Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 92, which authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition. It is altogether fitting and proper that we do this.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is the nation's monument to law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

Dedicated on October 15, 1991, the Memorial honors federal, state and local law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and protection of our nation and its people. Carved on its walls are the names of 19,981 officers who have been killed in the line of duty throughout U.S. history, dating back to the first known death in 1791.

Enshrined on the Memorial Wall of Honor are the names of 1,653 fallen peace officers from the state of Texas, the most of any state, including 114 members of the Houston Police Department who gave their lives to keep their city safe. I ask unanimous consent to include a list of these fallen heroes from Houston, Texas.

Mr. Speaker, today there are more than 900,000 law enforcement personnel serving the people of our country, the highest amount ever. About 12 percent of them are female.

These brave men and women risk their lives to keep the peace and keep us safe but they are too often taken by the violence they are working to prevent. Every year, a law enforcement officer is killed somewhere in the United States every 57 hours, and there are also 58,261 assaults against our law officers each year, resulting in 15,658 injuries.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Law Enforcement Caucus I am proud to represent the people of the 18th Congressional District of Texas in paying tribute to the 321 fallen heroes who will be joining the 19,981 gallant men and women who gave the last full measure of devotion to the communities they took an oath to protect and serve.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for a moment of silence in memory of the officers whose names will be added to the National Peace Officers Memorial Wall of Honor.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

As a former law enforcement officer from the great State of Indiana, I am a very proud supporter of this resolution to honor law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2013. The 111 officers who will be honored in May have made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of their local communities.

Compared to last year, the number of officers slain has decreased by 8 percent. This represents the fewest number of officers killed since 1959. In addition, 2013 had the lowest number of officer deaths related to firearms since 1887. Every life taken is one too many, so any reduction is significant to our officers, to their families, and to the communities they serve. Sadly, my hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana, is still grieving one of our own who was killed in the line of duty last year.

Officer Rod Bradway, a 41-year-old Indianapolis Metro police officer, was killed while responding to a domestic violence dispute on September 20, 2013. Officer Bradway was a 5-year veteran of the police department, and is survived by his wife and two teenage daughters. He had already received the Indianapolis Police Department's Medal of Bravery, and he had previously served as a Wayne Township firefighter and EMT.

Thousands of residents of Indianapolis turned out for Officer Bradway's memorial service in downtown Indianapolis. They believe, as I do, that he was a hero who died while serving others. My deepest condolences go to Officer Bradway's family and to the rest of the hardworking Metro police officers.

I strongly support this bill because I know that the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service will show the proper respect to Officer Bradway and to all other law enforcement officers who have given everything to protect our communities. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this tribute to our fallen law enforcement officers.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 92) authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 92.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

H. Con. Res. 92 authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition. I am pleased to be the sponsor of this resolution along with the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Carson).

These events are held each year as part of Police Week to honor the men and women who sacrifice their lives in the line of duty.

This year, over 110 Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers will be honored for their ultimate sacrifice--giving their lives in the line of duty to protect us.

Three of these officers are from Pennsylvania, including one from my district, Correctional Officer Eric Williams of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. Officer Williams was beaten and stabbed to death by an inmate in Federal prison in Wayne County. These officers put their lives on the line every day, doing a hard job that protects law-abiding citizens from violent criminals. Officer Williams' sacrifice and the sacrifices of those like him should not be forgotten. I support the passage of this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of H. Con. Res. 92, which was received from the House and is at the desk.

I ask unanimous consent the concurrent resolution be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.