Establishes the World War I Centennial Commission to: (1) plan, develop, and execute programs, projects, and activities to commemorate the centennial of World War I; (2) encourage private organizations and state and local governments to organize and participate in such activities; (3) facilitate and coordinate such activities throughout the United States; and (4) serve as a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of information about centennial events and plans; and (5) develop commemoration recommendations for Congress and the President.
[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[S. 3537 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3537
To establish the World War I Centennial Commission to ensure a suitable
observance of the centennial of World War I, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 22 (legislative day, September 17), 2008
Mr. Bond introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the World War I Centennial Commission to ensure a suitable
observance of the centennial of World War I, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) More than 400,000 men and women from the United States
served in uniform in the defense of liberty during World War I,
among them 2 future presidents, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D.
Eisenhower.
(2) 2,000,000 individuals from the United States served
overseas during World War I, including 200,000 naval personnel
who served on the seas.
(3) The United States suffered 375,000 casualties during
World War I.
(4) The events of 1914 through 1918 shaped the world, the
United States, and the lives of millions of people in countless
ways.
(5) The centennial of World War I offers an opportunity for
people in the United States to learn about the sacrifices of
their predecessors.
(6) Commemorative programs and activities allow people in
the United States to gain a historical understanding of the
type of conflicts that cause countries to go to war and how
those conflicts are resolved.
(7) Kansas City is home to America's National World War I
Museum, as so recognized by Congress in section 1031(b) of the
Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375; 118 Stat. 2045).
(8) America's National World War I Museum seeks--
(A) to preserve the history of World War I; and
(B) to educate and enlighten people about this
significant event, the consequences of which still
affect the United States.
(9) Kansas City is home to the national headquarters for
the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
(10) Missouri is the home State of General John Joseph
Pershing, who commanded the American Expeditionary Forces in
Europe during World War I.
(11) The Kansas City area is the home of the Harry S.
Truman Presidential Library and Museum.
(12) The Dwight David Eisenhower Presidential Library and
Museum is located close to Kansas City in the neighboring State
of Kansas.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to establish a commission, in Kansas
City, Missouri, on the centennial of World War I to ensure a suitable
observance of such centennial that promotes the values of honor,
courage, patriotism, and sacrifice, in keeping with the representation
of these values through the four Guardian Spirits sculpted on the
Liberty Memorial Monument at America's National World War I Museum.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known
as the ``World War I Centennial Commission'' (referred to in this Act
as the ``Commission'').
(b) Membership.--
(1) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 24
members as follows:
(A) Four members who shall be appointed by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(B) Three members who shall be appointed by the
minority leader of the House of Representatives.
(C) Four members who shall be appointed by the
majority leader of the Senate.
(D) Three members who shall be appointed by the
minority leader of the Senate.
(E) Seven members who shall be appointed by the
President from among persons who are broadly
representative of the people of the United States
(including members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and
representatives of veterans service organizations).
(F) One member who shall be appointed by the
executive director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of
the United States.
(G) One member who shall be appointed by the
executive director of the American Legion.
(H) One member who shall be appointed by the
president of the Liberty Memorial Association.
(2) Period of appointment.--Each member shall be appointed
for the life of the Commission.
(3) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled
in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
(4) Initial meeting.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the
date on which all members of the Commission have been
appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meeting.
(B) Location.--The location for the meeting held
under subparagraph (A) shall be America's National
World War I Museum.
(5) Meetings.--
(A) In general.--The Commission shall meet at the
call of the Chair.
(B) Frequency.--The Chair shall call a meeting of
the members of the Commission not less frequently than
once each year.
(C) Location.--Not less frequently than once each
year, the Commission shall meet at America's National
World War I Museum.
(6) Quorum.--Thirteen members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
(7) Chair and vice chair.--The Commission shall select a
Chair and Vice Chair from among its members.
SEC. 4. DUTIES.
(a) In General.--The duties of the Commission are as follows:
(1) To plan, develop, and execute programs, projects, and
activities to commemorate the centennial of World War I.
(2) To encourage private organizations and State and local
governments to organize and participate in activities
commemorating the centennial of World War I.
(3) To facilitate and coordinate activities throughout the
United States relating to the centennial of World War I.
(4) To serve as a clearinghouse for the collection and
dissemination of information about events and plans for the
centennial of World War I.
(5) To develop recommendations for Congress and the
President for commemorating the centennial of World War I.
(b) Reports.--
(1) Periodic report.--Beginning not later than the last day
of the 3-month period beginning on the date described in
section 9 and the last day of each 3-month period thereafter,
the Commission shall submit to Congress and the President a
report on the activities and plans of the Commission.
(2) Recommendations.--Not later than 2 years after the date
described in section 9, the Commission shall submit to Congress
and the President a report containing specific recommendations
for commemorating the centennial of World War I and
coordinating related activities.
SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act
at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such
evidence as the Commission considers appropriate to carry out the
purposes of this Act.
(b) Powers of Member and Agents.--If authorized by the Commission,
any member or agent of the Commission may take any action which the
Commission is authorized to take under this Act.
(c) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Commission shall secure
directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the
Commission considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Upon the request of the Chair of the Commission, the head of such
department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
(d) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the
Commission, the Administrator of the General Services Administration
shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the
administrative support services necessary for the Commission to carry
out its responsibilities under this Act.
(e) Contract Authority.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Commission is authorized--
(A) to procure supplies, services, and property;
and
(B) to make or enter into contracts, leases, or
other legal agreements.
(2) Limitation.--The Commission may not enter into any
contract, lease, or other legal agreement that extends beyond
the date of the termination of the Commission under section
7(a).
(f) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other
departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
(g) Gifts, Bequests, and Devises.--
(1) Acceptance by commission.--The Commission may accept,
use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or
property, both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding or
facilitating the work of the Commission.
(2) Deposit and availability.--Gifts, bequests, or devises
of money and proceeds from sales of other property received as
gifts, bequests, or devises shall de deposited in the Treasury
of the United States and shall be available for disbursement
upon order of the Commission.
SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(1) Compensation of members.--Members of the Commission
shall serve without compensation for such service.
(2) Travel expenses.--Each member of the Commission shall
be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, in accordance with the applicable provisions of
title 5, United States Code.
(3) Staff.--
(A) In general.--The Chair of the Commission shall,
in consultation with the members of the Commission,
appoint an executive director and such other additional
personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission
to perform its duties.
(B) Compensation.--
(i) In general.--Except as provided in
clause (ii), the Chair of the Commission may
fix the compensation of the executive director
and other personnel appointed under
subparagraph (A).
(ii) Limitation.--The Chair of the
Commission may not fix the compensation of the
executive director or other personnel appointed
under subparagraph (A) at a rate that exceeds
the rate of payable for level IV of the
Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title
5, United States Code.
(C) Work location.--If the city government for
Kansas City, Missouri, and the Liberty Memorial
Association make space available in the building in
which the America's National World War I Museum is
located, the executive director of the Commission and
other personnel appointed under subparagraph (A) shall
work in such building to the extent practical.
(4) Detail of government employees.--Upon request of the
Commission, the head of any Federal department or agency may
detail, on a reimbursable basis, any employee of that
department or agency to the Commission to assist it in carrying
out its duties under this Act.
(5) Procurement of temporary and intermittent services.--
The Chair of the Commission may procure temporary and
intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United
States Code.
SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) In General.--The Commission shall terminate on the earlier of--
(1) the date that is 30 days after the date the completion
of the activities under this Act honoring the centennial
observation of World War I; and
(2) July 28, 2019.
(b) Application of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.
App.) shall apply to the activities of the Commission under
this Act.
(2) Exception.--Section 14(a)(2) of such Act shall not
apply to the Commission.
SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) America's national world war i museum.--The term
``America's National World War I Museum'' means the Liberty
Memorial Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as recognized by
Congress in section 1031(b) of the Ronald W. Reagan National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-
375; 118 Stat. 2045).
(2) Veterans service organization.--The term ``veterans
service organization'' means any organization recognized by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of
veterans under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act takes effect on January 1, 2010.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
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