[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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