Congress Approves WWII Memorial
WASHINGTON (UPI) - Congress on Tuesday approved legislation to speed construction of the $160 million World War II Memorial proposed for the National Mall.
The House approved the bill, introduced by Rep. Bob Stump, R-Ariz., by voice vote after the Senate unanimously approved the same measure Monday night.
The amendment was sponsored in the Senate by Alaska Republican Ted Stevens. It makes technical changes to a bill, also introduced by Stump, that passed the House last week. The National Capitol Planning Board had exerted technical jurisdiction over the project slated for the National Mall. Delays have resulted from controversies.
"This legislation will remove these obstacles and require the construction process to promptly go forward," said Stevens, a World War II veteran. "For many of us, this marks the 55th year since we returned home from World War II. We want this memorial finished while a significant number of our comrades in arms are alive. We want to be there when this memorial is opened."
The legislation calls for construction to begin "expeditiously at the dedicated Rainbow Pool site in the District of Columbia." It could begin within two months of President Bush's expected signing of the bill. The structure is scheduled for completion by about 2004, according to the National Park Service.
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