Short title

This Act may be cited as the Military Spouses Memorial Act of 2007.

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.

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.