[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 24, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL VISITORS' CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 24, 2006

  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, since 2001, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 
Fund, under the leadership of Jan Scruggs, has been working towards the 
dedication of an underground visitors' center on the Memorial grounds. 
The proposal for the center was carefully planned to assure that 
America's youth learn the values of citizenship and duty to their 
nation. This process has been long and arduous for the Fund, but 
throughout it all their efforts have been supported by various 
legislative and public initiatives. Their efforts were officially 
validated when Congress passed a bill that authorized the construction 
of the site in November of 2003. The language of the legislation stated 
that the ``final approval shall not be withheld.''
  Nevertheless, the progress and completion of the site continues to be 
held up, awaiting the pending approval of the National Capitol Planning 
Commission (NCPC). While the NCPC oversees planning and construction of 
any new structure within the Washington, D.C. city limits, in this case 
it appears to be impeding the construction of a facility authorized and 
sanctioned by Congress and under the law.
  In December, the NCPC stalled the progress of the site by removing 
the Visitors Center from its December 1 monthly meeting agenda. 
Additionally, advocates for the Center, who were supposed to testify to 
the NCPC in July 2005, were told that they would have to wait to make 
their presentation until August 2006. Over and over again, the Vietnam 
Veterans Memorial Fund, under the leadership of Jan Scruggs, has 
complied with all the deadlines and requests of the NCPC and other 
governing organizations throughout the approval process. Yet, for some 
reason ground has yet to be broken on the construction of the site.
  While the approval of the site awaits action from the NCPC, a series 
of actions have been taken on the proposal's behalf. In December 2005 
the Resources Committee and National Parks Subcommittee began an 
inquiry of the actions of the National Capitol Planning Commission due 
to delays engineered on an effort approved by Congress in 2003. In 
February Congressman Pombo, chairman of the Resources Committee, 
requested that all internal documents from the NCPC, including emails 
and attorney client materials for review. After a careful review of the 
facts, Congressman Pombo informed the NCPC Chairman on March 2, 2006 
that the NCPC appeared to be intentionally ignoring the will of the 
Congress with unnecessary internal delays. In response, Congressmen 
Pombo and Rahall, introduced H.R. 4882 to end the delays on this 
important project. I cosponsored the bill, which came out of committee 
with great support and was brought to the House floor. On March 28, 
2006 the House overwhelmingly passed H.R. 4882. A companion bill, S. 
2419 was later introduced in the Senate by Senators Kerry, Stevens and 
Hagel, and is currently awaiting legislative action.
  I urge the NCPC to proceed expeditiously in accordance with the 
express wishes of Congress so that America's youth will soon have the 
opportunity to learn about citizenship and duty to our country at the 
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Visitors' Center.

                          ____________________