{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-leads-bipartisan-veterans-calling-for-timely-construction-of-global-war-on-terrorism-memorial", "Golden Leads Bipartisan Veterans Calling for Timely Construction of Global War on Terrorism Memorial", "2022-10-17", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Jared Golden (ME-02) led a bipartisan group of military veterans in calling for the thoughtful and timely construction of a Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial located on the National Mall. The letter comes ahead of the GWOT Memorial Foundation\u2019s site selection review tomorrow, Tuesday, October 18th before the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission (NCMAC). The review is a crucial step in determining the specific location of the GWOT Memorial on the National Mall. The Memorial will honor the veterans and their families who served and sacrificed during America\u2019s Global War on Terror.\n\n\u201cFor many Americans, the wounds of war \u2013 literal and otherwise \u2013 are still fresh,\u201d the bipartisan group of members wrote. \u201cMany Gold Star families, veterans, and others who supported America\u2019s post-9/11 counterterrorism efforts need a national place of healing, empowerment, and unity. All Americans deserve a place to honor those who have served our country in different capacities. The Memorial will also help educate a generation of Americans too young to remember the 9/11 attacks and subsequent valorous efforts to keep our country safe.\"\n\n\u201cPerhaps most importantly, the Memorial must be built while the generation of warfighters who gave so much in places like Afghanistan and Iraq are still alive. Our veterans and others should not be forced to repeat the experience of our World War II veterans, who waited nearly 59 years from the end of World War II to see the inauguration of a Memorial in 2004.\u201d\n\nAs co-Chair of the For Country Caucus, Representative Golden helped lead the effort to secure the passage of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act in December 2021. The legislation was the final step needed to authorize the GWOT Memorial on the National Mall. The GWOT Memorial Foundation is now working to secure approval on specific location and design for a Memorial on the Reserve Area of the National Mall.\n\nThe National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission (NCMAC) advises the Secretary of the Interior and the Administrator of the General Services Administration on proposals to establish commemorative works in Washington, D.C. and the National Capital Region. The Commission examines memorial proposals for conformance to the Commemorative Works Act, receives public comment, and makes recommendations to the Secretary and the Administrator and to Members of Congress.\n\nRepresentative Golden led the letter with Representatives Jim Baird (IN-04), Jason Crow (CO-06), and Mike Gallagher (WI-08). Also signing the letter were Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02), Brian Mast (FL-18), Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (IA-02), Mike Waltz (FL-06), Scott Franklin (FL-15), and Peter Meijer (MI-03).\n\nThe cosigners are all members of the For Country Caucus, a bipartisan group of military veterans who are committed to strengthening U.S. national security, supporting veterans, and building a more productive government.\n\nFull text of the letter is below and can also be found HERE.\n\n+++\n\nOctober 17, 2022\n\nNational Capital Memorial Advisory Commission\n\nInterior Region 1 \u2013 National Capital Area\n\n1100 Ohio Drive, S.W.\n\nWashington, DC 20242\n\nDear Commission Members:\n\nWe write in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial Foundation\u2019s efforts to thoughtfully and expediently identify a site location on the National Mall for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial. As you know, last year Congress passed the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act, which specifically authorized a site in the Reserve area of the National Mall as the Memorial\u2019s future home. As a bipartisan group of veterans, we were proud to lead this effort, which marked an historic step toward honoring all who have served and sacrificed in the Global War on Terrorism.\n\nWe are glad that you will soon be meeting with GWOT Memorial Foundation representatives to discuss potential sites for the Memorial. We understand that site selection is a complicated process with many considerations at play, and therefore requires a collaborative, constructive dialogue to determine the best possible location. The foundation has been thorough and professional in their site analysis, and we appreciate you receiving them with a spirit of cooperation that reflects the honor and solemnity this project deserves.\n\nIn addition to the importance of the Memorial\u2019s ultimate location, it is also imperative that it be built as quickly as is practical. For many Americans, the wounds of war \u2013 literal and otherwise \u2013 are still fresh. Many Gold Star families, veterans, and others who supported America\u2019s post-9/11 counterterrorism efforts need a national place of healing, empowerment, and unity. All Americans deserve a place to honor those who have served our country in different capacities. The Memorial will also help educate a generation of Americans too young to remember the 9/11 attacks and subsequent valorous efforts to keep our country safe.\n\nPerhaps most importantly, the Memorial must be built while the generation of warfighters who gave so much in places like Afghanistan and Iraq are still alive. Our veterans and others should not be forced to repeat the experience of our World War II veterans, who waited nearly 59 years from the end of World War II to see the inauguration of a Memorial in 2004.\n\nThank you for your very good work to commemorate a key chapter in American history, and to honor all who helped write it. We know we speak for the people of our districts in expressing our desire for the Memorial to come to life as soon as possible.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-leads-bipartisan-veterans-calling-for-timely-construction-of-global-war-on-terrorism-memorial"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.814853236079216, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}