Chairman Goodlatte Delivers Remarks on the “Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015"

[embed]https://youtu.be/fRobC3JC8BM[/embed] Chairman Goodlatte: Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of S. 238, the “Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015.” Eric Williams was born on August 24, 1978, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Donald and Jean Williams. Eric spent most of his life in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania where he attended the Nanticoke public schools and graduated from Greater Nanticoke Area High School in 1996. Eric was an avid soccer player and played youth soccer, was a member of the high school team and continued playing in adult leagues. In addition to his love of soccer, Eric was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and bowling. Eric graduated with a Criminal Justice degree from King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and was a graduate of Lackawanna College’s Police Program. Eric went on to become a security specialist and then a police officer with Jefferson Township, Pennsylvania.  In September of 2011, Eric began his career as a corrections officer at U.S. Penitentiary, Canaan.  In his spare time, he volunteered by visiting jails talking to inmates about health and spiritual issues. On the night of February 25, 2013, three years ago tomorrow, Eric was supervising more than 100 high security inmates at USP Canaan.  While making his rounds for nightly lockdown just before 10 p.m., inmate and gang member Jesse Con-ui launched an unprovoked, brutal and cowardly attack against Senior Officer Williams.  Con-ui knocked Eric down a staircase, fracturing his skull.  Con-ui proceeded to stab Eric more than 200 times with a homemade prison shank. When authorities found Eric’s body, he had only a set of keys, a pair of handcuffs and a hand-held radio on him – clearly not enough to defend himself against such a brutal attack.  Eric was 34 years old when he was murdered. The “Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015” will ensure that our brave corrections officers have the necessary equipment to properly defend themselves from this type of attack in the future.  S. 238 requires the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to issue pepper spray to any BOP officer or employee who may have to respond to an emergency situation to reduce acts of violence committed by prisoners. This is a much needed piece of legislation to ensure the safety and security of BOP employees as well as the inmates in their facilities.  This bill passed the Senate two months ago and if passed today, will be presented to the President.  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important piece of legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.