Getting HR. 3349 through Congress
How Elisabet Ney Chapter Got HR 3349 Through Congress (with a lot of help)
Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Ney Chapter DC, VA, and MD has been granted permission to place a commemorative memorial in Washington DC on federal land by the United States Congress. The Commemorative Works Act of 1986 is the legislation passed by Congress that outlines the procedures to place commemorative work in Washington DC. One must have a senator or representative write legislation to establish a commemorative work. Below is a summary of the steps to follow:
- H.R.3349 – Republic of Texas Legation Memorial Act
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Individual characteristics of proposals may require additional related actions, the combination of two or more actions, or a change in the order of steps as outlined in this guide.
Initiation
1 Memorial sponsor seeks National Capital Memorial Commission (NCMC) staff assistance to review the requirements and process established by the Commemorative Works Act (CWA) and its applicability to the proposed memorial.
Legislation
2 Memorial sponsor seeks a Senator or Representative who is willing to draft and introduce a bill to authorize the establishment of the memorial.
3 Staffs of NCMC, members of Congress who will introduce the bill, and authorizing committees to draft a bill that conforms to the provisions of the CWA.
4 Congressman and/or Senator introduce a bill authorizing the memorial and designating the sponsor as the entity responsible for its erection at no cost to the federal government.
5 NCMC considers proposed authorizing legislation to establish its views pursuant
6 Chairmen of House and Senate authorizing subcommittees to solicit views of NCMC, may hold hearings on proposed authorizing legislation, and take action
7 President signs the bill into law if passed by Congress.
8 Memorial sponsor organizes the structure of the entity that will establish the memorial and begins planning for fundraising efforts.
Site Selection and Approval
9 If requested by the sponsor, the Secretary of the Interior or the Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), depending on whose land is involved, seeks the advice of NCMC to determine whether the memorial warrants placement in Area 1. Secretary or Administrator, if requested, notifies Congress of a determination that the subject is of preeminent and lasting historical significance (CWA See. 6(a)) so that Congress can consider passage of legislation authorizing an Area 1 location.
- The memorial sponsor works with the staff of NCMC to identify potential sites and prepare an alternative site study and accompanying preliminary environmental
- Memorial sponsor submits alternative site study and accompanying preliminary environmental analysis to NPS or GSA for approval of the preferred site. After consultation with NCMC, NPS or GSA approves a preferred site on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior or the Administrator of GSA, depending on whose land is affected.
to CWA (See. 3(d)).
12 NPS or GSA submits the approved site to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) for approval. It initiates consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO).
Design Approval
13 After site approval by NCPC and CFA and comment by SHPO, the design process begins.14 The memorial sponsor selects (1) a designer or (2) a coordinator for a design competition if the competition is to be held.
15 Memorial sponsor selects preferred design concept and meets with NPS or GSA to discuss issues that design may present. After possible refinements, the sponsor submits the design concept and accompanying environmental assessment to NPS or GSA for approval.
16 NPS or GSA reviews the design concept and, upon concurrence, submits it to NCPC, CFA, and SHPO.
17 The memorial sponsor, in close coordination with NPS or GSA, refines the design concept on the basis of agency comments and submits the preliminary design to the landholding agency, who, upon approval, submits it to NCPC, CFA, and SHPO.
18 The memorial sponsor, in close coordination with NPS or GSA, refines the preliminary design on the basis of agency comments and submits the final design to NPS or GSA, who, upon approval, submits it to NCPC, CFA, and SHPO.
19 The memorial design team completes final drawings and specifications in close coordination with NPS or GSA.
Fundraising and Construction
20 Memorial sponsor completes fund-raising.
21 Memorial sponsor submits to NPS or GSA final drawings and specifications, cost estimate, and evidence of funds on hand, plus 10 percent cash payment of design and construction costs for maintenance. The sponsor seeks final approval by the Secretary of the Interior or the Administrator of GSA.
22 NPS or GSA issues a construction permit on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior or the Administrator of GSA.
23 Memorial sponsor begins construction and preparation of operation, maintenance, and preservation plans for the memorial.
24 Memorial is dedicated and transferred to NPS or GSA for management with accompanying as-built operation, maintenance, and preservation plans.
Letters were written to every member of the Texas delegation to Congress and mailed in Spring 2018. About August Rep. John Culberson volunteered to sponsor our legislation HR.6672, and Rep. Poe co-sponsored the bill. That bill went nowhere.
The legislation does not find its way through Congress without an army of supporters. When the 115th Congress was over, our bill was too. Rep. Culberson was not reelected, Judge Poe retired, and HR 6672 did not carry over to the 116th Congress.
In January 2019 the new representatives were sworn into Congress. This time with emails, lists of people, and contacts, new letters were written to all the Texas delegation again. One of Elizabet Ney’s chapter members was a former lobbyist on Capitol Hill. She showed us the ropes. Congressional offices were called, I made appointments, and I went to Capitol Hill and stopped in Congressional offices. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-35) from the Austin area came forward to sponsor HR 3349, The Republic of Texas Legation Memorial Act. A group of bipartisan representatives volunteered to cosponsored HR 3349. Senator Ted Cruz sponsored a separate bill, S 4744, through the Senate.
Cosponsors
Date Cosponsored
07/18/2019
07/30/2019
09/10/2019
09/20/2019
09/27/2019
09/27/2019
11/20/2019
11/20/2019
11/20/2019
12/06/2019
03/05/2020