[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 21, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H2333-H2335]
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. 25) authorizing the use of the
Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service and
the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:
H. Con. Res. 25
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 shall be permitted to sponsor a
public event, the 34th Annual National Peace Officers
Memorial Service (in this resolution referred to as the
``Memorial Service''), on the Capitol Grounds, in order to
honor the law enforcement officers who died in the line of
duty during 2014.
(b) Date of Memorial Service.--The Memorial Service shall
be held on May 15, 2015, 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, with
preparation for the event to begin on May 12, 2015.
SEC. 2. USE OF THE CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR NATIONAL HONOR GUARD
AND PIPE BAND EXHIBITION.
(a) In General.--The Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of
Police and its auxiliary shall be permitted to sponsor a
public event, the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band
Exhibition (in this resolution referred to as the
``Exhibition''), on the Capitol Grounds, in order to allow
law enforcement representatives to exhibit their ability to
demonstrate Honor Guard programs and provide for a bag pipe
exhibition.
(b) Date of Exhibition.--The exhibition shall be held on
May 14, 2015, or on such
[[Page H2334]]
other date as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate
jointly designate.
SEC. 3. 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 sponsors of the Memorial
Service and Exhibition shall assume full responsibility for
all expenses and liabilities incident to all activities
associated with the events.
SEC. 4. EVENT PREPARATIONS.
Subject to the approval of the Architect of the Capitol,
the sponsors referred to in section 3(b) are authorized to
erect upon the Capitol Grounds such stage, sound
amplification devices, and other related structures and
equipment, as may be required for the Memorial Service and
Exhibition.
SEC. 5. 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 events.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms.
Edwards) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
{time} 1630
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 materials on H. Con. Res. 25.
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. 25 authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the
annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service and a National Honor
Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition. I am pleased to be the sponsor of this
resolution, along with the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Carson).
These events are held each year as part of Police Week, to honor the
men and women who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. This
year, over 125 Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers will
be honored for their ultimate sacrifice: giving their lives in the line
of duty. Four of these officers are from Pennsylvania, including one
from near my district, Corporal Bryon Dickson II of the Pennsylvania
State Police.
Corporal Dickson was killed in September of 2014 after he and Trooper
Alex Douglass were shot during an ambush targeting police officers
outside the Blooming Grove barracks in northeastern Pennsylvania. The
suspect, Eric Frein, cowardly hid in the woods while local, State, and
Federal law enforcement searched for him. He was finally captured after
a 7-week manhunt.
Corporal Dickson was a United States Marine Corps veteran and served
with the Pennsylvania State Police for 7 years. He left behind a wife
and two young sons.
Three other Pennsylvania officers will also be honored, including
Officer Richard Champion of the Perryopolis Borough Police Department,
who was killed during a vehicle pursuit in December; Trooper David
Kedra of the Pennsylvania State Police, who was accidentally shot
during a training exercise; and Sergeant Sheryl Pierce of the South
Londonderry Township Police Department, who died from a deadly illness
contracted while carrying out her duties.
The sacrifices of these officers and the sacrifices of those like
them should not be forgotten. These tragic episodes should serve to
remind all citizens of the dangerous jobs our men and women of law
enforcement courageously volunteer for. They put their lives on the
line to protect us daily, and for that we should always remain
grateful.
I support passage of this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Ms. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 25 authorizes the use of the Capitol
Grounds for the annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service on May
15 and a National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition. Both events
will be coordinated with the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol
Police.
The National Peace Officers Memorial will honor law enforcement
officers who were killed in the line of duty in 2014. According to
preliminary estimates, over 125 law enforcement officers were killed in
the line of duty just this last year, a 24 percent increase over the
102 officers killed in 2013.
Firearms-related incidents were the leading cause of death among law
enforcement officers in 2014, with 50 officers slain by firearms. The
second leading cause of death among law enforcement officers was
traffic-related fatalities, with 49 officers killed in that manner.
In the State of Maryland, there was one law enforcement officer
killed in the line of duty in 2014, Officer Jamel Claggett from the
Charles County Sheriff's Office.
Mr. Speaker, I know that we are honoring and recognizing peace
officers who were killed in the line of duty in 2014, but I would like
to make a personal note that in the State of Maryland alone, just since
the beginning of this year, three officers were killed and one police
dog was also killed in the line of duty:
Just a couple of weeks ago, Federal Protective Service Officer
Lawrence Buckner was killed outside of the Census Bureau on April 9;
just a few weeks before that, Prince George's County Police Officer
Brennan Rabain was killed in an automobile accident on March 7; just
prior to that, in January, a police officer from Baltimore, Craig
Chandler, was also killed in a vehicle accident; a canine, Bella, from
the Maryland Division of Correction in Maryland was killed in a fire
incident also just a few weeks ago.
It is a stark reminder of the jeopardy that officers place themselves
in and a reminder of what they do every single day to protect each and
every one of us. I have such a deep admiration and appreciation for the
fallen officers who will be honored on May 15 and the ultimate
sacrifices they have made on behalf of all of our local communities. I
urge Members to join me in supporting this tribute to our law
enforcement officers across the country who died in the line of duty in
2014.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con.
Res. 25, which authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds for the
National Peace Officers Memorial Service and the National Honor Guard
and Pipe Band Exhibition.
It is altogether fitting and proper that we do this.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is the nation's
monument to law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
Dedicated on October 15, 1991, the Memorial honors federal, state and
local law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for
the safety and protection of our nation and its people.
Carved on its walls are the names of 20,538 officers who have been
killed in the line of duty throughout U.S. history, dating back to the
first known death in 1791.
Added to the Wall this year will be the names of the 117 police
officers killed in the line of duty in 2014.
Mr. Speaker, enshrined on the Memorial Wall of Honor also are the
names of 1,695 fallen peace officers from the state of Texas, the most
of any state, including 114 members of the Houston Police Department
who gave their lives to keep their city safe.
I ask unanimous consent to include a list of these fallen heroes from
Houston, Texas.
Mr. Speaker, today there are more than 900,000 law enforcement
personnel serving the people of our country, the highest amount ever.
About 12 percent of them are female.
These brave men and women risk their lives to keep the peace and keep
us safe but they are too often taken by the violence they are working
to prevent.
Every year, a law enforcement officer is killed somewhere in the
United States every 60 hours, and there are also 58,930 assaults
against our law officers each year, resulting in 15,404 injuries.
Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Law Enforcement Caucus I am proud to
represent the people of the 18th Congressional District of Texas in
paying tribute to the 117 fallen heroes who will be joining the 20,538
gallant
[[Page H2335]]
men and women who gave the last full measure of devotion to the
communities they took an oath to protect and serve.
Mr. Speaker, I ask for a moment of silence in memory of the officers
whose names will be added to the National Peace Officers Memorial Wall
of Honor.
Houston Law Enforcement Officers Memorialized on the Wall of Honor
1. Timothy Scott Abernethy, End of Watch: December 7, 2008,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
2. Charles H Baker, End of Watch: August 16, 1979, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
3. Johnny Terrell Bamsch, End of Watch: January 30, 1975,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
4. Claude R Beck, End of Watch: December 10, 1971, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
5. Jack B Beets, End of Watch: March 30, 1955, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
6. Troy A Blando, End of Watch: May 19, 1999, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
7. James Charles Boswell, End of Watch: December 9, 1989,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
8. C E Branon, End of Watch: March 20, 1959, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
9. John M Cain, End of Watch: August 3, 1911, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
10. Richard H Calhoun, End of Watch: October 10, 1975,
Houston Texas Police Department
11. Dionicio M Camacho, End of Watch: October 23, 2009,
Harris County, Texas, S.O.
12. Henry Canales, End of Watch: June 23, 2009, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
13. Frank Manuel Cantu Jr, End of Watch: March 25, 2004,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
14. E C Chavez, End of Watch: September 17, 1925, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
15. Charles Roy Clark, End of Watch: April 3, 2003,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
16. Charles Robert Coates II, End of Watch: February 23,
1983, Houston, Texas, P.D.
17. Pete Corrales, End of Watch: January 25, 1925, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
18. Rufus E Daniels, End of Watch: August 23, 1917,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
19. Johnnie Davidson, End of Watch: February 19, 1921,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
20. Worth Davis, End of Watch: June 17, 1928, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
21. Keith Alan Dees, End of Watch: March 7, 2002, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
22. Reuben Becerra Deleon Jr, End of Watch: October 26,
2005, Houston, Texas, P.D.
23. William Edwin Deleon, End of Watch: March 29, 1982,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
24. Floyd T Deloach Jr, End of Watch: June 30, 1965,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
25. George D Edwards, End of Watch: June 30, 1939, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
26. Dawn Suzanne Erickson, End of Watch: December 24, 1995,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
27. J C Etheridge, End of Watch: August 23, 1924, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
28. James E Fenn, End of Watch: March 14, 1891, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
29. E D Fitzgerald, End of Watch: September 30, 1930,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
30. C Edward Foley, End of Watch: March 10, 1860, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
31. Joseph Robert Free, End of Watch: October 18, 1912,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
32. Guy P Gaddis, End of Watch: January 31, 1994, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
33. James T Gambill, End of Watch: December 1, 1936,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
34. Florentino M Garcia Jr, End of Watch: November 10,
1989, Houston, Texas, P.D.
35. Ben Eddie Gerhart, End of Watch: June 26, 1968,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
36. G Q Gonzalez, End of Watch: February 28, 1960, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
37. Charles R Gougenheim, End of Watch: April 30, 1955,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
38. Carl Greene, End of Watch: March 14, 1928, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
39. Leon Griggs, End of Watch: January 31, 1970, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
40. Maria Michelle Groves, End of Watch: April 10, 1987,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
41. Gary Allen Gryder, End of Watch: June 29, 2008,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
42. Antonio Guzman JF, End of Watch: January 9, 1973,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
43. Howard B Hammond, End of Watch: August 18, 1946,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
44. James Donald Harris, End of Watch: July 13, 1982,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
45. David Michael Healy, End of Watch: November 12, 1994,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
46. Timothy A Hearn, End of Watch: June 8, 1978, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
47. Oscar Hope, End of Watch: June 22, 1929, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
48. Elston M Howard, End of Watch: July 20, 1988, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
49. David Huerta, End of Watch: September 19, 1973,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
50. James Bruce Irby, End of Watch: June 27, 1990, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
51. Bobby L James, End of Watch: June 26, 1968, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
52. John C James, End of Watch: December 12, 1901, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
53. Rodney Joseph Johnson, End of Watch: September 21,
2006, Houston, Texas, P.D.
54. Ed Jones, End of Watch: September 13, 1929, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
55. P P Jones, End of Watch: January 30, 1927, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
56. Frank L Kellogg, End of Watch: November 30, 1955,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
57. S A Buster Kent, End of Watch: January 12, 1954,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
58. James F Kilty, End of Watch: April 8, 1976, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
59. Kent Dean Kincaid, End of Watch: May 23, 1998, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
60. Louis R Kuba, End of Watch: May 17, 1967, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
61. J D Landry, End of Watch: December 3, 1930, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
62. Robert Wayne Lee, End of Watch: January 31, 1971,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
63. Fred Maddox Jr, End of Watch: February 24, 1954,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
64. Eydelmen Mani, End of Watch: May 19, 2010, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
65. A P Marshall, End of Watch: November 8 1937, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
66. Charles R Mcdaniel, End of Watch: August 4, 1963,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
67. E G Meinke, End of Watch: August 23, 1917, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
68. Harry Mereness, End of Watch: October 18, 1933,
Houston, Texas, P.D.
69. Noel R Miller, End of Watch: June 6, 1958, Houston,
Texas, P.D.
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. 25.
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. BARLETTA. 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.
____________________