[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 26, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S9028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               BUFFALO SOLDIERS COMMEMORATION ACT OF 2005

  The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (S. 205) to authorize the 
American Battle Monuments Commission to establish in the State of 
Louisiana a memorial to honor the Buffalo Soldiers, which had been 
reported from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, with an 
amendment, as follows:
  [Strike the part shown in black brackets and insert the part shown in 
italic]

                                 S. 205

       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 ``Buffalo Soldiers 
     [commemoration] Commemoration Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF BUFFALO SOLDIERS MEMORIAL.

       (a) Authorization.--The American Battle Monuments 
     Commission is authorized to establish a memorial to honor the 
     Buffalo Soldiers in or around the City of New Orleans on land 
     donated for such purpose or on Federal land with the consent 
     of the appropriate land manager.
       (b) Contributions.--The Commission shall solicit and accept 
     contributions for the construction and maintenance of the 
     memorial.
       (c) Cooperative Agreements.--The Commission may enter into 
     a cooperative agreement with a private or public entity for 
     the purpose of fundraising for the construction and 
     maintenance of the memorial.
       (d) Maintenance Agreement.--Prior to beginning construction 
     of the memorial, the Commission shall enter into an agreement 
     with an appropriate public or private entity to provide for 
     the permanent maintenance of the memorial and shall have 
     sufficient funds, or assurance that it will receive 
     sufficient funds, to complete the memorial.

     SEC. 3. BUFFALO SOLDIERS MEMORIAL ACCOUNT.

       (a) Establishment.--The Commission shall maintain an escrow 
     account (``account'') to pay expenses incurred in 
     constructing the memorial.
       (b) Deposits Into the Account.--The Commission shall 
     deposit into the account any principal and interest by the 
     United States that the Chairman determines has a suitable 
     maturity.
       (c) Use of Account.--Amounts in the account, including 
     proceeds of any investments, may be used to pay expenses 
     incurred in establishing the memorial. After construction of 
     the memorial amounts in the account shall be transferred by 
     the Commission to the entity providing for permanent 
     maintenance of the memorial under such terms and conditions 
     as the Commission determines will ensure the proper use and 
     accounting of the amounts.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
     necessary to carry out this Act.

  The committee amendment was agreed to.
  The bill (S. 205), as amended, was read the third time and passed, as 
follows:

                                 S. 205

       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 ``Buffalo Soldiers 
     Commemoration Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF BUFFALO SOLDIERS MEMORIAL.

       (a) Authorization.--The American Battle Monuments 
     Commission is authorized to establish a memorial to honor the 
     Buffalo Soldiers in or around the City of New Orleans on land 
     donated for such purpose or on Federal land with the consent 
     of the appropriate land manager.
       (b) Contributions.--The Commission shall solicit and accept 
     contributions for the construction and maintenance of the 
     memorial.
       (c) Cooperative Agreements.--The Commission may enter into 
     a cooperative agreement with a private or public entity for 
     the purpose of fundraising for the construction and 
     maintenance of the memorial.
       (d) Maintenance Agreement.--Prior to beginning construction 
     of the memorial, the Commission shall enter into an agreement 
     with an appropriate public or private entity to provide for 
     the permanent maintenance of the memorial and shall have 
     sufficient funds, or assurance that it will receive 
     sufficient funds, to complete the memorial.

     SEC. 3. BUFFALO SOLDIERS MEMORIAL ACCOUNT.

       (a) Establishment.--The Commission shall maintain an escrow 
     account (``account'') to pay expenses incurred in 
     constructing the memorial.
       (b) Deposits Into the Account.--The Commission shall 
     deposit into the account any principal and interest by the 
     United States that the Chairman determines has a suitable 
     maturity.
       (c) Use of Account.--Amounts in the account, including 
     proceeds of any investments, may be used to pay expenses 
     incurred in establishing the memorial. After construction of 
     the memorial amounts in the account shall be transferred by 
     the Commission to the entity providing for permanent 
     maintenance of the memorial under such terms and conditions 
     as the Commission determines will ensure the proper use and 
     accounting of the amounts.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
     necessary to carry out this Act.

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