[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 14153-14154]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     FALLEN HEROES FLAG ACT OF 2009

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 415) to provide Capitol-flown flags to the 
immediate family of fire fighters, law enforcement officers, emergency 
medical technicians, and other rescue workers who are killed in the 
line of duty.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 415

       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 ``Fallen Heroes Flag Act of 
     2009''.

     SEC. 2. PROVIDING CAPITOL-FLOWN FLAGS FOR FAMILIES OF LAW 
                   ENFORCEMENT AND RESCUE WORKERS KILLED IN THE 
                   LINE OF DUTY.

       (a) In General.--At the request of the immediate family of 
     a fire fighter, law enforcement officer, emergency 
     technician, or other rescue worker who died in the line of 
     duty, the Representative of the family may provide the family 
     with a Capitol-flown flag, together with the certificate 
     described in subsection (c).
       (b) No Cost to Family.--A flag provided under this section 
     shall be provided at no cost to the family.
       (c) Certificate.--The certificate described in this 
     subsection is a certificate which is signed by the Speaker of 
     the House of Representatives and the Representative providing 
     the flag, and which contains an expression of sympathy from 
     the House of Representatives for the family involved, as 
     prepared and developed by the Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (d) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``Capitol-flown flag'' means a United States 
     flag flown over the United States Capitol in honor of the 
     deceased individual for whom such flag is requested; and
       (2) the term ``Representative'' includes a Delegate or 
     Resident Commissioner to the Congress.

     SEC. 3. REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Clerk shall issue 
     regulations for carrying out this Act, including regulations 
     to establish procedures (including any appropriate forms, 
     guidelines, and accompanying certificates) for requesting a 
     Capitol-flown flag.
       (b) Approval by Committee on House Administration.--The 
     regulations issued by the Clerk under subsection (a) shall 
     take effect upon approval by the Committee on House 
     Administration of the House of Representatives.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated from the applicable 
     accounts of the House of Representatives for fiscal year 2009 
     and each succeeding fiscal year such sums as may be necessary 
     to carry out this Act.

     SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act shall take effect on the date of its enactment, 
     except that no flags may be provided under section 2 until 
     the Committee on House Administration of the House of 
     Representatives approves the regulations issued by the Clerk 
     of the House of Representatives under section 3.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel 
E. Lungren) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous matter in the Record on the consideration of this 
bill.

[[Page 14154]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, there are brave public servants who selflessly put their 
lives at risk for the protection of others. On rare occasions, these 
men and women make the ultimate sacrifice. This bill will provide for a 
simple and eloquent tribute to these fallen heroes.
  H.R. 415 would provide a flag flown over the United States Capitol to 
the immediate family of a firefighter, law enforcement officer, 
emergency medical technician, and other rescue workers who die in the 
line of duty. The flag would be presented by the House Member 
representing the family.
  The family would also receive a certificate signed by the Speaker of 
the House and the Representative presenting the flag, and prepared by 
the Clerk of the House, expressing sympathy on behalf of the House of 
Representatives. There would be no cost at all to the family.
  A United States flag flown over the Capitol is a simple expression of 
national sympathy and gratitude. I urge my colleagues on both sides of 
the aisle to join me in recognizing the heroism of these amazing men 
and women by supporting H.R. 415, the Fallen Heroes Flag Act.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 415, authored by the distinguished gentleman from 
New York (Mr. King), allows the Representative of the immediate family 
of deceased emergency personnel who are killed in the line of duty to 
provide the family with a Capitol-flown flag at their request. These 
families would also receive a certificate bearing an expression of 
condolence signed by the Speaker, as well as by the Representative 
providing the flag.
  Nine years later, the tragic events of September 11 are still a 
painful reminder of the sacrifices made daily by our first responders, 
including our firefighters, our law enforcement officers, our emergency 
technicians, and other rescue workers. These fallen heroes and their 
families deserve our appreciation, our thanks, and our honor for their 
sacrifice, and this resolution in a simple way will enable us to show 
that gratitude.
  I urge my colleagues to join in supporting H.R. 415.
  I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
415, the Fallen Heroes Flag Act.
  I introduced this legislation to honor the brave rescue workers and 
law enforcement agents who lost their lives protecting their fellow 
Americans. While we cannot make up for the loss of these heroes, my 
bill will allow members of Congress to extend a gesture of sympathy and 
gratitude to the immediate family.
  The Fallen Heroes Flag Act allows members of Congress to honor any 
deceased fire fighter, law enforcement officer, emergency technician, 
or other rescue worker who died in the line of duty by providing to the 
family, at their request, a flag flown over the United States Capitol. 
The flag will be accompanied by a certificate expressing a message of 
sympathy, that is signed by the Speaker of the House and the 
Representative providing the flag.
  Our rescue workers and law enforcement agents commit selfless acts 
every day for our safety. It is truly a tragedy when one of their lives 
is lost while acting to save another's. They should be honored for 
their heroism and my legislation provides that opportunity. I am 
pleased that the Fallen Heroes Flag Act has been brought to the House 
floor. I fully support this bill and urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I also would like to thank my 
friend, Peter King from New York, for this thoughtful bill and my 
ranking member for his cooperation and support. I urge a ``yes'' vote 
for again this courteous bill to our fallen heroes that paid the 
ultimate sacrifice.
  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. Brady) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 415.
  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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