[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 163 (Monday, September 21, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H4559-H4560]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FALLEN JOURNALISTS MEMORIAL ACT
Ms. HAALAND. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3465) to authorize the Fallen Journalists Memorial
Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of
Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3465
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 ``Fallen Journalists Memorial
Act''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH COMMEMORATIVE WORK.
(a) In General.--The Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation
may establish a commemorative work on Federal land in the
District of Columbia and its environs to commemorate
America's commitment to a free press by honoring journalists
who sacrificed their lives in service to that cause.
(b) Compliance With Standards for Commemorative Works.--The
establishment of the commemorative work under this section
shall be in accordance with chapter 89 of title 40, United
States Code (commonly known as the ``Commemorative Works
Act'').
(c) Prohibition on Use of Federal Funds.--
(1) In general.--Federal funds may not be used to pay any
expense of the establishment of the commemorative work under
this section.
(2) Responsibility of the fallen journalists memorial
foundation.--The Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation shall
be solely responsible for acceptance of contributions for,
and payment of the expenses of, the establishment of the
commemorative work under this section.
(d) Deposit of Excess Funds.--
(1) In general.--If upon payment of all expenses for the
establishment of the commemorative work (including the
maintenance and preservation amount required by section
8906(b)(1) of title 40, United States Code), there remains a
balance of funds received for the establishment of the
commemorative work, the Fallen Journalists Memorial
Foundation shall transmit the amount of the balance to the
Secretary of the Interior for deposit in the account provided
for in section 8906(b)(3) of title 40, United States Code.
[[Page H4560]]
(2) On expiration of authority.--If upon expiration of the
authority for the commemorative work under section 8903(e) of
title 40, United States Code, there remains a balance of
funds received for the establishment of the commemorative
work, the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation shall
transmit the amount of the balance to a separate account with
the National Park Foundation for memorials, to be available
to the Secretary of the Interior or Administrator (as
appropriate) following the process provided in section
8906(b)(4) of title 40, United States Code, for accounts
established under section 8906(b)(2) or (3) of title 40,
United States Code.
SEC. 3. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall
be determined by reference to the latest statement titled
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act,
submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the
Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such
statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New Mexico (Ms. Haaland) and the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Cheney)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Mexico.
General Leave
Ms. HAALAND. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5
legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New Mexico?
There was no objection.
Ms. HAALAND. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 3465, the Fallen Journalists Memorial Act
introduced by my fellow committee member, Representative Napolitano.
This bill would authorize a memorial to honor the reporters,
photojournalists, producers, editors, and countless others who have
lost their lives while performing their jobs.
Every day, journalists at home and abroad place their lives at risk
in pursuit of the truth and in defense of our First Amendment right to
a free and independent press.
In 2018 alone, nearly 80 journalists from around the world were
murdered in their line of work. Yet, with the closure of the Newseum
earlier this year, there is no memorial that commemorates those who
have paid the ultimate sacrifice while fulfilling their duty to deliver
the news.
The memorial envisioned in H.R. 3465 would be a fitting tribute to
their sacrifices and an affirmation of our Nation's commitment to a
free press.
I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 3465 would authorize the Fallen Journalists
Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work on Federal land
to commemorate the sacrifices made by journalists for a free and
independent press.
This bill requires the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation to
follow the standard legal framework established by the Commemorative
Works Act for the placement of commemorative works on Federal land in
the District of Columbia.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 1,382 journalists
have been killed since 1992 as a result of their work in combat or
crossfire or while carrying out dangerous assignments. Hundreds more
each year are attacked, imprisoned, and tortured.
Threats and attacks against journalists are not new, but today
journalists face an increasingly hostile environment. H.R. 3465 was
introduced 1 year after the deadliest attack on journalists in modern
United States history when five Capital Gazette employees were killed
in their Annapolis, Maryland, newsroom on June 28, 2018.
Madam Speaker, this memorial will stand as an important reminder of
the First Amendment and the vital importance that a free and
independent press plays in defending all of our rights.
I urge adoption of the measure, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Ms. HAALAND. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Haaland) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3465, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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