[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 17 (Thursday, January 30, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1832-S1833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. VOINOVICH (for himself and Mr. DeWine):
  S. 268. 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, it will be ten years ago this October 
that Americans watched in horror as a U.S. humanitarian effort went 
terribly askew. As frightening pictures from U.S. troops in Somalia 
came back to the Untied States, a group of students at Riverside High 
School in Painesville, OH watched in shock as a U.S. soldier was 
dragged through the streets of Mogadishu. These students, concerned 
with the lack of a 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.
  The motivation and vision of these young people propelled them to 
spearhead a campaign to establish a Pyramid of Remembrance in 
Washington, DC, which would honor U.S. service men and women who have 
lost their lives during peacekeeping operations, humanitarian efforts, 
training, terrorist attacks, or covert operations. The student not only 
proposed the memorial, they created a private non-profit foundation to 
raise the money to construct it. Along with the support of their 
community, who provided legal counsel for the students and private 
donations to help fund the project, their hard work and dedication has 
facilitated a Pyramid of Remembrance which would be built at little or 
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 the time, the United States owes Kevin, David 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.''
  We must also remember and honor the lives of brave men and women who 
have lost their lives while defending our freedom during the global 
campaign against terrorism. Tragically, ten service members, including 
three men from the State of Ohio, lost their lives on February 21, 
2002, when a CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed in the Philippines. They 
are Army Captain Bartt Owens of Franklin, OH; Army Chief Warrant 
Officer Jody Egnor of Middletown, OH; and Air Force Master Sgt. William 
McDaniel of Fort Jefferson, OH. As our Nation continues to engage in 
the war against terror, we must not forget the sacrifice that these men 
have made for their country and the freedom of all Americans.
  The patriotism, dedication, and vision of the students at Riverside 
High School are commendable. I support and applaud the work they have 
done to make the Pyramid of Remembrance a reality and 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 ask unanimous consent that 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. 268

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

     SECTION 1. ARMED FORCES MEMORIAL.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map referred to in 
     section 8902(a)(3) of title 40, United States Code.
       (2) Memorial.--The term ``memorial'' means the memorial 
     authorized to be established under subsection (b)(1).
       (b) Authority To Establish Memorial.--
       (1) 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.
       (2) Compliance with standards for commemorative works.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     the establishment of the memorial shall be in accordance with 
     chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code.
       (B) Exception.--Subsections (b) and (c) of section 8903 of 
     title 40, United States Code, shall not apply to the 
     establishment of the memorial.

[[Page S1833]]

       (c) Funds for Memorial.--
       (1) Use of federal funds prohibited.--Except as provided by 
     chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code, no Federal funds 
     may be used to pay any expense incurred from the 
     establishment of the memorial.
       (2) 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 8906(b)(1) 
     of title 40, United States Code--
       (A) 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 8906(b) of title 40, United States 
     Code); or
       (B) any funds that remain on expiration of the authority 
     for the memorial under section 8903(e) of title 40, United 
     States Code.
                                 ______