[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 93 (Thursday, June 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 ESTABLISHMENT OF A FUND FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF OVERSEAS WAR MEMORIALS

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                             HON. BOB STUMP

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 1995
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to 
establish an account to accept and disburse funds for the maintenance 
and repair of selected overseas war memorials. My distinguished 
colleague, the ranking member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Sonny 
Montgomery, joins me in introducing this bill.
  The American Battle Monuments Commission is tasked with maintaining 
our overseas cemeteries and war memorials in a manner befitting the 
sacrifices of those who served this Nation in time of war, especially 
those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom.
  When requested to assume responsibility for a specific memorial, the 
Commission makes an assessment of the condition and historical value of 
the site. In this way, the Commission accepts responsibility for only 
the most important sites. Typically, the request to assume 
responsibility includes funds to maintain the memorial.
  Today, the Commission is increasingly being asked to assume 
responsibility for overseas memorials whose private sponsors have 
dwindled in numbers. But the passage of time now makes it difficult for 
these patriots to provide the active oversight needed to ensure the 
appropriate condition of the memorial.
  My bill will provide the Commission an account to accept private 
donations, direct the Secretary of the Treasury to invest excess funds 
in interest bearing obligations of the United States, and authorize use 
of those funds for memorial maintenance.
  In this manner, we can continue to honor those who have fought and 
died and keep the memory of their sacrifices alive as a reminder for 
the generations who have inherited the legacy of their commitment. I 
urge my colleagues to support the bill.
                         ABMC Background Notes

       ABMC currently has statutory authority to take over private 
     monuments it considers worthy of retention.
       Past takeovers include the Ranger monument at Point du Hoc 
     overlooking Utah Beach and the Cabanatuan Memorial in the 
     Philippines honoring 75,000 U.S. and Filipino POW's held by 
     Japan.
       ABMC is currently considering taking over monuments for 3 
     Engineer units and a 29th Division monument on the Normandy 
     beaches, as well as several USAF monuments.
       ABMC estimates that about $300,000 is available for these 
     and a few other sites, if they can get the account 
     established. Interest on investments in government securities 
     will also be added to the account to maintain solvency for 
     the next ten years or so.
     

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