[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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