Red-Tape Cut on Vietnam Vets Visitors Center Project

Washington, DC – The House Resources Committee has passed H.R. 4882, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Visitor Center Deadline Enforcement Act by a vote of 32-0. The bill will cut two-and-a-half years worth of bureaucratic red tape by designating a location for the visitor center on Washington’s National Mall. Chairman Richard W. Pombo (R-CA), Ranking Member Nick Rahall (D-WV), and Reps. Steve Pearce (R-NM) and Donna Christensen (D-VI) co-sponsored the bill.

“I felt compelled to take this unusual action in direct response to what I believe is the unreasonable bureaucracy choreographed by the National Capital Planning Commission,” Pombo said. “And I am proud of the Resources Committee for working across the aisle to support our veterans. Enough is enough. Our veterans deserve more than stalling and procrastination.”

The National Park Service and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund fully complied with all requests to date from the National Capital Planning Commission, including the completion of an extensive environmental analysis. The analysis successfully met full compliance of consideration on seven alternative sites in addition to weighing the impacts and sight-lines of the National Mall to traffic and sound analysis.

Congressman Richard W. Pombo represents California's Eleventh Congressional District.  Congressman Pombo is Chairman of the House Resources Committee and serves on the House Agriculture Committee.