[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 75 (Thursday, June 11, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H4485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS EVENT
Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the
Speaker's table the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 102)
recognizing Disabled American Veterans, and ask for its immediate
consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the Senate concurrent resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I yield to
the gentleman from California (Mr. Kim) for an explanation of the
Senate concurrent resolution.
Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 102 authorizes the use of the west front
lawn of the Capitol for a public event sponsored by the Disabled
American Veterans. The event is to commemorate the donation by the
Disabled American Veterans of 147 new passenger vans to the Department
of Veterans Affairs to aid tens of thousands of sick and disabled
veterans across the country obtain medical attention.
The event, which is scheduled to take place on June 16 and 17, or
such dates as the Speaker of the House and the Committee on Rules and
Administration of the Senate may jointly designate, will commence with
147 vans arriving on the grounds the first day, at 1st Street, N.W. and
S.W., where the street will be closed, and the vans will remain
overnight. In addition, eight vans will be placed on platforms on the
lawn for display purposes.
On the second day of the event, the sponsors will hold a formal press
meeting on the lawn to announce the donation, and the vans will then
depart in procession through the District of Columbia to the Department
of Veterans Affairs for other ceremonial duties.
The resolution authorizes the Architect of the Capitol, the Capital
Police Board, and the Disabled American Veterans to negotiate the
necessary arrangements for carrying out the event in complete
compliance with the rules and regulations governing the use of Capitol
grounds. The event is open to the public and free of charge, and the
sponsor will assume the responsibility for all the expenses and
liabilities related to this event.
In addition, sales, advertisements, and solicitations are explicitly
prohibited on the Capitol grounds for this event. I support the
concurrent resolution.
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, continuing my reservation of objection,
the donation of these vans is part of their program to provide
transportation to help the sick and disabled receive the essential
medical care that they need and they deserve. This program was started
in 1987, and, to date, they have donated 750 vans for such purposes.
Disabled American Veterans was chartered by Congress in 1932, and it
is perhaps the strongest advocate for our Nation's disabled veterans. I
join forces today to salute Disabled American Veterans. I support this
concurrent resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the Senate concurrent resolution, as follows:
S. Con. Res. 102
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring),
SECTION 1. USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR DISABLED AMERICAN
VETERANS EVENT.
Disabled American Veterans shall be permitted to sponsor a
public event on the West Front Lawn of the Capitol on June 16
and 17, 1998, or on such other dates as the Speaker of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and
Administration of the Senate may jointly designate, in order
to announce the donation of 147 vans to the Department of
Veterans Affairs by Disabled American Veterans.
SEC. 2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
(a) In General.--The event authorized by 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.--Disabled American Veterans
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, Disabled American Veterans may
erect upon the Capitol Grounds such stage, sound
amplification devices, and other related structures and
equipment as may be required for the event authorized by
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, including arrangements to limit access to First Street
Northwest and First Street Southwest as required for the
event.
SEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTIONS.
The Capitol Police Board shall provide for enforcement of
the restrictions contained in 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, as well
as other restrictions applicable to the Capitol Grounds, with
respect to the event authorized by section 1.
SEC. 5. PHOTOGRAPHS.
The event authorized by section 1 may be conducted only
after the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police
Board enter into an agreement with Disabled American Veterans
and the manufacturer of the vans referred to in section 1
that prohibits Disabled American Veterans and such
manufacturer from using any photograph taken at the event for
a commercial purpose. The agreement shall provide for
financial penalties to be imposed if any photograph is used
in violation of this section.
The Senate concurrent resolution was concurred in.
A motion to reconsider is laid on the table.
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