[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 10, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H3123-H3124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  AUTHORIZING USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPECIAL 
                   OLYMPICS LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN

  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 39) authorizing the 
use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special 
Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 39

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

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR DC 
                   SPECIAL OLYMPICS LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN.

       On June 5, 2009, 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, the 2009 
     District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch 
     Run (in this resolution referred to as the ``event'') may be 
     run through the Capitol Grounds as part of the journey of the 
     Special Olympics torch to the District of Columbia Special 
     Olympics summer games.

     SEC. 2. RESPONSIBILITY OF CAPITOL POLICE BOARD.

       The Capitol Police Board shall take such actions as may be 
     necessary to carry out the event.

     SEC. 3. CONDITIONS RELATING TO PHYSICAL PREPARATIONS.

       The Architect of the Capitol may prescribe conditions for 
     physical preparations for the event.

     SEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTIONS.

       The Capitol Police Board shall provide for enforcement of 
     the restrictions contained in section 5104(c) of title 40, 
     United States Code, concerning sales, advertisements, 
     displays, and solicitations on the Capitol Grounds, as well 
     as other restrictions applicable to the Capitol Grounds, in 
     connection with the event.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Ms. Edwards) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-
Balart) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Maryland.


                             General Leave

  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on House 
Concurrent Resolution 39.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  House Concurrent Resolution authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds 
for the District of Columbia's Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch 
Run. The Capitol Police, along with the D.C. Special Olympics, will 
participate in the torch run to be held on June 5, 2009.
  The Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics is run 
nationwide by law enforcement officers, leading up to each State or 
national Special Olympics summer games.
  Each year, nearly 50 local and Federal law enforcement agencies in 
Washington, D.C., participate to show their support of the D.C. Special 
Olympics. This torch relay event is a traditional part of the opening 
ceremonies for the Special Olympics.
  Since its inception, over 15,000 District of Columbia citizens with 
disabilities have participated in the Special Olympics. Funds raised 
from the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics helps 
support year-round training and programs for Special Olympics in the 
District of Columbia. This type of support led to seven Special 
Olympics athletes competing in the Penn relays in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, in 2008.
  The D.C. Special Olympics will work closely with the Capitol Police 
and the Architect of the Capitol to make sure that the event is in full 
compliance with the rules and regulations governing the use of the 
Capitol grounds. The event will be free and open to the public. I urge 
my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 39 authorizes the use of the 
Capitol grounds for the District of Columbia's Special Olympics Law 
Enforcement Torch Run to be held on June 5 of this year.
  The Special Olympics is an internationally recognized organization 
dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with 
disabilities through athletic competition and through athletic events 
in general.
  The Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest grassroots effort that 
raises funds and awareness for the Special Olympics program, Mr. 
Speaker. The event in D.C. is one of the many law enforcement torch 
runs throughout the country and across 35 Nations leading up to the 
summer Special Olympics.

                              {time}  1330

  The Torch Run is a special event during which members of law 
enforcement run the ``Flame of Hope'' to the site of the local Special 
Olympics games.
  Mr. Speaker, this event has become a regular occurrence on the 
Capitol Grounds. And this year's event will represent the 24th time it 
has occurred on these grounds. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this 
resolution along with the chairwoman of our Subcommittee on Economic 
Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
  I support this resolution and encourage my colleagues to do the same.
  If I may at this time, Mr. Speaker, if I might inquire of the 
gentlewoman from Maryland if she has any further speakers.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. I may have additional speakers, and I 
reserve the time.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the time.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, the D.C. Special Olympics is a

[[Page H3124]]

really premier event in this region that highlights the athletic 
accomplishments of children and adults with disabilities. I would like 
to recognize and give special thanks to the tenacity of Eunice Kennedy 
Shriver and her family for exceptional work on behalf of persons with 
disabilities.
  Mr. Speaker, as a young person I volunteered with the Special 
Olympics each year. And I recognize the talents, training and 
athleticism of young people from around the country and even from my 
congressional district. And each year law enforcement officers around 
the world participate in the local Torch Run events to raise money and 
awareness for the Special Olympics. In fact in 2008, the Law 
Enforcement Torch Run raised over $34 million for the Special Olympics. 
And here in the Washington, D.C. area, law enforcement officers who are 
part of the extensive volunteer network that support the games carry 
the ``Flame of Hope'' across the Capitol Grounds through the District 
of Columbia to Catholic University.
  It is an amazing event. The event is scheduled of course to occur on 
June 5, 2009. And it will be open to the public and is free of charge 
on the Capitol Grounds. The games are a wonderful expression of 
inclusiveness and confirmation of individual contribution.
  I enthusiastically support this resolution. And I thank the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for presenting 
the resolution to us and this very worthwhile endeavor of the Special 
Olympics.
  I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 
3 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake).
  Mr. FLAKE. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I certainly support 
this resolution. The Special Olympics is a wonderful program. Certainly 
using Capitol Grounds is appropriate. Americans all over the country 
and certainly here revere this Capitol, as well we all should.
  In a couple of minutes, we will be voting on a privileged resolution 
that I have offered. This is the third one. It is similar to the others 
that have been offered but it differs a little. It is a bit narrowed.
  Right now, Mr. Speaker, as much as we revere this institution, there 
is a cloud hanging over it. And that cloud is that there are 
investigations going on right now at the Department of Justice 
investigating the relationship between earmarks and campaign 
contributions. And as long as that is occurring without this body doing 
anything, there will be a cloud hanging over this institution.
  Now some may say as long as other bodies outside of Congress are 
investigating this issue, that Congress has no obligation to do so. I 
think that is wrong. We have an obligation to uphold the dignity and 
decorum of this body. And we haven't been doing it very well. And as 
long as these investigations are swirling around us and we fail to act, 
then this cloud remains.
  Some have mentioned that, in fact in one of the papers today, it 
referenced that this investigation is a Republican-led effort to 
embarrass the Democrats because the Democrats embarrassed Republicans 
beforehand. It is nothing of the sort. I did not consult with my party 
leadership before offering this resolution. I have not consulted with 
them during it. This is not a partisan resolution.
  This is a bipartisan problem. The problem is that the perception is 
that earmarks are influencing campaign contributions and that campaign 
contributions are influencing earmarks. And there is really no other 
way to look at the situation but to draw that conclusion. That is why 
we need to vote on this resolution and allow the Ethics Committee to 
look into it.
  Again this is not a partisan issue. This is a problem that afflicts 
both sides. I hope my colleagues see it that way. And we simply cannot 
allow this body to have the cloud hanging over it as it is right now.
  And so I would encourage my colleagues, when it comes time to vote 
for this resolution, I'm sorry, vote against the tabling of the 
resolution, which would allow the Ethics Committee to look into it.
  And I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. I have no further speakers at this time on 
this resolution.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, before I yield back, I 
want to thank the gentlewoman from Maryland for doing a great job in 
leading us through all the bills. She has done a wonderful job. I thank 
her for her leadership today.
  And with that, Mr. Speaker, I would yield back.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I also thank the gentleman from 
Florida for his patience today.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 39, authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds 
for the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch 
Run.
  The District of Columbia Special Olympics is the premier event in 
this region that highlights the athletic accomplishments of children 
and young adults with disabilities. I'd like to recognize and give 
special thanks to the tenacity to Eunice Kennedy Shriver and her family 
for exceptional work on behalf of persons with disabilities.
  Each year, law enforcement officers around the world participate in 
local Torch Run events to raise money and awareness for the Special 
Olympics. In 2008, the Law Enforcement Torch Runs raised over $34 
million for the Special Olympics.
  In the Washington D.C. area, law enforcement officers, who are part 
of the extensive volunteer network that support the games, carry the 
``Flame of Hope'' across the Capitol Grounds through the District of 
Columbia to Catholic University.
  This event, scheduled to occur on June 5, 2009, will be open to the 
public and free of charge. The sponsors will work with the Capitol 
Police Board to ensure that all rules and regulations pertaining to the 
use of the Capitol Grounds are followed.
  These games are a wonderful expression of inclusiveness and a 
confirmation of individual contribution. I enthusiastically support 
this resolution and the very worthwhile endeavor of the Special 
Olympics.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in agreeing to H. Con. Res. 39.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Edwards) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 39.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________