[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 6]
[House]
[Pages 7825-7826]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING HOMETOWN HEROES ACT

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1892) to amend title 4, United States Code, to provide for 
the flying of the flag at half-staff in the event of the death of a 
first responder in the line of duty.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1892

       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 ``Honoring Hometown Heroes 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. PERMITTING THE FLAG TO BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF IN THE 
                   EVENT OF THE DEATH OF A FIRST RESPONDER SERVING 
                   IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

       (a) Amendment.--The sixth sentence of section 7(m) of title 
     4, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``or'' after ``possession of the United 
     States'' and inserting a comma;
       (2) by inserting ``or the death of a first responder 
     working in any State, territory, or possession who dies while 
     serving in the line of duty,'' after ``while serving on 
     active duty,'';
       (3) by striking ``and'' after ``former officials of the 
     District of Columbia'' and inserting a comma; and
       (4) by inserting before the period the following: ``, and 
     first responders working in the District of Columbia''.
       (b) First Responder Defined.--Such subsection is further 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``, United States Code; 
     and'' and inserting a semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) the term `first responder' means a `public safety 
     officer' as defined in section 1204 of the Omnibus Crime 
     Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796b).''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall 
     apply with respect to deaths of first responders occurring on 
     or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 1892, currently under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution 
establishing an official flag for the new American Nation. The 
resolution, now known as the Flag Act of 1777, stated that the flag 
would be ``thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be 
thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new 
Constellation.''
  For the last 240 years, the American people have celebrated Flag Day 
every June 14, and, over that time, the flag has evolved. As we all 
know, changes have been made to its design, shape, and arrangement. The 
Flag Act of 1794 changed the design from 13 to 15 stars to accommodate 
the admission of Vermont and Kentucky into the Union. The Flag Act of 
1818 mandated that the 13 stripes represented the Thirteen Original 
Colonies, the number of stars matched the number of States, and 
provided that subsequent changes in the number of stars would be made 
on the 4th of July.
  What has remained rock solid over that quarter millennium, however, 
is what our flag represents. It represents one nation, freedom, and 
justice for all, and the sacrifices made in pursuit of those core 
American values.
  Current law provides guidance for displaying and handling the flag so 
it is afforded the respect it deserves and has earned. In abiding by 
these guidelines, we all commemorate the value and love we hold for 
what our flag represents. That is why the legislation before us today, 
H.R. 1892, the Honoring Hometown Heroes Act, is not only appropriate 
but necessary.
  This bill amends Federal law to permit State and Territorial 
Governors and the Mayor of Washington, D.C., to order that the flag be 
flown at halfstaff in the event that a public safety officer dies in 
the line of duty. For purposes of this legislation, ``public safety 
officers'' include local police officers, firefighters, and EMS 
professionals. These are individuals who make great sacrifices so we 
all can live in a free country. These men and women work long hours, 
separated from their loved ones, and consistently place themselves in 
harm's way so we as Americans can enjoy our freedom and our way of 
life. These sacrifices often go unappreciated.
  When an officer dies in the line of duty, he or she is making the 
ultimate sacrifice for their community, their family, and for their 
country. H.R. 1892 allows the American people to show their 
appreciation to these men and women, who are truly the bulwark between 
order and chaos. They represent the values the Founders held so dear 
nearly 250 years ago, and their sacrifices must be publicly 
acknowledged so they are not taken for granted.
  I thank the lead sponsor of this bill, Congressman John Larson. On 
May 3, the House Committee on the Judiciary approved the Honoring 
Hometown Heroes Act with unanimous, bipartisan support. I urge my 
colleagues to support this legislation and the other bills before the 
House today to honor the men and women who have made the ultimate 
sacrifice to ensure the safety of our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise also in support of H.R. 1892, the Honoring Hometown Heroes 
Act. I want to begin by saluting the distinguished author of this 
legislation, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson), who has 
navigated the twists and turns of the legislative process to bring this 
legislation to the floor with the Committee on the Judiciary.
  H.R. 1892 would bestow one of the highest honors that can be given in 
America to our first responders who have died in the line of duty by 
allowing the U.S. flag to be lowered in their respective jurisdictions. 
The bill amends the U.S. Flag Code to allow the Governor of a State, 
Territory or possession, and the Mayor of the District of Columbia to 
order the flag be lowered to halfstaff if a first responder in the 
jurisdiction dies while serving in the line of duty.
  Our first responders put their lives on the line every day for the 
greater good of the people that they have taken an oath to serve and 
protect. Every year, some first responders make the ultimate sacrifice 
and lose their lives while serving and protecting their communities in 
the line of duty.
  Currently, under the U.S. Flag Code, a Governor or the Mayor of the 
District of Columbia can order that the flag be lowered to halfstaff 
after the death of a President or former government official or after 
the death of a member of the Armed Forces from the jurisdiction. It is 
only fitting that, given the hard work and sacrifices and crucial role 
of first responders, we honor these brave men and women in the same way 
that we honor government officials and members of the Armed Forces when 
they make the ultimate sacrifice. Accordingly, I urge all of my 
colleagues to support H.R. 1892.

[[Page 7826]]

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson).
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished 
Member from Maryland and our distinguished chairman from Virginia for 
taking up this legislation.
  Let me start by thanking so many cosponsors, starting with Peter King 
and Bill Pascrell, the co-chairs of our Congressional Fire Services 
Caucus, for their extraordinary work; the sheriff, as I like to refer 
to David Reichert, who I serve with on the Committee on Ways and Means; 
and Tim Walz, the chairman of the Congressional Emergency Medical 
Services (EMS) Caucus and ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs.
  Amongst the Members who are cosponsors of the bill, many are former 
first responders as well: Dutch Ruppersberger, former police officer; 
John Rutherford, former sheriff of Duval County, Florida; Brian 
Fitzpatrick, former FBI special agent; Jim Renacci, former volunteer 
firefighter from Ohio.
  Special thanks to the Committee on the Judiciary for recognizing, 
however simple a solution, how powerful the meaning for those who have 
lost a member of their community and their family who, as Lincoln would 
say, have given the full measure of their devotion. I thank Chairman 
Goodlatte and Ranking Member Conyers, Steve King, and Steve Cohen also 
for their work on this. I deeply appreciate it.
  I especially thank and single out Jim McLoughlin, a veteran 
firefighter from Connecticut. He is the founder of the National Honor 
Guard Commanders Association, and it was he who first came to me with 
endorsing this concept.
  I also thank the strong support of Harold Schaitberger of the 
International Association of Firefighters, the Fraternal Order of 
Police, Sergeants Benevolent Association, International Association of 
Fire Chiefs, and the National Volunteer Fire Council, among others.
  As has been said on the floor already today, a number of people have 
mentioned that this week we come together during National Police Week 
to recognize first responders. In fact, the White House was lit in blue 
last night. It is those who put their lives on the line every day to 
protect us and our communities, as the chairman noted, who often get 
forgotten in terms of their line of duty.
  I am the son of a proud firefighter. I think in every firefighter's 
memory and every memory of the Nation will be permanently seared that 
vision of firefighters rushing up the steps of the World Trade Center 
as people were coming down.

                              {time}  1645

  Whether it is a national emergency or a medical emergency, these 
brave men and women are the first to answer the call, and they deserve 
our respect.
  Scripture tells us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, but 
only a few are willing to step into harm's way for others. When 
everyone else flees from danger, our law enforcement officers, 
firefighters, and EMTs heroically place their lives in jeopardy to help 
people that they have never met.
  These jobs are inherently dangerous. The reminders are too common. 
And as any family of a first responder can tell you, they oftentimes do 
not return home to their families. Joe Crowley has spoken eloquently of 
that on this very floor.
  This bill has been reviewed by the chairman, and I thank Mr. Raskin 
for his comments as well. But I think we can all agree that these 
courageous men and women deserve what is a simple tribute but a very 
powerful message when the American flag and all that it stands for is 
lowered to halfstaff when they have given the full measure of their 
devotion to their community, their State, and this Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge its passage and am thankful for the bipartisan 
support that we have received on this very important week for these 
incredibly remarkable and important people who serve their country.
  Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I encourage all of my colleagues to support this wonderful 
legislation, and I take the occasion of National Police Week to restate 
everyone in this body's appreciation for the hard work that our 
responders and our officers do.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
1892, The Honoring Hometown Heroes Act. This bill will be crucial in 
giving the courageous first responders the recognition they deserve.
  The Honoring Hometown Heroes Act, or H.R. 1892, will help give honor 
to those who have passed away while serving their communities. First 
responders are some of the most important people in the country. They 
put out the fires that threaten our homes. They keep our streets safe 
to live on. They bring people who are suffering from a medical issue to 
the hospital to provide them with the care that they need. They 
investigate the crimes that have been committed and bring the 
perpetrators to justice. These brave men and women are often 
volunteers, who merely want to help their communities.
  These jobs are often dangerous. They involve fires, carbon monoxide, 
violence, and other hostile acts. Unfortunately, due to the dangerous 
nature of this work, not all of these men and women survive. They are 
killed serving their communities, making them better places to live. 
These men and women have given the ultimate sacrifice to their towns 
and cities. They deserve as much honor and respect that can be bestowed 
upon them and their families.
  I have the utmost respect and admiration for these men and women and 
believe that this bill gives proper public respect to fallen first 
responders. Governors will now be able to declare the flag to be 
lowered to half-mast. This gives governors the ability to immediately 
honor the fallen first responders. These men and women deserve as much.
  I believe that Congressman Larson's bill is a necessity for the 
United States. It is regrettable that such legislation has not been 
passed before this time. I put my full support behind this effort to 
honor those who have fallen in the service of others. This bill is an 
example of true patriotism that all members of this chamber, 
Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, can get behind for the 
benefit of the fallen first responders, their families, and the 
American people. I therefore urge passage of H.R. 1892.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1892.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. GOODLATTE. 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 motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________