# What This Bill Does

This bill officially designates an existing memorial and museum being built in Jacksonville, Florida as the "National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum." POW stands for Prisoner of War and MIA stands for Missing in Action. The facility is designed to honor and remember approximately 142,000 American military members who have been captured as prisoners of war since World War II, as well as roughly 82,000 service members who remain missing in action or unaccounted for. The museum will tell the stories of these individuals and their families through interactive exhibits and educational programs.

The bill requires the museum's director to submit a detailed report to Congress within 90 days of the law passing. This report must include a five-year budget plan, information about how the museum is organized, its rules and bylaws, and any accreditations it has received from other organizations. Congress wants to ensure the museum is being run professionally and sustainably before giving it the official "National" designation.

There's also an important safeguard built into the bill: if the museum isn't operating properly five years after the law passes, or if the director fails to submit that required report on time, Congress can withdraw the national designation. This ensures accountability and gives Congress a way to hold the museum to high standards. For visitors and families of POWs and MIAs, this designation means the facility will have official federal recognition as an important national institution dedicated to preserving military history and honoring those who served.

National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum Act

Bean, Aaron

National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum Act This bill designates the memorial and museum that is being constructed on an approximately 26-acre area on the POW-MIA Memorial Parkway in Jacksonville, Florida, as the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum. The director of the memorial and museum shall submit a report to Congress that includes a budget for the memorial and museum.