[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 113 (Tuesday, September 10, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8472-S8473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    FLIGHT 93 NATIONAL MEMORIAL ACT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Energy and 
Natural Resources Committee be discharged from consideration of H.R. 
3917 and the Senate now proceed to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 3917) to authorize a national memorial to 
     commemorate the passengers and crew of Flight 39, who, on 
     September 11, 2001, courageously gave their lives thereby 
     thwarting a planned attack on our Nation's Capital, and for 
     other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
read three times, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the 
table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the 
Record as if read, with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 3917) was read the third time and passed.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Energy 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 2136, and the 
Senate now proceed to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will state the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2136) to establish a memorial in the State of 
     Pennsylvania to honor the passengers and crew members of 
     Flight 93, who, on September 11, 2001, gave their lives to 
     prevent a planned attack on the Capitol of the United States.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and that any statements thereon be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 2136) was passed, as follows:

                                S. 2136

       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 ``Flight 93 National Memorial 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) on September 11, 2001, passengers and crewmembers of 
     United Airlines Flight 93 courageously gave their lives to 
     prevent a planned attack on the Capital of the United States;
       (2) thousands of people have visited the crash site since 
     September 11, 2001, drawn by the heroic action and sacrifice 
     of the passengers and crewmembers aboard Flight 93;
       (3) many people in the United States are concerned about 
     the future disposition of the crash site, including--
       (A) grieving families of the passengers and crewmembers;
       (B) the people of the region where the crash site is 
     located; and
       (C) citizens throughout the United States;
       (4) many of those people are involved in the formation of 
     the Flight 93 Task Force, a broad, inclusive organization 
     established to provide a voice for all parties interested in 
     and concerned about the crash site;
       (5) the crash site commemorates Flight 93 and is a profound 
     symbol of American patriotism and spontaneous leadership by 
     citizens of the United States;
       (6) a memorial of the crash site should--
       (A) recognize the victims of the crash in an appropriate 
     manner; and

[[Page S8473]]

       (B) address the interests and concerns of interested 
     parties; and
       (7) it is appropriate that the crash site of Flight 93 be 
     designated as a unit of the National Park System.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to establish a memorial to honor the passengers and 
     crewmembers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 
     2001;
       (2) to establish the Flight 93 Advisory Commission to 
     assist in the formulation of plans for the memorial, 
     including the nature, design, and construction of the 
     memorial; and
       (3) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
     administer the memorial, coordinate and facilitate the 
     activities of the Flight 93 Advisory Commission, and provide 
     technical and financial assistance to the Flight 93 Task 
     Force.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Flight 
     93 Advisory Commission established by section (4)(b).
       (2) Crash site.--The term ``crash site'' means the site in 
     Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, where 
     United Airlines Flight 93 crashed on September 11, 2001.
       (3) Memorial.--The term ``Memorial'' means the memorial to 
     the passengers and crewmembers of United Airlines Flight 93 
     established by section 4(a).
       (4) Passenger or crewmember.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``passenger or crewmember'' means 
     a passenger or crewmember aboard United Airlines Flight 93 on 
     September 11, 2001.
       (B) Exclusions.--The term ``passenger or crewmember'' does 
     not include a terrorist aboard United Airlines Flight 93 on 
     September 11, 2001.
       (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (6) Task force.--The term ``Task Force'' means the Flight 
     93 Task Force.

     SEC. 4. MEMORIAL TO HONOR THE PASSENGERS AND CREWMEMBERS OF 
                   FLIGHT 93.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established as a unit of the 
     National Park System a memorial at the crash site to honor 
     the passengers and crewmembers of Flight 93.
       (b) Advisory Commission.--
       (1) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be 
     known as the ``Flight 93 Advisory Commission''.
       (2) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of--
       (A) the Director of the National Park Service; and
       (B) 14 members, appointed by the Secretary, from among 
     persons recommended by the Task Force.
       (3) Term; vacancies.--
       (A) Term.--A member of the Commission shall be appointed 
     for the life of the Commission.
       (B) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission--
       (i) shall not affect the powers of the Commission; and
       (ii) shall be filled in the same manner as the original 
     appointment was made.
       (4) Meetings.--
       (A) In general.--The Commission shall meet at the call of 
     the Chairperson or a majority of the members.
       (B) Frequency.--The Commission shall meet not less than 
     quarterly.
       (C) Notice.--Notice of meetings and the agenda for the 
     meetings shall be published in--
       (i) newspapers in and around Somerset County, Pennsylvania; 
     and
       (ii) the Federal Register.
       (D) Open meetings.--Meetings of the Commission shall be 
     subject to section 552b of title 5, United States Code.
       (5) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission 
     shall constitute a quorum.
       (6) Chairperson.--The Commission shall select a Chairperson 
     from among the members of the Commission.
       (7) Duties.--The Commission shall--
       (A) not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, submit to the Secretary and Congress a report that 
     contains recommendations for the planning, design, 
     construction, and long-term management of the memorial;
       (B) advise the Secretary on--
       (i) the boundaries of the memorial; and
       (ii) the development of a management plan for the memorial;
       (C) consult with the Task Force, the State of Pennsylvania, 
     and other interested parties, as appropriate;
       (D) support the efforts of the Task Force; and
       (E) involve the public in the planning and design of the 
     memorial.
       (8) Powers.--The Commission may--
       (A) make expenditures for services and materials 
     appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section;
       (B) accept donations for use in carrying out this section 
     and for other expenses associated with the memorial, 
     including the construction of the memorial;
       (C) hold hearings and enter into contracts, including 
     contracts for personal services;
       (D) by a vote of the majority of the Commission, delegate 
     any duties that the Commission determines to be appropriate 
     to employees of the National Park Service; and
       (E) conduct any other activities necessary to carry out 
     this Act.
       (9) Compensation.--A member of the Commission shall serve 
     without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses 
     incurred in carrying out the duties of the Commission.
       (10) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on the 
     dedication of the memorial.
       (c) Duties of the Secretary.--The Secretary shall--
       (1) administer the memorial as a unit of the National Park 
     Service in accordance with--
       (A) this Act; and
       (B) the laws generally applicable to units of the National 
     Park System;
       (2) provide advice to the Commission on the collection, 
     storage, and archiving of information and materials relating 
     to the crash or the crash site;
       (3) consult with and assist the Commission in--
       (A) providing information to the public;
       (B) interpreting any information relating to the crash or 
     the crash site;
       (C) conducting oral history interviews; and
       (D) conducting public meetings and forums;
       (4) participate in the development of plans for the design 
     and construction of the memorial;
       (5) provide to the Commission--
       (A) assistance in designing and managing exhibits, 
     collections, or activities at the memorial;
       (B) project management assistance for design and 
     construction activities; and
       (C) staff and other forms of administrative support;
       (6) acquire from willing sellers the land or interests in 
     land for the memorial by donation, purchase with donated or 
     appropriated funds, or exchange; and
       (7) provide the Commission any other assistance that the 
     Commission may require to carry out this Act.

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