[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2097 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2097

To authorize the rededication of the District of Columbia War Memorial 
 as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial to honor 
        the sacrifices made by American veterans of World War I.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 29, 2009

 Mr. Thune (for himself, Mr. Webb, and Mr. Rockefeller) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                      Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To authorize the rededication of the District of Columbia War Memorial 
 as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial to honor 
        the sacrifices made by American veterans of World War I.

    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 ``Frank Buckles World War I Memorial 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) In 2017, the United States will commemorate the 
        centennial of its entry into World War I, which introduced the 
        American soldier to the world in what would become a familiar 
        role as defender, liberator, and promoter of peace and 
        democracy.
            (2) The support provided by the United States to Great 
        Britain, France, and other allies in World War I marked the 
        first time in the history of the United States that American 
        soldiers went overseas to defend foreign soil against 
        aggression, and it marked the true beginning of ``the American 
        century''.
            (3) Although World War I was called the ``Great War'' and 
        the ``War to End All Wars'', in fact, the United States would 
        commit its troops to the defense of foreign lands several more 
        times in the 20th century.
            (4) While three of these subsequent conflicts, World War 
        II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, rightfully have 
        commemorative memorials on the National Mall in the District of 
        Columbia, there is no memorial to World War I on the Mall, even 
        though more Americans gave their lives in World War I than in 
        either the Korean War or the Vietnam War.
            (5) While a memorial to General John Pershing and the 
        American Expeditionary Forces that he led during World War I is 
        located in the District of Columbia, that memorial is not 
        located on the Mall and does not commemorate the total 
        participation of the United States and its Armed Forces in 
        World War I.
            (6) The District of Columbia War Memorial is located on the 
        Mall, adjacent to the Lincoln Reflecting Pool between the World 
        War II and Korean War memorials, and was erected in memory of 
        the 499 residents of the District of Columbia who died in World 
        War I.
            (7) The District of Columbia War Memorial is in extreme 
        disrepair and is often overlooked by residents and visitors to 
        Washington.
            (8) In recognition of the upcoming anniversaries of 
        America's entry into World War I, and of the armistice that 
        concluded World War I on November 11, 1918, and in order to 
        honor the members of the United States Armed Forces who served 
        in World War I and to ensure that future generations of 
        Americans will know the complete history of America's 20th-
        century struggle against aggression and totalitarianism, it is 
        timely and proper to rededicate the site of the District of 
        Columbia War Memorial on the National Mall as a ``National and 
        District of Columbia World War I Memorial''.
            (9) Because this Act authorizes the rededication and 
        related enhancement of a commemorative work that already 
        exists, and that is already sited within the Reserve as defined 
        in Commemorative Works Act, the provisions of the Commemorative 
        Works Act regarding site approval and location of commemorative 
        works do not apply to this Act.

SEC. 3. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH COMMEMORATIVE WORK.

    The World War I Memorial Foundation is authorized to establish a 
commemorative work rededicating the District of Columbia War Memorial 
as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial, 
including--
            (1) full restoration of the existing District of Columbia 
        War Memorial; and
            (2) the addition of an appropriate sculptural or other 
        commemorative element, which shall complement and preserve the 
        existing memorial and its landscape, at the site of the 
        existing memorial to make it a national memorial.

SEC. 4. COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS FOR COMMEMORATIVE WORKS; LOCATION OF 
              MEMORIAL.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided by subsection (b), the 
rededication of the District of Columbia War Memorial shall be in 
accordance with chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code (popularly 
known as the Commemorative Works Act).
    (b) Exception.--Sections 8908 and 8905 of title 40, United States 
Code shall not apply to this Act.

SEC. 5. PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS.

    The Foundation shall solicit and accept private contributions for 
the memorial.

SEC. 6. DEPOSIT OF EXCESS FUNDS.

    If, upon payment of all expenses of the rededication (including the 
maintenance and preservation amount provided for in chapter 89 of title 
40, United States Code, or upon expiration of the authority for the 
commemorative work under such chapter), there remains a balance of 
funds received for the establishment of the commemorative work, the 
World War I Memorial Foundation shall transmit the amount of the 
balance to the Secretary of the Treasury for deposit in the account 
provided for in section 8906(b) of title 40, United States Code.
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