Vietnam Veterans Memorial Visitors' Center

VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL VISITORS' CENTER -- (Extensions of Remarks - May 24, 2006)

* Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, since 2001, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, under the leadership of Jan Scruggs, has been working towards the dedication of an underground visitors' center on the Memorial grounds. The proposal for the center was carefully planned to assure that America's youth learn the values of citizenship and duty to their nation. This process has been long and arduous for the Fund, but throughout it all their efforts have been supported by various legislative and public initiatives. Their efforts were officially validated when Congress passed a bill that authorized the construction of the site in November of 2003. The language of the legislation stated that the ``final approval shall not be withheld.''

* Nevertheless, the progress and completion of the site continues to be held up, awaiting the pending approval of the National Capitol Planning Commission (NCPC). While the NCPC oversees planning and construction of any new structure within the Washington, D.C. city limits, in this case it appears to be impeding the construction of a facility authorized and sanctioned by Congress and under the law.

* In December, the NCPC stalled the progress of the site by removing the Visitors Center from its December 1 monthly meeting agenda. Additionally, advocates for the Center, who were supposed to testify to the NCPC in July 2005, were told that they would have to wait to make their presentation until August 2006. Over and over again, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, under the leadership of Jan Scruggs, has complied with all the deadlines and requests of the NCPC and other governing organizations throughout the approval process. Yet, for some reason ground has yet to be broken on the construction of the site.

* While the approval of the site awaits action from the NCPC, a series of actions have been taken on the proposal's behalf. In December 2005 the Resources Committee and National Parks Subcommittee began an inquiry of the actions of the National Capitol Planning Commission due to delays engineered on an effort approved by Congress in 2003. In February Congressman Pombo, chairman of the Resources Committee, requested that all internal documents from the NCPC, including emails and attorney client materials for review. After a careful review of the facts, Congressman Pombo informed the NCPC Chairman on March 2, 2006 that the NCPC appeared to be intentionally ignoring the will of the Congress with unnecessary internal delays. In response, Congressmen Pombo and Rahall, introduced H.R. 4882 to end the delays on this important project. I cosponsored the bill, which came out of committee with great support and was brought to the House floor. On March 28, 2006 the House overwhelmingly passed H.R. 4882. A companion bill, S. 2419 was later introduced in the Senate by Senators Kerry, Stevens and Hagel, and is currently awaiting legislative action.

* I urge the NCPC to proceed expeditiously in accordance with the express wishes of Congress so that America's youth will soon have the opportunity to learn about citizenship and duty to our country at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Visitors' Center.

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