PUBLIC LAW 115–413—JAN. 3, 2019 132 STAT. 5427 

Public Law 115–413 

115th Congress 

An Act 

To provide competitive grants for the operation, security, and maintenance of certain 

memorials to victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘9/11 Memorial Act’’. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) COVERED MEMORIAL.—The term ‘‘covered memorial’’ 

means a memorial located in the United States established 

to commemorate the events of, and honor the victims of, the 

terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon 

on September 11, 2001, at the site of the attacks. 

(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means the 

official organization, as in existence on the date of enactment 

of this Act— 

(A) the focus of which is the operations and preservation of a covered memorial; and 

(B) which is an organization described in section 

501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt 

from taxation under 501(a) of that Code. 

(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

of the Interior. 

SEC. 3. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR COVERED MEMORIALS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of appropriations, 

the Secretary shall award to eligible entities competitive grants 

of varying amounts, as determined by the Secretary, to be used 

by the eligible entity solely for the purposes described in subsection 

(b). 

(b) PURPOSES.—A grant awarded under subsection (a) shall 

be used by an eligible entity for the operation, security, and maintenance of a covered memorial. 

(c) DEADLINE FOR AWARD.—If the Secretary, after review of 

an application from an eligible entity, determines to award a grant 

to the eligible entity, the Secretary shall award the grant not 

later than 60 days after the date of receipt of the completed application. 

(d) AVAILABILITY.—Grant funds made available under this section shall remain available until expended. 

Determination. 

Determination. 

9/11 Memorial 

Act. 

54 USC 320301 

note. 

Jan. 3, 2019 

[H.R. 6287] 

132 STAT. 5428 PUBLIC LAW 115–413—JAN. 3, 2019 

(e) CRITERIA.—In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give greatest weight in the selection of eligible entities 

using the following criteria: 

(1) The needs of the eligible entity, and ability and commitment of the eligible entity to use grant funds, with respect 

to ensuring the security and safety of visitors of the covered 

memorial. 

(2) The ability of the eligible entity to match the amount 

of the grant, on at least a 1-to-1 basis, with non-Federal assets 

from non-Federal sources, including cash or durable goods and 

materials fairly valued, as determined by the Secretary. 

(3) The greatest number of visitors that would benefit. 

(4) The ability and commitment of an eligible entity to 

use grant funds— 

(A) to preserve the grounds at the covered memorial; 

and 

(B) to educate future generations. 

(5) The ability and commitment of an eligible entity to 

use grant funds to increase the numbers of economically disadvantaged visitors to the covered memorial. 

(f) LIMITATION.—No grant shall be awarded under this section— 

(1) for use at a covered memorial that does not provide 

for— 

(A) free admission to all facilities and museums associated with the covered memorial for active and retired members of the military, registered first responders to the 

attacks of September 11, 2001, and family members of 

victims of the attacks of September 11, 2001; and 

(B) dedicated free admission hours for the general 

public at least once a week; or 

(2) to an eligible entity that does not allow for annual 

Federal audits of the financial statements of the eligible entity, 

including revenues associated with ticket sales, charitable donations, grants, and all expenditures on salaries and operations, 

which shall be subject to review by the Secretary and made 

available to the public. 

(g) REPORTS.—Not later than 90 days after the end of each 

calendar year for which an eligible entity obligates or expends 

any amounts made available under a grant under this section, 

the eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate 

committees of Congress a report that— 

(1) specifies the amount of grant funds obligated or 

expended for the preceding fiscal year; 

(2) specifies any purposes for which the funds were obligated or expended; and 

Review. 

Public 

information. 

Determination. 

PUBLIC LAW 115–413—JAN. 3, 2019 132 STAT. 5429 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 6287: 

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115–930 (Comm. on Natural Resources). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018): 

Sept. 12, considered and passed House. 

Dec. 20, considered and passed Senate, amended. 

Dec. 21, House concurred in Senate amendment. 

Æ 

(3) includes any other information that the Secretary may 

require to more effectively administer the grant program under 

this section. 

Approved January 3, 2019.