[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 59 (Tuesday, May 12, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H3062-H3063]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  AUTHORIZING USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL NATIONAL 
                    PEACE OFFICERS' MEMORIAL SERVICE

  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 263) authorizing the use of the 
Capitol Grounds for the seventeenth annual National Peace Officers' 
Memorial Service, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 263

       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 seventeenth 
     annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, on the 
     Capitol Grounds on May 15, 1998, or on such other date as the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Rules and Administration of the Senate may jointly designate, 
     in order to honor the more than 160 law enforcement officers 
     who died in the line of duty during 1997.

     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

[[Page H3063]]

     are authorized to make any such additional arrangements as 
     may be required to carry out the event.

     SEC. 4. APPLICABILITY OF PROHIBITIONS.

       Nothing in this resolution may be construed to waive the 
     applicability of the prohibitions established by section 4 of 
     the Act of July 31, 1946 (40 U.S.C. 193d; 60 Stat. 718), 
     concerning sales, displays, and solicitations on the Capitol 
     Grounds.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Kim) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Kim).
  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 263 authorizes the use of 
the Capitol grounds for the Seventeenth Annual Peace Officers' Memorial 
Service on May 15th, 1998, or such a date as the Speaker of the House 
of Representatives and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration 
jointly designate. The resolution also authorizes the Architect of the 
Capitol, the Capitol Police Board and the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order 
of Police, the sponsor of the event, to negotiate the necessary 
arrangements for carrying out the event in complete compliance of the 
rules and regulations governing the use of the Capitol grounds.
  The Capitol Police will be the hosting law enforcement agency. In 
addition, the sponsor will assume all expense and liability in 
connection with the event. The event will be free of charge and open to 
the public and all sales and advertising will be prohibited.
  This service will honor over 160 Federal, State and local law 
enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 1997. It is a 
fitting tribute to the men and women who give their lives for our 
lives.
  I support this measure, and I urge my colleagues to agree to the 
concurrent resolution.
  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 support this resolution. I would like to say that I 
will be introducing legislation that will make the murder of a law 
enforcement officer a Federal offense, and the punishment shall be the 
death penalty. I think we put too many names on memorials, and, for 
some reason, we have yet to truly protect the law enforcement community 
in America.
  Now, this National Peace Officers' Memorial Day Service always has a 
special meaning for me. During my time as sheriff, one of my deputies 
was gunned down. He was transporting a prisoner. The MO is very simple: 
A car ran up in the back of him, forced him out, and an individual with 
a shot gun at close-range took his life to help that prisoner escape. 
That murderer is still on death row being paid by the taxpayers of our 
valley and the family of Sonny Litch. This is stupid. This is 
ridiculous.
  I want to read since 1980 the names of eight officers in just my 
Congressional District that have given their life in service to their 
fellow people: John R. ``Sonny'' Litch of the Mahoning County Sheriff's 
Office; John Utlak, Niles Police Department; Richard Elton Becker, 
Poland Police Department; Charles K. Yates, Poland Police Department; 
Ralph J. DeSalle, Youngstown Police Department; Paul Joseph Durkin, 
Youngstown Police Department; Millard Williams, Youngstown Police 
Department; and Carmen J. Renda, Youngstown State University Police.
  How many more names do we read, how many more memorials do we build, 
until we act?
  I support this resolution, but I would like to say to the Congress, 
it is time to take seriously anybody who would take the life of one of 
our law enforcement officers, and the Congress should be protecting the 
160 to 180 potential victims each year. You do that by making it a 
Federal offense to target one of our law enforcement agents, and you 
also attach to it the death penalty for anyone who would take their 
life.
  So I am proud to stand here and support this resolution, and I would 
hope that my legislation would not fall on deaf ears in the Congress of 
the United States.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 263, which authorizes the use of Capitol Grounds 
for the seventeenth annual National Peace Officer's Memorial Service. I 
have a long and active history of supporting our nation's law 
enforcement officers and believe that the vital service that they 
provide our nation is invaluable.
  One hundred and sixty law enforcement officers lost their lives in 
the line of duty in 1997, which is almost 40 percent higher than the 
number of police deaths recorded in 1996.
  There were 160 federal, state and local law enforcement officers 
killed in the line of duty during 1997, compared to 116 police 
fatalities during 1996, according to a joint announcement issued by the 
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and the Concerns of 
Police Survivors. The 1996 death total was the lowest since 1959. Prior 
to 1997, there had been an average of 151 law enforcement fatalities 
annually during the 1990s.
  For the fourth straight year, California was the deadliest state in 
the nation for the law enforcement community, with 14 police 
fatalities. California was followed by Texas with 10 deaths, Illinois 
with nine, Florida with eight, and Indiana and Georgia with seven each.
  Unfortunately these statistics represent real lives which have been 
lost in the service of our nation. They represent people who have 
dedicated themselves to the protection of our communities and their 
residents.
  In the City of Houston, Officer Cuong Trinh lost his life of April 6, 
1997, when he was shot by a robbery suspect. Officer Trinh is greatly 
missed by his colleagues and his family who felt his loss most 
intimately. His contributions to the Houston Police Department will 
never be forgotten nor should it. It is very fitting that we honor 
fallen heros like Officer Trinh through a National Police Officers' 
Memorial Service.
  There have been more than 14,000 peace officers who have been killed 
in the line of duty throughout our nation's history. It was not until 
1991, when the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial was 
commemorated that a national symbol of their courage and sacrifice was 
created. This important memorial bears the names of all federal, state, 
and local law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate 
sacrifice.
  I join with my colleagues in support of this important event. It is 
my hope that we find ways to make the lives of law enforcement officers 
safer.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Kim) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res 263, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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