Katko, Thompson, Stefanik, Nadler Lead Effort to Support 9/11 Memorial & Museum Ahead of 20^th Anniversary

WASHINGTON, DC — In remembrance of the 20^th anniversary of the attacks on September 11^th and the nearly 3,000 Americans who lost their lives in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member John Katko (R-NY), joined by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) introduced a bill to support the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

Education and remembrance are two of the primary missions of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, which was established to commemorate the events, and honor the victims, of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, in New York City. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum Act would provide the non-profit organization funding to ensure that the grounds and facilities can remain open safely and allow space for visitors to remember and honor the lives touched by that fateful day. Specifically, this bill requires the Secretary of the Department Homeland Security to provide a one-time grant to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum for the operation, security, and maintenance of its facilities and grounds in New York City.

New York City, specifically the One World Trade building, remains a top target for terrorists further emphasizing the importance of security funding for one of our nation’s most solemn memorials.

“Twenty years later, we remember the lives that were so senselessly lost in the most significant terrorist attack on our soil,” said Ranking Member Katko. “We remember the first responders who ran toward danger without hesitation and the heroes who sacrificed their lives to save others. We must also remember the consequences of that day and the importance of educating younger generations on the American resilience and resolve we saw in the weeks, months, and years following the attacks. I am proud to work with my colleagues to ensure we never forget the lessons learned on that fateful day.”

“COVID-19 has kept many Americans from traveling to New York to visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and has denied them the opportunity to learn, firsthand, about the bravery and sacrifice of so many on that dark day twenty years ago,” said Chairman Thompson. “After we just completed a site visit to the museum, it is clear there are still so many valuable lessons to be taken from the heroism memorialized. I am pleased to join with Representatives Katko, Nadler and others in this bipartisan effort to ensure that the museum can continue to operate so that it can remain a touchstone for Americans today and for generations to come.”

“September 11, 2001 is forever etched into the minds of everyone who witnessed the tragedy of that day, and now we must teach its history to the next generation,” said Conference Chair Stefanik. “We must preserve the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, so future generations – in New York and beyond – will know the bravery of our first responders, the tragedy of the lives lost, the sacrifices of our servicemembers, and the patriotic resiliency shown by the American people. America must never forget.”

“The National September 11 Memorial & Museum serves as a tribute of remembrance and honor to lives lost twenty years ago. It also serves as a reminder of the bravery of those who risked everything to save lives that day. Since its dedication in 2011, the Memorial & Museum has stood as a place of learning, grieving, and reflecting for over 51 million visitors from 190 countries. Its collection, exhibits, and programming serve as powerful reminders of the largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil and the greatest single loss of rescue personnel in American history. It’s vital that the Memorial & Museum is able to continue to be accessible to millions of visitors for generations to come,” said Representative Jerrold Nadler. “I’m proud to join Ranking Member Katko and Chairman Thompson in introducing the 9/11 Memorial & Museum Act, which will provide critical funding to ensure the Memorial & Museum can safely remain open and accessible for visitors despite the economic hardships it has experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the families of loved ones lost on that tragic day and generations of visitors to come, the Memorial & Museum must continue to stand as a site of remembrance and hope.”

The legislation has 38 bipartisan cosponsors.

More details on the legislation here. 

Read the bill text here.

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