[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6035-6036]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




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

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 117) authorizing the use of the 
Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 117

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

     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 (in this resolution referred to as 
     the ``sponsor'') shall be permitted to sponsor a public 
     event, the 31st Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial 
     Service (in this resolution referred to as the ``event''), on 
     the Capitol

[[Page 6036]]

     Grounds, in order to honor the law enforcement officers who 
     died in the line of duty during 2011.
       (b) Date of Event.--The event shall be held on May 15, 
     2012, 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 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 event.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Denham) and the gentlewoman from the District of 
Columbia (Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 117.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H. Con. Res. 117 would authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds for 
the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service on May 15, 2012. I'm 
pleased to be a sponsor of this important resolution.
  In 1962, May 15 was designated by President Kennedy as Peace Officers 
Memorial Day and the week in which it falls as Police Week. The 
memorial service began in 1982 as a gathering in Senate Park of just 
120 survivors and supporters of law enforcement. Today, National Police 
Week draws tens of thousands of law enforcement officials and their 
supporters from around the world who travel to the Nation's Capital to 
participate in events that honor our fallen officers.
  The National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, which is sponsored by 
the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, is one in a series of 
events which includes the candlelight vigil and seminars. These 
important events help us to honor and remember the sacrifice of those 
members of law enforcement around our Nation who have made the ultimate 
sacrifice.
  Back home in my district, we recently felt the pain of losing a 
respected member of the law enforcement community, Deputy Robert Paris. 
He was slain in the line of duty just a few weeks ago. He was the third 
sworn officer to be killed while serving with the Stanislaus County 
Sheriff's Department. He was known in the community to volunteer for 
the dangerous work and had requested an assignment in the Civil 
Division.
  When any community loses an officer, it is a tragedy, both for the 
family and for those whose lives benefited from their service.
  Deputy Paris is survived by his parents, Robert, Sr. and Jane; 
sister, Krista; brother, Eric; and two children.
  By passing this legislation, we will be honoring Deputy Paris and all 
of those who came before him. I urge my colleagues to support passage 
of this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  House Concurrent Resolution 117 authorizes use of the Capitol Grounds 
for the 31st Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service on May 15 
on the West Front of the Capitol, a solemn and respectful public event 
in our Nation's Capital honoring our heroic law enforcement officers 
who were killed in the line of duty in 2011.
  According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 
last year, 173 brave men and women were killed in the line of duty. 
Unfortunately, however, the number of officers killed in the line of 
duty increased 13 percent from 2010, with this year marking the first 
time in 14 years where more officers died from firearms-related 
incidents than from traffic-related incidents. Over 19,000 law 
enforcement officers have been killed while on duty since the first law 
enforcement death was recorded in 1791.
  The National Peace Officers' Memorial Service is a fitting tribute to 
the 900,000 current law enforcement officers and all Federal, State, 
and local peace officers who give their lives in the daily work of 
protecting our families, our homes, and our workplaces. We honor these 
officers and their families on the Capitol Grounds for both their 
service and the ultimate sacrifice that some pay to maintain peace in 
communities across America.
  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. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, these important events help us to honor and 
remember the sacrifice of the members of law enforcement around our 
Nation that have made this 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 California (Mr. Denham) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 117.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. NORTON. 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, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.

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