By Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News Advance

A bill authorizing the Department of the Interior to study the National D-Day Memorial’s potential to join the National Park Service now is headed to President Barack Obama’s desk for his signature.

The U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act on Thursday, which includes the memorial study that already is under way.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., voted in favor. The U.S. House passed a compromise version of the defense bill Oct. 8.

“Now we’re just one step closer,” said Jessica Barba, spokeswoman for Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th District, of the legislation that the three lawmakers have lobbied for since June.

The memorial opened in 2001 to honor the largest land, air and sea operation in military history. It was located in Bedford because the community lost 19 soldiers during the assault — the highest per capita loss during the invasion.

Officials at the memorial said earlier this year that it does not have enough money to sustain operations. The memorial has an annual operating budget of $2.2 million and relies on donations, which officials said have dropped because of the economy.

A team from the National Park Service made a “fact-finding” visit to the Bedford site in August.

Warner said the legislation gives “an additional level of insurance” that the process is completed.

“The sacrifices made by this community, and many other small towns across the country, is a story that needs to be protected and retold,” Warner said in a news release lauding its passage.

Perriello said the memorial is “not just a local treasure, but a national one and deserves to be part of our nation’s heritage for generations to come.”