(Washington, DC) – Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) announced that her legislation to honor Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal, H.R. 5317, the Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal Post Office Act, has unanimously passed the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.  This legislation is now one step closer to final passage in the House of Representatives.

The bill provides that the post office located at 315 Addicks Howell Road will be named the “Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal Post Office.”

“Deputy Dhaliwal represented the very best of our community: he worked for equality, connection, and community through his life of service to others,” said Congresswoman Fletcher.  “The Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal Post Office will serve as a permanent reminder of his service, his sacrifice, and his example for us all.  I am glad that my legislation to honor his memory is one step closer to final passage.”

In 2015, Lt. Dhaliwal became the first Sikh American in Texas to receive a policy accommodation to serve while wearing his articles of faith, including his turban and beard.  He was the first Sikh police officer to serve in the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and was seen as a role model and a trailblazer for Sikh Americans and religious minorities that sought to serve in law enforcement.  

On September 27, 2019, Deputy Dhaliwal was killed in the line of duty.  In October, Congresswoman Fletcher led the entire Houston delegation in introducing H. Res. 616, a resolution to honor the life and mourn the loss of Deputy Dhaliwal and spoke on the House floor.