A bill to express the sense of Congress regarding restoration and maintenance of the Mardasson Memorial in Bastogne, Belgium.

Bill: 116-s-2206
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Introduced: 2019-07-23
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Belgium

Commemorative events and holidays

Conflicts and wars

Europe

Government trust funds

Military history

Monuments and memorials

Veterans' organizations and recognition
Latest action: action_date: 2020-03-04
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 116-367.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-07-23
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This bill expresses support for an agreement between the American Battle Monument Commission and the Belgian government (1) under which the commission would use its expertise and presence in Europe to oversee the restoration of the Mardasson Memorial in Bastogne, Belgium; and (2) by which the commission assumes responsibility for the memorial, ensuring that it stands for decades to come, in honoring American service and sacrifice and inspiring future generations. </p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2206 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 23, 2019 Mr. Tillis (for himself and Mr. Durbin ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To express the sense of Congress regarding restoration and maintenance of the Mardasson Memorial in Bastogne, Belgium.

1. Sense of Congress regarding agreement between the American Battle Monuments Commission and the Government of Belgium by which the Commission would acquire, restore, operate, and maintain the Mardasson Memorial in Bastogne, Belgium (a) Findings Congress make the following findings: (1) The Battle of the Bulge was one of the largest land battles fought by the United States during World War II, yielded more than 75,000 American casualties over the winter of 1944–1945, and stopped the last major German offensive on the Western Front. (2) The Battle of the Bulge is a legendary battle in the history of the United States Army. (3) Following the war, Belgian groups raised funds to construct the Mardasson Memorial in Bastogne, Belgium, to honor Americans killed, wounded, and missing in action during the Battle of the Bulge. (4) The Mardasson Memorial, inaugurated in 1950, is a five-pointed American star with the history of the battle, the names of the units that fought, and the names of the States engraved in gold letters throughout. (5) The Mardasson Memorial, owned and maintained by the Government of Belgium, is in need of extensive repair to restore it to a condition commensurate to the service and sacrifice it honors. (b) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress to support an agreement between the American Battle Monument Commission (hereinafter referred to as ABMC ) and the Government of Belgium— (1) under the monument maintenance program of the ABMC, and subject to the requirements of such program, by which the ABMC would use its expertise and presence in Europe to oversee restoration of the Mardasson Memorial in preparation for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge; and (2) under the monument trust fund program of the ABMC, and subject to the requirements of such program, by which the ABMC assumes ownership and responsibility for the Mardasson Memorial, ensuring that the Memorial stands for decades to come, honoring American service and sacrifice, and inspiring future generations.