John Kerry: “the Senate today passed H.R. 1696, legislation authorizing expeditious construction of the World War II Memorial at the…”

“the Senate today passed H.R. 1696, legislation authorizing expeditious construction of the World War II Memorial at the Rainbow Pool site on the National Mall in a manner consistent with previously approved plans, but ``subject to design modifications'' that may subsequently be approved by the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts under the Commemorative Works Act. In rejecting the original House bill in favor of this legislation, the Senate today recognizes that appropriate modifications to the design may be warranted. The bill permits the National Capital Planning Commission to proceed with its plans to view an on-site mock-up of the memorial and to consider modifications to the design that will ensure that the memorial respects the open, historic character of the Mall, that significant vistas are not obstructed, and that the height and mass of this memorial are appropriate for the site. Consistent with this legislation, such modifications ought to be expeditiously considered and approved by the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts so that construction of the memorial may proceed without undue delay.”