I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3471

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource 

study of the area at or near the footprints of the former World Trade 

Center towers for possible inclusion in the National Park System to 

commemorate the tragic events of September 11, 2001. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 6, 2003

Mr. SHAYS (for himself and Mrs. MALONEY) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Resources 

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 

special resource study of the area at or near the footprints of the former World Trade Center towers for 

possible inclusion in the National Park System to commemorate the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘World Trade Center 

5 Site Historic Study Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds as follows: 
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1 (1) On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked 

2 four civilian aircraft, causing 2 of them to crash into 

3 the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New 

4 York City, a third into the Pentagon, and a fourth 

5 in rural southwest Pennsylvania. 

6 (2) On September 11, 2001, more than 3,000 

7 Americans and citizens of the world were massacred 

8 in the worst attack against civilians in the United 

9 States in our Nation’s history. This battle raged in 

10 the air and on American soil at the World Trade 

11 Center site, at the Pentagon, and at a field in 

12 Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsyl13 vania. 

14 (3) These attacks destroyed both towers of the 

15 World Trade Center, as well as adjacent buildings, 

16 and seriously damaged the Pentagon; and left a cra17 ter in the ground on a field in Stonycreek Township, 

18 Somerset County Pennsylvania. 

19 (4) The impact of this human tragedy has and 

20 continues to be felt by the families of those killed 

21 and wounded, those who survived, the rescue work22 ers, the Nation and the civilized world. 

23 (5) In the months since the historic attacks of 

24 September 11, 2001, millions of people have visited 

25 the World Trade Center site to honor the dead, to 
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1 pay tribute to the heroic actions of those who risked/

2 and or gave their lives for their fellow Americans 

3 and to bear witness to the historic World Trade 

4 Center site. 

5 (6) The attack on the World Trade Center re6 sulted in great destruction and damage to homes, 

7 churches, schools, and commercial and retail build8 ings, causing the loss of thousands of jobs and busi9 nesses in Lower Manhattan. 

10 (7) The World Trade Center site is a symbol of 

11 our freedom, patriotism, sacrifice, and the American 

12 spirit. It has an indelible and justified place in 

13 American history. 

14 (8) Many are profoundly concerned about the 

15 future disposition of the World Trade Center site, 

16 and many citizens, family members, professional or17 ganizations, local businesses and residents, and 

18 State and local officials have formed coalitions and 

19 held forums to provide a voice for all interested and 

20 concerned parties. 

21 (9) A broad and deep consensus has emerged in 

22 the United States that the former World Trade Cen23 ter site, and particularly the tower footprints, bear 

24 a uniquely tragic and transcendent significance in 

25 our Nation’s history due to the unparalleled events 
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1 that took place there; the almost unfathomable num2 ber of innocent lives lost; the extraordinary courage 

3 and honor shown by so many on that day and in the 

4 many months following; and the fact that the cir5 cumstances of their death has meant there is almost 

6 no physical trace of most of the victims. 

7 (10) The bedrock footprints of the former 

8 World Trade Center towers are in the area of the 

9 site where the greatest number of victims lost their 

10 lives and where the majority of human remains were 

11 found, and therefore represent the final resting place 

12 of a majority of the victims. 

13 (11) It is appropriate that a study be under14 taken to determine the feasibility and suitability of 

15 establishing a national memorial on the site of, or 

16 proximate to, the footprints of the former World 

17 Trade Center towers, to commemorate the inter18 nationally significant events of September 11, 2001 

19 and the lives lost, for possible inclusion as a unit of 

20 the National Park System. 

21 SEC. 3. STUDY AND CRITERIA. 

22 (a) STUDY.—The Secretary of the Interior (in this 

23 Act referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall conduct a study 

24 of the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan, New 

25 York, to evaluate the national significance of the site and 
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1 the suitability and feasibility of establishing the site as a 

2 unit of the National Park System. 

3 (b) CRITERIA.—In conducting the study required by 

4 subsection (a), the Secretary shall use the criteria for the 

5 study of areas for potential inclusion in the National Park 

6 System contained in section 8 of Public Law 91–383 (16 

7 U.S.C. 1a–5; popularly known as the National Park Sys8 tem General Authorities Act). 

9 SEC. 4. REPORT. 

10 Not later than 6 months after the date of the enact11 ment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Com12 mittee on Resources of the House of Representatives and 

13 the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 

14 Senate a report on the findings of the study and the con15 clusions and recommendations of the Secretary.

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