HR6643-119

What This Bill Does

The American Border Story Memorial Act authorizes The American Border Story to establish a commemorative work on federal land in the District of Columbia and its environs. The memorial would honor United States citizens and legal residents who lost their lives as victims of crimes committed by individuals unlawfully present in the United States. The bill keeps the project under the Commemorative Works Act, notwithstanding a statutory limitation in section 8903(c), and bars federal funds from paying any establishment expense. If money remains after all establishment expenses and the required maintenance and preservation amount are paid, The American Border Story must transfer the balance to the Secretary of the Interior for the statutory memorial account. If the authority expires with funds remaining, the balance must go to a separate National Park Foundation account for memorials, available to Interior or the General Services Administration under the commemorative-works process.

Who Benefits and How

The American Border Story benefits because it receives congressional authorization to pursue a memorial on federal land. Families and supporters of victims described in the bill benefit from a formal commemorative pathway. Memorial visitors benefit from a place intended to tell and preserve those stories. Interior memorial programs and National Park Foundation memorial accounts benefit from required transfer of excess funds for maintenance or other commemorative purposes.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The American Border Story must privately raise funds, satisfy Commemorative Works Act requirements, pay establishment and maintenance expenses, and transfer any remaining balances as required. Federal taxpayers are protected from establishment costs because federal funds are barred. Interior Department and General Services Administration staff must administer the federal memorial process and any transferred funds. Project supporters face the risk that authority expires before the memorial is completed.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes The American Border Story to establish a commemorative work on federal land in the District of Columbia area.
• Honors United States citizens and legal residents killed by crimes committed by individuals unlawfully present in the United States.
• Requires the project to follow Commemorative Works Act procedures.
• Bars federal funds from paying establishment expenses.
• Requires excess funds to be transferred to Interior or National Park Foundation memorial accounts depending on project status.