[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 134 (Tuesday, October 24, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H10573-H10574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MUSEUM ACT

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 1438) to establish the National Law Enforcement Museum 
on Federal land in the District of Columbia.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1438

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``National Law Enforcement 
     Museum Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDING.

       Congress finds that there should be established a National 
     Law Enforcement Museum to honor and commemorate the service 
     and sacrifice of law enforcement officers in the United 
     States.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Memorial fund.--The term ``Memorial Fund'' means the 
     National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc.
       (2) Museum.--The term ``Museum'' means the National Law 
     Enforcement Museum established under section 4(a).
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

     SEC. 4. NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MUSEUM.

       (a) Construction.--
       (1) In general.--The Memorial Fund may construct a National 
     Law Enforcement Museum on Federal land located on United 
     States Reservation #7, on the property bounded by--
       (A) the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial on the 
     north;
       (B) the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces 
     on the west;
       (C) Court Building C on the east; and
       (D) Old City Hall on the south.
       (2) Underground facility.--The Memorial Fund shall be 
     permitted to construct part of the Museum underground below E 
     Street, NW.
       (3) Consultation.--The Museum Fund shall consult with and 
     coordinate with the Joint Committee on Administration of the 
     District of Columbia courts in the planning, design, and 
     construction of the Museum.
       (b) Design and Plans.--
       (1) In general.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
     Memorial Fund shall be responsible for preparation of the 
     design and plans for the Museum.
       (2) Approval.--The design and plans for the Museum shall be 
     subject to the approval of--
       (A) the Secretary;
       (B) the Commission of Fine Arts; and
       (C) the National Capital Planning Commission.
       (3) Design requirements.--The Museum shall be designed so 
     that--
       (A) there is available for underground planned use by the 
     courts of the District of Columbia for renovation and 
     expansion of Old City Hall--
       (i) an area extending to a line that is at least 57 feet, 6 
     inches, north of the northernmost facade of Old City Hall and 
     parallel to that facade; plus
       (ii) an area extending beyond that line and comprising a 
     part of a circle with a radius of 40 feet measured from a 
     point that is 59 feet, 9 inches, from the center of that 
     facade;
       (B) the underground portion of the Museum has a footprint 
     of not less than 23,665 square feet;
       (C) above ground, there is a no-build zone of 90 feet out 
     from the northernmost face of the north portico of the 
     existing Old City Hall running east to west parallel to Old 
     City Hall;
       (D) the aboveground portion of the Museum consists of 2 
     entrance pavilions totaling a maximum of 10,000 square feet, 
     neither of which shall exceed 6,000 square feet and the 
     height of neither of which shall exceed 25 feet, as measured 
     from the curb of the westernmost pavilion; and
       (E) no portion of the aboveground portion of the Museum is 
     located within the 100-foot-wide area centered on the north-
     south axis of the Old City Hall.
       (4) Parking.--The courts of the District of Columbia and 
     the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces may 
     construct an underground parking structure in the southwest 
     quadrant of United States Reservation #7.
       (c) Operation and Use.--The Memorial Fund shall own, 
     operate, and maintain the Museum after completion of 
     construction.
       (d) Federal Share.--The United States shall pay no expense 
     incurred in the establishment or construction of the Museum.
       (e) Funding Verification.--The Secretary shall not permit 
     construction of the Museum to begin unless the Secretary 
     determines that sufficient amounts are available to complete 
     construction of the Museum in accordance with the design and 
     plans approved under subsection (b).
       (f) Failure To Construct.--If the Memorial Fund fails to 
     begin construction of the Museum by the date that is 10 years 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the authority to 
     construct the Museum shall terminate on that date.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank my esteemed 
colleague from Colorado, Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, for his hard 
work on this important piece of legislation. Recognition should also go 
to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) for his efforts on a 
companion House bill. Both of these men are to be congratulated for 
constructing a commendable piece of legislation which honors our law 
enforcement officers.
  Specifically, S. 1438 would establish a National Law Enforcement 
Museum adjacent to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in 
the District of Columbia. This museum would be the most comprehensive 
law enforcement museum and research facility in the world. The museum 
assists the public's understanding of the law enforcement profession, 
as well as increases public awareness and appreciation for the great 
personal risks law enforcement officers encounter on the job. All funds 
to construct the museum would come from private donations and would be 
the responsibility of the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, 
Incorporated.
  This is a good piece of legislation that will help honor our Nation's 
deserving law enforcement officers.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 1438.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1438. Our Nation's law 
enforcement officers are truly deserving of a memorial. The National 
Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is a powerful and poignant reminder 
of the importance of the service provided by the men and women who 
serve in law enforcement and the risks that such a career can entail.
  This legislation would authorize a private entity to construct and 
operate a museum adjacent to the existing memorial.
  The site for this museum is currently controlled by the District of 
Columbia and is bounded on all sides by other Federal buildings. As a 
result, construction of this facility will be complicated, and we have 
all been concerned that the language in this legislation fails to deal 
with these complications adequately. However, we do support this museum 
in concept, and it appears this legislation is the best product we can 
achieve at this time.
  Mr. Speaker, we look forward to working with our colleagues to make 
this museum a reality and urge adoption of S. 1438.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of the companion 
House legislation, I rise in support of S. 1438, to authorize the 
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund to establish the 
National Law Enforcement Museum on Federal land in Washington, D.C.
  This bill would build on the foundation laid by Public Law 98-534, 
which authorized the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. That 
memorial was dedicated in 1991. The memorial was built on Federal 
property in the District of Columbia by the National Law Enforcement 
Officers Memorial Fund (Memorial Fund), a non-profit organization. The 
site is highlighted by the names of more than 15,000 Federal, State, 
and local law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
  The Memorial Fund desires to build a facility to serve as the most 
comprehensive law enforcement museum and research facility anywhere in 
the world, and which would be the premiere source of information on 
issues related to law enforcement history and safety. The museum is 
intended to complement the existing National Law Enforcement Officers 
Memorial, and is proposed to be located directly across the street.
  Just as the existing memorial reminds us all of the bravery and 
dedication of our nation's law-enforcement officers, the museum would 
help to improve public understanding and support for the law 
enforcement profession. In addition, its research component would serve 
as a tool for policy makers and law enforcement

[[Page H10574]]

trainers in their efforts to make the profession safer and more 
effective.
  S. 1438 authorizes the Memorial Fund to construct the Museum on 
Federal property that was transferred to the District of Columbia in 
1970 for municipal purposes. The property is located on E Street 
between 4th and 5th Streets, NW, and is currently used as a parking lot 
for the District of Columbia Courts. All funds used in the construction 
of the Museum will come from private donations.
  S. 1438 was introduced by Colorado's senior Senator, Senator 
Campbell, and the House companion bill was introduced by Representative 
Hefley. The Resources Committee has approved the House bill. I urge the 
House to send the Senate bill to the President for signing into law.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate bill, S. 1438.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground 
that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum 
is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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