health resources for officers. pres. biden: thank you for your nation and for inviting me to join you once again today. thank the attorney general and deputy ateral, as well as homeland secretary of security. director of fbi, secretu.s. marshals

service, and the capitol police for their leadership. joined by my good friend wade of the chief of police, and and thank you for mems of congress here today. two weeks ago, i was in charlotte, north carolina. families of the police officers who were shot in the line of duty. four of them were killed. they wereathers heroes. and all of you who serve and for your families left behind, you live a simple truth. every time you put on thate, your family wonders if that call will come or if they'll get that terrible call somewhere during the day or this year, we honor over 200 heroic women and men from all across the law enforcement mmunity who made the ultimate sacrifice. for all the families of our fallen offic the name of your husband, wife father, mother, son or daughter, brother or sister brings it all

back as if you got that news just 10 minutes ago. that black hole in the middle of your chest -- you feel like you're being sucked into.. i kn when m four glioblastoma and was going to die, and he did. i know what it's like.eling that you all know, as well, who have lost in the past. you know, i found out there is only one thing -- at least forme, when i wife and daughter were dead, when i got the call my son was about to one thing that helped: family. if you have family, hold them tight. hold on to each other, becauses hard to believe -- when the thought of your husband or your wife or your son or your daughter before it brings a tear to your it takes a long time, but it will come. there is a line from the english poet john milton.

only stand and wait.” every family of ved one can serve the rest of us. i admire your courage in beingthat their sacrifice will never be this extended family of women and men assembled here today, who will police officers, they'll always be there for you. throughout my career, i've unfortunately spoken at too manyficers -- extraordinary, brave, heroic public servants being a police officer is not just what you do, it's who you you're just like all the women and men in law enforcement i grew up with in scra you always run toward danger as others run away from it. most of you, even when you were kids, you did it, long before you run toward the cries for help knowing that you could be of help. to protect, to defend. you represent the very best oferica. you're the steel spine of this country.

back in february, i convened a group of police chiefs at the white house to talk about the hard w being a cop is one hell of a lot harder than it's ever been. we expect everything of you. we expect everyone -- drug counselors, you're supposed to be, protecting people who are bandoned guardians in communities flooded with weapons of fear. that's why, since day one of my presidency, i' need to protect, the partners you need, and the community to help. during the pandemi provided $350 billion to states and cities that they could use to keep communities safe, retain and hire more police officers, pay over benefits for disabled firsttion strategies. place beat. it was one of the largest federal investments ever made in public saf i also signed the most sweeping gun safety law in nearly 30 years to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals while strengthening ba

checks for gun purchases cracking down on ill sales, reining in ghost guns that are increasingly fo my safer america plan invests g, to build trust, to solve crimes faster. i'm grateful for the partnership of jim and the other law worked together on my executive order on policing. my safer america plan also makes investments to support programs root causes of crime, to ensure you have the psychologists and officers deal with unbelievable stress. every time y conduct a traffic stop, there's a tremendous risk.'s behind that door, the trauma of bearing witness to the most horrible tragedies imaginable.dministration is laser-focused on providing you with the mental d and deserve. that's why i also signed extended benefits for families of officers who tragically died by suicide -- honoring capitol

police officers like howarded the capitol on january 6, whose dad i knew well when he se states senate.emember all our law enforcements who defend this capitol and our democracy on so pass the honoring fallen heroes act that extends benefits to first resp toxic substances and die of cancer. i know so many of you still carry the physical and invisible wounds of your service.ugh for your courage, your service f the people you don't even know.of you, each and every one of you, is a hero. it's no accident that violent crime is near a record 50-year low -- a 50-year low. it's because of extraordinary effoher with historic steps taken t illegal guns, to hold gun traffickers accountable for it matters, and it matters a i often say, there is no greater ment than ensuring the safety of the

american people and those who sacrifice to protect us all.ot of progress but there's still much more to be done. let me close. to the families here today, my in different ways, but i promisell come again when the memory of your loved one will bring a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye. it may take a couple seasons but it will come.d i hope you always remember one thing that is never fully lost -- your love for them and their love for you. may god protect law and may god protect our troops.