H.R. 6611

STATEMENT OF KYM A. HALL, REGIONAL DIRECTOR, NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BEFORE THE HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC LANDS CONCERNING H.R. 6611, A BILL TO AUTHORIZE THE EMBASSY OF FRANCE IN WASHINGTON, DC, TO ESTABLISH A COMMEMORATIVE WORK IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND ITS ENVIRONS TO HONOR THE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS OF JEAN MONNET TO RESTORING PEACE BETWEEN EUROPEAN NATIONS AND ESTABLISHING THE EUROPEAN UNION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

JULY 14, 2022

Chair Neguse, Ranking Member Fulcher, and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the views of the Department of the Interior on H.R. 6611, a bill to authorize the Embassy of France in Washington, DC, to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs to honor the extraordinary contributions of Jean Monnet to restoring peace between European nations and establishing the European Union, and for other purposes.

The Department appreciates the significance of Jean Monnet’s contributions to European peace and cooperation but recommends that the Committee defer action on H.R. 6611 until after the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission (Commission) has an opportunity to review this proposal. 

H.R. 6611 authorizes the Embassy of France in Washington, DC to establish a commemorative work to honor the work of Jean Monnet, a French political economist and diplomat, during the post-World War II period.  The bill requires compliance with the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. Chapter 89) (CWA), which prohibits Federal funds from being used to establish the memorial, and provides direction on the disposition of unspent funds raised for the memorial.  

Jean Monnet was a gifted diplomat and visionary who is remembered for his critical role in advocating for international collaboration to achieve economic prosperity and security.  After the liberation of France at the end of World War II, Monnet formulated the Modernization and Re-equipment Plan, which was designed to spur economic recovery in France.  Commonly referred to as the Monnet Plan, it inspired the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community, a forerunner to the European Union.  

In 1963, Monnet was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction by President Lyndon Johnson.  In 1976, as he neared the end of his life, Monnet was the first to be bestowed Honorary Citizen of Europe by the European Council of the European Union for extraordinary work to promote European cooperation.

Ideas for new memorials benefit greatly from the review they receive through the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission.  Established by the CWA, the Commission is chaired and staffed by the National Park Service and is composed of government agency representatives who have a critical role or expertise in the location and design of monuments and memorials on Federal lands in the District of Columbia.  A key role of the Commission is to provide advice to the House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over the National Park Service on pending legislation that would authorize new commemorative works.

The Commission plans to review H.R. 6611 during its July 27, 2022 meeting.  The purpose of this review is to determine whether the bill’s commemorative subject meets the requirements of the CWA.  In particular, the Commission will decide whether the commemorative subject meets the standard of “lasting national significance” to the American public.  The Commission’s views and recommendations will then be sent to the House and Senate authorizing committees.

Chair Neguse, this concludes my statement. I would be pleased to answer any questions you or other members of the Subcommittee may have.