[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 23, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H1497-H1499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




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

  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 44) authorizing 
the use of the Capitol Grounds for the 18th annual National Peace 
Officers' Memorial Service, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 44

       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 eighteenth 
     annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, on the 
     Capitol Grounds on May 15, 1999, 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 1998.

     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.--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 by section 1.

     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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Franks) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Shows) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks).
  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  House Concurrent Resolution 44, as amended, authorizes the use of the 
Capitol grounds for the 18th Annual Peace Officers' Memorial Service on 
May 15, 1999, or on such date as the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration 
jointly designate. The resolution 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 with the 
rules and regulations governing the use of the Capitol grounds. The 
Capitol Police will be the hosting law enforcement agency. The sponsor 
will assume all expenses and liability in connection

[[Page H1498]]

with the event. The event will be free of charge and open to the 
public, and all sales advertisements and solicitations are prohibited.
  This service will honor Federal, State and local law enforcement 
officers killed in the line of duty in 1998. This will be a time to 
remember our own slain Capitol Hill Police officers, Officers Chestnut 
and Gibson. It is a fitting tribute to the men and women who gave their 
lives in the performance of their duties.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this measure and urge my colleagues to support 
it as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 44 authorizes the use of the 
Capitol grounds for this most solemn service. I strongly support this 
resolution which honors these police officers, men and women, who died 
in the line of duty during 1998. During last year, 152 very brave peace 
officers from the ranks of State, local and Federal service were killed 
in the line of duty. Twelve women officers are included in this number.
  On average, one law enforcement officer is killed somewhere in 
America nearly every other day. Thousands of officers are assaulted and 
about 23,000 are injured.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1962, President John Kennedy signed the law 
establishing National Police Week. May 15 is designated Peace Officers 
Memorial Day, and the Capitol Hill ceremony will take place on that 
day.

                              {time}  1245

  It is a day during which a grateful Nation will pay tribute to the 
sacrifice of all peace officers.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and honor three police 
officers in my own community who gave their lives in the line of duty. 
Lloyd Jones, Sheriff of Simpson County; Deputy Sheriff Tommy Bourne, 
Jefferson Davis County; and Deputy Sheriff J.P. Rutland, also of 
Jefferson Davis County. These brave men were family men, devoted 
fathers, dedicated husbands, and community leaders. The Nation's 
Capitol is an appropriate and fitting place to honor their memory and 
their noble service. As a caring Nation, we deeply appreciate their 
sacrifice.
  I strongly support and urge passage of House Concurrent Resolution 
44.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) the author of the bill.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my distinguished 
colleague, and I want to thank the chairman, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Franks), and the ranking member, the gentleman from West 
Virginia (Mr. Wise), for bringing this to the floor.
  And I want to commend one of the most able staffs in the House who 
work on this type of business with very little fanfare, Rick Barnett 
and Susan Brita. We thank them for all their effort, having worked 
closely with this subcommittee for many years. The great job they do is 
appreciated.
  As a former sheriff, the National Peace Officers' Memorial Day 
service has special meaning. Number one, the peace officer law 
enforcement memorial was a by-product of my chief of staff, Paul 
Marcone, who led the charge to build that.
  I want to commend former Presidents Reagan and Bush for their efforts 
in helping all along the line to create a memorial for the slain law 
enforcement officers who have given their lives to help our Nation.
  The second meaning, and a tragic one to say the least, is the loss of 
Sonny Litch, deputy sheriff during my term of sheriff, who was 
literally executed while transporting a prisoner. And til this day, 
justice I do not believe has been served, because I believe this man 
should be put to death, and that is an issue for another day.
  But the 17th District of Ohio is not foreign to slain officers. And 
in the names on the Law Enforcement Memorial are the following eight 
who I would like to pay tribute to:
  John R. ``Sonny'' Litch, Jr., my deputy, Mahoning County Sheriff's 
Office; John A. Utlak of the Niles Police Department; Richard Elton 
Becker of the Poland Police Department; Charles K. Yates of the Poland 
Police Department; Ralph J. DeSalle, Youngstown Police Department; Paul 
Joseph Durkin, Youngstown Police Department; Millard Williams, 
Youngstown Police Department; and Carmen J. Renda, Jr., Youngstown 
State University Police; who have died in the line of duty.
  In 1998, Mr. Speaker, more than 160 law enforcement officers were 
killed protecting our citizens, killed in the line of duty. The names 
of these brave men and women will be engraved on the walls of the 
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. And that is, at least, some 
semblance of recognition.
  For the families here, in paying tribute on the 15th of May, it is an 
appropriate place for our Capitol to be used for this activity. It is 
important that, as a Nation, we make a special effort to show the 
surviving family members that their heroes did not die in vain and will 
be recognized for their great sacrifice and dedicated service.
  So I commend all for helping. And hopefully, these numbers will be 
greatly reduced, and hopefully we will not lose any officer, but 
knowing the violence in the United States, we shall. But for those who 
have passed, we pay great tribute.
  This is an appropriate piece of legislation. I ask for an ``aye'' 
vote.
  Mr. Speaker, as the author of the resolution, I rise in strong 
support of H. Con. Res. 44 which authorizes the use of the U.S. Capitol 
grounds for the 18th annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Day 
Service. This very special ceremony is being conducted by the Fraternal 
Order of Police and their Auxiliary Services. It will be held on May 15 
on the West Front of the Capitol.
  In 1962 President John Kennedy signed the law establishing National 
Police Week. While the actual dates change every year, National Police 
Week is a seven-day period that begins on a Sunday, ends on a Saturday, 
and includes May 15, which is ``Peace Officers Memorial Day.''
  As a former sheriff, the National Peace Officers' Memorial Day 
Service has special meaning. Unfortunately, I know what it is like to 
have a colleague killed in the line of duty. During my time as sheriff 
I lost a deputy, Sonny Litch, who was killed on October 22, 1981 while 
transporting a prisoner. His name is among the more than 14,000 names 
engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial here in 
Washington, D.C.
  On May 15 a grateful nation will pay tribute to their sacrifice. I 
believe that the U.S. Capitol is an appropriate and fitting place to 
honor their memory and their noble service. It is important that we as 
a nation make a special effort to show the surviving family members of 
these heroes that the nation cares about the sacrifice these officers 
have made.
  The service is an opportunity for law enforcement officers to develop 
close bonds with fellow officers from across the nation. The service 
also allows the survivors of officers killed in the line of duty to 
gain strength and comfort from others who have experienced and 
understand their grief. Everyone leaves that service knowing that law 
enforcement's service and sacrifice is deeply appreciated by a caring 
nation.
  Once again, I strongly support the resolution and urge its adoption.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, President Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as 
National Peace Officers' Memorial Day, and this year the memorial 
service will be held on the Capitol Grounds on Saturday, May 15th.
  There are approximately 700,000 sworn law enforcement officers 
serving the American public today.
  During 1997, 160 peace officers were killed in the line of duty.
  In addition, approximately 65,000 officers are assaulted each year, 
with 23,000 sustaining serious injury. In July 1998, we experienced our 
officers' sacrifices first-hand when Capitol Police officers Jacob 
Joseph Chestnut and John Michael Gibson gave their lives in defense of 
the U.S. Capitol.
  It is most fitting and proper to honor the lives, sacrifices, and 
public service of our brave peace officers.
  I urge support and passage of H. Con. Res. 44.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Goodlatte). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House 
Concurrent Resolution 44, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof)

[[Page H1499]]

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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