Air Force memorial gets new home—at no cost to taxpayers
H.R. 3584 — Stratton Ridge Air Force Memorial Act · Filed by Charles (Chuck) Edwards (R-NC) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced May 23, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to allow relocation of a memorial honoring nine Air Force crew members who died in a 1982 plane crash from private land to a rest area in North Carolina's Nantahala National Forest. The memorial can be moved only with the private landowner's consent and approval from state and federal transportation authorities, with all costs borne by whoever requests the relocation—no federal funds are used.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative mechanism is a narrow authorization permitting the Secretary of Agriculture to approve relocation of an existing memorial from private to federal land, contingent on multiple approvals and full private funding. It is a straightforward administrative permission, not a policy change or appropriation.
Who it affects
Citizens bear no cost (federal funds explicitly prohibited, all expenses on private requester), retain full democratic oversight (state and federal agencies must approve), and gain a public memorial honoring fallen service members at a federally managed rest area accessible to the public. The bill imposes no restrictions on citizens' rights or protections.