After a years-long, hard fought effort spearheaded by Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), today the Senate passed their bipartisan legislation to build a memorial on the National Mall honoring the veterans of the Global War on Terrorism, clearing the way for the bill to be signed into law and for the memorial to soon become a reality.
Ernst, a combat veteran of the Global War on Terrorism, and Hassan, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, have worked across the aisle to garner strong support for their effort from more than 50 Democrats and Republicans in Congress, influential public figures, and the six surviving secretaries of Defense—spanning Democratic and Republican administrations. Their bill, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act, which proposes three locations for the memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., now heads to the President’s desk.
“For all those who answered the call in the wake of 9/11 to keep America safe, we must never forget what they have done for our nation. Now is the time to build a memorial on our National Mall as a permanent testament to our nation’s heroes of our longest war—a memorial that will serve as a symbol of their selflessness and sacrifice for generations to come,” said Senator Joni Ernst. “Today, with our bipartisan bill passing the Senate, this memorial is closer than ever to becoming a reality.”
“A memorial on the National Mall to those who served in the Global War on Terrorism will serve as a place to gather, reflect, and honor those who have given so much for country,” said Senator Maggie Hassan. “With the inclusion and passage of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act in this year’s annual defense bill, we will soon see this bill become law – welcomed news for so many service members and their families who have worked hard to see this happen. I look forward to the President swiftly signing this bipartisan bill into law so we can get to work on building this memorial on the Mall.”
In 2017, through bipartisan legislation, Ernst helped create the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, a private foundation, to begin the process of pursuing the construction of a memorial and paving the way for today’s passage.
