To support operation, security, and maintenance, the bill authorizes a one-time grant from the Department of Homeland Security to the Memorial & Museum Foundation, the official operator of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. The grant amount must be between $5 million and $10 million, determined by the Secretary after reviewing an application.
The eligible entity must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the Memorial and Museum as of enactment. The Secretary is authorized to award the grant if the entity meets defined criteria and the necessary appropriations are available.
The grant is strictly for the Memorial & Museum’s operation, security, and maintenance. It includes conditions such as free admission for active and retired members of the Armed Forces, first responders, and families of victims, plus dedicated free admission hours.
The recipient must undergo annual federal financial audits and provide reports to Congress detailing fund use and outcomes. No additional federal funds are authorized for this program; funding is limited to appropriations made for this purpose.
At a Glance
What It Does
Creates a one-time DHS-funded grant program to support the operation, security, and maintenance of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, with a $5–$10 million award range.
Who It Affects
The Memorial & Museum Foundation (the official operator) as the grant recipient; visitors and program participants who benefit from maintained facilities and access policies.
Why It Matters
Establishes federal support to sustain a nationally significant memorial site, with criteria to ensure security, preservation, and education while expanding access for economically disadvantaged visitors.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The bill establishes a one-time grant program within the Department of Homeland Security to support the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center. The grant goes to the Memorial & Museum Foundation, the official operator, and must be used for operation, security, and maintenance.
The Secretary of Homeland Security will award the grant after reviewing an application from the eligible entity, with the amount capped between $5 million and $10 million and contingent on appropriations.
Eligibility requires that the recipient be the official operator and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The bill outlines criteria for the grant amount, including security and safety considerations, preservation of facilities, educational impact, and efforts to increase access for economically disadvantaged visitors.
A key condition is that the entity provides free admission to active and retired armed forces, first responders, and families of victims, plus dedicated free hours for the general public. The grant recipient must undergo annual federal audits of its finances and report to Congress on fund use each year.
No new funds beyond those appropriated for this purpose are authorized.In short, the act creates a tightly scoped, time-limited federal funding stream to ensure the memorial’s ongoing operation and public access while embedding accountability and transparency through audits and annual reporting.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill authorizes a one-time grant from the Department of Homeland Security to the Memorial & Museum Foundation.
Grant amount is set between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000 and is determined by the Secretary.
Eligible entity must be the official operator and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Conditions include free admission for active/retired service members, first responders, and victims’ families plus weekly free hours.
The recipient must undergo annual federal audits and report to Congress; no additional funds are authorized.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Short Title
This Act may be cited as the 9/11 Memorial and Museum Act. It establishes the framework and authority for a one-time grant to support the Memorial & Museum’s operations, security, and maintenance.
Definitions
Defines the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and the Eligible Entity as the official operator that is a 501(c)(3) organization. The Secretary refers to the Secretary of Homeland Security. This section sets the baseline terms used throughout the act to ensure clear eligibility and scope.
One-Time Grant for Memorial & Museum
This section creates the grant program. The Secretary shall award a one-time grant to the eligible entity, using funds appropriated in advance, to be used only for operation, security, and maintenance of the Memorial & Museum. The grant amount must be between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000, with the exact amount determined by the Secretary after reviewing the applicant’s submission. To receive a grant, the eligible entity must submit an application; the Secretary will review and award the grant if the criteria are met, no later than 90 days after a completed application is received. Criteria focus on security/safety needs, visitor impact, preservation and educational use, and increasing access for economically disadvantaged visitors. Receipt of funds is conditioned on providing free admission to certain groups and allowing federal audits of financial statements; annual reporting to Congress is required; and no additional funds are authorized beyond the appropriations made for this section.
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Who Benefits
- The National September 11 Memorial & Museum Foundation—the official operator—receives the grant to ensure ongoing operations, security, and maintenance.
- Visitors to the Memorial & Museum benefit from maintained facilities, safety, and preserved educational experiences.
- Active and retired members of the Armed Forces, first responders, and families of victims gain free admission, with additional dedicated public hours, enhancing access to the memorial.
- Educators, students, and researchers access a better-preserved site with potential educational programming and outreach.
- Economically disadvantaged visitors may be better served as the program aims to increase their access to the Memorial & Museum.
Who Bears the Cost
- The federal government (Department of Homeland Security) funds the grant through appropriations.
- The Memorial & Museum Foundation bears compliance costs, including annual federal audits and the reporting requirements mandated by the act.
- Any potential revenue impact from free admission policies (e.g., ticket revenue foregone) is borne by the grant framework and the organization’s broader fundraising/operational financing.
- Ongoing oversight and administration by DHS and congressional committees entails administrative costs and monitoring obligations for the grant recipient.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central dilemma is whether a one-time federal grant can meaningfully support a major national memorial’s long-term operations and access objectives, while ensuring accountability and preserving the charitable nature of the organization’s funding structure.
The bill provides a tightly scoped, one-time funding mechanism intended to address near-term operational needs. It relies on the availability of appropriations and does not authorize ongoing funding beyond the specified grant.
This creates a dependency on future appropriations decisions for any sustained support and raises questions about long-term sustainability after the grant expires. The act also conditions federal support on free access measures and annual audits, which balancing security, accessibility, and transparency could prove administratively challenging for the Memorial & Museum Foundation.
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