II 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2097 

To authorize the rededication of the District of Columbia War Memorial 

as a National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial to 

honor the sacrifices made by American veterans of World War I. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 29, 2009 

Mr. THUNE (for himself, Mr. WEBB, and Mr. ROCKEFELLER) introduced the 

following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To authorize the rededication of the District of Columbia 

War Memorial as a National and District of Columbia 

World War I Memorial to honor the sacrifices made 

by American veterans of World War I. 

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 ‘‘Frank Buckles World 

5 War I Memorial Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) In 2017, the United States will commemo2 rate the centennial of its entry into World War I, 

3 which introduced the American soldier to the world 

4 in what would become a familiar role as defender, 

5 liberator, and promoter of peace and democracy. 

6 (2) The support provided by the United States 

7 to Great Britain, France, and other allies in World 

8 War I marked the first time in the history of the 

9 United States that American soldiers went overseas 

10 to defend foreign soil against aggression, and it 

11 marked the true beginning of ‘‘the American cen12 tury’’. 

13 (3) Although World War I was called the 

14 ‘‘Great War’’ and the ‘‘War to End All Wars’’, in 

15 fact, the United States would commit its troops to 

16 the defense of foreign lands several more times in 

17 the 20th century. 

18 (4) While three of these subsequent conflicts, 

19 World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam 

20 War, rightfully have commemorative memorials on 

21 the National Mall in the District of Columbia, there 

22 is no memorial to World War I on the Mall, even 

23 though more Americans gave their lives in World 

24 War I than in either the Korean War or the Viet25 nam War. 


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1 (5) While a memorial to General John Pershing 

2 and the American Expeditionary Forces that he led 

3 during World War I is located in the District of Co4 lumbia, that memorial is not located on the Mall and 

5 does not commemorate the total participation of the 

6 United States and its Armed Forces in World War 

7 I. 

8 (6) The District of Columbia War Memorial is 

9 located on the Mall, adjacent to the Lincoln Reflect10 ing Pool between the World War II and Korean War 

11 memorials, and was erected in memory of the 499 

12 residents of the District of Columbia who died in 

13 World War I. 

14 (7) The District of Columbia War Memorial is 

15 in extreme disrepair and is often overlooked by resi16 dents and visitors to Washington. 

17 (8) In recognition of the upcoming anniver18 saries of America’s entry into World War I, and of 

19 the armistice that concluded World War I on No20 vember 11, 1918, and in order to honor the mem21 bers of the United States Armed Forces who served 

22 in World War I and to ensure that future genera23 tions of Americans will know the complete history of 

24 America’s 20th-century struggle against aggression 

25 and totalitarianism, it is timely and proper to reVerDate Nov 24 2008 03:44 Oct 30, 2009 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2097.IS S2097

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1 dedicate the site of the District of Columbia War 

2 Memorial on the National Mall as a ‘‘National and 

3 District of Columbia World War I Memorial’’. 

4 (9) Because this Act authorizes the rededication 

5 and related enhancement of a commemorative work 

6 that already exists, and that is already sited within 

7 the Reserve as defined in Commemorative Works 

8 Act, the provisions of the Commemorative Works 

9 Act regarding site approval and location of com10 memorative works do not apply to this Act. 

11 SEC. 3. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH COMMEMORATIVE 

12 WORK. 

13 The World War I Memorial Foundation is authorized 

14 to establish a commemorative work rededicating the Dis15 trict of Columbia War Memorial as a National and Dis16 trict of Columbia World War I Memorial, including— 

17 (1) full restoration of the existing District of 

18 Columbia War Memorial; and 

19 (2) the addition of an appropriate sculptural or 

20 other commemorative element, which shall com21 plement and preserve the existing memorial and its 

22 landscape, at the site of the existing memorial to 

23 make it a national memorial. 


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1 SEC. 4. COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS FOR COMMEMORA2 TIVE WORKS; LOCATION OF MEMORIAL. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided by subsection 

4 (b), the rededication of the District of Columbia War Me5 morial shall be in accordance with chapter 89 of title 40, 

6 United States Code (popularly known as the Commemora7 tive Works Act). 

8 (b) EXCEPTION.—Sections 8908 and 8905 of title 40, 

9 United States Code shall not apply to this Act. 

10 SEC. 5. PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS. 

11 The Foundation shall solicit and accept private con12 tributions for the memorial. 

13 SEC. 6. DEPOSIT OF EXCESS FUNDS. 

14 If, upon payment of all expenses of the rededication 

15 (including the maintenance and preservation amount pro16 vided for in chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code, 

17 or upon expiration of the authority for the commemorative 

18 work under such chapter), there remains a balance of 

19 funds received for the establishment of the commemorative 

20 work, the World War I Memorial Foundation shall trans21 mit the amount of the balance to the Secretary of the 

22 Treasury for deposit in the account provided for in section 

23 8906(b) of title 40, United States Code. 

Æ 


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