mr. whitesell, and i will be done. where in the path of leading up to those decisions could have been a time to change the direction the design process was going? i am asking a procedural question. >> if you go all the way back to the original statute, and when congress authorized the fdr memorial day said it must be harmonious with the lincoln, jefferson, and washington monument. >> thank you. i realize i am asking a convoluted question. mr. whitesell, the first question i have deals with the work you are doing on the mall right now, extensively with the turf, which has effected by softball. when will it be completed? >> the current work is only a portion of that which is in addition for the project. the piece that is under way right now is from third-to- seventh street, and that is supposed to be completed by the end of this subject calendar year. as to how it will effect your softball -- softball game, i cannot say. >> at my age, nothing will improve my game, but playing conditions are significant. can you give us a

mr. whitesell from the national parks service. we also have mr. tom lukey, the u.s. commission of fine arts. mr. bryant who is the chairman of the national planning commission. mr. justin jibold who is the chairman of the national civic arts society. we appreciate you coming here, i think you have all been here and know the drill. the lights in front of you and the timer in front of you tells you how much you have, we're asking you to confine your oral presentations to five minutes, so the green light means everything is going, when you hit the yellow light it's like when you're driving, and you speed up very quickly so that when you get the red light you stop. so mr. whitesell, if you would like to start off, we appreciate your testimony. >> it is my pleasure to be here today to discuss the future of the national mall. i would like to summarize my statement and submit my testimony for the record. the national mall is a national designed historical landscape and is home to some of the great symbols of our country. i will -- on some current projects to improve the mal

mr. whitesell. mr. luebke. mr. bryant. mr. shubow. dr. view.tray your names to babbitt. -- too badly. we appreciate you coming here. you have all been here. you all know the drill. the light in the timer tells you how much time you have. we are asking you to confine your oral presentations to five minutes. the green light means you're going. the yellow light means to speed up quickly. in the red light means to stop. mr. whitesell, i would appreciate hearing your testimony. >> mr. chairman, it is my pleasure to appear before you today to discuss the future of the national mall. i would like to summarize my statement and said that michael testimony for the record. the national mall is a prim and designed historical landscape and is home to some of the great symbols of our country. my summary will focus on the process for locating memorials on the mall and also on some current projects to improve the mall. proposals for new memorials in the district of columbia are governed by the commemorative work act. the procedure set forth are built on four b

mr. whitesell if you would like to start off, appreciate heangu teon mhan its plreapf y da dsst o thti m wolioumiz att su testimony for the record. the national mall is the preeminent design histocal landscape and is home to sme of the eat m or un umifs he prs longor on ml dl oo cut eco ove e mall. postals for a new memorial is in the district of columbia are covered by he -- thped fo lw bds onr cent ont ga deonin thesiding and design of memorials to those agencies already legislatively charged with planning and uran gnho. iecs mmat- mmat p tys om d of the death of an individual or the death of the last surviving member of a group, or the occurrence of an event order to mntain the prat hsic pee. e,licoemio marbj taj coct bhe svice with the intentions that most future military memorials would be placed on military lands. fouritrs e ma ceui 00onsderd e l le wof civic art and established the reserve, an area which no new memorials uld permitted. thai ree1 rial i aor ovn l reascee exioo eoti of new memorials, museums and visitor centers in the reserve. in 2003, or the national museum of r-ac