Donnelly, Boozman Urge Senate to Approve Location of National Desert Storm War Memorial

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and John Boozman (R-AR) continued their commitment to ensure veterans of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm are honored with a national memorial in Washington, D.C. by introducing a joint resolution to approve the location of the National Desert Storm War Memorial on a prominent area near the National Mall and other war memorials.

Donnelly, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said, "I am proud to partner with Senator Boozman on bipartisan legislation to make the Gulf War Memorial in Washington, D.C., a reality, where it will stand alongside other tributes to our nation's great history. It will honor those men and women who served our nation in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield, and those we lost, preserving their memories for future generations of Americans."

Boozman said, "Honoring the men and women who served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm with a dedicated memorial in an important place in our nation's capital shows the respect and appreciation for those who fought to defend freedom in the Gulf War. I encourage my colleagues to recognize and honor these men and women by approving the location of the future memorial."

Donnelly and Boozman introduced the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield War Memorial Act, to authorize establishment of a National Desert Shield and Desert Storm War Memorial on federal lands within the District of Columbia in 2013. The bill was included in the National Defense Authorization Act and signed into law in December 2014.

Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell approved the location of the monument in August. Congress has 150 days to accept this recommendation.

The joint resolution is cosponsored by Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Richard Burr (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Angus King (I-ME), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

No federal funds will be spent to build this memorial. All funds will be raised privately by the National Desert Storm War Memorial Association.

Scott Stump, CEO and President of the National Desert Storm War Memorial, said, "Our sincere thanks and appreciation go out to Senators Boozman and Donnelly for introducing this critical piece of legislation which is so vital to our mission of constructing the National Desert Storm War Memorial. Passage of this bill will ensure that the memorial will take its place in a prominent and highly visible location and help honor those who served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice for all eternity."

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