[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 49 (Monday, April 12, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H1819-H1821]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AUTHORIZING USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR BIKE RODEO TO BE CONDUCTED BY 
                   THE EARTH FORCE YOUTH BIKE SUMMIT

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution, (H. Con. Res. 49) authorizing the use of the 
Capitol Grounds for a bike rodeo to be conducted by the Earth Force 
Youth Bike Summit.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 49

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), 

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF BIKE RODEO ON CAPITOL GROUNDS.

       The Earth Force Youth Bike Summit (in this resolution 
     referred to as the ``sponsor'') shall be permitted to sponsor 
     a bike rodeo (in this resolution referred to as the 
     ``event'') on the Capitol Grounds on May 5, 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.

     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

[[Page H1820]]

     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 sponsor shall assume 
     full responsibility for all expenses and liabilities incident 
     to all activities associated with the event.

     SEC. 3. STRUCTURES AND EQUIPMENT.

       (a) Structures and Equipment.--Subject to the approval of 
     the Architect of the Capitol, the sponsor 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.

     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. LIMITATIONS ON REPRESENTATIONS.

       (a) In General.--No person may represent, either directly 
     or indirectly, that this resolution or any activity carried 
     out under this resolution in any way constitutes approval or 
     endorsement by the Federal Government of any person or any 
     product or service.
       (b) Enforcement.--The Architect of the Capitol and the 
     Capitol Police Board shall enter into an agreement with the 
     sponsor, and such other persons participating in the event 
     authorized by section 1 as the Architect of the Capitol and 
     the Capitol Police Board considers appropriate, under which 
     such persons shall agree to comply with the requirements of 
     subsection (a). The agreement shall specifically prohibit the 
     use of any photograph taken at the event for a commercial 
     purpose and shall provide for the imposition of financial 
     penalties if any violations of the agreement occur.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Coble) and the gentlewoman from the District of 
Columbia (Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble).
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 49 authorizes the use of the 
Capitol grounds for the ``Get Out Spoke'n'' to be held on May 5th, 
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 also authorizes the Architect of the Capitol, the 
Capitol Police Board, and 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 event is open to the public and free of charge, and the sponsor 
will assume responsibility for all expenses and liabilities related to 
the event.
  In addition, sales, advertisements, and solicitations are explicitly 
prohibited on the Capitol grounds for this event. The Capitol grounds, 
Mr. Speaker, will be used for the bicycle summit, which will teach 
children the proper ways to ride their bikes and honor children who 
have taken an active role in the national campaign to make America more 
bike-friendly.
  This event will help children to develop habits of active citizenship 
and environmental stewardship. I would also like to note that this 
resolution has received wide bipartisan support from the Congressional 
Bike Caucus. I support the resolution, and urge my colleagues to join 
in support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 49 authorizes the use of the 
Capitol grounds on May 5 for a public program to promote bicycle 
safety. The program is sponsored by Earth Force, a nonprofit 
organization for children. The goal of this youth program is to teach 
children the proper ways to ride bicycles and to encourage safe 
bicycling programs within our communities.
  In 1996, over 350,000 children ages 14 and under were treated for 
bike-related injuries. It is estimated that collisions with motor 
vehicles account for 90 percent of all bicycle-related injuries.
  Event participants will ride their bikes through a mock city set up 
on a pavement near the Capitol. During this exercise, they will receive 
safety tips and instructions on how to make bikes safer.
  Mr. Speaker, I support House Concurrent Resolution 49. I thank the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks) and the committee for supporting 
the resolution.
  I would also like to commend the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. 
Blumenauer), a member of the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and a founder and active member of the Bike Caucus, for 
his sponsorship and enthusiastic support for this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), a sponsor of the concurrent resolution.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding 
time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, we in Congress can do many things to enhance the 
livability of our communities, giving a wide range of opportunities, 
whether it is requiring the Post Office to play by the same rules as 
the rest of America by following local land use laws and zoning codes, 
and maybe even having meaningful public input, or having more rational 
water policies to help protect and renew our communities' waterways.
  But no matter where we are in America and how we define livability, 
there are several visual indicators that will tell us right away 
whether or not we are in a healthy neighborhood.
  If we are in a community that is free from vandalism, it is a sign of 
a healthy neighborhood. If there are areas that provide access to 
walkways and sidewalks that are away from the rush of traffic, it shows 
respect for the residents. We are in a healthy neighborhood.
  If we have opportunities to move away from the blight that has been a 
plague for many communities, and there is renewal of deteriorated 
property and housing well-being, it is a sign of a healthy community.
  I would think the most basic indicator, however, is whether or not 
our children are able to move safely through their neighborhood. One 
simple thing we can do today to promote that livability is to support 
this resolution and the event that it will enable. It will be the 
culmination of a nationwide cycling education project. It allows for a 
youth bike summit to take place here within the shadow of the Capitol 
dome. It will be the final event of a campaign that has been sponsored, 
as we have heard, by Earth Force, involving children from all over 
America who will be in our Nation's Capitol for this event.
  These children were asked to devise safe bicycling routes through 
their communities and share their proposals with their peers. Earth 
Force has worked with Safe Moves, another nonprofit agency, to design 
the mock city for the children to ride through, and it teaches children 
in the ages from the fifth grade through the ninth grade about safe 
biking techniques.
  As we have heard the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. 
Norton) say, 350,000 children 14 and under were treated in hospital 
emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries last year. These 
collisions with motor vehicles account for 90 percent of all bicycle-
related deaths, and 10 percent of all non-fatal related injuries.
  The nonpartisan Bicycle Caucus supports educating children early in 
life in safe biking techniques.

                              {time}  1515

  I welcome the support of my colleagues on this resolution and I look 
forward to working with other Members of Congress on strengthening the 
Federal partnership in making sure that our communities are made more 
livable and the promotion of safety for our children should be at the 
top of our list from every Member of Congress.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House 
Concurrent Resolution 49.

[[Page H1821]]

  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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