WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sixth District Congressman Frank Lucas (R-OK) shepherded his bill, the AOklahoma City National Memorial Act of 1997" through the U.S. House of Representatives today, where the bill passed by a vote of 414 to 7, with all of the Oklahoma delegation voting in favor of the bill. Lucas spoke on behalf of the effort to place a National Memorial at the site of the Oklahoma City bombing of April 19, 1995.

"The links of the fence that has stood at the site of the Oklahoma City bombing have served much more than their technical purpose," Lucas said. AThat chain link fence has been our link to the tragedy that took place there over two years ago. We went there to hang our sorrows, our notes of celebrated lives, our prayers, and our hopes for healing.

"We will now be able to remember those lost lives, saved lives and rescuers of life through a national memorial that will stand in place of the fence," Lucas continued. "Generations of Oklahomans and people across the nation and around the world will be able to pay tribute, remember and learn about our undying human spirit."

"The only steps left before construction can begin, are the approval of the Senate and the signature of the President on this bill," Lucas said. "Senator Nickles will see this bill through the Senate, most likely tomorrow. And the President gave every indication, during a White House celebration of the memorial design in August, that he would sign it."

S. 871 authorizes $5 million in federal funding for the construction and upkeep of the $24 million memorial. It also designates the site as a unit of the National Park Service (NPS) to be run in a unique partnership with the Oklahoma City Memorial Trust, a board created by the legislation.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial Act of 1997 will establish a National Memorial at the site where the Alfred P. Murrah building once stood. The memorial will be an entity of the National Park Service and run in a partnership by the NPS and the Oklahoma City National Memorial Trust. The Trust will be created by this legislation and authorizes $5 million in federal funding for the $24 million memorial.

"It has been gratifying yet a bit disheartening to realize that much of my legislative agenda during my short career in the House has been shaped by such an evil act," Lucas said. "Over the past years I have had the privilege and opportunity to help ease the burden Oklahoma City has borne as a result of this devastating tragedy. Those with whom I have worked closely, and those I have only seen grieving from afar, have shown me what Americans are made of."

"The establishment of this memorial is the closest we will be able to come to capturing, in a physical structure, the extraordinary spirit, determination, and hope of Oklahomans and all Americans who have persevered in the wake of such grand-scale adversity," Lucas continued.

The memorial will encompass the Murrah building site, Fifth Street between Robinson and Harvey and the sites of the Water Resources and the Journal Record buildings. Its park-like atmosphere is created by numerous evergreens standing watch over a field of 168 empty, glass chairs, in remembrance of those who died. The Survivor Tree, witness to the violence of the moment, stands north of a large reflecting pool. And an interactive learning museum will be housed in the Journal Record building.

"A national memorial is on its way for Oklahomans," Lucas said. "We will be able to watch our living memorial to the Oklahoma City Bombing and all its victims, be built from ground zero on up...just as we have been doing emotionally for over two years."