Report Title:

National World War II Memorial

 

Description:

Appropriates $25,000 to the department of defense to enable the State of Hawaii to make a donation on behalf of the National World War II Memorial. (SD1)

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

25

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to the National World War II Memorial.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the World War II Memorial will be the first national memorial dedicated to all who served in the armed forces and Merchant Marine of the United States during World War II. It will acknowledge the commitment and achievement of these service personnel and will express the appreciation of the entire nation. All military veterans of the war, the citizens on the home front, the nation at large, and the high moral purpose and idealism that motivated the nation's call to arms will be honored.

Symbolic of the defining event of the twentieth century in American history, the memorial will be a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people, to the common defense of the nation and to the broader causes of peace and freedom from tyranny throughout the world. It will inspire future generations of Americans, deepening their appreciation of what the World War II generation accomplished in securing freedom and democracy. Above all, the memorial will stand for all time as an important symbol of American national unity, a timeless reminder of the moral strength and awesome power that can flow when a free people are at once united and bonded together in a common and just cause.

The National World War II Memorial will be funded almost entirely by private contributions, as specified in Public Law 103-32. Through the generosity of a variety of giving constituencies, the campaign has received, in cash and pledges, the funding needed to complete the memorial project. Support has come from hundreds of thousands of individual Americans, corporations, foundations, veterans groups, civic, fraternal and professional organizations, states, and students in schools across the country. Donations continue to come in as several groups work to complete major fund-raising efforts by the end of the year.

Donated and pledged funds will be used to cover the costs of site selection and design, construction, a National Park Service maintenance fee required by the Commemorative Works Act, groundbreaking and dedication ceremonies, fund raising, and administration of the project from its inception in 1993 through completion. These costs are estimated to total about $140,000,000.

Funds remaining after all project costs have been paid, and funds received thereafter through programs such as planned giving, will be held on deposit with the United States Treasury in a National World War II Memorial Trust Fund. The funds will be used by the American Battle Monuments Commission solely to benefit the World War II Memorial.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate $25,000 to the department of defense to enable the State of Hawaii to make a donation to the National World War II Memorial.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $25,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, to enable the State of Hawaii to make a donation to the National World War II Memorial.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of defense for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.