[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 179 (Thursday, December 10, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CONSTRUCT THE NATIONAL EISENHOWER MEMORIAL

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                          HON. MAC THORNBERRY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 10, 2015

  Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with Representative Mike 
Thompson and Representative Sanford Bishop to urge our colleagues in 
Congress to move towards the construction and completion of the 
National Eisenhower Memorial as a fitting tribute to the Supreme 
Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II and the 
34th President of the United States.
   As admirers of Dwight D. Eisenhower and his impact on history, it 
has been an honor to serve on the Eisenhower Memorial Commission. It is 
our hope that Dwight D. Eisenhower and our country receive a memorial 
that properly commemorates his roles as General and President that 
helped shape our nation for the better. We believe the current proposed 
design achieves this goal.
   For over ten years, the Commission has worked to develop a memorial 
that pays tribute to Eisenhower's achievements as both General and 
President. During this process, there have been some differences of 
opinion on how to best honor Eisenhower's accomplishments. 
Unfortunately, there has also been a fair amount of misinformation in 
many news stories and reports.
   The Memorial was first authorized by Congress in 1999. Within the 
past few months, all final design and site approvals have been obtained 
under the process required by Congress from the National Capital 
Memorial Advisory Commission, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, and the 
National Capital Planning Commission.
   Since its inception, the Commission has consulted with members of 
the Eisenhower family. David Eisenhower was an original member of the 
Commission from 2001 through 2011, during which time the architectural 
firm and Memorial design were approved by unanimous votes.
   Time is of the essence for our remaining World War II veterans. 
Funding of construction in Fiscal Year 2016 will allow the Memorial to 
be completed by the summer of 2019, the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
   Further delays would mean that those who fought under Eisenhower's 
command would not see its completion and call in to question whether 
the Memorial will ever be built. Now is the time to move ahead.

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