[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.

                          ____________________