TranslatePolitics.com

Recent debates

8 latest topics

09-03 Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026 13 statements 09-03 Moment of Silence in Honor of the 25th Anniversary of September 11 2 statements 09-03 Honoring Former U.S. Representative Charles Hatcher of Georgia 2 statements 09-03 Recognizing Firefighters from California's Third Congressional District 17 statements 09-02 Saluting White Plains Beautification Foundation 2 statements 09-02 Celebrating Rural Lawyer Julie Bear 4 statements 09-02 Operation Midway Blitz Anniversary 2 statements 09-02 Catherine Watts Celebrates 100th Birthday 4 statements

House of Representatives

Moment of Silence Honoring Michael Pahira

2026-07-14 Issue 114 Showing 1–1 of 1

Official Congressional Record ↗

Daniel Meuser

Republican

“A man from my district died. He was a state trooper. A truck hit him. The driver was here illegally. He should not have been driving a truck. We should pass a law. The law will make it harder to get a truck driver's license. You must read English. You must be here legally. We will not forget Trooper Pahira.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise alongside my colleagues with a heavy heart with the Pennsylvania delegation to honor the courageous life and tragic loss of Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira who was killed earlier this month in the line of duty. Trooper Michael Pahira was born and raised in my district. He was named for his father, Michael Sr., and was known as Mikey throughout his life. Trooper Pahira graduated from North Schuylkill Junior/Senior High School in 2001 where he was a standout football and wrestling star. After attending East Stroudsburg University, Michael answered the call of service and entered the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, graduating in 2007 as a proud member of 124th Cadet Class of Pennsylvania State Troopers. Over the next two decades, Trooper Pahira would serve his State with distinction protecting communities in Lehighton, Schuylkill Haven, and Frackville. I attended the funeral service for Trooper Pahira last week alongside his parents, Michael Sr. and Patricia; his sister, Jennifer; and thousands of community members; fellow police officers; friends, and law enforcement from throughout the State who gathered to honor his legacy. The stories shared by those who knew him best painted the picture of a man of character, humility, and unwavering dedication. Respect was a constant theme throughout the service. Trooper Pahira lived a life defined by respect for his community, his family, and his fellow troopers. We can honor the memory of Trooper Pahira and show more respect for the men and women of law enforcement and the communities they serve by implementing some commonsense legislation that can prevent such senseless tragedies from happening again. On the morning of July 1, Trooper Pahira was on duty conducting a routine commercial vehicle inspection on Route 81 in Schuylkill County when a truck driven by a Michael Bon struck and killed him. Bon was in the country illegally, ordered to deport, did not do so, and was operating a commercial vehicle with a nondomiciled commercial driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I am calling on every Member of Congress to support Dalilah's Law to bring common sense and strength in commercial driver's license requirements, ensuring those with commercial driver's licenses can read English and are in the United States with legal status. It is our duty to do all we can to provide such safety for law enforcement and everyone on America's roadways. Trooper Pahira faithfully served the people of Pennsylvania for nearly two decades, and his sacrifice will never be forgotten. On behalf of the entire Pennsylvania delegation, I want to offer our deepest sorrow and condolences to the Pahira family; his lifelong friends; the great, brave Pennsylvania State Troopers; and all those mourning Mikey's loss. In honor of Trooper Michael Pahira's life of service, I ask my colleagues to join us in a moment of silence.

View on ourcommons.ca ↗

What they said. What they meant.

Recent debates