69–009 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 110–656 

AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THE CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR 

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPECIAL OLYMPICS LAW 

ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN 

MAY 19, 2008.—Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed 

Mr. OBERSTAR, from the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H. Con. Res. 309] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 

was referred the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 309) authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia 

Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run, having considered 

the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the concurrent resolution be agreed to. 

PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

The purpose of House Concurrent Resolution 309 is to authorize 

the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special 

Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

The resolution authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the 

District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch 

Run. The Capitol Police, along with the D.C. Special Olympics, will 

participate in the torch run to be held on June 6, 2008. The D.C. 

Special Olympics will work closely with the Capitol Police and the 

Architect of the Capitol to make sure that the event is in full compliance with the rules and regulations governing the use of the 

Capitol Grounds. 

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics is run 

nationwide by law enforcement officers, leading up to each state’s 

or national Special Olympics Summer Games. Each year, nearly 50 

local and federal law enforcement agencies in Washington, DC, 

participate to show their support of the D.C. Special Olympics. This 


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torch relay event is a traditional part of the opening ceremonies for 

the Special Olympics. Over 15,000 District of Columbia citizens 

with intellectual disabilities have participated in the Special Olympics. Funds raised from the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the 

Special Olympics help support year-round training and programs 

for Special Olympics DC. This type of support led to seven Special 

Olympics athletes competing in the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, 

Pennsylvania, in April 2008. 

Each year, approximately 2,500 Special Olympians of all ages 

compete in over a dozen events in the D.C. Special Olympics. The 

event is supported by volunteers from the Washington, DC metropolitan region and is attended by thousands more family and 

friends in the area making this event a truly unique service designed to offer self-determination to individuals with disabilities. 

SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1 authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run on 

June 6, 2008 or such other date as the Speaker of the House of 

Representatives and the Senate Rules and Administration Committee may jointly designate. 

Section 2 requires the Capitol Police Board to take such actions 

as may be necessary to carry out for the event. 

Section 3 allows the Architect of the Capitol to prescribe conditions for the physical preparations for the event. 

Section 4 requires the Capitol Police Board to enforce all applicable restrictions on the use of the Capitol Grounds, including those 

relating to sales, advertisements, displays, and solicitations. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On March 4, 2008, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton introduced 

H. Con. Res. 309. 

On May 15, 2008, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure met in open session to consider H. Con. Res. 309. The 

Committee agreed to the resolution and ordered it favorably reported to the House by voice vote. 

RECORD VOTES

Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives requires 

each committee report to include the total number of votes cast for 

and against on each record vote on a motion to report and on any 

amendment offered to the measure or matter, and the names of 

those members voting for and against. There were no recorded 

votes taken in connection with ordering H. Con. Res. 309 reported. 

A motion to order House Concurrent Resolution 309 reported favorably to the House was agreed to by voice vote with a quorum 

present. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(I) of rule XIII of 

the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee’s oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in this report. 


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COST OF LEGISLATION

Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives does not apply where a cost estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 has been timely 

submitted prior to the filing of the report and is included in the report. Such a cost estimate is included in this report. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and 308(a) of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee references the 

report of the Congressional Budget Office included in the report. 

2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the performance goals 

and objective of this legislation is to authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run. 

3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the 

enclosed cost estimate for H. Con. Res. 309 from the Director of the 

Congressional Budget Office. 

U.S. CONGRESS, 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, 

Washington, DC, May 15, 2008. 

Hon. JAMES L. OBERSTAR, 

Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H. Con. Res. 309, authorizing 

the use of the Capitol grounds for the District of Columbia Special 

Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run. 

If you wish further details on these estimates, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew Pickford. 

Sincerely, 

ROBERT A. SUNSHINE

(For Peter R. Orszag, Director). 

Enclosure. 

H. Con. Res. 309—Authorizing the use of the Capitol grounds for 

the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement 

Torch Run 

H. Con. Res. 309 would authorize the 2008 District of Columbia 

Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run to be run through 

the Capitol grounds on June 6, 2008, or on such other date as the 

Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration may jointly designate. CBO estimates that adopting H. Con. Res. 309 would result in no significant cost to the federal government. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew Pickford. The 

estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Assistant Director for 

Budget Analysis. 


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COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI

Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of 

Representatives, H. Con. Res. 309 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as 

defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Pursuant to clause (3)(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, committee reports on a bill or joint resolution 

of a public character shall include a statement citing the specific 

powers granted to the Congress in the Constitution to enact the 

measure. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

finds that Congress has the authority to enact this measure pursuant to its powers granted under article I, section 8 of the Constitution. 

FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 

pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 

(Public Law 104–4). 

PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 requires the 

report of any Committee on a bill or joint resolution to include a 

statement on the extent to which the bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, or tribal law. The Committee states 

that H. Con. Res. 309 does not preempt any state, local, or tribal 

law. 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this legislation. 

APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 

accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104–1). 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

H. Con. Res. 309 makes no changes in existing law. 

Æ 


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