[115th Congress Public Law 413]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 132 STAT. 5427]]
Public Law 115-413
115th Congress
An Act
To provide competitive grants for the operation, security, and
maintenance of certain memorials to victims of the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001. <<NOTE: Jan. 3, 2019 - [H.R. 6287]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: 9/11 Memorial
Act. 54 USC 320301 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``9/11 Memorial Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Covered memorial.--The term ``covered memorial'' means a
memorial located in the United States established to commemorate
the events of, and honor the victims of, the terrorist attacks
on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11,
2001, at the site of the attacks.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means the
official organization, as in existence on the date of enactment
of this Act--
(A) the focus of which is the operations and
preservation of a covered memorial; and
(B) which is an organization described in section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and
exempt from taxation under 501(a) of that Code.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. COMPETITIVE GRANTS FOR COVERED MEMORIALS.
(a) <<NOTE: Determination.>> In General.--Subject to the
availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall award to eligible
entities competitive grants of varying amounts, as determined by the
Secretary, to be used by the eligible entity solely for the purposes
described in subsection (b).
(b) Purposes.--A grant awarded under subsection (a) shall be used by
an eligible entity for the operation, security, and maintenance of a
covered memorial.
(c) <<NOTE: Determination.>> Deadline for Award.--If the Secretary,
after review of an application from an eligible entity, determines to
award a grant to the eligible entity, the Secretary shall award the
grant not later than 60 days after the date of receipt of the completed
application.
(d) Availability.--Grant funds made available under this section
shall remain available until expended.
[[Page 132 STAT. 5428]]
(e) Criteria.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary
shall give greatest weight in the selection of eligible entities using
the following criteria:
(1) The needs of the eligible entity, and ability and
commitment of the eligible entity to use grant funds, with
respect to ensuring the security and safety of visitors of the
covered memorial.
(2) <<NOTE: Determination.>> The ability of the eligible
entity to match the amount of the grant, on at least a 1-to-1
basis, with non-Federal assets from non-Federal sources,
including cash or durable goods and materials fairly valued, as
determined by the Secretary.
(3) The greatest number of visitors that would benefit.
(4) The ability and commitment of an eligible entity to use
grant funds--
(A) to preserve the grounds at the covered memorial;
and
(B) to educate future generations.
(5) The ability and commitment of an eligible entity to use
grant funds to increase the numbers of economically
disadvantaged visitors to the covered memorial.
(f) Limitation.--No grant shall be awarded under this section--
(1) for use at a covered memorial that does not provide
for--
(A) free admission to all facilities and museums
associated with the covered memorial for active and
retired members of the military, registered first
responders to the attacks of September 11, 2001, and
family members of victims of the attacks of September
11, 2001; and
(B) dedicated free admission hours for the general
public at least once a week; or
(2) <<NOTE: Review. Public information.>> to an eligible
entity that does not allow for annual Federal audits of the
financial statements of the eligible entity, including revenues
associated with ticket sales, charitable donations, grants, and
all expenditures on salaries and operations, which shall be
subject to review by the Secretary and made available to the
public.
(g) Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the end of each calendar
year for which an eligible entity obligates or expends any amounts made
available under a grant under this section, the eligible entity shall
submit to the Secretary and the appropriate committees of Congress a
report that--
(1) specifies the amount of grant funds obligated or
expended for the preceding fiscal year;
(2) specifies any purposes for which the funds were
obligated or expended; and
[[Page 132 STAT. 5429]]
(3) includes any other information that the Secretary may
require to more effectively administer the grant program under
this section.
Approved January 3, 2019.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 6287:
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115-930 (Comm. on Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):
Sept. 12, considered and passed House.
Dec. 20, considered and passed Senate, amended.
Dec. 21, House concurred in Senate amendment.
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