[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 43 (Monday, March 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H1067-H1068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THE CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR THE NATIONAL PEACE
OFFICERS MEMORIAL SERVICE AND THE NATIONAL HONOR GUARD AND PIPE BAND
EXHIBITION
Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 83) 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. 83
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That
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 43d 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
2023.
(b) Date of Memorial Service.--The Memorial Service shall
be held on May 15, 2024, 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 10, 2024, and
takedown completed on May 16, 2024.
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 bagpipe
exhibition.
(b) Date of Exhibition.--The Exhibition shall be held on
May 14, 2024, 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. 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. Perry) and the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
General Leave
Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5
legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material in the Record on H. Con. Res. 83.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, H. Con. Res. 83, which I introduced, honors our
Nation's fallen law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty
last year with a memorial service here at the Capitol.
Every day our police officers show up to protect and serve, keeping
our families, businesses, and communities safe. Unfortunately, so many
of our police officers are demonized and disparaged for doing one of
the hardest, most important jobs in the country, and it is a job that
continues to grow more dangerous every day.
We all owe our gratitude to those police officers who continue to
serve despite these challenging times. This memorial service is only
one small way to thank and honor the men and women who made the
ultimate sacrifice.
Madam Speaker, I also thank the Economic Development, Public
Buildings and Emergency Management Ranking Member Dina Titus from
Nevada for working with me on this resolution.
Madam Speaker, I urge support of this resolution, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Ms. TITUS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, H. Con. Res. 83 authorizes the use of the Capitol
Grounds for the 43rd annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service
and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition.
As the ranking member, as you heard, of the Subcommittee on Economic
Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, it is an honor
to carry this resolution alongside subcommittee chair, Mr. Perry.
The memorial service will be held on May 15. It will be coordinated
with the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police, and it will
honor law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the
line of duty during 2023; that includes five from Nevada.
First, Correctional Officer Victor Hunter served with the Las Vegas
Metropolitan Police for 4 years.
During an altercation between two inmates, Officer Hunter rushed to
the scene to calm the situation. In the aftermath, he began to feel ill
and was sent home.
[[Page H1068]]
On his way home, he was involved in a car accident directly resulting
from complications of his illness, and he passed away on September 16,
2011.
Trooper Clifford Fontaine served in the Nevada Highway Patrol for 15
years after previously working as an airline mechanic and as an
advanced emergency medical technician. He is remembered for his
kindness, his compassion, and for being a peacemaker in all facets of
his life.
Trooper Fontaine passed away on November 27, 2021, from complications
as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Officer Anthony Francone retired from law enforcement, but he still
answered the call to serve with multiple agencies in Nevada, including
the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Police Department.
Nothing was more important to him and his family, including his two
sons, and his daughter, who he dedicated every waking moment to as she
battled a rare form of muscular dystrophy.
During an attempt to stop a fleeing subject, Officer Francone put
himself in harm's way to deploy spike strips and was tragically struck
by the vehicle. He passed away on August 25, 2023.
Sergeant Michael Abbate served in the Nevada Highway Patrol for
nearly 11 years. A former race car driver himself, he utilized his
passion for fast cars by teaching cadets about road safety and by
running the emergency vehicle operations course for southern Nevada.
Trooper Alberto Felix served in the Nevada Highway Patrol for 4
years. A United States Air Force veteran, his friends and family
remember him for his selfless leadership, his sense of humor, and his
love of helping people. He especially took pride in removing impaired
drivers, which undoubtedly saved countless lives in Nevada throughout
his career.
{time} 1545
Both Sergeant Abbate and Trooper Felix passed away on November 30,
2023, after they were struck by a suspected drunk driver while they
were going out of their way to check on the welfare of a driver asleep
in his car. In recognition of their service and heroism, Sergeant
Abbate and Trooper Felix were posthumously awarded the Nevada State
Police Medal of Valor.
We cannot bring back those we have lost, but the least we can do is
honor the sacrifices they made to keep ourselves, our loved ones, and
our communities safe.
I join my colleagues in expressing my condolences to the families,
friends, and other colleagues of these public servants, and all of
those who mourn the loss of the brave men and women whose duty and
sacrifice will be commemorated at this year's memorial.
Let me reiterate that we can't bring these heroes back, but we can
acknowledge the work they did, the sacrifice they made, and the life
they gave to help all of us live in safer communities and with safer
families.
Madam Speaker, I urge support of this resolution, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for
closing.
All of us have had our hearts broken as we have watched the nightly
news somewhere in our own town, our own State, or across the country as
brave men and women wearing the uniform have run to the bullets, have
run to the sound of the guns, have run to the violence--too many.
As law enforcement struggles to maintain recruitment, as,
unfortunately, too many places in America don't respect the work that
they do, it is an unfortunate situation we find ourselves in.
I can imagine every single day when an officer leaves their home,
their family, and kisses their husband or wife or children good-bye,
every day you never know, whether it is a traffic stop or a warrant
service, where there is some bad turn of events and the officer never
comes home.
That has to end in America, Madam Speaker. That circumstance has to
end. While it is present and while we seek a better future for our
country and the men and women who serve so bravely in uniform, the one
small thing that we can do is open up their United States Capitol to
bring attention and draw attention to what has happened with the
unimaginable sacrifice that they have made, that their families
continue to endure, so that all of America and all the world can see
who we honor.
Madam Speaker, I urge support of H. Con. Res. 83 to allow these
Capitol Grounds to be used for a memorial service to honor our Nation's
fallen law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2023,
and 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. Perry) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 83.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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