[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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