[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 75 (Thursday, June 15, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5262-S5264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself, Mr. Helms, Mr. Moynihan,

[[Page S5264]]

        Mr. Roth, Mr. Thurmond, and Mr. Warner):
  S. 2739. A bill to amend title 39, United States Code, to provide for 
the issuance of a semipostal stamp in order to afford the public a 
convenient way to contribute to funding for the establishment of the 
World War II Memorial; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.


  semipostal stamp for the establishment of the world war ii memorial

  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce S. 2749, the 
World War II Memorial Postage Stamp Act. The purpose of this bill is to 
raise funds for the construction of the National World War II Memorial 
by issuing a special World War II Memorial ``semipostal'' stamp.
  Mr. President, many events have shaped world history, but none so 
dramatically or so deeply as the Second World War. The war permanently 
altered lives, communities, and nations, at the same time speeding 
America's rise as a superpower.
  The National World War II Memorial will honor the 16 million 
Americans who served in uniform during the war, the more than 400,000 
who gave their lives, and the millions more who supported the war 
effort at home. A symbol of the defining event of 20th-century America, 
the Memorial will honor the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the 
American people as well as the cause of freedoom from tyranny 
throughout the world.
  To date, the World War II Memorial Fund, chaired by Bob Dole, has 
raised approximately $92 million. Issuing a World War II Memorial Stamp 
could raise millions more, helping the World War Memorial Fund reach 
its goal of $100 million needed to construct and maintain the Memorial. 
Furthermore, a new stamp would give every American the chance to play a 
part in building this monument to those who served our Nation.
  Mr. President, I served this great country as a member of the Armed 
Forces during World War II, and I know firsthand the sacrifices made by 
our Nation's veterans. It is my sincere hope that, thanks to this bill, 
the National World War II Memorial will be a lasting symbol of American 
unity--and a timeless reminder of the moral strength that joins the 
citizens of this country.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the legislation was ordered to be printed 
in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2739

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SEMIPOSTAL STAMP FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE 
                   WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 4 of title 39, United States Code, 
     is amended by inserting after section 414 the following:

     ``Sec. 414a. Special postage stamp for the establishment of 
       the World War II Memorial

       ``(a) In order to afford the public a convenient way to 
     contribute to funding for the establishment of the World War 
     II Memorial, the Postal Service shall establish a special 
     rate of postage for first-class mail under this section.
       ``(b) The rate of postage established under this section--
       ``(1) shall be equal to the regular first-class rate of 
     postage, plus a differential of not to exceed 25 percent;
       ``(2) shall be set by the Governors in accordance with such 
     procedures as the Governors shall by regulation prescribe (in 
     lieu of the procedures under chapter 36); and
       ``(3) shall be offered as an alternative to the regular 
     first-class rate of postage.

     The use of the special rate of postage established under this 
     section shall be voluntary on the part of postal patrons.
       ``(c)(1) Amounts becoming available for the establishment 
     of the World War II Memorial under this section shall be paid 
     to the American Battle Monuments Commission. Payments under 
     this section shall be made under such arrangements as the 
     Postal Service shall by mutual agreement with the American 
     Battle Monuments Commission establish in order to carry out 
     the purposes of this section, except that, under those 
     arrangements, payments to such Commission shall be made at 
     least twice a year.
       ``(2) For purposes of this section, the term `amounts 
     becoming available for the establishment of the World War II 
     Memorial under this section' means--
       ``(A) the total amounts received by the Postal Service that 
     it would not have received but for the enactment of this 
     section, reduced by
       ``(B) an amount sufficient to cover reasonable costs 
     incurred by the Postal Service in carrying out this section, 
     including those attributable to the printing, sale, and 
     distribution of stamps under this section,

     as determined by the Postal Service under regulations that it 
     shall prescribe.
       ``(d) It is the sense of the Congress that nothing in this 
     section should--
       ``(1) directly or indirectly cause a net decrease in total 
     Federal funding received by the American Battle Monuments 
     Commission below the level that would otherwise have been 
     received but for the enactment of this section; or
       ``(2) affect regular first-class rates of postage or any 
     other regular rates of postage.
       ``(e) Special postage stamps under this section shall be 
     made available to the public beginning on such date as the 
     Postal Service shall by regulation prescribe, but in no event 
     later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 
     section or, if earlier, November 11, 2000 (Veterans Day).
       ``(f) The Postmaster General shall include in each report 
     rendered under section 2402 with respect to any period during 
     any portion of which this section is in effect information 
     concerning the operation of this section, except that, at a 
     minimum, each shall include--
       ``(1) the total amount described in subsection (c)(2)(A) 
     which was received by the Postal Service during the period 
     covered by such report; and
       ``(2) of the amount under paragraph (1), how much (in the 
     aggregate and by category) was required for the purposes 
     described in subsection (c)(2)(B).
       ``(g) This section shall cease to be effective upon the 
     determination of the Postmaster General (in consultation with 
     the American Battle Monuments Commission) that the Commission 
     has or will have the funds necessary to pay all expenses of 
     the establishment of the World War II Memorial. Any excess 
     funds shall be deposited in the fund within the Treasury of 
     the United States created by section 2113 of title 36 and may 
     be used for any of the purposes allowable under such section.
       ``(h) As used in this section, the term `World War II 
     Memorial' refers to the memorial the construction of which is 
     authorized by Public Law 103-32.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--(1) The analysis for chapter 4 
     of title 39, United States Code, is amended by striking the 
     item relating to section 414 and inserting the following:

``414. Special postage stamps to benefit breast cancer research.
``414a. Special postage stamps for the establishment of the World War 
              II Memorial.''.

       (2) The heading for section 414 of title 39, United States 
     Code, is amended to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 414. Special postage stamps to benefit breast cancer 
       research''.

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