HR-3465-116
Became Public Law No: 116-253.
What it does
This bill authorizes the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation to build a memorial on federal land honoring journalists who died in service to a free press. No federal money would be used to build or maintain the memorial. The Foundation would be solely responsible for raising private funds and paying all costs associated with the project.
Who benefits
The Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation, which gains legal authorization to use federal land for the memorial. Families and colleagues of journalists killed in the line of duty, who would have a permanent public place of recognition. Visitors and the general public who would have access to the commemorative site. The journalism community broadly, which would gain a federally sanctioned monument on the National Mall or similar federal land.
Who is hurt
Taxpayers face no direct financial cost under the bill's terms. Other organizations seeking federal land for commemorative works may face increased competition for limited available sites. Some members of the public who object to the use of federal land for this particular purpose would have no recourse once the authorization is granted.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that journalists who have died reporting the news represent a foundational sacrifice in defense of the First Amendment and an informed democracy. A permanent memorial on federal land would give lasting, visible recognition to those who paid the ultimate price to keep the public informed. Because no federal funds would be used — with all costs borne by private contributions — the memorial imposes no burden on taxpayers. Supporters also contend that the federal government has a long tradition of authorizing commemorative works for groups who have served the public interest, and that fallen journalists clearly meet that standard.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that federal land is a finite public resource, and authorizing its use for a memorial tied to a specific profession raises questions about which occupational groups merit such recognition and who decides. Some may contend that journalists, as private citizens rather than public servants, do not fit the traditional model for federally sanctioned memorials, which have historically honored military service members and government officials. Others may raise concerns that a government-authorized memorial to the press could create the appearance of an official relationship between the federal government and journalism, which some view as in tension with the independence the First Amendment is meant to protect.