[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 25 (Thursday, February 14, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1067-S1068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. LANDRIEU (for herself, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Stevens, Mr. 
        Lautenberg, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Cochran, Mrs. Dole, Mr. Graham, and 
        Mr. Alexander):
  S. 2652. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Defense to make a grant 
to the National World War II Museum Foundation for facilities and 
programs of America's National World War II Museum; to the Committee on 
Armed Services.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, the Second World War will probably be 
known as one of the greatest achievements in American history. The 
ultimate victory over enemies in the Pacific and in Europe is a 
testament to the uncommon valor of American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, 
and Marines. The years 1941 to 1945 also witnessed an unprecedented 
mobilization of domestic industry which supplied our fighting men on 
two distant fronts. As the generation that faced this challenge comes 
to a close, it is important that we take the time to honor them for the 
many sacrifices they made. It was the gallantry of American troops 
abroad and the tireless devotion of workers at home that brought the 
end of this Great War.
  I come to the floor today, to honor all of the 16 million World War 
II veterans and their families for the many sacrifices they made. 
Today, along

[[Page S1068]]

with eight of my colleagues, I would like to introduce America's 
National World War II Museum Expansion Act.
  On June 6, 2000, the 56th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of 
Normandy, the National D-Day Museum, operated in New Orleans, LA, 
opened their doors. The museum is the only museum in the U.S. that 
exists for the exclusive purpose of accounting for the American 
experience during World War II, both on the battlefront and at home. 
The museum educates on all of the branches of the Armed Forces and the 
Merchant Marine.
  The museum was founded by the late World War II historian Stephen 
Ambrose. The museum and the decision to locate it in New Orleans was 
the result of a conversation Mr. Ambrose had with President Dwight D. 
Eisenhower. It was said in the conversation that President Eisenhower 
and former Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe, 
credited Andrew Jackson Higgins, the man behind Higgins Industries in 
New Orleans, as the ``man who won the war for us''. Higgins designed 
and produced amphibious landing crafts that became known as the Higgins 
Boats. These boats were used in every major amphibious operation of 
World War II, including D-Day, and responsible for transporting the men 
from the ship to the shore.
  The museum is a premier educational institution, which educates 
diverse audiences through its collection of artifacts, photographs, 
letters, documents, and personal testimonies of participants in the war 
and on the home front. It is important that we continue preserving, 
maintaining, and interpreting the artifacts, documents, images, and 
history collected by the museum. For these reasons, in 2003 Congress 
designated the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans as America's 
National World War II Museum. Since the designation, the Museum Board 
has embarked on an extraordinary expansion, with plans to quadruple its 
size. The museum will account for all service branches and campaigns of 
the war, including the war on the home front.
  This bill is a one time permanent $50 million authorization for the 
expansion of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. 
Specifically, the $50 million authorization would provide funding for 
the U.S. Freedom Pavilion, which is part of the museum's expansion. The 
U.S. Freedom Pavilion will be the main entrance building to the main 
theatre, exhibit halls, and other pavilions. Among its major exhibits, 
the Freedom Pavilion will contain an interactive exhibition honoring 
all of the World War II veterans who have also served the nation as 
President, or as a member of the U.S. Senate or the U.S. House of 
Representatives between the years of 1941 and 1945.
  A combination of State, local, and private funding, totaling $240 
million, will match the $50 million Federal authorization. To date, the 
State of Louisiana has already dedicated $33 million toward the 
expansion, and has pledged additional funds up to $50 million to match 
dollar for dollar the $50 million Federal authorization, if approved by 
Congress. The private sector support has already surpassed $40 million, 
and the remaining balance of the expansion will be raised privately.
  A House companion bill, H.R. 2923, has been introduced by Chairman 
Dingell and is cosponsored by 11 other members, including all members 
of the Louisiana U.S. House of Representatives Delegation. In closing, 
I want to give many thanks to Senators Inouye, Stevens, Lautenberg, 
Vitter, Dole, Alexander, Cochran and Graham, for joining me in helping 
to preserve an important piece of our history. I would like to give 
special thanks to Senator Inouye, Senator Stevens, and Senator 
Lautenberg. This museum is a tribute to you and your fellow servicemen.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2652

       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 ``America's National World War 
     II Museum Expansion Act''.

     SEC. 2. GRANT TO NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MUSEUM FOUNDATION FOR 
                   AMERICA'S NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MUSEUM.

       (a) Grant.--The Secretary of Defense may make a grant in 
     the amount of $50,000,000 to the National World War II Museum 
     Foundation for use in accordance with subsection (b) for the 
     museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, designated as America's 
     National World War II Museum by section 8134 of the 
     Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public Law 
     108-87; 117 Stat. 1103) (referred to in this section as the 
     ``Museum'').
       (b) Use of Funds.--The grant under subsection (a) shall be 
     used for the following:
       (1) The planning, design, and construction of a new 
     facility for the Museum, to be known as the United States 
     Freedom Pavilion, and its exhibitions, and the planning, 
     design, and construction of a new canopy over the courtyard 
     of the Museum, to be known as the Canopy of Peace.
       (2) The public display of artifacts, photographs, letters, 
     documents, and personal histories dating from 1939 to 1945, 
     including exhibits portraying American sacrifices both on the 
     battlefield and on the home front and the industrial 
     mobilization of the American home front.
       (3) Educational outreach programs for teachers and 
     students.
       (4) Traveling exhibitions on the history and lessons of 
     World War II for United States military facilities.
       (5) Educational programs to foster the expansion of 
     European and Pacific exhibits at the Museum to be included in 
     the Center for the Study of the American Spirit.
       (6) Projects that enable the Museum to function as a 
     liaison between museums, scholars, and members of the general 
     public in the United States and around the world.
       (7) A readily accessible repository of information and 
     materials reflecting the historical, social, and cultural 
     effects of World War II.
       (8) The preservation, interpretation, and public exhibition 
     of memorabilia, models, artifacts of significance (and 
     replicas), and oral histories from the combat experience of 
     members of the United States Armed Forces.
       (9) Other appropriate activities relating to the management 
     and operation of the United States Freedom Pavilion, 
     including the sale of concessions, appropriate mementos, and 
     other materials, the proceeds of which would help support the 
     overall operation of the Museum and the United States Freedom 
     Pavilion.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 60 months after receiving a 
     grant under this section, the Secretary shall submit to 
     Congress a report documenting how the Museum used the grants 
     funds and evaluating the success of the projects and 
     activities funded by the grant.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
     this Act.
                                 ______