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Express-News: Military
Bill would hasten memorial
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — House lawmakers determined to see construction begin on a World War II memorial pushed through a bill Tuesday that would put the project on a faster track.
Critics say the effort could set a precedent that would eliminate safeguards aimed at preventing the nation's capital from becoming too cluttered with monuments.
The bill, which passed the House by a 400-15 vote, would order construction of the memorial to begin "expeditiously" and make all previous decisions regarding the memorial "final and conclusive" and not subject to judicial or administrative review. The Senate has not yet acted on the bill, although a companion measure has been introduced by Sen. Tim Hutchinson, R-Ark.
The memorial, which would be located midway between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, has been hotly debated since 1995. Critics have complained it would clutter the National Mall.
Two weeks ago, the National Capital Planning Commission decided to reopen debate over what the memorial should look like and where it should be built. The commission has scheduled a May 23 meeting on the matter and has asked the National Park Service to construct a mock-up of the structure.
Detractors have also filed a federal lawsuit alleging a number of environmental concerns, including a claim that nearby elm trees must be protected.
05/16/2001
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