[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 29 (Thursday, March 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE FALLEN HEROES FLAG ACT OF 2002, H.R. 3968

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                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 14, 2002

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I introduce H.R. 
3968, the Fallen Heroes Flag Act of 2002. This Act provides for a flag 
flown over our Capitol to the immediate family of our nation's brave 
firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians 
(EMT's), and to other relief workers whose lives are lost in the line 
of duty. This Act ensures that our future generations of public 
servants who may pay the ultimate price for their service to our 
communities and our nation are accorded the honor, the dignity and 
respect that they deserve.
  As we pass the six-month anniversary of the barbaric terrorist acts 
perpetrated against the people of our great nation, we are reminded, 
once again, of the heroic acts of bravery, devotion to duty and self-
sacrifice that our fire-fighters, law enforcement officers, emergency 
medical technicians and other relief workers rendered to us. Their 
great heroism was not just exhibited by those who following their 
rescue efforts, re-entered the crumbling buildings with the certain 
knowledge that they would pay the ultimate price; but for those who 
labored at Ground Zero, day after day, searching not only for 
survivors, but for their brave colleagues and our fellow citizens who 
perished on that day.
  All too often we take our firefighters, law enforcement officers, 
EMT's, and relief and rescue workers for granted. The events of 
September 11th provided us with a glimpse into their lives, hard work, 
excellence, devotion to public service and to our communities that our 
brave public servants give each and every day. We must never forget the 
great service that they provide to our nation!
  Mr. Speaker, as is customary with our fallen military heroes, this 
act will provide the immediate family member of our fallen public 
servants with the symbol of our great nation--our flag, as a tribute 
for the respect, admiration and appreciation that must be accorded to 
our brave firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical 
technicians and our relief and rescue workers who have made the 
ultimate sacrifice.
  Accordingly, I urge all of our colleagues to join as co-sponsors of 
the Fallen Heroes Flag Act of 2002, as our way of honoring the work and 
lives of our brave, devoted and dedicated fallen heroes.

                               H.R. 3968

       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 ``Fallen Heroes Flag Act of 
     2002''.

     SEC. 2. PROVIDING CAPITOL-FLOWN FLAGS FOR FAMILIES OF LAW 
                   ENFORCEMENT AND RESCUE WORKERS KILLED IN THE 
                   LINE OF DUTY.

       (a) In General.--At the request of the immediate family of 
     a fire fighter, law enforcement officer, emergency 
     technician, or other rescue worker who died in the line of 
     duty, the Representative of the family may provide the family 
     with a Capitol-flown flag, together with the certificate 
     described in subsection (c).
       (b) No Cost to Family.--A flag provided under this section 
     shall be provided at no cost to the family.
       (c) Certificate.--The certificate described in this 
     subsection is a certificate which is signed by the Speaker of 
     the House of Representatives and the Representative providing 
     the flag, and which contains an expression of sympathy from 
     the House of Representatives for the family involved, as 
     prepared and developed by the Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (d) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``Capitol-flown flag'' means a United States 
     flag flown over the United States Capitol in honor of the 
     deceased individual for whom such flag is requested; and
       (2) the term ``Representative'' includes a Delegate or 
     Resident Commissioner to the Congress.

     SEC. 3. REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Clerk shall issue 
     regulations for carrying out this Act, including regulations 
     to establish procedures (including any appropriate forms, 
     guidelines, and accompanying certificates) for requesting a 
     Capitol-flown flag.
       (b) Approval by Committee on House Administration.--The 
     regulations issued by the Clerk under subsection (a) shall 
     take effect upon approval by the Committee on House 
     Administration of the House of Representatives.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated from the applicable 
     accounts of the House of Representatives for fiscal year 2003 
     and each succeeding fiscal year such sums as may be necessary 
     to carry out this Act.

     SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act shall take effect October 1, 2002, except that no 
     flags may be provided under section 2 until the Committee on 
     House Administration of the House of Representatives approves 
     the regulations issued by the Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives under section 3.

     

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