U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI) this week joined members of the For Country Caucus in requesting a meeting with President Biden to discuss passage and enactment of legislation that would authorize construction of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial in Washington, D.C.
“As we approach the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and draw down our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s more important than ever for us to honor the thousands of brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Global War on Terror,” Rep. Meijer said on Monday. “I’m working with my fellow veterans in the For Country Caucus to get this memorial built on the National Mall, and today we requested President Biden’s help in getting this important project over the finish line.”
Specifically, Rep. Meijer and 24 fellow caucus members, who are all United States military veterans, want to discuss with Biden “the vital importance” of the bipartisan, bicameral Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act, H.R. 1115 / S. 535, which would authorize the establishment of the memorial at a to-be-determined location on the National Mall.
If enacted, the proposed legislation would build upon the Global War on Terrorism War Memorial Act enacted in 2017 authorizing the creation of the memorial and a foundation to oversee funding and construction of the project, according to an Aug. 9 bipartisan letter that Rep. Meijer and the caucus members sent to Biden.
U.S. Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Brian Mast (R-FL), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), and Jared Golden (D-ME) were among the members who joined Rep. Meijer in signing the letter.
Passage and enactment of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act is the final step needed to authorize construction of the memorial on the National Mall, the lawmakers wrote.
“We strongly believe that White House leadership indicating your support of honoring our GWOT [Global War on Terrorism] veterans with a memorial on the National Reserve would ensure this legislation’s prompt passage into law,” according to their letter.
The proposed bill currently has 163 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives, where H.R. 1115 is under consideration by the House Natural Resources Committee, and 22 cosponsors in the U.S. Senate, where S. 535 is being used reviewed by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.