Specter, Casey, Shuster, Murtha Announce Flight 93 National Memorial Funding

The following joint press release was just sent out of Senator Specter's office. Completion of the National Flight 93 Memorial has long been a top priority for Congressman Shuster and this funding is an important step in realizing that goal:

$5.475 Million Contained in FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Bill

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey and Congressmen John Murtha and Bill Shuster announced today that the Flight 93 National Memorial will receive $5.475 million as contained in the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill. The Senate approved the measure last night, and the legislation will now go to the President for his signature.

The $5.475 million is broken into two parts:

· $4.275 million is contained in Transportation’s Federal Lands Account to help construct the infrastructure and roads to provide access to and around the Memorial.

· $1.2 million will go to the National Park Service (NPS) to help complete the first phase of construction, which includes protecting the sacred ground where the plane crashed, as well as developing a plaza along the edge of the crash site to give the estimated 250,000 annual visitors an opportunity to view the grounds. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/flni.

"I am pleased to announce this funding which will bring us closer to dedicating a national memorial to remind people of what heroism was involved in the day that America was attacked,” Senator Specter said. "The site is hallowed ground and we have an obligation to see to it, with the leadership of the Families of Flight 93, that this historic spot is appropriately consecrated."

“Today we have taken another step towards completing this memorial, which will pay tribute to the bravery shown by the passengers of Flight 93,” said Senator Casey. “It will help us remember their sacrifice, honor their valor and commemorate their lives. I wish to thank the Families of Flight 93 and my congressional colleagues for their dedication to this endeavor.”

“The Flight 93 memorial will forever honor the lives of heroes; exceptional Americans who answered the call to sacrifice their lives to save the lives of countless others. I share with my colleagues Senators Specter, Casey, and Congressman Murtha a continued commitment to make sure that the Flight 93 Memorial will be completed by the 10^th anniversary of the September 11th attacks,”Shuster said. “This funding brings us an important step closer to that goal.”

“I’m hopeful that with these additional funds, construction of the access road and construction of the Flight 93 Memorial can begin,” said Murtha.

“Senators Specter and Casey and Congressmen Shuster and Murtha have done a magnificent job in helping to shepherd this funding through Congress. We are deeply grateful for their leadership and we look forward to continuing our work together towards the dedication of the permanent Memorial to our heroes on September 11, 2011,” said Gordon W. Felt, president of the Families of Flight 93.

The funding announcement comes on the heels of a February 20^th meeting that Senator Specter hosted in Somerset County with Governor Rendell, NPS Acting Director Dan Wenk and other leaders of the project to discuss the Memorial’s development. The officials signed a Letter of Commitment to have the Memorial dedicated by September 11, 2011, the 10^th anniversary of the attacks.