10 Jan President Biden Signs Legislation Approving “Area 1” Location for the Fallen Journalists Memorial
WASHINGTON (January 5, 2023) –
Marking an important step forward for the Fallen Journalists Memorial, President Biden signed, as part of the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, legislation on December 29, 2022, approving the future construction of the Memorial in a coveted “Area I” adjacent to our nation’s iconic National Mall in Washington, D.C. It will be America’s first memorial on federal land dedicated to press freedom and to those who have lost their lives in service to that cause.
“Thanks to President Biden and my former colleagues in Congress for approving the location of the Fallen Journalists Memorial adjacent to the National Mall in Washington, DC,” said Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation Founder and Chairman David Dreier. “For the past three years, sponsors Ben Cardin, Grace Napolitano, Tom Cole, Rob Portman and Chris Van Hollen have led this effort. This will allow us to build the memorial at the center of the nation’s capital. It will commemorate our country’s commitment to a free press by honoring journalists who have sacrificed their lives. This memorial will educate and inspire current and future generations to come.”
With continued resistance, disinformation, censorship, and threats to press freedom increasingly growing in America and around the globe, the Fallen Journalists Memorial will serve as a beacon for all who support press freedom.
“Journalists often work in dangerous situations to share important stories and critical information with the global public. With the number of deaths of journalists and threats against them on the rise, it is more important than ever to create this public monument,” said Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation President Barbara Cochran. “We thank the President and our Congressional supporters for helping to pave the way to make this memorial a reality.”
The Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation is collaborating with Pulitzer Prize winning architecture critic and consultant Paul Goldberger as the Foundation works through its final site selection process within “Area I.” Following the approval, the Foundation will begin to accelerate it efforts around design, construction, educational programming, fundraising, and other aspects of the memorial project.
About Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation
The Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation was authorized by Congress in December 2020 to build a memorial on federal land in Washington, D.C. to commemorate America’s commitment to a free press by honoring journalists who have sacrificed their lives in service to that cause. The Foundation is led by former U.S. Representative David Dreier and former news executive and journalism professor Barbara Cochran. The Foundation is supported by numerous leaders from all segments of the journalism community who serve on its Board of Advisors, including editors and publishers, news anchors, and photojournalists. To learn more about the Fallen Journalists Memorial and how to support this work at www.fallenjournalists.org and follow us at @FJMemorial.