II 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 56 

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to annually designate at least 

one city in the United States as an ‘‘American World War II Heritage 

City’’, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 8, 2019 

Mr. TILLIS introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to annually designate at least one city in the United States as an 

‘‘American World War II Heritage City’’, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. AMERICAN WORLD WAR II HERITAGE CITIES. 

4 (a) DESIGNATION.—In order to recognize and ensure 

5 the continued preservation and importance of the history 

6 of the United States involvement in World War II, each 

7 calendar year the Secretary of the Interior (referred to 

8 in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’) may designate not less 


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1 than one city located in one of the several States or a terri2 tory of the United States as an ‘‘American World War 

3 II Heritage City’’. Not more than one city in each State 

4 or territory may be designated under this section. 

5 (b) APPLICATION FOR DESIGNATION.—The Sec6 retary shall— 

7 (1) establish and publicize the process by which 

8 a city may apply for designation as an American 

9 World War II Heritage City based on the criteria in 

10 subsection (c); and 

11 (2) encourage cities to apply for designation as 

12 an American World War II Heritage City. 

13 (c) CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION.—The Secretary, in 

14 consultation with the Secretary of the Smithsonian Insti15 tution or the President of the National Trust for Historic 

16 Preservation, shall make each designation under sub17 section (a) based on the following criteria: 

18 (1) Contributions by a city and its environs to 

19 the World War II home-front war effort, including 

20 contributions related to— 

21 (A) defense manufacturing, such as ships, 

22 aircraft, uniforms, and equipment; 

23 (B) production of foodstuffs and consumer 

24 items for Armed Forces and home consumption; 

25 (C) war bond drives; 


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1 (D) adaptations to wartime survival; 

2 (E) volunteer participation; 

3 (F) civil defense preparedness; 

4 (G) personnel serving in the Armed 

5 Forces, their achievements, and facilities for 

6 their rest and recreation; or 

7 (H) the presence of Armed Forces camps, 

8 bases, airfields, harbors, repair facilities, and 

9 other installations within or in its environs. 

10 (2) Achievements by a city and its environs to 

11 preserve the heritage and legacy of the city’s con12 tributions to the war effort and to preserve World 

13 War II history, including— 

14 (A) the identification, preservation, res15 toration, and interpretation of World War II re16 lated structures, facilities and sites; 

17 (B) establishment of museums, parks, and 

18 markers; 

19 (C) establishment of memorials to area 

20 men who lost their lives in service; 

21 (D) organizing groups of veterans and 

22 home-front workers and their recognition; 

23 (E) presentation of cultural events such as 

24 dances, plays, and lectures; 


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1 (F) public relations outreach through the 

2 print and electronic media, and books; and 

3 (G) recognition and ceremonies remem4 bering wartime event anniversaries. 

Æ 


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