[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3471 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3471

    To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special 
  resource study of the area at or near the footprints of the former 
 World Trade Center towers for possible inclusion in the National Park 
     System to commemorate the tragic events of September 11, 2001.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 6, 2003

Mr. Shays (for himself and Mrs. Maloney) introduced the following bill; 
            which was referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special 
  resource study of the area at or near the footprints of the former 
 World Trade Center towers for possible inclusion in the National Park 
     System to commemorate the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

    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 ``World Trade Center Site Historic 
Study Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds as follows:
            (1) On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four 
        civilian aircraft, causing 2 of them to crash into the twin 
        towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third into 
        the Pentagon, and a fourth in rural southwest Pennsylvania.
            (2) On September 11, 2001, more than 3,000 Americans and 
        citizens of the world were massacred in the worst attack 
        against civilians in the United States in our Nation's history. 
        This battle raged in the air and on American soil at the World 
        Trade Center site, at the Pentagon, and at a field in 
        Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
            (3) These attacks destroyed both towers of the World Trade 
        Center, as well as adjacent buildings, and seriously damaged 
        the Pentagon; and left a crater in the ground on a field in 
        Stonycreek Township, Somerset County Pennsylvania.
            (4) The impact of this human tragedy has and continues to 
        be felt by the families of those killed and wounded, those who 
        survived, the rescue workers, the Nation and the civilized 
        world.
            (5) In the months since the historic attacks of September 
        11, 2001, millions of people have visited the World Trade 
        Center site to honor the dead, to pay tribute to the heroic 
        actions of those who risked/and or gave their lives for their 
        fellow Americans and to bear witness to the historic World 
        Trade Center site.
            (6) The attack on the World Trade Center resulted in great 
        destruction and damage to homes, churches, schools, and 
        commercial and retail buildings, causing the loss of thousands 
        of jobs and businesses in Lower Manhattan.
            (7) The World Trade Center site is a symbol of our freedom, 
        patriotism, sacrifice, and the American spirit. It has an 
        indelible and justified place in American history.
            (8) Many are profoundly concerned about the future 
        disposition of the World Trade Center site, and many citizens, 
        family members, professional organizations, local businesses 
        and residents, and State and local officials have formed 
        coalitions and held forums to provide a voice for all 
        interested and concerned parties.
            (9) A broad and deep consensus has emerged in the United 
        States that the former World Trade Center site, and 
        particularly the tower footprints, bear a uniquely tragic and 
        transcendent significance in our Nation's history due to the 
        unparalleled events that took place there; the almost 
        unfathomable number of innocent lives lost; the extraordinary 
        courage and honor shown by so many on that day and in the many 
        months following; and the fact that the circumstances of their 
        death has meant there is almost no physical trace of most of 
        the victims.
            (10) The bedrock footprints of the former World Trade 
        Center towers are in the area of the site where the greatest 
        number of victims lost their lives and where the majority of 
        human remains were found, and therefore represent the final 
        resting place of a majority of the victims.
            (11) It is appropriate that a study be undertaken to 
        determine the feasibility and suitability of establishing a 
        national memorial on the site of, or proximate to, the 
        footprints of the former World Trade Center towers, to 
        commemorate the internationally significant events of September 
        11, 2001 and the lives lost, for possible inclusion as a unit 
        of the National Park System.

SEC. 3. STUDY AND CRITERIA.

    (a) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior (in this Act referred to 
as the ``Secretary'') shall conduct a study of the World Trade Center 
site in Lower Manhattan, New York, to evaluate the national 
significance of the site and the suitability and feasibility of 
establishing the site as a unit of the National Park System.
    (b) Criteria.--In conducting the study required by subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall use the criteria for the study of areas for 
potential inclusion in the National Park System contained in section 8 
of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5; popularly known as the National 
Park System General Authorities Act).

SEC. 4. REPORT.

    Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate a report on the findings of the study and the 
conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.
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