Memorial and Museum Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 835) to provide a one-time grant for the operation, security, and maintenance of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center to commemorate the events, and honor the victims, of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 835

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 ``9/11 Memorial and Museum Act''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) National september 11 memorial & museum.--The term ``National September 11 Memorial & Museum'' means the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation, Inc., established to commemorate the events of, and honor the victims of, the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, at the site of such attacks.

(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means the official organization, as in existence on the date of enactment of this Act, that--

(A) operates the National September 11 Memorial & Museum; and

(B) is an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.

(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Homeland Security. SEC. 3. ONE-TIME GRANT FOR NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL & MUSEUM.

(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance for such purpose to the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management of the Department of Homeland Security, the Secretary shall award to the eligible entity a grant in an amount determined by the Secretary subject to subsection (c), to be used by such entity solely for the purposes described in subsection (b), if upon review of the application submitted pursuant to subsection (d), the Secretary makes a determination pursuant to subsection (e) that such entity satisfies the criteria required under subsection (f).

(b) Purpose.--The one-time grant awarded under subsection (a) shall be used by the eligible entity for the operation, security, and maintenance of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

(c) Grant Amount.--The one-time grant under this section may not be for less than $5,000,000 or more than $10,000,000.

(d) Application.--To be considered for an award of the one- time grant under this section, the eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(e) Review; Deadline for Award.--If the Secretary, after review of the application from the eligible entity, determines that the eligible entity satisfies the criteria under subsection (f), the Secretary shall award the one-time grant to the eligible entity, not later than 90 days after the date of receipt by the Secretary of the completed application submitted by such entity.

(f) Criteria.--In determining the amount of the one-time grant consistent with subsection (c), the Secretary shall consider the following:

(1) The needs of the eligible entity, and ability and commitment of such eligible entity to use grant funds, with respect to ensuring the security and safety of visitors at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

(2) The number of visitors to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum who would benefit.

(3) The ability and commitment of the eligible entity to use grant funds to--

(A) preserve the facilities and grounds of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum; and

(B) educate future generations.

(4) The ability and commitment of the eligible entity to use grant funds to increase the numbers of economically disadvantaged visitors to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

(g) Condition on Receipt of Grant.--As a condition on receipt of a grant under this section, the eligible entity shall--

(1) provide for--

(A) free admission to all facilities and museums associated with the National September 11 Memorial & Museum for active and retired members of the Armed Forces, individuals who were registered first responders to the attacks of September 11, 2001, and family members of victims of such attacks; and

(B) dedicated free admission hours for the general public at least once a week; and

(2) allow for annual Federal audits of the financial statements of such entity, including revenues associated with ticket sales, charitable donations, grants, and all expenditures on salaries and operations, which shall be subject to review by the Secretary and made available to the public.

(h) Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the end of each fiscal year for which the recipient obligates or expends funds made available to the recipient pursuant to this section, the recipient shall submit to the Committees on Natural Resources and Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that includes, for the fiscal year covered by the report, each of the following:

(1) Information relating to the amount of grant funds obligated or expended for the preceding fiscal year.

(2) Information relating to any purposes for which such funds were obligated or expended.

(3) Any other information the Secretary may require to effectively administer the one-time grant program under this section, as determined by the Secretary, if not later than the last day of the fiscal year the Secretary notified such entity of such requested information.

(i) No Additional Funds Authorized.--No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this section, and the activities authorized by this section are subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance for such purposes.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. 835, the bill now under consideration.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of Representative LaLota's bipartisan bill, the 9/ 11 Memorial and Museum Act. This important legislation honors the victims of the horrendous 9/11 attacks by providing a one-time grant to assist with security costs for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

Located in Lower Manhattan, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum occupies the former World Trade Center site. This unique facility serves as the principal tribute of remembrance and honor to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993.

A prominent feature of the museum is an art installation with the quote ``No Day Shall Erase You From the Memory of Time.'' These words are much more than a quote. They are a solemn promise from each and every American that we will never forget and will not allow our future Americans to forget the tragic events of 9/11.

More than 23 years after these horrific attacks, we still remember the innocent men, women, and children who perished on that September morning. We know that time has not erased the scars, both visible and invisible, carried by the survivors, families of victims, and all who watched those horrific attacks unfold.

Representative LaLota's legislation will help ensure that the memories of those we lost on 9/11 remain eternal by providing a one- time grant of between $5 million and $10 million to assist with security costs for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

As the location of one of the most high-profile terrorist attacks in American history, the museum shoulders more than $1 million per month in security costs to protect visitors and the exhibits throughout the museum.

This grant, which would come from Department of Homeland Security's existing appropriations, will help reduce the burden of those significant security costs.

I thank Representative LaLota for his efforts to advance this legislation. As a native New Yorker and veteran of the global war on terrorism, he has a profound respect and understanding for what it means to never forget the events of September 11, 2001. His bill would help the 9/11 Memorial & Museum continue operations, fund safety measures, and provide free admission for military veterans, first responders, and victims' families.

H.R. 835 passed the House unanimously in the 118th Congress, and I urge my colleagues to support it again today.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaLota), the lead sponsor of the bill.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, H.R. 835 ensures that the hallowed grounds on which the 9/11 Memorial & Museum are located remain a place of remembrance and honor for families, first responders, and Americans from across our great Nation.

I urge the adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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