Private donations currently pay for security and operations outside the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center, but a bill sponsored by Shore Congressman Tom MacArthur (R-3) to dedicate federal funds instead, passed a floor vote in the House of Representatives Tuesday.

3rd Congressional District Republican candidate Tom MacArthur
3rd Congressional District Republican candidate Tom MacArthur (R) (Townsquare Media NJ)
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MacArthur pointed out that his first stand-alone measure required some negotiating to get the support it needed to advance through a subcommittee and full committee. Funding from the Department of Interior would be managed by the 9-11 Memorial Foundation.

"There were some people who pushed back and wanted the Federal Government to control that site, the memorial after we were done. What my bill does is provide funding and security for operations that leaves it in the hands of the 9/11 Memorial Foundation, and so this is a public-private partnership, and there were some in committee who don't think anything is good unless the Federal Government controls it," said MacArthur.

MacArthur noted that until his bill was proposed, no federal money has been dedicated to the 9/11 site. "It's all been private donors, and that's been fine, it's been a wonderful way for people to honor the many who lost their lives on 9/11," MacArthur said. He's concerned that, "when you go to the sight, it is wide open. Somebody could walk in there with a bomb strapped to their back and blow up hundreds of people at any given time. It's not right. The Federal Government should be protecting our people when they go to honor the victims of 9/11, and we don't today."

MacArthur's bill would authorize and require the Department of Interior to move existing funds out of some existing Administrative accounts to fund the security and operations for the 9/11 Memorial.

"So, we're not going to spend anymore taxpayer money. We've spent too much already," MacArthur said.

MacArthur noted he's working with people in the Senate to gain support for the bill. The bill needs Senate approval before it can advance to President Barack Obama for final approval.

"The Department of Interior has a massive budget with lots of Administrative buckets," said MacArthur. He added, "There's plenty of opportunity to divert money in a more important way."

MacArthur shared that the 9/11 site is personal to him.

"I spent a good deal of my business career in that neighborhood. I lost two colleagues when the towers came down. I smelled that burning smell for months and months afterwards because I worked right up the block, and to go there now and see that we're not doing anything as a nation to protect our people when they go visit is just not right. This was a federal tragedy, a national tragedy, and I really believe it deserves and demands national support," MacArthur said.

MacArthur noted that the type of public-private partnership proposed in his bill is similar to models used with other memorials, including The Holocaust Museum in Washington and the Oklahoma City Bombing site.

MacArthur reiterated that dedicated federal funds are needed for external security at the 9/11 site because a drop in future donations could lead to less security there.

 

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