II 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1537 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 9, 2011 Mr. Inouye (for himself, Mr. Schumer, and Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to accept from the Board of Directors of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation, Inc., the donation of title to The National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National September 11 Memorial and Museum Act of 2011.

2.

Findings; purpose

(a)

Findings

Congress finds that— (1)on September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked and our world was changed forever when terrorists murdered nearly 3,000 innocent people at the World Trade Center, at the Pentagon, and in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, in the largest terrorist attack ever committed in the United States; (2)millions of people from every State and every country have visited Ground Zero to pay their respects; (3)established in 2003, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, has been dedicated to raising funds for and overseeing the design, construction, and operation of the Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center site; (4)the Memorial will ensure that future generations never forget the thousands of people who were killed by the terrorist attack on September 11th, 2001, in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia as well as those who died in the terrorist bombing at the World Trade Center on February 26, 1993; (5)the Memorial— (A)will further recognize the thousands who survived the terrorist attacks and all who demonstrated extraordinary compassion in the aftermath; (B)will ensure, through educational programs, that the history of September 11, 2011, and the implications of that day, continue to be told, especially to the youth of the United States; and (C)will be a resource to the more than 600 September 11 Memorials being established throughout the United States; (6)the Memorial is scheduled to open on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, while the Museum is scheduled to open in 2012; (7)it is projected that the Memorial will be one of the most visited venues in the United States, with millions of visitors each year, reflecting the enormous impact the terrorist attacks had on the United States and the world; (8)throughout the history of the United States, Congress has stepped forward to authorize operating funds, in public and private partnership with private donors, for memorials and museums of national significance; (9)the Memorial is a true public and private partnership, recognized as a public charity under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and (10)of the funds raised for the Memorial and Museum— (A)nearly 60 percent have come from over 300,000 private donations; and (B)40 percent have come from public sources. (b)

Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to promote the purposes of the Memorial, including— (1)remembering and honoring the thousands of innocent men, women, and children murdered by terrorists in the horrific attacks of February 26, 1993, and September 11, 2001; (2)respecting the site made sacred through tragic loss; (3)recognizing— (A)the endurance of the individuals who survived the terrorist attacks; (B)the courage of the individuals who risked their lives to save others; and (C)the compassion of the individuals who supported the people of the United States in our darkest hours; (4)ensuring, through educational programs, that the history of September 11, 2001, and the implications of that day continue to be told, especially to the youth of the United States; and (5)ensuring that the Memorial will be a resource to the more than 600 September 11 Memorials being established throughout the United States.

3.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Board

The term Board means the Board of Directors of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation, Inc. (2)

Memorial

The term Memorial means The National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center in New York City, New York. (3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

4.

Donation of Memorial

(a)

In general

The Secretary may accept from the Board the donation of title to the Memorial, subject to— (1)any terms and conditions that the Secretary and the Board may mutually agree to; (2)the approval of the donation by the Governor of the State of New York, the Governor of the State of New Jersey, and the Mayor of the City of New York; and (3)the requirement that title to the Memorial be in a form satisfactory to the Secretary. (b)

Technical and financial assistance

(1)

In general

The Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance to the Board relating to the operation of the Memorial. (2)

Consultation

The Secretary may consult with, and seek technical assistance from, the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and Administrator of General Services in providing assistance to the Board under paragraph (1).

5.

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act not more than $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2013 and each fiscal year thereafter, subject to the requirement that any funds appropriated to carry out this Act shall be matched with funds from non-Federal sources.