Authorizing the Use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition
Floor Speech
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Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 83) 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. 83
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 Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police and its auxiliary shall be permitted to sponsor a public event, the 43d 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 2023.
(b) Date of Memorial Service.--The Memorial Service shall be held on May 15, 2024, 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 10, 2024, and takedown completed on May 16, 2024. SEC. 2. USE OF THE CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR NATIONAL HONOR GUARD AND PIPE BAND EXHIBITION.
(a) In General.--The Grand Lodge of the 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, 2024, 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.
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Mr. PERRY. Con. Res. 83.
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Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, H. Con. Res. 83, which I introduced, honors our Nation's fallen law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty last year with a memorial service here at the Capitol.
Every day our police officers show up to protect and serve, keeping our families, businesses, and communities safe. Unfortunately, so many of our police officers are demonized and disparaged for doing one of the hardest, most important jobs in the country, and it is a job that continues to grow more dangerous every day.
We all owe our gratitude to those police officers who continue to serve despite these challenging times. This memorial service is only one small way to thank and honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Madam Speaker, I also thank the Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Ranking Member Dina Titus from Nevada for working with me on this resolution.
Madam Speaker, I urge support of this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for closing.
All of us have had our hearts broken as we have watched the nightly news somewhere in our own town, our own State, or across the country as brave men and women wearing the uniform have run to the bullets, have run to the sound of the guns, have run to the violence--too many.
As law enforcement struggles to maintain recruitment, as, unfortunately, too many places in America don't respect the work that they do, it is an unfortunate situation we find ourselves in.
I can imagine every single day when an officer leaves their home, their family, and kisses their husband or wife or children good-bye, every day you never know, whether it is a traffic stop or a warrant service, where there is some bad turn of events and the officer never comes home.
That has to end in America, Madam Speaker. That circumstance has to end. While it is present and while we seek a better future for our country and the men and women who serve so bravely in uniform, the one small thing that we can do is open up their United States Capitol to bring attention and draw attention to what has happened with the unimaginable sacrifice that they have made, that their families continue to endure, so that all of America and all the world can see who we honor.
Madam Speaker, I urge support of H. Con. Res. 83 to allow these Capitol Grounds to be used for a memorial service to honor our Nation's fallen law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2023, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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