79–010 

115TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 115–304 

NATIONAL VETERANS MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM ACT 

JULY 17, 2018.—Ordered to be printed 

Ms. MURKOWSKI, from the Committee on Energy and Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 1900] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 

referred the bill (H.R. 1900) to designate the Veterans Memorial 

and Museum in Columbus, Ohio, as the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, and for other purposes, having considered the 

same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of H.R. 1900 is to designate the Veterans Memorial 

and Museum in Columbus, Ohio as the ‘‘National Veterans Memorial and Museum.’’ 

BACKGROUND AND NEED

The National Veterans Memorial and Museum (NVMM) is currently under construction in Columbus, Ohio. According to the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, the NVMM will seek 

to honor, connect, inspire, and educate people of the United States 

about the service and sacrifice of veterans of the United States 

Armed Forces. 

When completed, the NVMM will be the only public museum of 

its kind that exists for the exclusive purpose of interpreting the collective experiences of veterans of the United States of America 

across all eras, conflicts, and branches of the military. The NVMM 

aims to attract and educate a diverse group of audiences from 

across the country through visitor-centered, interactive, and 

participatory exhibits. The NVMM also seeks to preserve the stories and legacy of service so that visitors can conduct a critical 


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evaluation of the history and evolution of the United States 

through the lens of the military experience. 

The NVMM plans to open in late 2018. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

H.R. 1900 was introduced in the House of Representatives by 

Rep. Stivers on April 4, 2017, and referred to the Committees on 

Natural Resources and Veterans’ Affairs. The Veterans’ Affairs 

Committee favorably reported H.R. 1900, as amended (H. Rept. 

115–399, Part I), on November 7, 2017, and the Natural Resources 

Committee discharged H.R. 1900 on the same day. On November 

7, 2017, H.R. 1900 passed the House of Representatives by voice 

vote. 

Similar legislation, S. 841, was introduced by Senators Portman 

and Brown on April 5, 2017. The Senate Subcommittee on National 

Parks held a hearing on S. 841 on July 19, 2017. 

In the 114th Congress, Senators Portman and Brown introduced 

similar legislation, S. 3342, on September 15, 2016. In the House 

of Representatives, Rep. Stivers introduced companion legislation, 

H.R. 6038, on September 15, 2016. 

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources met in open 

business session on May 17, 2018, and ordered H.R. 1900 favorably 

reported. 

The Senate passed H.R. 1900 on June 6, 2018, without amendment, by voice vote. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in 

open business session on May 17, 2018, by a majority voice vote of 

a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass H.R. 1900. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title 

Section 1 contains the short title. 

Section 2. Designation of the National Veterans Memorial and Museum 

Section 2(a) designates the memorial and museum currently 

under construction on an approximately seven-acre area on West 

Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio, bounded by the Scioto River and the 

Scioto Greenway, as the ‘‘National Veterans Memorial and Museum,’’ subject to the condition contained in subsection (b). 

Subsection (b) stipulates that the designation may be withdrawn 

no earlier than five years after the date on which the museum 

opens to the public, pursuant to an Act of Congress, if the progress 

and operation of the museum are found to be unsatisfactory based 

on the report submitted, as required in subsection (c). 

Subsection (c) requires a report to Congress on the memorial and 

the museum by the earlier of either 90 days after the date of enactment or 30 days before the date on which the memorial and museum is first open to the public. The report shall include the projected budget for the memorial and museum for the five-year period 

beginning on its expected opening date; a description of the outreach conducted by the memorial and museum to veterans across 


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the United States to receive input about the design and contents; 

a description of the process by which decisions are made about the 

contents of the displayed exhibits; a description of the organizational structure; a copy of the bylaws and rules; and a list of any 

organizations or entities that have accredited the memorial and 

museum. 

Subsection (d) clarifies that the national memorial and museum 

is not a unit of the National Park System, and the designation 

shall not be construed to require Federal funds to be expended for 

any purpose related to the national memorial and museum. 

COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

The following estimate of the costs of this measure has been provided by the Congressional Budget Office: 

H.R. 1900 would designate a memorial and museum, currently 

being constructed by a non-profit organization in Columbus, Ohio, 

as the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. The act would require the director of the new museum to submit a report to the 

Congress on the memorial and museum’s progress and operation. 

H.R. 1900 would clarify that neither part of the facility would be 

a unit of the National Park System and that the designation under 

the act would not require federal funds to be expended. Thus, CBO 

estimates that H.R. 1900 would have no effect on the federal budget. 

Enacting H.R. 1900 would not affect direct spending or revenues; 

therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1900 would not increase net 

direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 

10-year periods beginning in 2029. 

H.R. 1900 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Logan Smith. The estimate was reviewed by Leo Lex, Deputy Assistant Director for 

Budget Analysis. 

REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION

In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following evaluation 

of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in carrying out 

H.R. 1900. The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of imposing Government-established standards or significant economic 

responsibilities on private individuals and businesses. 

No personal information would be collected in administering the 

program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal privacy. 

Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the enactment of H.R. 1900, as ordered reported. 

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

H.R. 1900, as ordered reported, does not contain any congressionally directed spending items, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 

benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate. 


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EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

The testimony provided by the Department of the Interior at the 

July 19, 2017, hearing on S. 841, similar legislation to H.R. 1900, 

follows: 

STATEMENT OF ROBERT VOGEL, ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR, 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Chairman Daines, Ranking Member Hirono, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to 

present the Department of the Interior’s views on S. 841, 

a bill to designate the Veterans Memorial and Museum in 

Columbus, Ohio as the National Veterans Memorial and 

Museum. 

The Department of the Interior (Department) defers to 

the Department of Veterans Affairs for a position on S. 841 

since the purpose of the legislation is to confer a title on 

a memorial and museum designed to honor veterans. The 

memorial is located at a site that is not under the jurisdiction of the Department, and this bill does not provide for 

any management or funding by the National Park Service. 

The Columbus Downtown Development Corporation 

broke ground on the Veterans Memorial and Museum in 

December 2015. It is being built with support from the 

State of Ohio, Franklin County, and private individuals, 

foundations, and corporations. The museum will become 

the only one of its kind that exists for the exclusive purpose of interpreting the collective experience of veterans of 

the United States across all eras, conflicts, and branches 

of the military. It is expected to open in the summer of 

2018. 

We are concerned that this legislation proposes the use 

of the title ‘‘national’’ which could create an expectation 

among the general public that the memorial and museum 

has an affiliation with the National Park Service, or at 

least some connection to the Federal government. This is 

not the first time the issue of a ‘‘national’’ designation for 

a non-federal entity has arisen, nor is it likely to be the 

last. The Department respectfully encourages the committee to be thoughtful and judicious in any decision as to 

whether an entity that has no association with the Federal 

government should have a ‘‘national’’ title conferred by 

Congress. 

Chairman Daines, this concludes my statement. I would 

be pleased to answer questions you or other members of 

the subcommittee may have. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no changes in existing law are made by the bill as ordered reported. 

Æ 


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