[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 8, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H1943-H1944]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AUTHORIZING USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR 20TH ANNUAL NATIONAL PEACE
OFFICERS' MEMORIAL SERVICE
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 74) authorizing the use of the
Capitol Grounds for the 20th annual National Peace Officers' Memorial
Service.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 74
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 20th annual
National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, on the Capitol
Grounds on May 15, 2001, 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 law enforcement officers who died in the
line of duty during 2000.
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.
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,
advertisements, 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
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Carson) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 74 authorizes the use of the
Capitol Grounds for the 20th Annual Peace Officers' Memorial service on
May 15, 2001, or on such date as the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the Senate Committee on Rules and the Committee on
Administration jointly designate. The resolution authorizes the
Architect of the Capitol, the Capitol Police Board, and the National
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 Hill Police will be the hosting law
enforcement agency. The event will be free of charge and open to the
public.
This service will honor the many Federal, State and local law
enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2000. This is a
fitting tribute to the men and women who have given their lives in the
performance of their duties.
Mr. Speaker, I support the measure and urge my colleagues to do the
same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CARSON of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 74 authorizes use of the Capitol Grounds
for the 20th Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, a most
solemn and respectful service that honors our fallen police officers,
brave men and
[[Page H1944]]
women who gave their lives in the daily work of protecting our families
and us, at home and in our workplaces.
On average, one officer is killed in this country every other day.
Approximately 23,000 are injured every year, and thousands are
assaulted going about their daily routines.
During last year, 150 very devoted, brave officers from the ranks of
State, local and Federal service were killed in the line of duty. One
hundred forty-four men and six women were killed. The average age of
those killed in the line of duty was 39 years, and they had an average
of 10 years in service.
In my home State of Oklahoma, four brave police officers died in the
line of duty in 2000. At this time I would like to read their names
into the Record:
Deputy Charles Floyd Trivitt, Hughes County Sheriff's Department,
died February 21, 2000;
Correctional Officer Joe Allen Gamble, Oklahoma Department of
Corrections, Granite Reformatory, died June 6, 2000;
Trooper Matthew Scott Evans, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and Officer
Jeffrey Dean Rominger, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, died August 31, 2000.
Mr. Speaker, the service to be held on May 15 is the 20th anniversary
of this memorial service. It represents a national opportunity to honor
the contributions and sacrifices of all police officers.
Mr. Speaker, I support the resolution and urge my colleagues to join
me in supporting this great tribute to our fallen peace officers.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time
just to make the following observation.
Mr. Speaker, in conjunction with this event that occurs on the
Capitol Grounds, the police agencies from all over the country will
also gather and have a parade beginning on New Jersey Avenue and going
to the Police Memorial which is directly across from the National
Building Museum.
Mr. Speaker, I would say to my colleagues, if they have not been to
that parade, they should go. It is a sight to see. There are bagpipers
from all across the country.
Mr. Speaker, the United States Congress authorized the minting of a
coin which was sold nationwide, and the proceeds of that coin were used
to keep up the National Police Memorial in Washington, D.C.; and there
is nothing that will ever compare with the strains of Amazing Grace
from so many bagpipes in honor of the men and women who have perished
creating the thin blue line.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 74 authorizes use of the
Capitol Grounds for the 20th annual National Peace Officers Memorial
Service--a most solemn and respectful service. I strongly support this
resolution that honors police officers--brave men and women, who gave
their lives in the daily work of protecting our families and us.
On average, one officer is killed in this country every other day,
approximately 23,000 are injured every year, and thousands are
assaulted going about their daily routines.
During last year 150 very devoted, brave officers from the ranks of
state, local and federal service were killed in the line of duty--144
men, and 6 women were killed. The average age of those killed was 39
years, and they had an average of 10 years in service.
In my state of Illinois three brave police officers died in the line
of duty during 2000--At this time I would like to read their names into
the record: Gregory M. Sears, Alane Stoffregen, and William Howard
Warren. Their names will be etched on the memorial wall, and will join
4 other officers from Illinois already memorialized.
In addition to those three officers I would also like to read into
the record the names of two fallen officers from the St. Louis,
Missouri area who have family ties in Southern Illinois. Robert J.
Stanze II, St. Louis Police Department, and Richard Eric Weinhold, St.
Louis County are police officers who died in the line of duty in 2000.
Mr. Speaker, the service to be held on May 15 is the 20th anniversary
of this memorial service. I support the resolution and urge my
colleagues to join me in supporting this tribute to our fallen Peace
Officers.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in strong support
of H. Con. Res. 74, to authorize the use of the Capitol grounds for the
20th annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service on May 15, 2001.
This solemn and important ceremony honors the 150 brave law enforcement
officers who were killed in the line of duty nationwide during 2000.
Our law enforcement officials represent an integral part of our
society in which we have instilled public trust. As the vanguard of our
public safety, we sometimes take for granted the risks that these law
officers assume in the course of their duties. Regrettably, far too
often we are reminded of those risks. Since 1794, nearly 15,000 local,
state, and federal law enforcement officers have made the ultimate
sacrifice while in the line of duty.
The 20th annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service is the
culmination of a week of events prepared by the Fraternal Order of
Police commemorating National Police Week. By paying tribute to the
dedicated officers who were killed while exercising their duty we honor
their memory, their sacrifice, and the family and friends they have
left behind.
Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this worthy
Resolution and I invite my colleagues to join in supporting its
passage.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today there are many citizens of
this nation that go to great lengths to ensure the safety of our lives
as a priority of their own. Today, I rise in support of the 20th Annual
National Peace Officers' Memorial Service for the use of the Capitol
grounds. I encourage each of you to take note of these individuals who
are members of all ranks from municipal, county, state and federal law
enforcement agencies, dedicating every moment of their precius life for
the betterment of ours. Therefore, I stand to recognize these devoted
citizens and to encourage unanimous support for H. Con. Res. 74.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 74.
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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