[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 79 (Tuesday, May 15, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H3954-H3955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1730
              NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MUSEUM EXHIBITS ACT

  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 1417) to amend the National Law Enforcement Museum Act 
to allow the Museum to acquire, receive, possess, collect, ship, 
transport, import, and display firearms, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1417

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``National Law Enforcement 
     Museum Exhibits Act''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MUSEUM TO 
                   ACQUIRE, RECEIVE, POSSESS, COLLECT, SHIP, 
                   TRANSPORT, IMPORT, AND DISPLAY FIREARMS.

       The National Law Enforcement Museum Act (Public Law 106-
     492) is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 5. AUTHORITY OF MUSEUM TO ACQUIRE, RECEIVE, POSSESS, 
                   COLLECT, SHIP, TRANSPORT, IMPORT, AND DISPLAY 
                   FIREARMS.

       ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     Federal law, or any law or any rule or regulations of a State 
     or any political subdivision thereof, the Museum may acquire, 
     receive, possess, collect, ship, transport, import, and 
     display firearms (as defined in section 921(a)(3) of title 
     18, United States Code, or section 5845(a) of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986) in fulfilling the purposes of the 
     Museum.
       ``(b) Definition of State.--In subsection (a), the term 
     `State' means the several States, the District of Columbia, 
     Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, the 
     Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, 
     and the possessions of the United States.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Bishop) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Utah?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume 
to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the dean of Congress, if he 
has been able to catch his breath, having cut this as close as is 
possible.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, this is sort of like ice breaking 
up: right on the pin of the point, you actually win. And I thank the 
gentleman for waiting for me.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1417 is a simple, straightforward bill that will 
treat the National Law Enforcement Museum as if it were a Federal 
museum for purposes of obtaining, transferring, and displaying certain 
classes of firearms.
  The National Law Enforcement Museum is scheduled to open this fall. 
It was authorized by an act of Congress and is being built on Federal 
property. The museum is dedicated to telling the story of American law 
enforcement by providing visitors a ``walk in the shoes'' experience. 
The museum is working to expand and enrich the relationship shared by 
law enforcement and the community through the museum's educational 
journeys, immersive exhibitions, and insightful programs.
  The National Law Enforcement Museum was created to provide visitors 
with an opportunity to ``walk in the shoes'' of law enforcement, giving 
them a behind-the-scenes look and allowing them to gain historical 
perspective on how law enforcement has helped shape our society and 
culture. Through fun, immersive, and educational exhibits such as Take 
the Case, 911 Emergency Ops, and the Training Simulator, visitors will 
gain a sense of what it takes to be a law enforcement professional.
  These interactive experiences will give visitors a firsthand look 
into almost every facet of law enforcement, while they learn about the 
day-to-day complexities of safeguarding our communities. Visitors will 
also be able to experience the personal side of law enforcement through 
real-life stories of the men and women behind the badge, told 
throughout the museum, and gain a greater appreciation for those who 
have in fact made the ultimate sacrifice to keep peace within our 
communities, especially in the great Hall of Remembrance: law 
enforcement officers.
  Mr. Speaker, may I say that a lot of times in the modern day media I 
hear the term ``cop,'' I hear that something is wrong. People respect 
our law enforcement officers and what they face every day, especially 
with the national media and the pressures they have with them 
constantly exposing them as the bad guys. I really believe if we didn't 
have them, we would really be in trouble.
  This is a simple bill that takes care of a problem, and I hope we can 
pass it unanimously.
  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 1417 will allow the National Law Enforcement Museum to display 
firearms associated with the history of law enforcement in the United 
States. This bill was developed in cooperation with the Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to ensure that the museum is authorized 
to display these items without jeopardizing public safety.
  The National Law Enforcement Enforcement Museum was authorized by 
Congress in 2000, and is scheduled to open in Washington, D.C., later 
this year.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring the brave 
men and women in uniform who keep us safe every day by supporting this 
bill, and I share Congressman Young's concern about making sure that we 
are honoring our fellow law enforcement officers.
  It was just this past year that we lost several law enforcement 
officers from central Florida, including in my district. On Sunday, I 
found myself going to the Law Enforcement Memorial to plant a rose next 
to the picture of one of our fallen officers, Lieutenant Clayton, whom 
we lost this past year. She was also a dear friend of Congresswoman 
Demings.
  In addition, we lost Sergeant Howard and Officer Baxter of the 
Kissimmee Police Department, who were killed in the line of duty this 
past year. We also honor them.
  These are opportunities for us to remember that these officers put 
their lives on the line every day to make sure that we are safe. 
Sergeant Howard, Officer Baxter, and Lieutenant Clayton faced dangers, 
and we need to memorialize them.
  We also lost Deputy Norman Lewis from Orange County, as well, who 
served under Sheriff Jerry Demings, husband of Congresswoman Demings.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I am pleased to stand and support this bill, and I urge my colleagues 
to adopt it.

[[Page H3955]]

  The National Law Enforcement Museum will showcase the great work that 
is done by those who are in the law enforcement profession, but it is 
also going to have interactive exhibits designed to give visitors a 
firsthand experience of the life of law enforcement officers.
  It seems strange that we have to do this by actual legislation, but 
this is an amendment to the National Law Enforcement Museum Act that 
simply will allow the museum to acquire, ship, import, and display 
firearms. If we don't do this, obviously, that doesn't take place, 
which detracts from the entire experience of the museum in the first 
place.
  I commend Mr. Young for introducing this piece of legislation. It 
seems like it is strange that we have to go to these lengths to do 
something so logical, but it is the right thing to do, and I appreciate 
his efforts to do that.

  Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, just to close, I would like to take a moment to remember 
Sergeant Howard, Officer Baxter, Lieutenant Clayton, and Deputy Lewis, 
who lost their lives this past year protecting our communities in 
Orlando and Kissimmee. I also appreciate Mr. Young from Alaska for 
putting forth this bill and the chairman for managing the bill today.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I urge the support of the bill, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 1417.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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