Concord, N.H. – Last week, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) and Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (ND-AL) introduced legislation to ensure that national memorials located on federal property remain accessible to the public during a government shutdown, particularly for families honoring loved ones who gave their lives in service.
“Memorials are sacred spaces where families from every corner of our country come together to grieve, honor, and remember. No person, no family in America should ever be turned away from the very place that honors the service and sacrifice of a loved one,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “Our commonsense, bipartisan legislation will ensure that can never happen again. We owe these families so much more than our gratitude — we owe them dignity, respect, and peace.”
“I’m proud to partner with Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander on this bipartisan effort to make sure families are never denied access to the memorials that honor their loved ones’ service and sacrifice,” said Congresswoman Fedorchak. “These spaces mean so much to those who have given everything for our country, and this legislation helps guarantee they remain open and accessible.”
Congresswoman Goodlander introduced the legislation following outreach from New Hampshire firefighter Chris Wyman, who raised concerns after being unable to visit the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial due to restricted access during a lapse in funding at the Department of Homeland Security. While access to the memorial has since been restored, this legislation seeks to ensure that families are never again denied the opportunity to pay their respects.
“I’m grateful for the effort that Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander has put into ensuring that our nation’s firefighters that we’ve lost in the line of duty are continually honored and their families are supported. This bill strengthens the promise that Congress made many years ago when the National Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial was dedicated, and that the families, friends, and co-workers will always have access to the place where their legacy resides,” said Chris Wyman.
The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, located on the campus of the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland, is maintained by the nonprofit National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, not the federal government, yet its location on federal property left it inaccessible during the funding lapse. Unlike memorials in Washington, D.C., which are typically open to the public at all times, this closure prevented grieving families from visiting the site, including those whose loved ones were being honored for the first time.
Congresswoman Goodlander’s legislation would allow continued public access to memorials on federal property during a government shutdown, provided that the memorial is not funded by the federal government and is otherwise open to the public through a federal facility. The bill provides a clear, commonsense fix to prevent unnecessary closures of memorials that rely on nonfederal support.
The legislation builds on Congresswoman Goodlander’s broader efforts to protect essential services and prevent the harmful impacts of government shutdowns, ensuring that even in moments of political uncertainty, Americans can continue to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Congresswoman Goodlander has been a strong advocate for firefighters and first responders, including her support for the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure families of fallen firefighters receive the benefits they have earned.
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