[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 69 (Monday, May 17, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H3025-H3026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1415
NATIONAL WAR PERMANENT TRIBUTE HISTORICAL DATABASE ACT
Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2201) to authorize the establishment of a national database
for purposes of identifying, locating, and cataloging the many
memorials and permanent tributes to America's veterans.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 2201
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 ``National War Permanent
Tribute Historical Database Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) on November 13, 2000, Congress agreed to a resolution
expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need for
cataloging and maintaining public memorials;
(2) there are many thousands of public memorials and
permanent tributes throughout the United States and abroad
that commemorate military conflicts of the United States and
the service of individuals in the Armed Forces;
(3) many of these memorials suffer from neglect and
disrepair, and many have been relocated or stored in
facilities where the memorials are unavailable to the public
and subject to further neglect and damage; and
(4) there exists a need to collect and centralize
information regarding the identification, location, and
description of these memorials, as no such catalog is
available to the public from either the Federal Government or
any nongovernmental entity.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF DATABASE.
(a) Establishment.--In order to locate, identify, and
catalog the many thousands of permanent tributes that
commemorate the military conflicts of the United States, and
the service and sacrifice of individuals in the Armed Forces
of the United States, and to make such information readily
available for the educational benefit of the public, the
Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary
of Veterans' Affairs, may establish and maintain a database
known as the National War Permanent Tribute Historical
Database.
(b) Content.--The database shall contain information on--
(1) the location, history, and background of the permanent
tributes;
(2) photographs and other information to enhance the
understanding of the permanent tributes;
(3) information about the veterans in whose honor the
permanent tributes are dedicated; and
(4) any other information the Secretary considers
appropriate and necessary.
(c) Public Access.--The database shall be made accessible
to the public, through the Internet or by other means, in a
format that permits the public to submit information on
permanent tributes for the purpose of updating and expanding
the database.
(d) Assistance.--The Secretary of the Interior may seek the
assistance of other Federal agencies and the States and their
political subdivisions, tribal governments, public or private
educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and
individuals or other entities that the Secretary considers
appropriate in carrying out this Act, and may enter into
contracts and cooperative agreements to obtain information or
services that assist in the development and implementation of
the database.
(e) Definition.--As used in this section, the term
``permanent tribute'' means any statue, structure, or other
monument on public property commemorating the service of any
person or persons in the Armed Forces.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary
of the Interior such sums as may be necessary to carry out
this Act.
SEC. 5. REPORT.
Within 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of the Interior shall transmit to the Congress
a report assessing the efficacy and desirability of
establishing a permanent fund within the Treasury for the
repair, restoration, and maintenance of the memorials
identified and catalogued under section 3. The report shall
include recommended criteria regarding appropriate recipients
of expenditures from such a fund as well as proposed funding
mechanisms and any other information considered by the
Secretary to be relevant.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). Pursuant to the rule, the
gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentlewoman from the
Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich).
General Leave
Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2201.
[[Page H3026]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2201, introduced by the gentleman from Colorado
(Mr. Udall), would authorize the establishment of a national database
for purposes of identifying, locating and cataloging the many public
memorials and permanent tributes to America's veterans of armed
service. Once completed, this database will provide our Nation with an
excellent educational resource for future generations to learn about
the contributions made by members of our Armed Forces. It will also
serve as yet another reminder of the sacrifice so many Americans have
given to defend our country and the freedoms that we hold so dear.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2201 is supported by the majority and minority of
the committee, and I urge adoption of the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend
her remarks.)
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2201 is a bipartisan measure
introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall),
that will help further the commemoration of the service rendered in
military conflicts throughout American history.
There are thousands of public memorials that commemorate military
conflicts of the United States and the service of individuals of the
U.S. Armed Forces. On November 13, 2000, Congress agreed to a
resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need for
cataloging and maintaining public memorials.
As I said, there are many thousands of public memorials and permanent
tributes throughout the United States, including in my district, the
U.S. Virgin Islands, and abroad, that commemorate military conflicts of
the United States and the service of individuals in the Armed Forces.
Many of these memorials suffer from neglect and disrepair and many have
been relocated or stored in facilities where the memorials are
unavailable to the public and subject to further neglect and damage.
There also exists a need to collect and centralize information
regarding the identification, location and description of these
memorials, as no such catalog is available to the public from either
the Federal Government or any nongovernmental agency.
By directing the establishment of a centralized database of these
public memorials, H.R. 2201 will contribute to the increased
recognition and understanding of the events and people involved in the
defense of our country.
Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to commend the gentleman
from Colorado (Mr. Udall) for his initiative on this important matter.
I wholeheartedly support this bipartisan measure and urge its adoption
by the House today.
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2201.
I want to thank Chairman Pombo and Ranking Member Rahall as well as
Subcommittee Chairman Radanovich and the gentlewoman from the Virgin
Islands, Dr. Christensen for their leadership in having the Resources
Committee act so promptly on this bill. And I greatly appreciate the
cooperation from the Veterans' Affairs Committee that has made it
possible for the bill to come to the floor today.
Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the bill is to help the government and
the public to keep track of the many important war memorials on public
lands throughout our country.
It would also provide for a report to Congress to determine if there
should be a permanent fund within the Treasury for the upkeep of these
memorials.
These memorials remind us that the freedom we enjoy in the United
States has not just been given to us--Americans have made great
sacrifices, including their lives, to protect our way of life.
Unfortunately many of these memorials don't receive the care they
deserve and have fallen into disrepair.
These memorials may not be as large as those on the National Mall or
Arlington Nation Cemetery but they are just as important and should be
taken care of.
In 2002, Congress agreed to a resolution expressing the need for
cataloging and maintaining public memorials. The bill would follow
through by taking the first step of cataloging our public war
memorials.
By cataloging and reporting to Congress on the condition of all war
memorials on public lands and by considering how to maintain them we
make sure that our veterans are not forgotten.
Passage of this bill will be a step toward renewing our commitment to
honor our Nation's veterans. I urge approval of the bill.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2201.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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