Title: A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to annually designate at least one city in the United States as an "American World War II Heritage City", and for other purposes.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This bill allows the Department of the Interior to designate annually at least one city in a state or U.S. territory as an American World War II Heritage City in order to recognize, and ensure the continued preservation and importance of, the history of the involvement of the United States in World War II.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 56 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 56

  To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to annually designate at 
   least one city in the United States as an ``American World War II 
                Heritage City'', and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 8, 2019

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to annually designate at 
   least one city in the United States as an ``American World War II 
                Heritage City'', and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. AMERICAN WORLD WAR II HERITAGE CITIES.

    (a) Designation.--In order to recognize and ensure the continued 
preservation and importance of the history of the United States 
involvement in World War II, each calendar year the Secretary of the 
Interior (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') may 
designate not less than one city located in one of the several States 
or a territory of the United States as an ``American World War II 
Heritage City''. Not more than one city in each State or territory may 
be designated under this section.
    (b) Application for Designation.--The Secretary shall--
            (1) establish and publicize the process by which a city may 
        apply for designation as an American World War II Heritage City 
        based on the criteria in subsection (c); and
            (2) encourage cities to apply for designation as an 
        American World War II Heritage City.
    (c) Criteria for Designation.--The Secretary, in consultation with 
the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution or the President of the 
National Trust for Historic Preservation, shall make each designation 
under subsection (a) based on the following criteria:
            (1) Contributions by a city and its environs to the World 
        War II home-front war effort, including contributions related 
        to--
                    (A) defense manufacturing, such as ships, aircraft, 
                uniforms, and equipment;
                    (B) production of foodstuffs and consumer items for 
                Armed Forces and home consumption;
                    (C) war bond drives;
                    (D) adaptations to wartime survival;
                    (E) volunteer participation;
                    (F) civil defense preparedness;
                    (G) personnel serving in the Armed Forces, their 
                achievements, and facilities for their rest and 
                recreation; or
                    (H) the presence of Armed Forces camps, bases, 
                airfields, harbors, repair facilities, and other 
                installations within or in its environs.
            (2) Achievements by a city and its environs to preserve the 
        heritage and legacy of the city's contributions to the war 
        effort and to preserve World War II history, including--
                    (A) the identification, preservation, restoration, 
                and interpretation of World War II related structures, 
                facilities and sites;
                    (B) establishment of museums, parks, and markers;
                    (C) establishment of memorials to area men who lost 
                their lives in service;
                    (D) organizing groups of veterans and home-front 
                workers and their recognition;
                    (E) presentation of cultural events such as dances, 
                plays, and lectures;
                    (F) public relations outreach through the print and 
                electronic media, and books; and
                    (G) recognition and ceremonies remembering wartime 
                event anniversaries.
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