119-S-1353 Journalist Public Summary

Public Summary — S. 1353 (119th Congress)

1) Headline Summary: Extends the deadline for making approved, privately funded additions to the Second Division Memorial in D.C. until September 30, 2032. [1]Congress.gov — Text - S.1353 (119th): To extend the authority for modifications…

2) What It Does: In 2018, Congress allowed the Second Indianhead (2nd Infantry) Division’s veterans foundation to add new inscriptions or elements to the existing memorial near the National Mall; no federal money may be used. S. 1353 simply keeps that 2018 authority alive through 2032, overriding the usual seven‑year time limit the Commemorative Works Act puts on memorial projects. [4]Wikisource — Public Law 115‑91, §352 — Modification of the Second Division Memo…[2]Legal Information Institute (Cornell) — 40 U.S.C. § 8903 — Congressional author…

Why it matters: Without this extension, the earlier authorization could lapse under those standard deadlines, potentially delaying or derailing planned tributes to 2nd Infantry Division members who died in the Korean DMZ/Cold War era and in Iraq and Afghanistan—updates the veterans foundation has been fundraising to complete. [2]Legal Information Institute (Cornell) — 40 U.S.C. § 8903 — Congressional author…[5]2ID Memorials Foundation — 2ID Memorials Foundation — project description and f…

Background: The Second Division Memorial, managed by the National Park Service near 17th Street and Constitution Ave., was dedicated in 1936 and expanded in 1962 to include WWII and Korean War dead. [6]National Park Service — Second Division Memorial — site overview

3) Who’s For It:

• Sponsor: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R‑AK). [7]Congress.gov — S.1353 overview page — sponsor/status/committee
• Second Indianhead Division (2ID) Memorials Foundation, which is raising private funds and advancing the design and permitting for the additions. [5]2ID Memorials Foundation — 2ID Memorials Foundation — project description and f…

4) Who’s Against It:

• No formal opposition has been recorded as of December 10, 2025. Typical concerns in this policy area involve creating exceptions to the Commemorative Works Act’s timelines or altering established memorials in the National Mall area, but none specific to this bill are noted publicly. [7]Congress.gov — S.1353 overview page — sponsor/status/committee

5) What’s Next: The bill had a Senate National Parks Subcommittee hearing on December 9, 2025, and remains in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Next steps would be a committee markup and vote before any full Senate consideration. [3]Congress.gov — Senate ENR Subcommittee on National Parks hearing (Dec. 9, 2025)…[8]Congress.gov — All Info for S.1353 — status and committee referral