chuck’s leadership, the FOP was the very first union to weigh
in on behalf of America’s law enforcement community on the Department of
Labor’s proposed changes to the “white collar” overtime
exemption regulations. We received the FOP’s comments, we hear you loud
and clear, and—rest assured—we will consider them very
seriously.
I can also tell you that the Department doesn’t intend to cut
overtime for police officers by re-classifying them as “white-collar”
workers. Our goal is to extend overtime protections to workers earning less
than $22,100 a year who currently don’t get it because the outdated
regulations allow them to be classified as exempt “white-collar”
workers. The current salary level is $8,000. Economists say that this change
alone would guarantee overtime pay to an additional 1.3 million low-wage
workers.
The bottom line is that Chuck Canterbury and the FOP are known for
bringing facts and constructive solutions to the table—not rhetoric and
political maneuvering. That’s why you are respected, that’s why you
get results, and that’s why police officers trust the FOP to look out for
their interests.
I want all of you to know that you have a friend in the Department of
Labor and me as you work to improve the lives of law enforcement officers and
make your communities safe. On behalf of the entire Administration, we
appreciate what you do every day. Thank you for your courage and sacrifice.
Have a wonderful convention.
# # #
_________________________________________________________________
| 
