[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2135 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2135

     To provide for a National Native American Veterans' Memorial.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 17, 1993

   Mr. Thomas of Wyoming (for himself, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Rose, Mr. 
    Miller of California, Mr. Richardson, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mrs. 
   Schroeder, Mr. Stump, Mrs. Mink, Mr. Bereuter, Mr. Williams, Mr. 
   Roberts, Mr. Spratt, Mrs. Vucanovich, Mr. Gejdenson, Mr. Smith of 
Oregon, Mr. Torres, Mrs. Meyers of Kansas, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, 
Mr. Gallegly, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Kyl, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Doolittle, 
 Mr. Abercrombie, Mr. Calvert, Ms. English of Arizona, and Ms. Furse) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                          House Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To provide for a National Native American Veterans' Memorial.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Native American Veterans' Memorial 
Establishment Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Native Americans across the Nation have a long, proud 
        and distinguished tradition of service in the armed forces of 
        the United States.
            (2) Native Americans have historically served in the armed 
        forces of the United States in numbers which far exceed their 
        representation in the population of the United States.
            (3) Native American veterans count among themselves a 
        number of Medal of Honor recipients. Their numbers are also 
        conspicuous in the ranks of those who have received other 
        decorations for valor and distinguished service.
            (4) Native Americans have lost their lives in the service 
        of their Nation and in the cause of peace.
            (5) The National Museum of the American Indian was 
        established as a living memorial to Native Americans. Its 
        mission is to advance knowledge and understanding of Native 
        American cultures, including art, history, language, and the 
        contributions Native Americans have made to our society.
            (6) The National Museum of the American Indian is an 
        extraordinary site and an ideal location to establish a 
        National Native American Veterans' Memorial.
            (7) A National Native American Veterans' Memorial would 
        further the purposes of the National Museum of the American 
        Indian by giving all Americans the opportunity to learn of the 
        proud and courageous tradition of service of Native Americans 
        in the armed forces of the United States.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
            (1) The term ``Native American'' means an Indian, a Native 
        Hawaiian, and an Alaska Native.
            (2) The term ``Native Hawaiian'' means any individual who 
        is a descendant of the aboriginal people who, prior to 1778, 
        occupied and exercised sovereignty in the area that now 
        comprises the State of Hawaii.
            (3) The term ``Alaska Native'' means any Eskimo, Aleut, or 
        Alaska Indian.
            (4) The term ``Memorial'' means the Native American 
        Veterans' Memorial established by section 3 of this Act.
            (5) The term ``Museum'' means the National Museum of the 
        American Indian established by the National Museum of the 
        American Indian Act (20 U.S.C. 80q et seq.).

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF MEMORIAL.

    (a) Memorial.--The Museum, in close consultation with Native 
American groups, is authorized to design, construct, and maintain a 
National Native American Veterans' Memorial.
    (b) Site.--The Museum shall select a suitable site for the Memorial 
within the interior structure of the facility provided for by section 
7(a) of the National Museum of the American Indian Act (20 U.S.C. 80q-
5(a)) to house the portion of the Museum to be located in the District 
of Columbia.
    (c) Design and Plans.--The Museum is authorized to hold a 
competition to select the design of the Memorial. Any design so 
selected shall be compatible with both the purpose of the Museum, as 
set forth in section 3(b) of the National Museum of the American Indian 
Act (20 U.S.C. 80q-1), and with any existing design plans for the 
Museum's structure and its surroundings.
    (d) Donations.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Museum may accept, retain, and expend donations of funds, property, or 
services from individuals, foundations, corporations, or public 
entities for the purpose of designing, constructing, or maintaining the 
Memorial.
    (e) Payment of Expenses.--The United States Government shall not 
pay any of the expenses of the establishment of the Memorial other than 
providing the site referred to in subsection (b).

                                 <all>