HR2290-119

What This Bill Does

The World War II Women's Memorial Location Act gives the already authorized commemorative work for women who worked on the home front during World War II access to the most prominent federal commemorative areas in Washington, D.C. The House-passed text allows the memorial authorized by section 702 of division DD of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, to be located within Area I, as shown on the Commemorative Areas Washington, DC and Environs map dated June 24, 2003, or within the Reserve. It overrides the ordinary restriction in section 8908(c) of title 40 for this specific commemorative work and defines Reserve by cross-reference to section 8902(a)(3).

Who Benefits and How

The World War II Women's Memorial Foundation, women who worked on the home front during World War II, families of women wartime workers, veterans and military heritage groups, National Mall visitors, women's history organizations, and memorial supporters benefit because the project can seek a highly visible Area I or Reserve location rather than being limited to less prominent commemorative areas.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The National Park Service, National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission participants, National Mall planners, federal preservation staff, competing memorial sponsors, public-space reviewers, and commemorative-works administrators must evaluate the location exception, account for another eligible memorial in the most constrained symbolic space, coordinate map and siting review, and manage preservation and visitor-use concerns.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the World War II women's home-front commemorative work to be located within Area I.
• Authorizes the commemorative work to be located within the Reserve despite ordinary title 40 restrictions.
• Provides a cross-reference definition of Reserve from federal commemorative-works law.
• Limits the bill to memorial location authority rather than creating a new memorial authorization.