[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 26, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H2848-H2849]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AUTHORIZING USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR 1996 NATIONAL PEACE OFFICERS'
MEMORIAL SERVICE
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 147) authorizing the use of the
Capitol Grounds for the 15th annual National Peace Officers' Memorial
Service.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 147
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring),
SECTION 1. USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR NATIONAL PEACE
OFFICERS' MEMORIAL SERVICE.
The National Fraternal Order of Police and its auxiliary
shall be permitted to sponsor a public event, the fifteenth
annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, on the
Capitol grounds on May 15, 1996, or on such other date as the
Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro
tempore of the Senate may jointly designate, in order to
honor the 155 law enforcement officers who died in the line
of duty during 1995.
SEC. 2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
(a) In General.--The event authorized to be conducted on
the Capitol grounds under section 1 shall be free of
admission charge to the public and arranged not to interfere
with the needs of Congress, under conditions to be prescribed
by the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board.
(b) Expenses and Liabilities.--The National Fraternal Order
of Police and its auxiliary shall assume full responsibility
for all expenses and liabilities incident to all activities
associated with the event.
SEC. 3. EVENT PREPARATIONS.
(a) Structures and Equipment.--Subject to the approval of
the Architect of the Capitol, the National Fraternal Order of
Police and its auxiliary are authorized to erect upon the
Capitol grounds such stage, sound amplification devices, and
other related structures and equipment, as may be required
for the event authorized to be conducted on the Capitol
grounds under section 1.
(b) Additional Arrangements.--The Architect of the Capitol
and the Capitol Police Board are authorized to make any such
additional arrangements as may be required to carry out the
event.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] and the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant]
will each be recognized for 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest].
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 147 would authorize the use
of the Capitol Grounds for the 15th Annual Peace Officers' Memorial
Service to be held on May 15, 1996. This year, as in past years, the
U.S. Capitol Police will be the sponsoring law enforcement agency for
this event. During the past year, 155 peace officers have lost their
lives in the line of duty. This figure includes many of the dedicated
Federal employees who lost their lives in the tragic bombing in
Oklahoma City last April.
This year, it is expected that over 2,000 friends and family members
of those who lost their lives last year will attend this event, and
15,000 peace officers will also participate.
This is a worthwhile endeavor, and I urge my colleagues to support
this measure.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all to join me in supporting House Concurrent
Resolution 147 which, as the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest]
has stated, will authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds for the
National Peace Officer's Memorial Service.
On May 15 of this year the Capitol Police will host law enforcement
officials from around the Nation who will gather here to honor their
fallen police officers. I would like to take this time to commend our
Capitol Police. Many times they go unnoticed, and perhaps it is the
lack of those headlines we do not read that are, maybe, the greatest
testament to our own Capitol Police. I am proud of the Capitol Police's
hosting this event. We should all support it.
In addition to the 155 officers killed in the line of duty in 1995,
approximately, Mr. Speaker, 65,000 police officers are assaulted each
year, with over 23,000 of our police officers sustaining injuries of
some sort.
{time} 1415
Everybody is tragically aware, as pointed out by the gentleman from
Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest], of the unfortunate terrorist act in Oklahoma,
but very few people realize that the target of those terrorists was our
law enforcement personnel, as well as making a statement. It was a
direct attack and assault on our law enforcement personnel.
I think it is absolutely fitting and proper that we join here and we
allow the use of the Capitol Grounds, by an extension of the authority
of Congress that vests that right within us and power within us, to our
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Service. I believe that that
purpose is most fitting.
I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] for the
way he has dispatched his duties on this bill and others.
Mr. Speaker, with that, I have no further speakers, I urge an ``aye''
vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank the gentleman from Ohio [Mr.
Traficant] for his work on this resolution, for his work on the
subcommittee. We have a truly bipartisan subcommittee that endeavors to
do the work of the Nation, no matter how corny that might sound.
Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my opening statement, there will be
over 15,000 police officers attending this memorial service. It is in
dedication to the quiet courage of those law enforcement officers that
have dedicated their lives to this great country. In that endeavor we
pass this resolution.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I join Mr. Traficant and Mr. Gilchrest in
supporting use of the Capitol Grounds for the 15th anniversary of the
National Peace Officers' Memorial Service. May 15 is the day designated
by President Kennedy as the day to honor all men and women who have
dedicated and sacrificed their lives in order to protect our lives.
I commend Mr. Traficant for introducing House Concurrent Resolution
147, and for being a staunch supporter of this program. As we all know,
the Capitol Plaza is used for the candlelight memorial service, which
is the culmination of a series of events honoring peace officers who
have been killed in the line of duty. The 1996 service will be hosted
by the Capitol Hill Police Department.
Tragically, during 1995, 155 law enforcement officers were killed
while on duty. The average age of those officers was 37 years old and
they had served the public for 9 years. Four of them were women. It is
fitting and commendable that we support the efforts of the Capitol
Police and the 675,000 law enforcement officials now serving in the
United States.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support House Concurrent Resolution 147, and
I urge my colleagues to join me.
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Upton). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House
Concurrent Resolution 147.
[[Page H2849]]
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was
agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________