[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 10, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCING LEGISLATION HONORING OUR NATION'S FALLEN POLICE OFFICERS

  (Mr. TIERNEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
honor our Nation's fallen police officers. My bill, Mr. Speaker, would 
honor police officers who have been killed in the line of duty by 
lowering to half staff a flag over the Capitol which will then be given 
to the family of the officer.
  The Capitol Police Board would designate the flagpole upon which the 
United States flag shall be flown at half mast for one day whenever a 
Federal, State, local, or territorial law enforcement officer is slain 
in the line of duty.
  Currently, the United States flag is flown at half staff to honor 
police officers one time a year, on Police Officers Memorial Day. This 
bill provides for an additional and fitting tribute to our Nation's 
fallen police officers and their families. The legislation was 
originally sponsored by our former colleague, Thomas Foglietta, 
currently the Ambassador to Italy, and reintroduced by former 
Congressman Jay Johnson in the last Congress.
  In addition, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that my colleague, the 
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. John Larson) will be speaking in 
support of this bill and about a former member of his hometown police 
force in East Hartford, Connecticut, who was recently killed in the 
line of duty.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join together with me in honoring 
our Nation's fallen police officers.

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