[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 10611-10612]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    AUTHORIZING USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR NATIONAL PEACE OFFICERS' 
                            MEMORIAL SERVICE

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 96) authorizing the use of the 
Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 96

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR NATIONAL PEACE 
                   OFFICERS' MEMORIAL SERVICE.

       (a) In General.--The National Fraternal Order of Police and 
     its auxiliary (in this resolution referred to as the 
     ``sponsor'') shall be permitted to sponsor a public event, 
     the 22nd annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service (in 
     this resolution jointly referred to as the ``event''), on the 
     Capitol Grounds, in order to honor the law enforcement 
     officers who died in the line of duty during 2002.
       (b) Date of Event.--The event shall be held on May 15, 
     2003, 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. 2. 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 sponsor shall assume 
     full responsibility for all expenses and liabilities incident 
     to all activities associated with the event.

     SEC. 3. EVENT PREPARATIONS.

       Subject to the approval of the Architect of the Capitol, 
     the sponsor is authorized to erect upon the Capitol Grounds 
     such stage, sound amplification devices, and other related 
     structures and equipment, as may be required for the event.

     SEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTIONS.

       The Capitol Police Board shall provide for enforcement of 
     the restrictions contained in section 4 of the Act of July 
     31, 1946 (40 U.S.C. 193d; 60 Stat. 718), concerning sales, 
     advertisements, displays, and solicitations on the Capitol 
     Grounds, as well as other restrictions applicable to the 
     Capitol Grounds, in connection with the event.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as an aside, it is a pleasure to be here this morning 
again and see the House presided over by a cagey veteran from the Fifth 
District of Washington.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 96 authorizes the use of the 
Capitol grounds for the 22nd Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial 
Service to be held on May 15, 2003. The service will be held on the 
West Front of the Capitol grounds and is sponsored by the Grand Lodge 
of the Fraternal Order of Police and its Auxiliary.
  The event is open to the public and free of charge, and the sponsor 
assumes responsibility for all expenses and liabilities related to the 
event. Additionally, the sponsors of the event must comply with all 
applicable regulations relating to the use of the Capitol grounds.
  This memorial service honors 161 peace officers that have given their 
lives in the line of duty during the year 2002. Officers gave their 
lives protecting every State in the Union. This service will honor, and 
I would like to recognize at this time, four peace officers killed in 
the line of duty in my home State of Ohio during last year.
  Deputy Sheriff Robert Michael Tanner, of the Muskingum County 
Sheriff's Department, shot and killed on January 8;
  Patrolman Eric Bradford Taylor, of the Massillon Police Department, 
shot and killed on August 9;
  Officer Mary Lynn Beall, of the Dayton Police Department, shot and 
killed on August 25;
  And Park Ranger James Pitney of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy 
District, killed on December 17.
  Each of those officers, Mr. Speaker, was killed while protecting 
their community.
  This memorial service is a very important event. I encourage all of 
our colleagues to attend this service in honor of our fallen heroes. I 
support this resolution and urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 96 authorizes the use of the 
Capitol grounds for the 22nd Annual National Peace Officers Memorial 
Service, a most solemn and respectful public event honoring our 
Nation's brave civil servants.
  The event, scheduled for May 15th, will be coordinated with the 
Office of the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Hill police. I 
strongly urge this tribute to Federal, State and local police officers 
who gave their lives in the daily work of protecting our families, our 
homes, our places of work and us.
  The names of 377 brave men and women were added to the wall during 
2002. On average, one officer is killed in this country every other 
day, approximately 23,000 are injured every year, and thousands are 
assaulted going about their daily routines. During 2002,

[[Page 10612]]

15 of the fallen officers were women, which is a record high.
  Mr. Speaker, the ceremony to be held on May 15th is the 22nd 
anniversary of this memorial service. Consistent with all Capitol Hill 
events, the memorial service will be free and open to the public.
  I support the resolution, and urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this tribute to our fallen peace officers.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my full 
support for House Concurrent Resolution 96, authorizing the use of the 
Capital Grounds for the 22nd Annual Peace Officers' Memorial Service.
  My own State of Alaska lost a peace officer during 2002 who will be 
remembered at this ceremony.
  On November 19, 2002, while transporting prisoners to Spring Creek 
Correctional Center, Correctional Officer James Hesterberg was killed 
when the vehicle he was driving was struck head-on by a tractor trailer 
on the Seward Highway about 20 miles north of Seward, Alaska. A 
correctional officer for 19 years, he is survived by his wife and three 
children.
  This service, honoring the 152 men and women who lost their lives 
while protecting our Nation, is a part of police week, which features 
events including a ``Blue Mass'' at St. Patrick's Catholic Church; Law 
Ride Motorcycle Procession; and a candlelight vigil, which will be held 
at 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday May 13.
  I encourage my colleagues to support these important events, which 
honor not only the men and women who gave their lives while protecting 
our country, but the thousands of others that continue to do so.
  I support this resolution and encourage my colleagues to give it 
their full support.
  Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 96.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. 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 and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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