To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to relocate a memorial honoring the 9 Air Force crew members who lost their lives in an airplane crash in the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests during a training mission on August 31, 1982.
Impact
The bill stipulates that the restoration and maintenance of the memorial will occur at no cost to federal funds, placing the financial responsibility on the requesting individual or entity. This approach affects funding procedures regarding national memorial installations, as it emphasizes local or private funding sources rather than federal allocation. The bill requires that all costs associated with the application, installation, and maintenance be borne by those seeking the memorial's relocation, allowing for a more localized management of these funds.
Summary
House Bill 6334 seeks to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to relocate a memorial for nine Air Force crew members who tragically lost their lives in an airplane crash during a training mission in 1982. This memorial presently resides in the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests, and the bill proposes its relocation to a site at the Stratton Ridge rest area along the Cherohala Skyway in North Carolina. This memorial serves to honor the courage and sacrifice of these servicemen, ensuring their legacy is recognized and preserved.
Contention
While the bill seems to support honoring the memories of fallen heroes, concerns regarding oversight and the impact on site selection procedures have been raised. The Secretary of Agriculture will have the authority to approve site installations with the concurrence of local transportation departments and federal administrative bodies overseeing nearby federal-aid highways. Some arguments could arise about potential bureaucratic delays or conflicts in securing necessary approvals, or about the adequacy of local funding to address any future costs associated with the memorial's upkeep.
Honoring and remembering the victims of the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 in Rockaway Queens, New York, on November 12, 2001, and extending the sincerest condolences of the citizens of the United States to the families and friends of those individuals.
To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to administratively transfer covered parcels of National Forest System land to the Secretary of the Interior to be held in trust for the benefit of Indian Tribes.
To authorize the President to award the Medal of Honor to retired Colonel Philip J. Conran for acts of valor in Laos as a member of the Air Force during the Vietnam War.