Summary of S.4282 (119th Congress) — National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum Act

Purpose

Designate the POW/MIA Memorial and Museum being constructed in Jacksonville, Florida, as the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum. The bill also establishes reporting and oversight provisions to support transparency, governance, and future federal recognition.

Key Provisions

• Designation (Section 3a):

  • Designates the currently under-construction POW/MIA Memorial and Museum located on POW-MIA Memorial Parkway in Jacksonville, Florida, as the “National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum.”

• Reporting to Congress (Section 3b):

  • Within 90 days after enactment, the Director of the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum must report to Congress with:
  • A five-year budget for the Memorial and Museum, starting from the anticipated public opening date.
  • A description of the organizational structure.
  • Copies of bylaws or rules adopted.
  • A list of any accrediting organizations/entities.

• Designation Withdrawal (Section 3c):

  • The designation can be withdrawn if: 1) The Memorial and Museum are not operational in a satisfactory manner five years after enactment; or 2) The required report to Congress is submitted later than 90 days after enactment.

Findings and Purpose (Section 2)

• Describes the Memorial and Museum as a civic landmark intended to honor, connect, inspire, and educate about:
  • Approximately 142,000 U.S. Armed Forces members captured as prisoners of war since World War II.
  • Approximately 82,000 members of the Armed Forces missing in action or unaccounted for since World War II.
• Highlights the project as a comprehensive venue to honor former POWs/missing personnel and to provide a space for families to share their stories.
• Emphasizes publicizing POW/MIA stories, preserving the history of the POW/MIA logo, and showcasing the history of Naval Air Station Cecil Field as a master jet base.
• Aims to attract diverse visitors through interactive, educational programming and events.

Who Is Affected

• The National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum organization itself (its governance, budget, bylaws, and accreditation status).
• Congress, which would receive the mandated reports and oversight information.
• Families and the public, who would gain access to an educational, commemorative facility focused on POW/MIA history and current missing personnel.

Timelines and Procedures

• Enactment triggers a 90-day reporting requirement to Congress.
• A five-year window is established for assessment before potential withdrawal of designation, contingent on operational performance.
• Designation applies to the 26-acre memorial site in Jacksonville, Florida as of enactment.

Administrative Sponsor

• Senate Sponsor: Mrs. Moody (with a co-sponsor noted as Ashley Moody).

This bill is primarily a symbolic and governance-focused measure to elevate a regional POW/MIA memorial to national recognition, while instituting transparency obligations and a performance-based threshold for maintaining the designation.