ASSEMBLY COMMERCE AND MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 59

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JUNE 3, 1996

      The Assembly Commerce and Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 59.

      The purpose of this bill is to clarify that the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Committee has continued to exist and shall continue in existence until completion of that part of the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial known as the Vietnam Era Educational Center. The memorial consists of two parts: the "circular memorial" which was dedicated on May 7, 1995 and the educational center which, when completed, will explain the history of the Vietnam War and the role of the military personnel who served and died in Southeast Asia. Existing law provides that the memorial committee will expire upon dedication of the memorial. Although this was intended to mean dedication of the entire memorial, including the educational center, it has been alleged by some that the committee expired on May 7 when the "circular memorial" portion was dedicated. This bill addresses this perceived problem by expressly continuing the committee's existence until the educational center's completion.