[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 39 (Monday, March 18, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H1554-H1555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    AUTHORIZING USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR NATIONAL PEACE OFFICERS' 
                            MEMORIAL SERVICE

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 18) authorizing the use of the 
Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 18

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

     SECTION 1. USE OF THE CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR NATIONAL PEACE 
                   OFFICERS' MEMORIAL SERVICE.

       (a) In General.--The Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of 
     Police and its auxiliary (in this resolution referred to as 
     the ``sponsor'') shall be permitted to sponsor a public 
     event, the 32nd Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial 
     Service (in this resolution referred to as the ``event''), on 
     the Capitol Grounds, in order to honor the law enforcement 
     officers who died in the line of duty during 2012.
       (b) Date of Event.--The event shall be held on May 15, 
     2013, or on such other date as the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration 
     of the Senate jointly designate.

     SEC. 2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

       (a) In General.--Under conditions to be prescribed by the 
     Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board, the 
     event shall be--
       (1) free of admission charge and open to the public; and
       (2) arranged not to interfere with the needs of Congress.
       (b) Expenses and Liabilities.--The sponsor 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 sponsor is 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.

     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 gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. 
Nolan) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 18.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H. Con. Res. 18 would authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds for 
the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service on May 15, 2013. I am 
pleased to be the sponsor of this important resolution, along with the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).
  In 1962, May 15 was designated by President Kennedy as Peace 
Officers' Memorial Day and the week in which it falls as Police Week. 
The memorial service began in 1982 as a gathering in Senate Park of 
just 120 survivors and supporters of law enforcement. Today, National 
Police Week draws tens of thousands of law enforcement officers and 
their supporters from around the world who travel to the Nation's 
capital to participate in events that honor our fallen officers. The 
National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, which is sponsored by the 
Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, is one in a series of 
events which includes the candlelight vigil and seminars.
  Tragically, over 126 Federal, State, and local law enforcement 
officers were killed in the line of duty last year. These are brave men 
and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day.
  Among the fallen officers to be honored include five that served in 
my home State of Pennsylvania: Officer Bradley Michael Fox, who was 
from Plymouth Township Police Department, which is actually part of my 
district, Pennsylvania's Eleventh; Trooper First Class Blake Coble, 
Pennsylvania State Police; Patrolman Avery Freeman, Chester Police 
Department; Officer Brian J. Lorenzo, Philadelphia Police Department; 
and Officer Moses Walker, Jr., Philadelphia Police Department.
  These officers, along with more than 100 others who lost their lives 
in 2012, will be remembered at this service.

[[Page H1555]]

These officers made the ultimate sacrifice in serving our country and 
our communities.
  I urge my colleagues to support passage of this resolution. I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Congratulations, Congressman Barletta, for sponsoring this resolution 
enabling this important memorial service to go forward. You're to be 
commended for it, and I'm honored to be able to stand here on behalf of 
the minority and offer our support for the resolution.
  H. Con. Res. 18, as the gentleman just said, authorizes use of the 
Capitol Grounds for the 32nd Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial 
Service on May 15 on the west front of the U.S. Capitol. This is a 
solemn and respectful public event honoring local and Federal 
enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty in 
2012.
  One of those brave public servants was Cold Spring, Minnesota, Police 
Officer Thomas ``Tommy'' Decker, who was shot and killed while checking 
on the welfare of a citizen in an apartment in Cold Spring, Minnesota, 
on November 29, 2012. Officer Tom Decker was a 6-year veteran and a 
father of four. He was a 2002 graduate of Alexandria Technical College 
in Minnesota, where he received an associate in arts degree in law 
enforcement.

                              {time}  1710

  Officer Decker worked in the city of Isle, the city of Watkins, and 
the city of Kimball, all in Minnesota, before joining the Cold Spring 
Police Department full time in March of 2006.
  According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 
Officer Decker was one of 129 brave men and women killed in the line of 
duty last year. Of those, traffic-related incidents led to the deaths 
of 50 officers, while 49 died from firearm-related causes. In all, more 
than 19,000 law enforcement officers have given the ultimate sacrifice 
while on duty since the first law enforcement death was recorded in 
1791.
  The National Peace Officers' Memorial Service is a fitting tribute to 
the 900,000 current law enforcement officers--and all Federal, State, 
and local police officers--who do the often-dangerous and always 
necessary work of protecting our families, our homes, and our 
workplaces. We honor these officers and their families on Capitol 
Grounds for the sacrifices they have made to maintain the peace in 
communities all across America.
  Consistent with all Capitol Hill events, the memorial service will be 
free and open to the public. I strongly support this resolution and 
urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this tribute to our fallen 
law enforcement officers.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, in closing, law enforcement all over the 
country every day go to work to protect us, protect our neighborhoods, 
our communities, always knowing that they may not return home that 
night. I think this is very fitting that we honor the men and women who 
keep this country and our communities safe.
  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 Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 18.
  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. NOLAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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