Authorization to Establish Commemorative Work

Floor Speech

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Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1664) to authorize the National Medal of Honor Museum 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. 1664

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH COMMEMORATIVE WORK.

(a) In General.--The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation may establish a commemorative work on Federal land in the District of Columbia and its environs to honor the extraordinary acts of valor, selfless service, and sacrifice displayed by Medal of Honor recipients.

(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 the 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 national medal of honor museum foundation.--The National Medal of Honor Museum 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, on payment of all expenses for the establishment of the commemorative work under this section (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 National Medal of Honor Museum 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 that title.

(2) On expiration of authority.--If, on 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 under this section, the National Medal of Honor Museum 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 the Administrator of General Services, as appropriate, in accordance with the process provided in paragraph (4) of section 8906(b) of that title for accounts established under paragraph (2) or (3) of that section. SEC. 2. 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.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1664, introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Veasey), would authorize the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to establish a monument in the District of Columbia commemorating the extraordinary acts of valor, selfless service, and sacrifice displayed by the Medal of Honor recipients.

The Medal of Honor is our country's highest military decoration, and since its creation during the Civil War, the medal has been awarded to more than 3,500 members of the armed services.

This bill would honor the unparalleled bravery and sacrifices of Medal of Honor recipients and ensure that the medal's values of courage, sacrifice, patriotism, citizenship, integrity, and commitment are shared for generations to come.

I would like to thank Representative Veasey for his leadership on this important legislation and urge my colleagues to support this bill.
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Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, my colleague said it well. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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