[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3498 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3498

   To urge the President to establish the White House Commission on 
     National Military Appreciation month, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 13, 2001

  Mr. Shows introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To urge the President to establish the White House Commission on 
     National Military Appreciation month, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``White House Commission on National 
Military Appreciation Month Act''.

 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The vigilance of the United States Armed Forces, past 
        and present, has been instrumental to the preservation of the 
        freedom, security, and prosperity that the United States 
        enjoys.
            (2) The vigilance and capabilities of the United States 
        Armed Forces depend on the dedicated service of its members, 
        their families, and the civilian employees of the Department of 
        Defense and United States Coast Guard.
            (3) The role of the United States as a world leader, and 
        the global scope that such role imparts to our Nation's 
        interests, requires a military force that is well-trained, 
        well-equipped, and appropriately sized.
            (4) For such a force to be fielded, the young men and women 
        of the United States must possess a commitment to military 
        service that is sufficient to achieve the levels of recruitment 
        and retention of enlisted, officer, and civilian personnel 
        necessary for sustaining the strength, vitality, and character 
        of the United States Armed Forces.
            (5) To foster and sustain such a commitment, it is vital 
        for youth in the United States to understand that the service 
        provided by members of the United States Armed Forces is an 
        honorable legacy that has protected the freedoms that are 
        enjoyed by United States citizens and citizens of many other 
        nations.
            (6) The Federal Government has a responsibility to raise 
        awareness of and respect for this aspect of our national 
        heritage and to encourage citizens to dedicate themselves to 
        the values and principles for which Americans have served and 
        sacrificed throughout our history.
            (7) Service in the United States Armed Forces entails 
        special sacrifices and hazards.
            (8) The special duties required of those who serve in the 
        United States Armed Forces demand special sacrifices from the 
        families of service members, and the support of the families is 
        an essential force multiplier that enhances the effectiveness 
        and capabilities of the United States Armed Forces.
            (9) The Nation's observance of events recognizing the 
        contributions of the Armed Forces is a tangible and highly 
        effective way of sustaining morale and improving quality of 
        life for the military family.
            (10) Senate Resolution 33 (106th Congress, 1st session), a 
        resolution entitled ``Senate Resolution Designating May 1999 as 
        `National Military Appreciation Month''', agreed to on April 
        30, 1999, called on the people of the United States, in a 
        symbolic act of unity, to observe a National Military 
        Appreciation Month in May 1999, to honor the service men and 
        women of the United States past and present, including those 
        who have died in the pursuit of freedom and peace.
            (11) It is important for the relevance of the history and 
        activities of the United States Armed Forces to be emphasized 
        to current and future citizens of the United States through an 
        annual National Military Appreciation Month that includes 
        associated local and national observances and activities.

 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF WHITE HOUSE COMMISSION ON NATIONAL MILITARY 
              APPRECIATION MONTH.

    It is the sense of Congress that the President should establish a 
commission known as the ``White House Commission on National Military 
Appreciation Month'' to make recommendations to the President on the 
proclamation of ``National Military Appreciation Month'' to be 
celebrated each year.

 SEC. 4. COMMISSION DUTIES.

    (a) Recommendations.--The White House Commission on National 
Military Appreciation Month, if established pursuant to this Act, shall 
submit to the President its recommendations on actions that should be 
taken to--
            (1) foster public service and civic virtue on the part of 
        the people of the United States by--
                    (A) inspiring respect and understanding for the 
                spirit of America;
                    (B) recognizing the many sacrifices made by members 
                of the United States Armed Forces and the members of 
                their families;
                    (C) recognizing the importance of maintaining a 
                strong, well-equipped, educated, and trained military 
                force for the United States to safeguard peace and 
                freedom;
                    (D) encouraging the citizens of the United States 
                to take pride in the United States Armed Forces for the 
                protection and service that the Armed Forces provide;
                    (E) recognizing and honoring the dedication and 
                commitment of members of the United States Armed 
                Forces, and expressing appreciation for all 
                contributions made by the members of the Armed Forces 
                throughout the history of the United States; and
                    (F) promoting education of America's youth that 
                focuses on the history and world role of the United 
                States Armed Forces;
            (2) inspire national, State, local, and tribal 
        participation in the commemoration of the United States Armed 
        Forces throughout the year in celebrations of National Military 
        Appreciation Month and patriotic and military commemorative 
        days, such as Flag Day, D-day, Veterans Day, and Pearl Harbor 
        Day, by--
                    (A) encouraging the participation of diverse 
                entities including--
                            (i) national humanitarian and patriotic 
                        organizations;
                            (ii) elementary, secondary, and higher 
                        education institutions;
                            (iii) veterans' societies and civic, 
                        patriotic, educational, sporting, artistic, 
                        cultural, and historical organizations;
                            (iv) Federal departments and agencies; and
                            (v) museums, including cultural and 
                        historical museums; and
                    (B) recommending appropriate activities to observe 
                National Military Appreciation Month and patriotic and 
                military commemorative days including--
                            (i) the production, publication, and 
                        distribution of books, pamphlets, films, and 
                        other educational materials;
                            (ii) bibliographical and documentary 
                        projects and publications;
                            (iii) conferences, convocations, lectures, 
                        seminars, and other similar programs;
                            (iv) the development of exhibits for 
                        libraries, museums, and other appropriate 
                        institutions;
                            (v) ceremonies and celebrations 
                        commemorating specific events that relate to 
                        the establishment of the Armed Forces of the 
                        United States and the history of the Armed 
                        Forces participation in wars and other 
                        hostilities;
                            (vi) competitions, commissions, and awards 
                        regarding historical, scholarly, artistic, 
                        literary, musical, and other works, programs, 
                        and projects related to such commemorations;
                            (vii) recommendations to appropriate 
                        agencies or advisory bodies regarding the 
                        issuance by the United States of commemorative 
                        coins, medals, and stamps relating to National 
                        Military Appreciation Month and other military 
                        commemorative events; and
                            (viii) recommendations for any legislation 
                        or administrative action that the Commission 
                        determines to be appropriate regarding the 
                        commemoration of National Military Appreciation 
                        Month and other military commemorative events; 
                        and
            (3) provide national coordination for the observance of 
        National Military Appreciation Month.
    (b) Annual Report.--
            (1) Requirement for report.--For each fiscal year in which 
        the Commission carries out activities pursuant to this Act, the 
        Commission shall submit to the President and Congress a report 
        describing the activities.
            (2) Content.--The report under paragraph (1) shall 
        include--
                    (A) an accounting of funds received and expended by 
                the Commission in the fiscal year, including a detailed 
                description of the sources and amounts of any donations 
                of funds accepted by the Commission under any authority 
                granted to the Commission by the President; and
                    (B) a description of cooperative agreements and 
                contracts entered into by the Commission under any 
                authority granted to the Commission by the President.

 SEC. 5. COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP.

    It is the sense of Congress that any White House Commission on 
National Military Appreciation Month should be composed of the 
following members:
            (1) Five members appointed by the President, including at 
        least 1 representative of tribal organizations (as defined in 
        section 4(l) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
        Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(l))).
            (2) The Secretary of Defense.
            (3) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
            (4) The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
            (5) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
            (6) The Administrator of General Services.
            (7) The Secretary of Transportation.
            (8) The Secretary of Education.
            (9) The Secretary of the Interior.
            (10) The Secretary of State.
            (11) The Executive Director of the President's Commission 
        on White House Fellows.
            (12) The Secretary of the Army.
            (13) The Secretary of the Navy.
            (14) The Secretary of the Air Force.
            (15) The Commandant of the Marine Corps.
            (16) The Commandant of the Coast Guard.
            (17) The Chief of Staff of the Army.
            (18) The Chief of Naval Operations.
            (19) The Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
            (20) Any other persons appointed by the President upon the 
        recommendation of the Commission.

 SEC. 6. SPIRIT OF AMERICA ALLIANCE.

    (a) Establishment.--It is the sense of Congress that, if the 
President establishes the White House Commission on National Military 
Appreciation Month, the President should also establish an alliance to 
be known as the ``Spirit of America Alliance'' that is composed of 
individuals, appointed by the Commission, who are representatives or 
members of--
            (1) the print, broadcast, or other media industry;
            (2) the national sports community;
            (3) the recreation industry;
            (4) the entertainment industry;
            (5) the retail industry;
            (6) the food industry;
            (7) the health care industry;
            (8) the transportation industry;
            (9) the education community;
            (10) national veterans organizations;
            (11) families that have lost loved ones in combat or to 
        terrorist acts;
            (12) the nonprofit community; and
            (13) honorary, nonvoting members appointed by the 
        Commission.
    (b) Duties.--The Alliance shall assist the Commission--
            (1) in the planning, organization, and conduct of an annual 
        White House Conference on National Military Appreciation Month 
        and other similar events;
            (2) in the promotion of the observance of National Military 
        Appreciation Month and other military commemorative events 
        through appropriate means, subject to any guidelines developed 
        by the Commission;
            (3) in the establishment of necessary incentives for 
        Federal, State, and local governments and private sector 
        entities to sponsor and participate in programs initiated by 
        the Commission or the Alliance;
            (4) in the evaluation of the effectiveness of efforts by 
        the Commission and the Alliance in carrying out this Act; and
            (5) by the performance of any other related duties that are 
        assigned by the Commission.
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