9/11 Memorial Act

To designate the National September 11 Memorial located at the World Trade Center site in New York City, New York, as a national memorial, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the 9/11 Memorial Act 2. Definitions For purposes of this Act: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity section 501(c)(3) 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) (2) Map The term map National September 11 Memorial Proposed Boundary (3) National September 11 Memorial The term National September 11 Memorial (4) Secretary The term Secretary 3. Designation of memorial (a) Designation The National September 11 Memorial is hereby designated as a national memorial. (b) Map The map shall be available for public inspection and kept on file at the appropriate office of the Secretary. (c) Effect of designation The national memorial designated under this section shall not be a unit of the National Park System and the designation of the national memorial shall not be construed to require or authorize Federal funds to be expended for any purpose related to the national memorial except as provided under section 4. 4. Competitive grants for certain memorials (a) Competitive grants Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary may award a single grant per year through a competitive process to an eligible entity for the operation and maintenance of any memorial located within the United States established to commemorate the events of and honor— (1) the victims of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001; and (2) the victims of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on February 26, 1993. (b) Availability Funds made available under this section shall remain available until expended. (c) Criteria In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give greatest weight in the selection of eligible entities using the following criteria: (1) Experience in managing a public memorial that will benefit the largest number of visitors each calendar year. (2) Experience in managing a memorial of significant size (4 acres or more). (3) Successful coordination and cooperation with Federal, State, and local governments in operating and managing the memorial. (4) Ability and commitment to use grant funds to enhance security at the memorial. (5) Ability to use grant funds to increase the numbers of economically disadvantaged visitors to the memorial and surrounding areas. (d) Summaries Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year in which an eligible entity obligates or expends any part of a grant under this section, the eligible entity shall prepare and submit to the Secretary and Congress a summary that— (1) specifies the amount of grant funds obligated or expended in the preceding fiscal year; (2) specifies the purpose for which the funds were obligated or expended; and (3) includes any other information the Secretary may require to more effectively administer the grant program. (e) Sunset The authority to award grants under this section shall expire on the date that is 7 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. February 9, 2016 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: National 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center Act (Sec. 3) This bill designates the National September 11 Memorial located at the World Trade Center in New York City, New York, as a national memorial. This memorial shall not be a unit of the National Park System. (Sec. 4) The Department of the Interior may award a single grant per year through a competitive process to a tax-exempt, charitable nonprofit organization (eligible entity) for the operation and maintenance of any memorial located within the United States established to commemorate the events of and honor: the victims of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001; and the victims of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on February 26, 1993. In awarding such grants, Interior shall give greatest weight in the selection of eligible entities using the following criteria: experience in managing a public memorial that will benefit the largest number of visitors each calendar year; experience in managing a memorial of significant size (four acres or more); successful coordination and cooperation with federal, state, and local governments in the operation and management of the memorial; the ability and commitment to use grant funds to enhance security at the memorial; and the ability to use grant funds to increase the numbers of economically disadvantaged visitors to the memorial and surrounding areas. The authority to award grants under this Act shall expire seven years after enactment of this Act.