[Senate Report 117-189]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                     Calendar No. 540
117th Congress       }                            {       Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session          }                            {       117-189

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      WOMEN WHO WORKED ON THE HOME FRONT WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL ACT

                                _______
                                

                October 18, 2022.--Ordered to be printed

 Filed, under authority of the order of the Senate of October 14, 2022

                                _______
                                

   Mr. Manchin, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 3531]

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 
referred the bill (H.R. 3531), to authorize the Women Who 
Worked on the Home Front Foundation to establish a 
commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its 
environs, and for other purposes, having considered the same, 
reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that 
the bill do pass.

                                PURPOSE

    The purpose of H.R. 3531 is to authorize the Women Who 
Worked on the Home Front Foundation to establish a 
commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs 
to commemorate the commitment and service represented by women 
who worked on the home front during World War II.

                          BACKGROUND AND NEED

    H.R. 3531 would authorize construction of a commemorative 
work to commemorate the more than 18 million American women who 
kept the home front running during World War II. This included 
more than 10,000 women who worked as code breakers and over 
1,100 female volunteers who flew military aircraft as part of 
the Women Airforce Service Pilots program. Women filled, often 
for the first time, millions of manufacturing, construction, 
and engineering jobs necessary to keep the American wartime 
economy functioning.
    In February 2020, the National Capital Memorial Advisory 
Commission agreed that the compelling story of American women's 
contributions and changing status during World War II is of 
lasting national significance and that the proposed 
commemorative work would enrich and diversify the portfolio of 
commemorative works in Washington, DC.

                          LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

    H.R. 3531, sponsored by Delegate Norton and others, was 
introduced on May 25, 2021. The Subcommittee on National Parks, 
Forests, and Public Lands held a hearing on the bill on October 
14, 2021, and the bill was reported by the Committee on Natural 
Resources on December 1, 2021 (H. Rept. 117-197). H.R. 3531 
passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 425-1 on 
December 9, 2021.
    A companion bill, S. 1814, was introduced by Senators, 
Duckworth, Blackburn, and Braun on March 25, 2021. Senator 
Duckworth introduced similar legislation in the 116th Congress, 
S. 3474. No further action was taken on that bill.
    The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on S. 
1814 and H.R. 3531 on May 11, 2022.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in 
open business session on July 21, 2022, by a voice vote of a 
quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass H.R. 3531.

                      SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title

    Section 1 provides the short title of the bill, the ``Women 
Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act.''

Section 2. Authorization to establish commemorative work

    Section 2(a) authorizes the Women Who Worked on the Home 
Front Foundation to establish a commemorative work on federal 
land in the District of Columbia to commemorate the commitment 
and service represented by women who worked on the home front 
during World War II.
    Subsection (b) provides that the establishment of the 
commemorative work shall be in accordance with 40 U.S.C. 
chapter 89, commonly known as the ``Commemorative Works Act.''
    Subsection (c) prohibits the use of Federal funds to pay 
any expense of the establishment of the commemorative work. The 
Foundation shall be solely responsible for the acceptance of 
contributions for, and payment of the expenses of, establishing 
the commemorative work.
    Subsection (d) provides that any excess funds remaining 
after establishment of the commemorative work shall be 
deposited into account provided for in 40 U.S.C. 8906(b)(3).

Section 3. Determination of budgetary effects

    Section 3 is a budgetary effects statement.

                   COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

    The Committee has requested, but has not yet received, the 
Congressional Budget Office's estimate of the cost of H.R. 3531 
as ordered reported. When the Congressional Budget Office 
completes its cost estimate, it will be posted on the Internet 
at www.cbo.gov.

                      REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION

    In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following 
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in 
carrying out H.R. 3531. The bill is not a regulatory measure in 
the sense of imposing Government-established standards or 
significant economic responsibilities on private individuals 
and businesses. No personal information would be collected in 
administering the program. Therefore, there would be no impact 
on personal privacy. Little, if any, additional paperwork would 
result from the enactment of H.R. 3531, as ordered reported.

                   CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

    H.R 3531, as ordered reported, does not contain any 
congressionally directed spending items, limited tax benefits, 
or limited tariff benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate.

                        EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

    The testimony provided by the Department of the Interior at 
the May 11, 2022, hearing on H.R. 3531 follows:

 Statement of Michael A. Caldwell, Associate Director, Park Planning, 
 Facilities, and Lands, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the 
                                Interior

    Chairman King, Ranking Member Daines, and members of the 
Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the 
views of the Department of the Interior on S. 1814, a bill to 
authorize the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation to 
establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and 
its environs.
    The Department supports this legislation.
    S. 1814 would authorize the Women Who Worked on the Home 
Front Foundation to establish a commemorative work on Federal 
land in Washington, D.C. and its environs to commemorate the 
``commitment and service represented by women who worked on the 
home front during World War II.'' The bill requires compliance 
with the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. Chapter 89) (CWA) 
and prohibits Federal funds from being used to establish the 
memorial. ``Women Who Worked on the Home Front'' refers to the 
countless American women who stepped up to support their nation 
during America's involvement in World War II. Between 1941 and 
1945, the female portion of the U.S. workforce increased from 
27 percent to nearly 37 percent. More than 10,000 women worked 
as code breakers during WWII and over 1,100 female volunteers 
flew nearly every type of military aircraft as part of the 
Women Airforce Service Pilots program. Women were trained to 
fly military aircraft so male pilots could leave for combat 
duty overseas. Other jobs women filled, often for the first 
time, included keel welder, telegraph operator, steam hammer 
operator, radio engineer, electrical engineer, crane operator, 
flash welder, ship fitter, tinsmith, pipe fitter, surveyor, 
draftsman, and so much more.
    In February 2020, the National Capital Memorial Advisory 
Commission (Commission) reviewed an identical version of this 
legislation that was introduced in the 116th Congress. The CWA 
established the Commission and requires Congress to solicit its 
views when considering legislation authorizing Commemorative 
Works within the District of Columbia and its environs.
    During its review, the Commission agreed that the 
compelling story of American women's contributions and changing 
status during World War II is of lasting national significance 
and that this proposed commemoration would enrich and diversify 
the portfolio of commemorative works in Washington, DC. The 
Commission also recommended keeping the focus of the 
commemorative work on the themes of ``commitment'' and 
``service,'' rather than on the individuals themselves, in 
accordance with section Sec. 8903(c) of the CWA.
    Chairman King, this concludes my statement. I would be 
pleased to answer any questions you or other members of the 
Subcommittee may have.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no 
changes in existing law are made by the bill as ordered 
reported.

                                  [all]