A Senate subcommittee is considering a request for federal funding for the National September 11th Memorial and Museum.

Officials made the request today, and announced a good start to fundraising, saying the project has brought in over $700 million.

Still, they say federal assistance would help progress at the site.

Officials are asking for enough to cover about a third of the group's operating budget.

Most of the money raised has been from non-federal sources and used for construction and planning the museum, which is expected to open next year.