[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 24, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2651-H2652]
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. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 73) 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. 73

       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 National Fraternal Order of Police and 
     its auxiliary shall be permitted to sponsor a public event, 
     the 45th 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 2025.
       (b) Date of Memorial Service.--The Memorial Service shall 
     be held on May 15, 2026, 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 7, 2026, and 
     takedown completed on May 17, 2026.

     SEC. 2. USE OF THE CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR NATIONAL HONOR GUARD 
                   AND PIPE BAND EXHIBITION.

       (a) In General.--The National 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, 2026, 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 
Ohio (Mr. Taylor) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stanton) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAYLOR. 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 material into the Record on H. Con. Res. 73.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H2652]]

  Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 73 authorizes the use of the Capitol 
grounds for the 45th Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial event.
  I am proud to continue the long tradition of supporting the Fraternal 
Order of Police in honoring the law enforcement officers who died in 
the line of duty in 2025.
  Law enforcement officers across the country put their lives on the 
line every day to help keep us safe. There were 17 officers killed in 
Ohio in 2025.
  Last year, I paid my respects to Deputy Larry Ray Henderson from 
Union Township, Ohio, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty.
  Larry joined the ranks of those who courageously made the ultimate 
sacrifice while protecting our communities. I also recognize Officer 
Larry Cox from Chillicothe and Officer Dave Poling who did the same. I 
am humbled to honor their legacies today.
  We all owe a debt of gratitude to the police officers who continue to 
serve despite the risk they face every day.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this resolution, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 73, legislation 
introduced by myself and Representative Perry.
  This resolution authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds for events 
related to the 45th Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service on 
May 15, 2026.
  The National Fraternal Order of Police will host this event to honor 
the Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers who lost their 
lives in the line of duty in the year 2025.
  In my home State of Arizona, we honor Officer Gabriel Facio of the 
Apache Junction Police Department, who was killed in the line of duty 
in June 2025.
  Officer Facio served with the Apache Junction Police Department for 
nearly 4 years and had previously served as an officer in the city of 
Phoenix. He is survived by his wife, daughter, son, parents, and a 
grandchild.
  Last month, we lost two more Arizona heroes. State Trooper Hunter 
Bennett was killed in a helicopter crash alongside his pilot, Retired 
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Skankey, while responding to an active 
shooter incident.
  Trooper Bennett was just 28 years old and was married to his high 
school sweetheart, Breanna. He graduated top of his class from the 
Arizona Law Enforcement Academy after graduating magna cum laude from 
Arizona State University.
  Pilot Skankey retired from the United States Marine Corps after 22 
highly decorated years. He went on to join the Arizona Department of 
Public Safety, serving as an aviation supervisor. He leaves behind his 
wife, Tjiske, and four children. Their service and sacrifice remind us 
that the dangers our law enforcement officers face are real and they 
are ever-present.
  We honor Officer Facio, Trooper Bennett, Pilot Skankey, and all 
officers throughout the country for their sacrifices and devotion to 
protecting our communities.
  In addition to the families and friends of the deceased, event 
organizers expect 25,000 police officers from around the country to be 
in attendance.
  Additionally, this resolution authorizes the use of Capitol grounds 
for the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Expedition on May 14, 2026.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this bipartisan resolution and urge my 
colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1600

  Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Perry), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic 
Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
  Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Ohio (Mr. Taylor) 
and also my colleague from Arizona (Mr. Stanton). I am extremely 
honored and humbled to once again introduce this resolution alongside 
the Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management 
Subcommittee ranking member, Representative Stanton, from Arizona.
  This year marks the 45th Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial 
event, which honors our law enforcement officers who have made the 
ultimate sacrifice. According to the Fraternal Order of Police, over 
the past 5 years, more than 2,000 police officers have been shot in the 
line of duty.
  In 2025, there were 347 shot in the line of duty, 45 of whom were 
killed. It is completely unacceptable.
  Tragically, three of those deaths were my constituents, my bosses. On 
September 17, last year, a gunman ambushed police officers who were 
serving an arrest warrant. During the attack, three police officers 
were killed and two more were wounded. The officers who died in the 
line of duty were Detective Sergeant Cody Michael Becker, Detective 
Isaiah D. Emenheiser, and Detective Mark Edward Baker. All three 
officers were longtime veterans of the Northern York County Regional 
Police Department.
  Mr. Speaker, this memorial service is for them and those like them 
and all the officers that will come to attend and think about their 
fallen comrades. These are the people in our community who run to the 
danger, who run to the sound of gunfire. These are the people who get 
up in the middle of the night not knowing whether they are coming home. 
They do the shift work. They are underpaid and under-respected now in 
our society, even among some of their very own leaders, their own 
elected leaders. That is why this memorial service this year is more 
important than ever.
  It is my sincere hope that this memorial service will bring some 
level of comfort to the families of the men and women who made the 
ultimate sacrifice for our safety and for the safety of their 
community.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues all to support this resolution. I 
thank Representative Stanton from Arizona and Representative Taylor 
from Ohio.
  Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
for a short closing statement.
  Mr. Speaker, I support H. Con. Res. 73. At a time of 
hyperpartisanship in this body, it is good that we can come together 
unanimously in a bipartisan way to support the law enforcement officers 
and their families who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in support of 
their communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 73, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank Subcommittee Chairman Perry for his 
continued leadership on this important piece of legislation. The 
memorial service authorized in H. Con. Res. 73 is one we here in 
Congress can ensure the men and women who put their lives on the line 
every day are honored and that those who have made the ultimate 
sacrifice receive the recognition they so justly deserve.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support of H. Con. Res. 73, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sessions). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Taylor) that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 73.
  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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