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Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
Support the Troops Gala
40th Annual Scholarship Dinner/Dance
Sergeants Benevolent Association
New York, New York
Thursday, October 7, 2004
Thank you, Ed [Mullins, President, Sergeants Benevolent Association].
And thank you Sergeants Benevolent Association. It is an honor to receive
this award from you—the true heroes of this great city.
I am also touched to be included in the same group as Sergeant Keith Ferguson,
who died in the line of duty.
I am honored to accept this prestigious award. And I am proud of the excellent
working relationship the U.S. Department of Labor and your organization share.
The men and women in blue deserve our respect and gratitude. You put their
lives on the line every day to ensure that our communities are safe and secure.
I am also pleased to join you this evening in paying tribute to our U.S.
troops serving at home, in Afghanistan, Iraq and many other places around
the world. And that includes the many reservists and first responders who
are serving overseas on active duty, protecting freedom and our homeland.
These are men and women of courage, honor and commitment.
I visited Iraq earlier this year and met with many of our men and women
in uniform. I want to tell you—I was so impressed with them. I was so proud
of them. They are doing such a great job, working to reopen schools, repair
roads and bridges, and keep the peace to create the conditions for stability
and freedom. They are proud of what they have done. But they are also concerned
that only bad news is being reported and no one knows about all the good
work they are doing.
So let me tell you about Captain Symms from New York. The captain was given
charge of a small, orphaned Iraqi boy. Captain Symms found an orphanage for
him, but it had been badly neglected by Saddam Hussein. One thing led to
another, and this selfless army captain and his fellow soldiers refurbished
17 orphanages in Baghdad. They restored the electricity, delivered fuel and
brought other supplies to feed and clothe the children. This is just one
of the many stories of what our troops are doing—I was proud to learn about
firsthand—fortunately, the press picked up on this one. But there are hundreds
of stories like it, taking place every day.
Because of what our troops are doing in Iraq, America is safer and more
secure. By taking the battle to the streets of Baghdad, they are ensuring
that we don't have to fight terrorists on the streets of New York.
As police officers, you know firsthand the meaning of sacrifice and what
it takes to maintain the freedoms we enjoy.
And so, on behalf of President George W. Bush and this Administration, I
want to thank every police officer here—and those not here—for your courageous
service during these challenging times.
President Bush and this Administration recognize the hard work—and the danger—you
face every day. Your needs and concerns are always a priority with this Administration.
Something that is probably on your mind: The new rules protecting overtime
and what they mean to you.
This Administration understands that police officers are often called upon
to work long hours and take double shifts. So, when the Labor Department
began the long overdue process of updating the nation's overtime rules, your
needs were a priority.
The right to overtime for police—including sergeants—is clearly protected and strengthened in
the new overtime rules now in effect. And for the first time in history,
the overtime rights of police officers, firefighters, paramedics, emergency
medical technicians and public safety employees are also fully protected.
Protecting the overtime of America's finest protects America and makes this
nation more secure. And that is more important than ever, as you well know
here in New York City.
You were among the new heroes that America came to know after 9/11. We will
never forget that day, what you did to protect America or what it takes to
ensure that it will never happen again. In fact, Sergeant Rodney Gillis was
one of those heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, 2001.
Our hearts go out to his family members, who are here this evening.
Thank you. And may God bless you and continue to bless America.
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