Memorial Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 6287) to provide competitive grants for the operation, security, and maintenance of certain memorials to victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

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Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6287, sponsored by Congressman Tom MacArthur, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to award grants through a competitive process to nonprofit organizations to operate, provide security, maintain, and increase visitation at U.S. memorials to the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. This bill passed the House by voice vote on September 12.

Throughout our Nation's history, Congress has supported public- private partnerships with nongovernmental organizations for the operation and maintenance of memorials and museums of national significance. Such partnerships exist at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, for example.

The Senate has amended the bill to remove the Flight 93 site in Pennsylvania from the program at the supporting foundation's request.

This bill will ensure that our Nation's other 9/11 memorials are maintained and preserved for future generations to visit, learn, and reflect. May we never forget the nearly 3,000 Americans we lost that fateful day.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I urge concurrence in the Senate amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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