I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1364
To authorize a national memorial at, or proximate to, the World Trade 
Center site to commemorate the tragic events of September 11, 2001, 
to establish the World Trade Center Memorial Advisory Board, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 19, 2003
Mr. NADLER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Resources 
A BILL 
To authorize a national memorial at, or proximate to, the 
World Trade Center site to commemorate the tragic 
events of September 11, 2001, to establish the World 
Trade Center Memorial Advisory Board, 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 ‘‘World Trade Center 
National Memorial Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds as follows:
(1) On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked 
four civilian aircraft, causing two of them to crash 
into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in 
New York City, a third into the Pentagon, and a 
fourth in rural southwest Pennsylvania. 
(2) Nearly 3,000 people were killed at the 
World Trade Center site in the most lethal terrorist 
attack ever committed against the United States. 
(3) In the months since the historic events of 
September 11, 2001, thousands of people have vis-
ited the World Trade Center site to mourn the dead, 
to pay tribute to the heroic action and sacrifice of 
the firefighters, police, emergency personnel, and 
other responders, and attempt to understand the na-
ture of this attack on the United States. 
(4) The attack on the World Trade Center re-
sulted in great destruction and damage to homes, 
churches, schools, and commercial and retail build-
ings, causing the loss of thousands of jobs and busi-
nesses in Lower Manhattan. 
(5) The human and emotional toll of this attack 
has been felt across the United States and through-
out the world. 
(6) Many are profoundly concerned about the 
future disposition of the World Trade Center site,
and many citizens, family members, professional or-
ganizations, local businesses and residents, and 
State and local officials have formed coalitions and 
held forums to provide a voice for all interested and 
concerned parties. 
(7) A broad and deep consensus has emerged in 
the United States that this site is a sacred site that 
cannot be forgotten and requires the highest form of 
national recognition. 
(8) It is appropriate that a national memorial 
be established at, or proximate to, the World Trade 
Center site to commemorate the internationally sig-
nificant events of September 11, 2001, and the lives 
lost, and that the memorial be designated as a unit 
of the National Park System. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are as fol-
lows: 
(1) To establish a national memorial at, or 
proximate to, the World Trade Center site in New 
York City to commemorate the tragic events of Sep-
tember 11, 2001. 
(2) To ensure the public has full access to and 
significant involvement in decisions regarding the lo-
cation, planning, and design of the national memo-
rial.
(3) To authorize the Secretary of the Interior 
to provide technical assistance to the Lower Manhat-
tan Development Corporation and to permanently 
administer the national memorial as a unit of the 
National Park System for present and future gen-
erations. 
(4) To establish in the Department of the Inte-
rior the World Trade Center Memorial Advisory 
Board to advise the Director of the National Park 
Service on the management of the memorial. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means the 
World Trade Center Memorial Advisory Board es-
tablished in section 7. 
(2) CORPORATION.—The term ‘‘Corporation’’ 
means the Lower Manhattan Development Corpora-
tion, a public agency created to oversee the rebuild-
ing of the World Trade Center site and surrounding 
area. 
(3) GOVERNOR.—The term ‘‘Governor’’ means 
the Governor of New York. 
(4) MAYOR.—The term ‘‘Mayor’’ means the 
Mayor of New York City.
(5) MEMORIAL.—The term ‘‘Memorial’’ means 
a sculpture, structure, or landscape element, includ-
ing the real property on which it is sited, designed 
to commemorate the significance to the Nation of 
the events of September 11, 2001, at or proximate 
to the World Trade Center site in New York City 
and designated under section 4. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 4. WORLD TRADE CENTER NATIONAL MEMORIAL. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is authorized to be es-
tablished as a unit of the National Park System, a na-
tional memorial at, or proximate to, the site of the World 
Trade Center in New York City. The proposed design and 
boundary of the Memorial shall be determined through a 
public planning process established by the Corporation 
and included in the report required by section 5. The final 
design and boundary of the Memorial shall be approved 
by the Secretary, the Governor, and the Mayor. 
(b) ADMINISTRATION.—Upon transfer to the United 
States by willing sellers of the land upon which the Memo-
rial is to be located, such land and the Memorial shall be 
administered by the Secretary through the National Park 
Service, as a unit of the National Park System, in accord-
ance with the provisions of this Act, the Act of August
25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1 through 4), and the 
Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461–
467). 
SEC. 5. REPORT. 
(a) CONTENTS.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Corporation shall 
submit a report to the Secretary, the Governor, and the 
Mayor for approval. This report shall contain the fol-
lowing: 
(1) The recommended design and boundary for 
the Memorial. 
(2) A description of those considerations incor-
porated into the boundary and design necessary to 
permit the effective and efficient management of the 
Memorial as a unit of the National Park System. 
(3) A proposal and schedule for the transfer of 
interests in property as is appropriate to the Sec-
retary. The transfer must ensure that the property 
upon which the Memorial is to be located is trans-
ferred to the United States by willing sellers before 
construction of the Memorial begins. 
(4) A description of the processes and opportu-
nities provided for public participation in the devel-
opment of the report.
(5) Any other planning, scheduling, construc-
tion, and long-term management issues and rec-
ommendations which, in the opinion of the Corpora-
tion, merit inclusion in the report. 
(b) APPROVAL PROCESS.—Not later than 90 days 
after receiving notification by the Governor and the Mayor 
of their respective approvals of the report, the Secretary 
shall approve or disapprove the report. If the Secretary 
disapproves the report, the Secretary shall advise the Cor-
poration, in writing, of the reasons for such disapproval 
and shall indicate any recommendations for revisions. Not 
later than 45 days after receiving any necessary revisions 
to the report, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove 
the revised report. 
(c) FINAL REPORT.—The final report approved by 
the Secretary, the Governor, and the Mayor shall be trans-
mitted to the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources of the Senate, and the Committee on Resources 
of the House of Representatives. 
SEC. 6. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. 
The Secretary is authorized to take the following ac-
tions: 
(1) Upon request by the Corporation, to provide 
assistance in conducting public meetings and fo-
rums.
(2) Provide project management assistance for 
planning, design, and construction activities and in 
particular, to provide consultation and information 
permitting the plans and designs included within the 
report as required in section 5 to incorporate such 
elements necessary to facilitate the effective and effi-
cient management of the Memorial as a unit of the 
National Park System. 
(3) Provide other assistance related to docu-
mentation and interpretation of the site and preser-
vation of Memorial artifacts. 
(4) Acquire from willing sellers the land or in-
terests in land for the Memorial site by donation, 
purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or ex-
change. 
(5) Administer, through the National Park 
Service, the Memorial as a unit of the National Park 
System in accordance with this Act and with the 
laws generally applicable to units of the National 
Park System. 
(6) Prepare a charter for the Board established 
in section 7 to clarify its role and its relationship 
with the Department of the Interior and the Na-
tional Park Service.
SEC. 7. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER 
MEMORIAL ADVISORY BOARD. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Upon transfer of the com-
pleted Memorial to the National Park Service, there is es-
tablished an advisory Board to be known as the ‘‘World 
Trade Center Memorial Advisory Board’’. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Board shall operate as an advisor 
to the National Park Service on the management of the 
Memorial, taking into consideration input from the public 
and interested parties. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Board shall be composed of 
17 members appointed by the Secretary as follows: 
(1) Two members appointed after consideration 
of recommendations by each United States Senator 
from the State of New York. 
(2) One member appointed after consideration 
of recommendations by the member of the United 
States House of Representatives whose district shall 
encompass the World Trade Center site. 
(3) Four members appointed after consideration 
of recommendations by the Mayor, to represent a 
broad spectrum of interested citizens, agencies, and 
organizations. 
(4) Four members appointed after consideration 
of recommendations by the Governor, to represent a
broad spectrum of interested citizens, agencies, and 
organizations. 
(5) Six members appointed after consideration 
of recommendations by the President. 
(d) TERMS.—Members of the Board shall serve for 
a term of 3 years. Any member of the Board may continue 
to serve after the expiration of his or her term, until such 
time as a successor is appointed. Any vacancy in the 
Board shall be filled in the same manner in which the 
original appointment was made. 
(e) CHAIR.—The members of the Board shall des-
ignate 1 of the members as Chair of the Board. 
(f) MEETINGS.—The Board shall meet on a regular 
basis, at least 4 times a year. Notice of meetings shall 
be published in local newspapers. Board meetings shall be 
held at locations and in such a manner as to ensure ade-
quate public involvement. 
(g) QUORUM.—A majority of the members serving on 
the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction 
of any business. 
(h) VOTING.—The Board shall act and advise by a 
majority vote of the members present at any meeting at 
which a quorum is in attendance. 
(i) EXPENSES.—Members of the Board shall serve 
without compensation, but while engaged in official busi-
ness shall be entitled to travel expenses, including per 
diem in lieu of subsistence in the same manner as persons 
employed intermittently in Federal Government service 
under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. 
(j) TERMINATION.—The Board shall terminate 60 
days after the date upon which the Memorial ceases to 
be administered by the National Park Service. 
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) CONSTRUCTION.—Upon approval of the report re-
quired by section 5, the Secretary is authorized to grant 
such sums as may be necessary to the Corporation for the 
construction of a permanent Memorial in accordance with 
the approved report. 
(b) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—Funds made avail-
able pursuant to subsection (a) shall not exceed 50 percent 
of the construction cost of the Memorial. 
(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—There is authorized to 
be appropriated to the National Park Service, $300,000 
for fiscal year 2004 and each fiscal year thereafter to pro-
vide technical assistance to the Corporation and to other-
wise carry out this Act. 
(d) BOARD.—There is authorized to be appropriated 
to the Board such sums as may be necessary to perform 
its responsibilities under this Act.
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