B-211149.2, JUL 6, 1983
Highlights
IT IS CLEAR THAT THE MEMORIAL IS INTENDED TO BE FUNDED BY INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS. THESE APPROPRIATIONS ARE TO COVER ALL OF THE COUNCIL'S ACTIVITIES WHICH INCLUDE ENCOURAGING ANNUAL CIVIC COMMEMORATIONS OF THE HOLOCAUST AND ORGANIZING A COMMITTEE ON CONSCIENCE COMPOSED OF DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN MORAL LEADERS TO RECEIVE REPORTS OF GENOCIDE (ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL) THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. WE TRUST THAT THE ABOVE DISCUSSION WILL BE OF USE TO YOU IN RESPONDING TO THE CONCERNS RAISED BY YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
B-211149.2, JUL 6, 1983
PRECIS-UNAVAILABLE
THE HONORABLE JOHN TOWER, UNITED STATES SENATE:
ATTENTION: WALTER DROSKIE
ON JUNE 9, 1983, YOU FORWARDED FOR OUR CONSIDERATION LETTERS WHICH YOU HAD RECEIVED FROM THREE OF YOUR HOUSTON CONSTITUENTS. THE LETTERS ALL REFER TO A COLUMN BY GEORGIE ANNE GEYER ENCAPTIONED "SHOULD U.S. RAISE MUSEUM TO HOLOCAUST?" WHICH APPEARED IN THE HOUSTON POST ON MARCH 27, 1983. YOUR CONSTITUENTS QUESTION THE PROPRIETY OF EXPENDING FEDERAL FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A MEMORIAL TO VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST.
THE CONGRESS HAS NEITHER AUTHORIZED NOR APPROPRIATED ANY FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE MEMORIAL. IN FACT, SECTION 8 OF THE ACT ESTABLISHING THE UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL COUNCIL, PUBLIC LAW 96-388, 94 STAT. 1547, 1550 (1980), EXPRESSLY FORBIDS THE USE OF THE COUNCIL'S APPROPRIATED FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION. FURTHER, SECTION 7 OF THE ACT AUTHORIZES THE COUNCIL TO "SOLICIT, ACCEPT, HOLD, ADMINISTER, AND USE GIFTS, BEQUESTS AND DEVISES OF PROPERTY, BOTH REAL AND PERSONAL, TO AID OR FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATION OF THE MEMORIAL." THEREFORE, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE MEMORIAL IS INTENDED TO BE FUNDED BY INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
THE ACT ESTABLISHING THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZED APPROPRIATIONS OF ONLY $722,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 1981, $800,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 1982, AND $850,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 1983. THESE APPROPRIATIONS ARE TO COVER ALL OF THE COUNCIL'S ACTIVITIES WHICH INCLUDE ENCOURAGING ANNUAL CIVIC COMMEMORATIONS OF THE HOLOCAUST AND ORGANIZING A COMMITTEE ON CONSCIENCE COMPOSED OF DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN MORAL LEADERS TO RECEIVE REPORTS OF GENOCIDE (ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL) THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AS WELL AS PLANNING AND OVERSEEING THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE MEMORIAL MUSEUM.
WE TRUST THAT THE ABOVE DISCUSSION WILL BE OF USE TO YOU IN RESPONDING TO THE CONCERNS RAISED BY YOUR CONSTITUENTS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER FURTHER, PLEASE CONTACT MS. JENNIFER WESTFALL OF MY STAFF AT 275-5544.