[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1442 Engrossed in House (EH)]


  1st Session

                               H. R. 1442

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

 To authorize the design and construction of a visitor center for the 
                       Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1442

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To authorize the design and construction of a visitor center for the 
                       Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

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

SECTION 1. VISITOR CENTER.

    Public Law 96-297 (16 U.S.C. 431 note) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:

``SEC. 6. VISITOR CENTER.

    ``(a) Authorization.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, 
        Inc., is authorized to construct a visitor center at or near 
        the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Federal land in the District 
        of Columbia, or its environs, subject to the provisions of this 
        section, in order to better inform and educate the public about 
        the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam War.
            ``(2) Location.--The visitor center shall be located 
        underground.
            ``(3) Consultation on design phase.--The Vietnam Veterans 
        Memorial Fund, Inc. shall consult with educators, veterans 
        groups, and the National Park Service in developing the 
        proposed design of the visitor center.
    ``(b) Application of Commemorative Works Act.--Chapter 89 of title 
40, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Commemorative Works 
Act) shall apply, including provisions related to the siting, design, 
construction, and maintenance of the visitor center, and the visitor 
center shall be considered a commemorative work for the purposes of 
that Act, except that--
            ``(1) final approval of the visitor center shall not be 
        withheld;
            ``(2) the provisions of section 8908(b) of title 40, United 
        States Code requiring further approval by law for the location 
        of a commemorative work within Area I shall not apply; and
            ``(3) the Secretary of the Interior shall enter into a 
        written agreement with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. 
        for specified maintenance needs of the visitor center.
    ``(c) Operation.--The Secretary of the Interior shall--
            ``(1) operate the visitor center; and
            ``(2) as soon as practicable, in consultation with 
        educators and veterans groups, develop a written interpretive 
        plan for the visitor center in accordance with National Park 
        Service policy.
    ``(d) Funding.--The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. shall be 
solely responsible for acceptance of contributions for, and payment of 
expenses of, the establishment of the visitor center. No Federal funds 
shall be used to pay any expense of the establishment of the visitor 
center.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives October 15, 2003.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.