Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act
Latest action (18 Nov 2021): Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
What this bill does
S. 535, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act, addresses where a previously authorized national memorial honoring service members of the Global War on Terrorism may be built. Under existing law, a memorial to that conflict was already approved for construction in Washington, D.C., but general rules governing commemorative works on the National Mall restrict the placement of new memorials within an area known as “the Reserve.” This bill would create an exception, allowing the Global War on Terrorism Memorial to be located within the Reserve, alongside memorials to other major U.S. conflicts. Aside from this site designation, the memorial would remain subject to the existing Commemorative Works Act, which governs the design, funding, and approval process for memorials in the capital.
The bill primarily affects the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, the organization responsible for establishing the memorial, as well as federal agencies overseeing the National Mall, such as the National Park Service. More broadly, it affects veterans, active-duty service members, and civilian personnel who served in the Global War on Terrorism, and the public interested in how and where the conflict is commemorated. An earlier version of the bill had specified three possible sites for the memorial; the reported version removes that specificity and instead simply authorizes placement within the Reserve generally.
The bill was introduced by Senator Joni Ernst with broad bipartisan cosponsorship and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. On November 18, 2021, the committee ordered the bill reported with an amendment, and a written committee report was issued in December 2021. The bill has not yet received a vote in the full Senate or been considered by the House.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act
This bill authorizes the establishment of a National Global War on Terrorism Memorial in the area of the National Mall.
Timeline
18 Nov 2021
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Common questions
- What does S. 535 do?
- S. 535, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act, addresses where a previously authorized national memorial honoring service members of the Global War on Terrorism may be built. Under existing law, a memorial to that conflict was already approved for construction in Washington, D.C., but general rules governing commemorative works on the National Mall restrict the placement of new memorials within an area known as “the Reserve.” This bill would create an exception, allowing the Global War on Terrorism Memorial to be located within the Reserve, alongside memorials to other major U.S. conflicts. Aside from this site designation, the memorial would remain subject to the existing Commemorative Works Act, which governs the design, funding, and approval process for memorials in the capital. The bill primarily affects the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, the organization responsible for establishing the memorial, as well as federal agencies overseeing the National Mall, such as the National Park Service. More broadly, it affects veterans, active-duty service members, and civilian personnel who served in the Global War on Terrorism, and the public interested in how and where the conflict is commemorated. An earlier version of the bill had specified three possible sites for the memorial; the reported version removes that specificity and instead simply authorizes placement within the Reserve generally. The bill was introduced by Senator Joni Ernst with broad bipartisan cosponsorship and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. On November 18, 2021, the committee ordered the bill reported with an amendment, and a written committee report was issued in December 2021. The bill has not yet received a vote in the full Senate or been considered by the House.
- Has S. 535 become law?
- Not yet. As of 18 Nov 2021, S. 535 is ordered reported.
- Who sponsored S. 535?
- S. 535 was sponsored by Sen. Joni Ernst [R-IA] (Republican-IA), with 56 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 535?
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably. (18 Nov 2021).
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