Memorial and Museum Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. LaLOTA. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee for yielding and for supporting this bill but most importantly for supporting the 9/11 families.

Madam Speaker, September 11, 2001, was not just a day of immense loss, it was a day that changed our Nation forever.

Nearly 3,000 innocent lives were taken from us in an act of unimaginable evil. First responders, driven by duty and selflessness, rushed into danger, and many never returned. Families were shattered, communities forever altered, and the scars of that day remain with us even now.

From that darkness came an incredible light, the resilience of the American spirit. We vowed on that fateful Tuesday morning never to forget and promised to honor the victims and the heroes that gave everything in the face of terror.

Today, we have a chance to uphold that promise. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum stands as a sacred place, a place of reflection, education, and unity. It is where generations can learn about the courage and sacrifice that defines us as a nation. It tells us the stories of firefighters who climbed up while others ran down, the passengers on flight 93 who fought back, and everyday Americans who became heroes.

However, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum remains a top target for terrorists and faces financial challenges stemming from the COVID-19 shutdown that threatens its ability to keep up its essential work.

My bill, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum Act directs the Department of Homeland Security to award a one-time grant to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum for the security, operation, and maintenance of its facilities and grounds.

As a condition of receiving this grant, the museum must provide free admission for active and retired members of the Armed Forces, individuals who were registered first responders to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the family members and victims of the attacks.

It also provides for dedicated free admission hours for the general public at least once a week and allows for annual Federal audits of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum's financial statements.

This ought not to be a partisan issue. This is about honoring our history, protecting our legacy, and teaching future generations the lessons of 9/11.

We must not let the memory of that day fade. We cannot allow the heroism, the sacrifice, and the unity that followed be forgotten.

Supporting this bill means standing with the families of the fallen, with our first responders, and with every American who still carries the weight of that day on their hearts.

I urge my colleagues to join me in ensuring that we keep our promise. Let's pass the 9/11 Memorial and Museum Act and uphold our commitment to the American people.

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