[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3026 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3026

To authorize the Military Spouse Legacy Association, Inc., to establish 
 a commemorative work on Federal land in the District of Columbia and 
  its environs to honor all those who have put their country first as 
           military spouses throughout our Nation's history.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 12, 2007

  Mrs. Drake introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To authorize the Military Spouse Legacy Association, Inc., to establish 
 a commemorative work on Federal land in the District of Columbia and 
  its environs to honor all those who have put their country first as 
           military spouses throughout our Nation's history.

    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 ``Military Spouses Memorial Act of 
2007''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) From the earliest days of our Nation to the present 
        day, the military spouse has been the backbone of the military 
        family.
            (2) Our military members have answered our Nation's call to 
        duty due to the strong support and selflessness of the military 
        spouse.
            (3) The military spouse is the unsung hero who has 
        traditionally placed spouse, family, and country above any 
        personal needs or ambitions.
            (4) The strength, sense of purpose, and courage shown by 
        the military spouse in maintaining the cohesion of their family 
        during both war and peacetime has been instrumental in the 
        retention and morale of our Nation's military.
            (5) Our military widows have shared in their spouses' last 
        full measure of devotion and deserve the recognition, respect, 
        and thanks of a grateful Nation.
            (6) President Ronald Reagan, in honoring the legacy of the 
        military spouse, proclaimed the Friday before Mother's Day to 
        be Military Spouse Day.
            (7) It is appropriate to extend this recognition into a 
        permanent national monument to commemorate the instrumental 
        contribution, service, and sacrifice of every military spouse.
            (8) Every married service member recognizes the 
        contributions and dedication of their military spouse and the 
        time has come for the Nation as a whole to honor all military 
        spouses for their service to our country.
            (9) This monument will recognize all spouses from the 
        revolutionary war to the present day war on terror and all 
        conflicts that come in the future and will be a universal 
        symbol of the military spouse and the strength and courage to 
        maintain a family and support our service members during war 
        and peacetime.

SEC. 3. COMMEMORATIVE WORK TO HONOR MILITARY SPOUSES.

    (a) Authority to Establish Commemorative Work.--The Military Spouse 
Legacy Association, Inc., may establish a commemorative work on Federal 
land in the District of Columbia and its environs to honor all those 
who have put their country first as military spouses throughout our 
Nation's history.
    (b) Compliance With Standards for Commemorative Works.--The 
commemorative work authorized by subsection (a) shall be established in 
accordance with chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code (commonly 
known as the ``Commemorative Works Act'').
    (c) Use of Federal Funds Prohibited.--Federal funds may not be used 
to pay any expense of the establishment of the commemorative work 
authorized by subsection (a). The Military Spouse Legacy Association, 
Inc., shall be solely responsible for acceptance of contributions for, 
and payment of the expenses of, the establishment of that commemorative 
work.
    (d) Deposit of Excess Funds.--If, upon payment of all expenses of 
the establishment of the commemorative work authorized by subsection 
(a) (including the maintenance and preservation amount provided for in 
section 8906(b), of title 40, United States Code), or upon expiration 
of the authority for the commemorative work under chapter 89 of title 
40, United States Code, there remains a balance of funds received for 
the establishment of that commemorative work, the Military Spouse 
Legacy Association, Inc., shall transmit the amount of the balance to 
the Secretary of the Treasury for deposit in the account provided for 
in section 8906(b)(1) of such title.
    (e) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section, the terms 
``commemorative work'' and ``the District of Columbia and its 
environs'' have the meanings given to such terms in section 8902(a) of 
title 40, United States Code.
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