[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 61 (Monday, April 28, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H3217-H3218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EXTENSION OF NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MUSEUM ACT TERMINATION DATE

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4120) to amend the National Law Enforcement Museum 
Act to extend the termination date.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4120

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MUSEUM ACT TERMINATION 
                   DATE EXTENDED.

       Section 4(f) of the National Law Enforcement Museum Act 
     (Public Law 106-492) is amended by striking ``13 years'' and 
     inserting ``16 years''.

     SEC. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       The provisions of this Act shall take effect as if this Act 
     were enacted on November 8, 2013.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska.


                             General Leave

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Alaska?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4120 provides a 3-year extension to allow the 
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund to begin construction 
of the National Law Enforcement Museum.
  This fund has expended almost $30 million in private funds to 
complete the design, obtain approvals, and move all of the utilities on 
the site in preparation for construction.
  However, the authority to begin construction has expired, and this 
extension will provide the time necessary to secure adequate private 
funds to complete construction of the National Law Enforcement Museum.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for his 
advocacy on this issue. It is critical that we recognize the sacrifice 
of law enforcement officers on an ongoing day-to-day basis here in the 
United States of America, those who have sacrificed and given their 
lives in the past and those who will continue to serve selflessly into 
the future.
  In 1984, Congress authorized the Memorial Fund for the National Law 
Enforcement Officers Memorial. Nine years later, Congress passed the 
National Law Enforcement Museum Act to establish a National Law 
Enforcement Museum adjacent to the existing memorial in Judiciary 
Square.
  Raising money, even for the most meritorious of causes, in developing 
a design acceptable to all of the affected parties, is laborious and 
time consuming. Tremendous effort has been expended on this. They are 
making great progress, but they need a little bit more time.
  This legislation brought to us by the gentleman from Maryland would 
extend the deadline by 3 years, which most parties feel will be 
adequate to see the museum to completion.
  With that, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend, the gentleman from 
Alaska (Mr. Young), and my friend, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. 
DeFazio), for bringing this legislation to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, I have cosponsored this legislation with my dear friend 
Frank Wolf, with whom I have served for 33 years. He will be leaving. 
His father was a policeman in Philadelphia, so he has a strong 
attachment to this bill as well.
  Our bipartisan bill would enable the construction, as has been said, 
of the National Law Enforcement Museum to move forward.
  In 2000, Congress passed the National Law Enforcement Museum Act to 
authorize the development of plans for

[[Page H3218]]

and the construction of a museum to honor the nearly 20,000 local, 
State, and Federal law enforcement officers who have fallen in the line 
of duty since 1791.
  All of them, Mr. Speaker, put their lives in danger to serve their 
communities and their country, leaving us with an enduring example of 
service and sacrifice. They are a part of our domestic defense corps.
  While we honor their memory each year at the National Law Enforcement 
Memorial in May and on the west front as well, Congress agreed that a 
museum would be a fitting way to tell their stories year-round, 
especially to the many school children who are expected to visit us 
every year and who will visit this museum as well.
  We extended the original authorization, as has been said, in 2010, 
and now, after years of work to obtain permits, receive design 
approvals, and secure outside funding, the National Law Enforcement 
Officers Museum Fund is ready to break ground. The funds, of course, 
are private, but this is a public good and a public end.
  But first it is up to Congress, therefore, to reauthorize this 
project through 2016, so we can see this magnificent museum completed.
  In closing, let me congratulate Craig Floyd, who worked in the 
Congress, who has spearheaded this effort for a very long time. His 
leadership, his vision has made it possible for us to be on the cusp of 
realizing this museum's establishment.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to approve this 
legislation; and, again, I thank Mr. Young and Mr. DeFazio for bringing 
it to the floor.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I would like to compliment Mr. 
Hoyer for his work and Mr. Wolf. They testified before the committee. I 
asked the question about the extension as far as the length of time. 
They have assured me that it will be completed. I hope it will be 
completed. This is a memorial that should be open for the general 
public. Our police officers are sometimes overlooked.
  I urge the passage of this legislation as quickly as possible, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 4120.
  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. YOUNG of Alaska. 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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