I
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3917
To authorize a national memorial to commemorate the passengers and crew
of Flight 93 who, on September 11, 2001, courageously gave their
lives thereby thwarting a planned attack on our Nation’s Capital, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 7, 2002
Mr. MURTHA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
A BILL
To authorize a national memorial to commemorate the pas-
sengers and crew of Flight 93 who, on September 11,
2001, courageously gave their lives thereby thwarting
a planned attack on our Nation’s Capital, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Flight 93 National
Memorial Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:
(1) Passengers and crewmembers of United
Airlines Flight 93 of September 11, 2001, coura-
geously gave their lives, thereby thwarting a planned
attack on our Nation’s Capital.
(2) In the months since the historic events of
September 11, thousands of people have visited the
Flight 93 site, drawn by the heroic action and sac-
rifice of the passengers and crew aboard Flight 93.
(3) Many are profoundly concerned about the
future disposition of the crash site, including griev-
ing families of the passengers and crew, the people
of the region who are the current stewards of the
site, and a broad spectrum of citizens across the
United States. Many of these people are forming the
Flight 93 Task Force as a broad, inclusive organiza-
tion to provide a voice for all interested and con-
cerned parties.
(4) The crash site commemorates Flight 93 and
is a profound symbol of American patriotism and
spontaneous leadership of citizen-heroes. The deter-
mination of appropriate recognition at the crash site
of Flight 93 will be a slowly unfolding process in
order to address the interests and concerns of all in-
terested parties. Appropriate national assistance and
recognition must give ample opportunity for those
involved to voice these broad concerns.
(5) It is appropriate that the crash site of
Flight 93 be designated a unit of the National Park
System.
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are as fol-
lows:
(1) To establish a national memorial to honor
the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight
93 of September 11, 2001.
(2) To establish the Flight 93 Advisory Com-
mission to assist with consideration and formulation
of plans for a permanent memorial to the passengers
and crew of Flight 93, including its nature, design,
and construction.
(3) To authorize the Secretary of the Interior
to coordinate and facilitate the activities of the
Flight 93 Advisory Commission, provide technical
and financial assistance to the Flight 93 Task
Force, and to administer a Flight 93 memorial.
SEC. 3. MEMORIAL TO HONOR THE PASSENGERS AND
CREWMEMBERS OF FLIGHT 93.
There is established a memorial at the September 11,
2001, crash site of United Airlines Flight 93 in the
Stonycreek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, to
honor the passengers and crew of Flight 93.
SEC. 4. FLIGHT 93 ADVISORY COMMISSION.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com-
mission to be known as the ‘‘Flight 93 Advisory Commis-
sion’’ (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commis-
sion’’).
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall consist of
15 members, including the Director of the National Park
Service, or the Director’s designee, and 14 members ap-
pointed by the Secretary of the Interior from recommenda-
tions of the Flight 93 Task Force.
(c) TERM.—The term of the members of the Commis-
sion shall be for the life of the Commission.
(d) CHAIR.—The members of the Commission shall
select the Chair of the Commission.
(e) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Commission
shall not affect its powers if a quorum is present, but shall
be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
(f) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the
call of the Chairperson or a majority of the members, but
not less often than quarterly. Notice of the Commission
meetings and agendas for the meetings shall be published
in local newspapers in the vicinity of Somerset County and
in the Federal Register. Meetings of the Commission shall
be subject to section 552b of title 5, United States Code
(relating to open meetings).
(g) QUORUM.—A majority of the members serving on
the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the trans-
action of any business.
(h) NO COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commis-
sion shall serve without compensation, but may be reim-
bursed for expenses incurred in carrying out the duties
of the Commission.
(i) DUTIES.—The duties of the Commission shall be
as follow:
(1) Not later than 3 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit
to the Secretary of the Interior and Congress a re-
port containing recommendations for the planning,
design, construction, and long-term management of
a permanent memorial at the memorial site.
(2) The Commission shall advise the Secretary
on the boundaries of the memorial site.
(3) The Commission shall advise the Secretary
of the Interior in the development of a management
plan for the memorial.
(4) The Commission shall consult and coordi-
nate closely with the Flight 93 Task Force, the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and other inter-