[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 33 (Wednesday, March 15, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S2206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. STEVENS (for himself, Mr. Hagel, and Mr. Kerry):
  S. 2419. A bill to ensure the proper remembrance of Vietnam veterans 
and the Vietnam War by providing a deadline for the designation of a 
visitor center for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I come to the floor to introduce a bill, 
which seeks to honor Congress' commitment to our Vietnam Veterans. 
Joining me in sponsoring this legislation is Senator Hagel, a Vietnam 
veteran himself.
  On November 5, 2003 this body passed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 
Visitor Center Act by unanimous consent.
  That bill authorized the construction of a center to educate the 
nearly 4 million visitors annually to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
  This center will be an important resource for current and future 
generations, enabling them to have a better understanding of the 
Vietnam War and to pay tribute to the brave Americans who answered the 
call to duty.
  Unfortunately, the Visitor Center project has stalled due to 
bureaucratic delays.
  This bill would create a 30-day deadline following its enactment for 
the approval of the Visitor Center.
  We owe it to the Vietnam Veterans, and to the Wall's future visitors 
to follow through with this project. I urge my colleagues to support 
this important legislation.
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