[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 137 (Thursday, October 17, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10679-S10680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. VOINOVICH (for himself and Mr. DeWine):
  S. 3128. A bill to authorize the Pyramid of Remembrance Foundation to 
establish a memorial in the District of Columbia and its environs to 
honor members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have lost 
their lives during peacekeeping operations, humanitarian efforts, 
training, terrorist attacks, or covert operations; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, nearly ten years ago, a group of 
students at Riverside High School in Painesville, OH watched with 
horror as a U.S. soldier in Somalia was dragged through the streets of 
Mogadishu. The students, concerned that there was no memorial in our 
Nation's capital to honor members of our armed forces who lost their 
lives during peacekeeping missions such as the one in Somalia, felt 
compelled to take action.
  This group of motivated young people spearheaded a campaign to 
establish a Pyramid of Remembrance in Washington, DC to honor U.S. 
servicemen and women who have lost their lives during peacekeeping 
operations, humanitarian efforts, training, terrorist attacks, or 
convert operations. The students not only proposed the memorial, they 
created a private non-

[[Page S10680]]

profit foundation to raise the money to construct the memorial. The 
community pulled together, providing legal counsel for the students and 
private donations to help fund the project. Thanks to their hard work, 
the proposed Pyramid of Remembrance would be built at no cost to the 
taxpayer.
  In April 2001, the National Capital Memorial Commission, charged with 
overseeing monument construction in Washington, DC, held hearings about 
the proposed Pyramid of Remembrance. The Commission recommended that 
the memorial be constructed on Defense Department land, possibly at 
Fort McNair. The commissioners also noted that such a memorial would 
indeed fill a void in our Nation's military monuments.
  On May 6, 1999, I spoke on the Senate floor in honor of two brave 
American soldiers, Chief Warrant Officer Kevin L. Reichert and Chief 
Warrant Officer David A. Gibbs, who lost their lives when their Apache 
helicopter crashed into the Albanian mountains during a routine 
training exercise on May 5, 1999, as U.S. troops joined with our NATO 
allies in a military campaign against Slobodan Milosevic. As I remarked 
at that time, the United States owes David, Kevin and so many other 
service members a debt of gratitude that we will never be able to 
repay, for they have paid the ultimate sacrifice. As the Bible says in 
John chapter 15:13, ``Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay 
down his life for his friends.''
  I support the vision of the students at Riverside High School and 
applaud the work they have done to make the Pyramid of Remembrance a 
reality. I believe it is our duty to honor American men and women in 
uniform who have lost their lives while serving their country, whether 
in peacetime or during war.
  I am pleased to introduce in the Senate a companion measure to H.R. 
282, introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Steve 
LaTourette, which would authorize the Pyramid of Remembrance Foundation 
to establish a memorial in the District of Columbia or its environs to 
soldiers who have lost their lives during peacekeeping operations, 
humanitarian efforts, training, terrorist attacks, or covert 
operations.
  A monument honoring members of our Armed Forces who have lost their 
lives in peacetime deserves a place of honor in our Nation's capital. I 
commend and thank the students in Painesville, their parents, and the 
teachers and community leaders who have supported them for their hard 
work and dedication to this cause. The proposed Pyramid of Remembrance 
would fill a void among memorials in Washington, DC. I encourage my 
colleagues to support their worthy endeavor and to join me in support 
of this bill.
  I ask unanimous consent the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 3128

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

     SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map referred to in 
     section 2(e) of the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 
     1002(e)).
       (2) Memorial.--The term ``memorial'' means the memorial 
     authorized to be established under section 2(a).

     SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH MEMORIAL.

       (a) In General.--The Pyramid of Remembrance Foundation may 
     establish a memorial on Federal land in the area depicted on 
     the map as ``Area II'' to honor members of the Armed Forces 
     of the United States who have lost their lives during 
     peacekeeping operations, humanitarian efforts, training, 
     terrorist attacks, or covert operations.
       (b) Compliance With Standards for Commemorative Works.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
     establishment of the memorial shall be in accordance with the 
     Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
       (2) Exception.--Subsections (b) and (c) of section 3 of the 
     Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 1003) shall not apply to 
     the establishment of the memorial.

     SEC. 3. FUNDS FOR MEMORIAL.

       (a) Use of Federal Funds Prohibited.--Except as provided by 
     the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), no 
     Federal funds may be used to pay any expense incurred from 
     the establishment of the memorial.
       (b) Deposit of Excess Funds.--The Pyramid of Remembrance 
     Foundation shall transmit to the Secretary of the Treasury 
     for deposit in the account provided for in section 8(b)(1) of 
     the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 1008(b)(1))--
       (1) any funds that remain after payment of all expenses 
     incurred from the establishment of the memorial (including 
     payment of the amount for maintenance and preservation 
     required under section 8(b) of the Commemorative Works Act 
     (40 U.S.C. 1008(b))); or
       (2) any funds that remain on expiration of the authority 
     for the memorial under section 10(b) of that Act (40 U.S.C. 
     1010(b)).
                                 ______