[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 133 (Friday, September 9, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5477-S5478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. INOUYE (for himself, Mr. Schumer, and Mrs. Gillibrand):
  S. 1537. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to accept 
from the Board of Directors of the National September 11 Memorial and 
Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation, Inc., the donation of 
title to The National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World 
Trade Center, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.
  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, on the morning of September 11, 2001, 
nearly 3,000 people who would lose their lives in the most horrific 
attack on America since the bombing of Pearl Harbor began their day 
like it was any other.
  Many got dressed and headed for work. Others packed their bags and 
went to the airport. All would leave their loved ones that morning 
believing they would be home soon to continue the lives they worked so 
hard to create.
  Instead these innocents were murdered by terrorists at the World 
Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in a field in Shanksville, PA. This 
despicable act forever changed our great nation and the world. Families 
were shattered, a war began, and the relative peace and security we 
enjoyed was ripped away.
  I recently toured the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan and 
although the rubble has been cleared and great structures are rising 
from the earth, there is a solemn air that permeates the place.
  Despite the bustling crews and the towering cranes stacking metal and 
shaping the new towers it is still the spot where husbands, wives, 
fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers died in fiery fashion.
  Being there reminded me of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the 
formative years that followed.
  I was a boy of 17 when I heard the announcer shout over the radio 
that Japanese planes were attacking Pearl Harbor. I remember running 
outside with my father to see the bright red suns painted on the wings 
of the Zeroes as they raced toward their target amid black puffs of 
anti-aircraft fire.
  I knew at that moment that my country and my life would never be the 
same. Six decades later that moment came again when I watched passenger 
jets crash into the side of the World Trade Center.
  After Pearl Harbor I put on the uniform and went off to fight for 
this country as did thousands of my brave brothers from the Greatest 
Generation. Our nation was shocked into action by the events of 
December 7, 1941 and a generation of Americans fought and died to shape 
the new world that came after the bombs fell.
  America was awakened in similar fashion on the morning of September 
11, 2001 and 10 years later we are still fighting and dying to create a 
future better than the one we lost that day.
  Today, next to the new towers at the World Trade Center site, is the 
National September 11 Memorial and Museum at Ground Zero. It is a 
magnificent structure. Two waterfall rimmed pools, situated in the 
original foot prints of the fallen towers, sit side by side. The names 
of the fallen are engraved in panels that form a railing around each 
pool.
  It is a fitting memorial for those who died but we must honor their 
memory by telling their story and educating the world about what 
happened on September 11, 2001.
  Yes, it was America that was attacked, but the world changed forever 
that day and this memorial and museum is much more than a collection of 
artifacts, it is a symbol of America reborn and a reminder that the 
world order is always changing.
  Today, I rise to introduce a bill that will allow the United States, 
through the Secretary of the Interior, to take ownership of the lands, 
the Memorial and the Museum, after the appropriate approvals are 
secured from the Governor of the State of New York, the Governor of the 
State of New Jersey, and the Mayor of New York City.
  The Department of the Interior will enter into a cooperative 
agreement with the Board of the non-profit National September 11 
Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center, Inc., which may provide 
technical and financial assistance to the Memorial and Museum relating 
to its operations and maintenance.
  The legislation would authorize appropriations of $20 million in 
fiscal year 2013, the first full fiscal year after which the Museum is 
scheduled to open to the public, and in subsequent years.
  All funds appropriated must be matched by non-Federal sources, such 
as admission fees, gifts and fundraising, with the resulting Federal 
share being about 33 percent or less of the overall budget of the 
Memorial and Museum.
  It is our duty to help perpetuate this seminal moment in American 
history.
  Let us take responsibility for preserving our past and driving our 
future by honoring the fallen and their families with this lasting 
tribute.
  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. 1537

       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 September 11 
     Memorial and Museum Act of 2011''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) on September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked 
     and our world was changed forever when terrorists murdered 
     nearly 3,000 innocent people at the World Trade Center, at 
     the Pentagon, and in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, in 
     the largest terrorist attack ever committed in the United 
     States;
       (2) millions of people from every State and every country 
     have visited Ground Zero to pay their respects;
       (3) established in 2003, the National September 11 Memorial 
     and Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation, Inc., a 
     nonprofit organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986, has been dedicated to raising 
     funds for and overseeing the design, construction, and 
     operation of the Memorial and Museum at the World Trade 
     Center site;
       (4) the Memorial will ensure that future generations never 
     forget the thousands of people who were killed by the 
     terrorist attack on September 11th, 2001, in New York, 
     Pennsylvania, and Virginia as well as those who died in the 
     terrorist bombing at the World Trade Center on February 26, 
     1993;

[[Page S5478]]

       (5) the Memorial--
       (A) will further recognize the thousands who survived the 
     terrorist attacks and all who demonstrated extraordinary 
     compassion in the aftermath;
       (B) will ensure, through educational programs, that the 
     history of September 11, 2011, and the implications of that 
     day, continue to be told, especially to the youth of the 
     United States; and
       (C) will be a resource to the more than 600 September 11 
     Memorials being established throughout the United States;
       (6) the Memorial is scheduled to open on the 10th 
     anniversary of the terrorist attacks, while the Museum is 
     scheduled to open in 2012;
       (7) it is projected that the Memorial will be one of the 
     most visited venues in the United States, with millions of 
     visitors each year, reflecting the enormous impact the 
     terrorist attacks had on the United States and the world;
       (8) throughout the history of the United States, Congress 
     has stepped forward to authorize operating funds, in public 
     and private partnership with private donors, for memorials 
     and museums of national significance;
       (9) the Memorial is a true public and private partnership, 
     recognized as a public charity under the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986; and
       (10) of the funds raised for the Memorial and Museum--
       (A) nearly 60 percent have come from over 300,000 private 
     donations; and
       (B) 40 percent have come from public sources.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to promote the 
     purposes of the Memorial, including--
       (1) remembering and honoring the thousands of innocent men, 
     women, and children murdered by terrorists in the horrific 
     attacks of February 26, 1993, and September 11, 2001;
       (2) respecting the site made sacred through tragic loss;
       (3) recognizing--
       (A) the endurance of the individuals who survived the 
     terrorist attacks;
       (B) the courage of the individuals who risked their lives 
     to save others; and
       (C) the compassion of the individuals who supported the 
     people of the United States in our darkest hours;
       (4) ensuring, through educational programs, that the 
     history of September 11, 2001, and the implications of that 
     day continue to be told, especially to the youth of the 
     United States; and
       (5) ensuring that the Memorial will be a resource to the 
     more than 600 September 11 Memorials being established 
     throughout the United States.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the Board of Directors 
     of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World 
     Trade Center Foundation, Inc.
       (2) Memorial.--The term ``Memorial'' means The National 
     September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center in 
     New York City, New York.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

     SEC. 4. DONATION OF MEMORIAL.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary may accept from the Board 
     the donation of title to the Memorial, subject to--
       (1) any terms and conditions that the Secretary and the 
     Board may mutually agree to;
       (2) the approval of the donation by the Governor of the 
     State of New York, the Governor of the State of New Jersey, 
     and the Mayor of the City of New York; and
       (3) the requirement that title to the Memorial be in a form 
     satisfactory to the Secretary.
       (b) Technical and Financial Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may provide technical and 
     financial assistance to the Board relating to the operation 
     of the Memorial.
       (2) Consultation.--The Secretary may consult with, and seek 
     technical assistance from, the Secretary of Defense, 
     Secretary of Education, Secretary of Homeland Security, 
     Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and Administrator 
     of General Services in providing assistance to the Board 
     under paragraph (1).

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     Act not more than $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2013 and each 
     fiscal year thereafter, subject to the requirement that any 
     funds appropriated to carry out this Act shall be matched 
     with funds from non-Federal sources.

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