What This Bill Does
This bill creates a national memorial in the Bronx, New York to honor people who died from COVID-19 and those who helped the country recover. The bill establishes a commission to plan, design and oversee the construction of the memorial.
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Who It Affects
- The National Park Service (the federal agency that manages national parks and memorials)
- The Secretary overseeing the memorial project
- Members appointed to the COVID-19 National Memorial Commission
- Residents of New York State, New York City and the Bronx
- The general public who may visit or participate in memorial planning
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Key Provisions
- A memorial is established at a designated location in the Bronx, New York to honor lives lost and heroes who helped (Sec. 2)
- A 15-member commission is created to plan the memorial, with the Director of the National Park Service serving on it and 14 members appointed by the Secretary (Sec. 3(b))
- The commission must submit recommendations to the Secretary and Congress within 3 years of the law's enactment for planning, design, construction and long-term management (Sec. 3(i)(1))
- The commission must consult with New York State, New York City, the Bronx Borough and other interested parties, and provide public participation opportunities (Sec. 3(i)(4) and 3(i)(5))
- The Secretary can acquire land for the memorial site from willing sellers through donation, purchase or exchange (Sec. 4(8))
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What Changes
If this becomes law, a memorial honoring COVID-19 victims and helpers will be established in the Bronx. A commission will be created to guide its planning and design. The National Park Service will manage the memorial as part of the National Park System once completed.
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Important Definitions
None defined in bill text.
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I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1621
To authorize a national memorial to commemorate those whose lives were
lost to COVID–19 and those who helped the country to recover, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 17, 2023
Mr. ESPAILLAT (for himself, Mr. TORRES of New York, and Mr. BOWMAN)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources
A BILL
To authorize a national memorial to commemorate those
whose lives were lost to COVID–19 and those who helped
the country to recover, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘COVID–19 National
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Memorial Act’’.
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SEC. 2. MEMORIAL.
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There is established a memorial located at a des-
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ignated location in the Bronx, New York, to honor the
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lives lost and the heroes who helped.
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•HR 1621 IH
SEC. 3. ADVISORY COMMISSION.
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(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com-
2
mission to be known as the ‘‘COVID–19 National Memo-
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rial Commission’’ (hereafter in this Act referred to as the
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‘‘Commission’’).
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(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall consist of
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15 members, including the Director of the National Park
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Service, or the Director’s designee, and 14 members ap-
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pointed by the Secretary.
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(c) TERM.—The term of the members of the Commis-
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sion shall be for the life of the Commission.
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(d) CHAIR.—The members of the Commission shall
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select the Chair of the Commission.
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(e) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Commission
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shall not affect its powers if a quorum is present, but shall
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be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
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(f) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the
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call of the Chairperson or a majority of the members, but
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not less often than quarterly. Notice of the Commission
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meetings and agendas for the meetings shall be published
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in local newspapers in the vicinity of Somerset County and
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in the Federal Register. Meetings of the Commission shall
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be subject to section 552b of title 5, United States Code
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(relating to open meetings).
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•HR 1621 IH
(g) QUORUM.—A majority of the members serving on
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the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the trans-
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action of any business.
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(h) NO COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commis-
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sion shall serve without compensation, but may be reim-
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bursed for expenses incurred in carrying out the duties
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of the Commission.
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(i) DUTIES.—The duties of the Commission shall be
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to—
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(1) not later than 3 years after the date of the
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enactment of this Act, submit to the Secretary and
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Congress a report containing recommendations for
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the planning, design, construction, and long-term
13
management of a permanent memorial;
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(2) advise the Secretary on the boundaries of
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the memorial site;
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(3) advise the Secretary in the development of
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a management plan for the memorial site;
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(4) consult and coordinate closely with the
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State of New York, New York City, the Bronx Bor-
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ough, and other interested parties; and
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(5) provide significant opportunities for public
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participation in the planning and design of the me-
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morial.
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(j) POWERS.—The Commission may—
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•HR 1621 IH
(1) make such expenditures for services and
1
materials for the purpose of carrying out this Act as
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the Commission considers advisable from funds ap-
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propriated or received as gifts for that purpose;
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(2) subject to approval by the Secretary, solicit
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and accept donations of funds and gifts, personal
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property, supplies, or services from individuals, foun-
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dations, corporations, and other private or public en-
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tities to be used in connection with the construction
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or other expenses of the memorial;
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(3) hold hearings, enter into contracts for per-
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sonal services and otherwise;
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(4) do such other things as are necessary to
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carry out this Act; and
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(5) by a vote of the majority of the Commis-
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sion, delegate such of its duties as it determines ap-
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propriate to employees of the National Park Service.
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(k) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate
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upon dedication of the completed memorial.
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SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.
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The Secretary is authorized to—
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(1) provide assistance to the Commission, in-
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cluding advice on collections, storage, and archives;
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•HR 1621 IH
(2) consult and assist the Commission in pro-
1
viding information, interpretation, and the conduct
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of oral history interviews;
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(3) provide assistance in conducting public
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meetings and forums held by the Commission;
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(4) provide project management assistance to
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the Commission for planning, design, and construc-
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tion activities;
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(5) provide programming and design assistance
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to the Commission for possible memorial exhibits,
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collections, or activities;
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(6) provide staff assistance and support to the
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Commission;
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(7) participate in the formulation of plans for
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the design of the memorial, to accept funds raised
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by the Commission for construction of the memorial,
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and to construct the memorial;
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(8) acquire from willing sellers the land or in-
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terests in land for the memorial site by donation,
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purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or ex-
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change; and
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(9) to administer the memorial as a unit of the
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National Park System in accordance with this Act
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•HR 1621 IH
and with the laws generally applicable to units of the
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National Park System.
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Æ
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