[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 171 (Monday, December 31, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H7491-H7495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INVESTIGATIVE ASSISTANCE FOR VIOLENT CRIMES ACT OF 2012

  Mr. GOWDY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 2076) to amend title 28, United 
States Code, to clarify the statutory authority for the longstanding 
practice of the Department of Justice of providing investigatory 
assistance on request of State and local authorities with respect to 
certain serious violent crimes, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the Senate amendment is as follows:

       Senate amendment:
       In lieu of matter proposed to be inserted, insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Investigative Assistance for 
     Violent Crimes Act of 2012''.

     SEC. 2. INVESTIGATION OF CERTAIN VIOLENT ACTS, SHOOTINGS, AND 
                   MASS KILLINGS.

       (a) Attorney General.--Title 28, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in section 530C(b)(1)(L)(i), by striking ``$2,000,000'' 
     and inserting ``$3,000,000''; and
       (2) in section 530C(b)(1), by adding at the end the 
     following--
       ``(M)(i) At the request of an appropriate law enforcement 
     official of a State or political subdivision, the Attorney 
     General may assist in the

[[Page H7492]]

     investigation of violent acts and shootings occurring in a 
     place of public use and in the investigation of mass killings 
     and attempted mass killings. Any assistance provided under 
     this subparagraph shall be presumed to be within the scope of 
     Federal office or employment.
       ``(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph--
       ``(I) the term `mass killings' means 3 or more killings in 
     a single incident; and
       ``(II) the term `place of public use' has the meaning given 
     that term under section 2332f(e)(6) of title 18, United 
     States Code.''.
       (b) Secretary of Homeland Security.--Section 875 of the 
     Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 455) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(d) Investigation of Certain Violent Acts, Shootings, and 
     Mass Killings.--
       ``(1) In general.--At the request of an appropriate law 
     enforcement official of a State or political subdivision, the 
     Secretary, through deployment of the Secret Service or United 
     States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, may assist in the 
     investigation of violent acts and shootings occurring in a 
     place of public use, and in the investigation of mass 
     killings and attempted mass killings. Any assistance provided 
     by the Secretary under this subsection shall be presumed to 
     be within the scope of Federal office or employment.
       ``(2) Definitions.--For purposes of this subsection--
       ``(A) the term `mass killings' means 3 or more killings in 
     a single incident; and
       ``(B) the term `place of public use' has the meaning given 
     that term under section 2332f(e)(6) of title 18, United 
     States Code.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Gowdy) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GOWDY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous materials on the matter currently under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from South Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GOWDY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, violent crimes, especially mass killings, are often 
unpredictable and impulsive. The venues are random. The jurisdictions 
where these crimes take place include the smallest of towns, the least 
likely places for crimes of this magnitude and this depravity.
  When we were drafting this bill months ago, Madam Speaker, of course 
we had hoped against hope that it would not be needed--not so soon, at 
least. We hoped it would sit on the sidelines, available but unused. 
Sadly, this is not the culture we live in, Madam Speaker. We have 
recently witnessed another example of the depth to which the human 
condition can sink.
  In times like these, when State and local resources are stretched, 
Federal law enforcement is ready, willing, and able to assist. Indeed, 
they do assist, but they do so without statutory coverage. The manner 
and method of the assistance, Madam Speaker, is vast and varied. Most 
local police departments do not have criminal profilers. They may not 
have quick access to a world-class forensic lab, grand jury subpoenas, 
or the experience that comes from handling similar investigations in 
the past.
  Law enforcement, Madam Speaker, is a particularly close-knit 
community, with State, local, and Federal agents working together 
sharing resources and expertise, working under very difficult 
circumstances to prevent crimes or quickly investigate and apprehend 
afterwards those who commit such crimes.
  Madam Speaker, I have seen in my own prior career in South Carolina 
the willingness of Federal law enforcement to assist in kidnappings, 
murders, arson, and robberies.
  Tragically, our country has seen the need for Federal law enforcement 
to assist in places as disparate as movie theaters, college campuses, 
and even elementary schools.
  Federal law enforcement agencies and officers do not currently have 
specific statutory authority to assist in the investigations of mass 
killings, attempted mass killings, or other violent crimes that occur. 
Federal law enforcement officers frequently receive emergency requests 
for such assistance from State and local law enforcement agencies. And 
while this assistance is routinely provided, Madam Speaker, it is 
possible that Federal officers who provide such assistance could be 
found to be acting outside their scope of employment.
  To correct this problem, H.R. 2076 specifically allows certain 
Federal agents to provide State and local law enforcement with the 
assistance requested when the violent act does not otherwise appear to 
violate Federal law. These Federal agents come from agencies such as 
the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshal Service, Secret Service, and ICE. And 
while we hope and pray, Madam Speaker, and take affirmative steps to 
prevent such similar crimes in the future, this bill ensures that State 
and local police now can at least request the assistance of Federal law 
enforcement officers in similar situations, and do so fully covered by 
the law. This bill allows Federal law enforcement officers to provide 
an emergency response to critical situations where violent crimes have 
occurred or may remain in progress.
  This bill is not an expansion, Madam Speaker, of Federal authority 
and does not expand the jurisdiction of any Federal law enforcement 
agency in any manner whatsoever. Any law enforcement assistance must be 
requested by a State or local authority and agreed to by the Federal 
authorities.
  Last year, Madam Speaker, this bill passed the Judiciary Committee in 
the House with broad bipartisan support. Earlier this month, the Senate 
passed, by unanimous consent, this bill. This bill is supported by the 
FBI Agents Association and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers 
Association.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to concur in the Senate's 
amendment to this bill so that it may be sent to the President for his 
signature, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Senate amendment to H.R. 
2076. The House originally passed this bill in September of 2001 by an 
overwhelming vote.
  H.R. 2076 gives the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland 
Security the specific statutory authority to respond to requests from 
State and local law enforcement agencies for assistance in 
investigation of violent acts and shootings occurring in public places 
and in investigations of mass killings and attempted mass killings.

                              {time}  1130

  The House-passed version of the bill only applied to the FBI 
providing assistance. The Senate amended the bill to include all DOJ 
and Department of Homeland Security law enforcement agencies. 
Therefore, under the version of the bill before the House today, the 
Department of Justice's agencies, such as the FBI, DEA, Marshal Service 
and ATF, would be able to provide assistance, as would the Department 
of Homeland Security's law enforcement agencies, such as Secret Service 
and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, if requested by local and 
State law enforcement agencies.
  These Federal agencies do not currently have the specific statutory 
authority to assist in the investigations of mass killings or attempted 
mass killings occurring in venues such as schools, colleges, 
universities, non-Federal office buildings, malls and/or other public 
places.
  In particular, while the FBI continues to receive requests for such 
assistance from State and local law enforcement, and the FBI often does 
assist in such circumstances, there is presently technically no Federal 
statute that directly provides jurisdiction to the FBI to respond to 
such requests. Legislation granting the proposed investigative 
authority would allow these Federal agencies to provide State and local 
law enforcement with the assistance, if requested, even when the 
violent act does not technically violate a Federal law.
  Unfortunately, due to the tragic shooting and killing of 20 students 
and six teachers in Newtown, Connecticut, the consideration of this 
bill is timely. Of course, we should pass the bill today so that the 
President may sign it into law. But, Madam Speaker, while we must take 
steps to assist in the investigation of such incidents, it is even more 
critical that we prevent them from occurring in the first place. 
Proposals to do that include not only legislation involving gun safety, 
but also

[[Page H7493]]

legislation such as the Youth Promise Act, which would provide funding 
for comprehensive juvenile justice initiatives, or additional funding 
for the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant, or the Campus Safety Act, 
which are all pending, as well as increased funding for mental health 
services and school counselors.
  We simply must do all we can to protect our citizens, and these 
proposals must be enacted as soon as possible. But with respect to H.R. 
2076, the bill before us today, I want to commend the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Gowdy) for his leadership on this bill and urge my 
colleagues to support the Senate amendment to H.R. 2076.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOWDY. Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I just want to take this one 
final opportunity to thank Chairman Smith for his leadership, not just 
on this particular bill, but his leadership throughout the 2-year 
tenure he was chairman of the Judiciary.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to 
reclaim my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GOWDY. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time and the 
right to perhaps finish at the end.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Thank you. And I apologize, I was not aware 
that I had additional speakers.
  I yield such time as he may consume to the former chair of the 
Judiciary Committee, the ranking member, the gentleman from Michigan 
(Mr. Conyers).
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I am very quick to thank the former 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime, Bobby Scott of Virginia, and of 
course Mr. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina for his very great contribution 
to H.R. 2076, as amended, that the House originally passed in 2011 by a 
vote of 358-9.
  H.R. 2076 gives the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland 
Security the specific statutory authority to respond to requests from 
State and local law enforcement agencies for assistance in the 
investigation of violent acts and shootings occurring in public places, 
and in the investigation of mass killings and attempted mass killings. 
It's very appropriate, of course, under the recent circumstances that 
the leaders on both sides of the aisle have mentioned. So this bill, 
unfortunately, due to the tragic shooting in Newtown, the consideration 
of this bill is appropriately timely.
  Of course we should pass the bill today so that the President may 
sign it into law, but it is unfortunate that we're not also sending the 
President even more urgently needed legislation to protect us from gun 
violence. While we must take steps to assist in the investigation of 
such incidents, it is critical that we prevent them from occurring in 
the first place. We're simply not doing all we can do to protect our 
citizens, but we celebrate that we have come this far.
  So I urge my colleagues to support the Senate amendment to H.R. 2076.
  Mr. GOWDY. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. First of all, I want to thank Mr. Gowdy 
very much for the attentiveness to this legislation and shepherding it 
so that it has come from the Senate and accepting the Senate amendment.
  I am on Homeland Security, and I believe that the amendment that has 
been provided under this legislation originally, H.R. 2076, will expand 
your intent, and I believe that you believe it as well.
  I think it is very important to emphasize that we now have extra 
investigatory skills and techniques and a collaborative effort between 
Homeland Security personnel and those in the Department of Justice to 
be utilized by the Homeland Security Secretary, and as well the 
Attorney General, helping to investigate violent acts or shootings that 
occur in venues such as schools, colleges, universities, non-Federal 
office buildings, and other places of public use. This includes mass 
killings that are three or more killings in a single incident.
  We all recognize the tragedy of Newtown, but there are tragedies that 
have faced us over the last couple of years. The President indicated 
Newtown was the worst day of his administration, but compounded was the 
Aurora killings, the killings in the Sikh temple, and the acts of 
heinous murder that occurred in Houston, Texas, where a mother and her 
daughter were murdered on Christmas Eve. So there are times when the 
local authorities need immediate assistance.
  Or the time when we had a child predator. Although this legislation 
may not define violent acts as such, I can tell you that the community 
felt violated when a number of children were preyed upon. Through the 
kindness and the understanding of the local FBI office in Houston and 
my persistence and the difficulty of coordinating with local 
authorities because of the sort of uncomfortableness of the involvement 
of the Federal Government, we overcame that and they participated, and 
shortly thereafter the predator was captured. Children are impacted, 
and that is why this legislation is enormously important.
  I also want to take note of the fact that the gentleman from South 
Carolina is right that the FBI did not have statutory authority to 
assist in the investigation of mass killings or other violent crimes 
that are carried out in non-Federal public places such as schools and 
universities. We now have put forward this Federal law.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2076, the 
Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2011. This 
legislation is an appropriate and necessary measure to keep our 
citizens safe.
  Currently the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, does not have 
statutory authority to assist in the investigation of mass killings or 
other violent crimes that are carried out in non-federal public places, 
such as schools and universities. As of now, when the FBI is asked by 
state and local law enforcement to assist with related investigations, 
they frequently comply with the request, despite the possibility that 
in doing so, the responding officers may be found to be acting outside 
of their jurisdiction.
  The Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act grants specific 
authority to the FBI to respond when asked for help by state and local 
law enforcement, without expanding the jurisdiction of the FBI. The 
bill allows the FBI to assist in the investigation of a violent crime 
or mass killing only when asked to do so.
  The FBI has lent their resources to several high profile 
investigations in recent history. Last September, when an armed 
intruder entered the Discovery Communications Building in Rockville, 
Maryland, the FBI SWAT team assisted the Montgomery County Police 
Department, and FBI investigators processed the crime scene. In 2009, 
the American Civic Center in Binghamton, New York was the site of a 
mass killing when an armed subject killed 13 people. The FBI was asked 
to assist, and lent their Evidence Response Team, Victim Assistance 
program, and Behavioral Analysis unit. The FBI also assisted in the 
investigation to identify the student who opened fire at Virginia 
Technical Institute in 2007.
  The FBI lent invaluable assistance to state and local law enforcement 
to these and many other cases. However, as the law currently standards, 
there is no specific statutory authority allowing them to do so. The 
Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act specifically 
authorizes, by legal statute, that which the FBI is consistently asked 
and expected to do.
  This bill is an important measure aimed at increasing the safety and 
security of the American people. When faced with a mass killing or 
other violent crime, our state and local law enforcement officials 
should have access to every necessary resource in order to mitigate the 
situation, identify the perpetrators, and bring them to justice. In 
Houston, Texas, where I represent the 18th Congressional District, the 
FBI reports that 22,491 violent crimes in 2010. I know that my 
constituents would appreciate knowing that their local law enforcement 
officials have access to the resources of the FBI, should they need 
them.
  As a senior Member of both the Judiciary and Homeland Security 
committees, I have worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of the 
American people, and this legislation does just that. I am pleased at 
the bipartisan manner in which this bill is being considered, and urge 
my colleagues to support H.R. 2076, the Investigative Assistance for 
Violent Crimes Act.

                              {time}  1140

  I think that is enormously important. Again, I congratulate the 
passage of this legislation, and I am particularly sensitive to the 
utilization of the SWAT team.
  I will take a moment, just to deviate, to be able to thank the 
chairman of the

[[Page H7494]]

committee and the ranking member and the ranking member on the Crime 
Subcommittee for their commitment and interest in children. Today, we 
were going to further proceed with our commitment to children, and that 
is in the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant. But my fight will 
continue in the next term, and I want to thank you, Mr. Smith, for 
understanding that the practical aspect of what we were doing was to 
save children and to prevent a youngster like this from not having a 
juvenile system that they could in fact have access to. It plays into 
some of what Mr. Gowdy is speaking about, but it plays into an earlier 
stage, and that is to ensure that there are court systems, there are 
mental health systems, there are a number of other systems that our 
juveniles can have access to that are intervention; that in fact we can 
take note of the fact that juveniles are bullied, that there's 
cyberbullying. But I believe it's important to stand to fight for 
another day.
  So as we support the legislation of Mr. Gowdy, I want to be able to 
thank all of those who stood crying in a hearing in Houston, Texas, in 
the fall of 2010, fighting about whether or not this Federal Government 
would make a statement, a positive statement, about resources to help 
with bullying and the intervention of such, and to do it in a way that 
could be effectively utilized. I think we came up with that in H.R. 
6019, in all the compromise that we came about, and frankly sometimes 
the English language is not perfect and people cannot understand what 
we are trying to do.
  But to come back to this legislation, H.R. 2076 will be a good, 
fitting end for the Judiciary Committee, and in 2013 I look forward to 
working with my colleagues on the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant 
reauthorization so that critical issues such as youth violence, 
juvenile crime prevention, mental health screening and treatment, among 
others, that would help millions of children can be in place. If we can 
have a situation where we reauthorize what my original bill, H.R. 83, 
offered to do, I will be right there being enthusiastic. If we have to 
find a common place of compromise, I will be there as well, because 
that is what we are here to do, to work on behalf of the American 
people and the children that we represent.
  It is important to note that we are doing something good in the 
Judiciary Committee. I hope that we will have the opportunity to work 
together more closely in 2013 and be able to do the good work that many 
of us have advocated and work with a number of groups and families who 
have been victims without the right kind of resources, which we were 
trying to implement.
  With that, I want to submit into the Record a number of documents on 
my remarks that I have just made, and I ask my colleagues to support 
the legislation of Mr. Gowdy.
                                    Congress of the United States,
                                                   Washington, DC.
     Support H.R. 6019: The Juvenile Accountability Block Grant 
         Reauthorization Act 2012

       Dear Colleague: I invite you to join me in supporting 
     legislation that seeks to provide grants through the 
     Department of Justice to States for the creation and 
     operation of programs that address critical issues such as 
     youth violence, juvenile crime prevention, and mental health 
     screening and treatment, among others, which would help 
     millions of children throughout our nation. H.R. 6019 
     reauthorizes the Juvenile Accountability Block Grants, JABG, 
     and would allow a portion of those funds to also be used by 
     States for a number of intervention programs.
       H.R. 6019 authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to 
     States and local governments to strengthen their juvenile 
     justice systems and foster accountability within their 
     juvenile populations. As previously stated, JABG funds 
     support seventeen program purpose areas, allowing local 
     governments to utilize funding for a variety of activities 
     including hiring juvenile court judges, probation officers, 
     and court-appointed defenders. Moreover, local governments 
     will have access to funding for programs derived from 
     evidence-based models and best practices that address, among 
     other issues, those related to bullying and cyberbullying, 
     including prevention and intervention.
       I hope you will lend your support to this effort on behalf 
     of our nation's children to create and support programs 
     designed to address these critical issues and help create a 
     better juvenile justice system in America. Together, we can 
     do a great deal to ease and end the suffering of millions of 
     children nationwide.
       If you have any questions or need further information, 
     please contact Janice Bashford at 202.225.3816, or, 
     Janice.B[email protected].
           Very Truly Yours,
                                               Sheila Jackson Lee,
     Member of Congress.
                                  ____


                     Congress of the United States

                            Washington, DC.


        BRIEF HISTORY OF THE JUVENILE ACCOUNTABILITY BLOCK GRANT

       Originally created in 1997, Congress created the Juvenile 
     Accountability Incentive Block Grant (JABG) program and 
     appropriated new federal funds through the Office of Juvenile 
     Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).
       In 2002 and 2005, the program was reauthorized and the 
     program was eventually renamed the Juvenile Accountability 
     Block Grant (JABG) Program. Its most recent reauthorization 
     occurred in 2006, with $350 million a year for FYs 2006 
     through 2009.
       Now unauthorized, JABG still receives appropriations.
       FY 2001 ($250 million appropriated by Congress)
       FY 2002 ($250 million appropriated by Congress)
       FY 2003 ($190 million appropriated by Congress)
       FY 2004 ($60 million appropriated by Congress)
       FY 2005 ($55 million appropriated by Congress)
       FY 2006 ($50 million appropriated by Congress)
       FY 2007 ($49 million appropriated by Congress)
       FY 2008 ($52 million appropriated by Congress)
       FY 2009 ($55 million appropriated by Congress)
       FY 2010 ($55 million requested by President, $55 million 
     appropriated by Congress)
       FY 2011 ($40 million requested by President, $46 million 
     appropriated by Congress)
       FY 2012 ( ZERO requested by President, $30 million 
     appropriated by Congress)
       FY 2013 ($30 million requested by President)
       H.R. 6019 would authorize the appropriation of $40 million 
     annually over the 2013-2017. Assuming appropriation of the 
     authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 6019 
     would cost $121 million over the 2013-2017 period. PAYGO does 
     not apply.
                                  ____


                         VOTE YES ON H.R. 6019

  The Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization Act of 2012

                      Help Your Local Communities


                     17 JABG Program Purpose Areas

       1. Developing, implementing, and administering graduated 
     sanctions for juvenile offenders.
       2. Building, expanding, renovating, or operating temporary 
     or permanent juvenile correction, detention, or community 
     corrections facilities.
       3. Hiring juvenile court judges, probation officers, and 
     court-appointed defenders and special advocates, and funding 
     pretrial services (including mental health screening and 
     assessment) for juvenile offenders to promote the effective 
     and expeditious administration of the juvenile justice 
     system.
       4. Hiring additional prosecutors so that more cases 
     involving violent juvenile offenders can be prosecuted and 
     case backlogs reduced.
       5. Providing funding to enable prosecutors to address drug, 
     gang, and youth violence problems more effectively and for 
     technology, equipment, and training to help prosecutors 
     identify and expedite the prosecution of violent juvenile 
     offenders.
       6. Establishing and maintaining training programs for law 
     enforcement and other court personnel with respect to 
     preventing and controlling juvenile crime.
       7. Establishing juvenile gun courts for the prosecution and 
     adjudication of juvenile firearms offenders.
       8. Establishing drug court programs for juvenile offenders 
     that provide continuing judicial supervision over juvenile 
     offenders with substance abuse problems and integrate 
     administration of other sanctions and services for such 
     offenders.
       9. Establishing and maintaining a system of juvenile 
     records designed to promote public safety.
       10. Establishing and maintaining interagency information 
     sharing programs that enable the juvenile and criminal 
     justice systems, schools, and social services agencies to 
     make more informed decisions regarding the early 
     identification, control, supervision, and treatment of 
     juveniles who repeatedly commit serious delinquent or 
     criminal acts.
       11. Establishing and maintaining accountability-based 
     programs designed to reduce recidivism among juveniles who 
     are referred by law enforcement personnel or agencies.
       12. Establishing and maintaining programs to conduct risk 
     and needs assessments that facilitate effective early 
     intervention and the provision of comprehensive services, 
     including mental health screening and treatment and substance 
     abuse testing and treatment, to juvenile offenders.
       13. Establishing and maintaining accountability-based 
     programs that are designed to enhance school safety, which 
     programs may include research-based bullying, cyberbullying, 
     and gang prevention programs.
       14. Establishing and maintaining restorative justice 
     programs.

[[Page H7495]]

       15. Establishing and maintaining programs to enable 
     juvenile courts and juvenile probation officers to be more 
     effective and efficient in holding juvenile offenders 
     accountable and reducing recidivism.
       16. Hiring detention and corrections personnel, and 
     establishing and maintaining training programs for such 
     personnel, to improve facility practices and programming.
       17. Establishing, improving, and coordinating pre-release 
     and post-release systems and programs to facilitate the 
     successful re-entry of juvenile offenders from state and 
     local custody in the community.

  Mr. GOWDY. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I 
would just like to again compliment the gentleman from South Carolina 
for his leadership on this. A lot of communities will benefit. I thank 
him for that work.
  I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. GOWDY. Madam Speaker, in conclusion, and I'm sure on behalf of 
all my colleagues, I want to thank the women and men in law enforcement 
for their service, their sacrifice, their willingness to do jobs that 
either we cannot do or will not do.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) for his 
leadership over the last 2 years, and I want to thank the gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Scott) for his collegiality and friendship.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Gowdy) that the House suspend the 
rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 2076.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam 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 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________