[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[House]
[Pages 27674-27675]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  FEMA AND CIVIL DEFENSE MONUMENT ACT

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 348) to authorize the construction of a monument to honor 
those who have served the Nation's civil defense and emergency 
management programs.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 348

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AUTHORITY.

        (a) Grant of Authority.--The United States National Civil 
     Defense Monument Commission (in this Act referred to as the 
     ``Commission''), a private nonprofit organization organized 
     under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania, is authorized to 
     construct a Monument to honor those who have served the 
     Nation's civil defense and emergency management programs.
       (b) Expiration.--The authority granted by this section 
     shall expire 7 years after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, unless before the expiration of such 7-year period--
       (1) the approvals required by sections 2(a) and (b) have 
     been obtained; and
       (2) the construction of the Monument has begun.

     SEC. 2. SITE AND DESIGN.

       (a) Site.--Subject to the approval of the Director of the 
     Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Commission may 
     select the site upon which the Monument will be constructed. 
     Such site shall be on Federal land controlled by the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency at Emmitsburg, Maryland.
       (b) Design.--Subject to the approval of the Director of the 
     Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Commission may 
     develop the design of the Monument.

     SEC. 3. CONSTRUCTION COSTS.

       The costs of constructing the Monument shall be paid out of 
     contributions to the Commission.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 348, introduced by the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Bartlett). The gentleman from Maryland worked hard on 
this bill which would help recognize those people who have served in 
this country's civil defense. Specifically, H.R. 348 would authorize 
the United States Civil Defense Monument Commission to construct a 
monument to honor those who have served in the Nation's civil defense 
and emergency management programs. This monument will be constructed on 
Federal land located in Emmitsburg, Maryland and administered by the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency. The site and design of this 
monument will be subject to the approval of the Director of FEMA. All 
of the costs for the construction of the monument will be paid by the 
Commission.

[[Page 27675]]

  Mr. Speaker, this bill has bipartisan support. I urge my colleagues 
to support H.R. 348.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the legislation, H.R. 348, introduced by the gentleman 
from Maryland (Mr. Bartlett) authorizes a private, not-for-profit 
entity, the United States National Civil Defense Monument Commission, 
to construct a monument honoring those who have served in our Nation's 
civil defense and emergency management programs. Mr. Speaker, the civil 
servants this monument would honor are often overlooked until disasters 
such as Hurricanes Floyd and Dennis remind us all of the important role 
played by these dedicated people. A monument providing a more lasting 
recognition is clearly appropriate.
  It is important to note that this monument would be funded through 
contributions to the Commission and built on land owned by the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The Commission, 
subject to the approval of the Director of FEMA, would be authorized to 
select the exact location and design of the monument.
  As a general matter, we should consider each new proposal to 
construct a monument on Federal land very carefully, given the limited 
space available for further such constructions in areas such as the 
National Mall. In this case, however, the site of the FEMA Center in 
Maryland seems appropriate and the involvement of the FEMA director in 
approving the exact site and design will ensure that this proposed 
monument provides the men and women who have served in our national 
civil defense and emergency management programs the recognition they 
well deserve.
  I would like to add that those of us who come from areas like Guam 
which experience natural disasters on a regular basis would also 
enthusiastically support this legislation. I urge my colleagues to 
support H.R. 348.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Bartlett), the author of this legislation.
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the original 
sponsor of H.R. 348, the National Civil Defense/Emergency Management 
Act of 1999. This is a straightforward, nonpartisan piece of 
legislation which will authorize the placement of a monument to honor 
those individuals, paid and volunteers alike, who have served our 
Nation in our most trying times, when disaster strikes.
  Mr. Speaker, as we speak, FEMA employees and volunteers are working 
around the clock to help the victims of Hurricane Floyd recover from 
widespread wind damage, beach erosion, and, most notably, flooding. 
FEMA teams are working tirelessly to deliver food, shelter, clothing 
and medical assistance to thousands of families up and down the East 
Coast. While this is the most recent disaster to strike the U.S., it 
surely will not be the last. It is our hope that this monument will be 
a permanent reminder to those who come to our rescue that we appreciate 
their service and dedication to duty.
  The monument itself is a gift from the private, nonprofit National 
Civil Defense Monument Commission. I would like to commend the members 
of this commission, especially their Chairman, Alex Atzert, for their 
efforts to raise the necessary funds for this monument, which comes at 
no cost to taxpayers.
  Mr. Speaker, as set forth in this legislation, the design and site 
selection of the monument must be approved by the FEMA Director, 
currently James Witt, who has given this monument his blessing. I am 
proud to say that the monument will be placed on the grounds of the 
FEMA training facility in Emmitsburg, Maryland, in the Sixth 
Congressional District which I have the honor to represent.
  Mr. Speaker, by passing H.R. 348, we can demonstrate our appreciation 
for those who have served our country at FEMA and Civil Defense.

                              {time}  1415

  This small token of appreciation will help ensure that future 
generations recognize the hard work and dedication of former employees 
and volunteers who look favorably on this worthy endeavor.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 348, and I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this issue, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 348.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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