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







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1442

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 26, 2003

   Mr. Pombo (for himself, Mr. Rahall, Mr. Gibbons, and Mr. Murtha) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                               Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Vietnam Veterans Memorial Visitor 
Center Act''.

SEC. 2. VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL 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) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Center.--The term `Center' means the visitor center 
        for the Memorial authorized by subsection (b).
            ``(2) Memorial.--The term `Memorial' has the meaning given 
        the term `Vietnam Veterans Memorial' in section 5(f).
            ``(3) Memorial fund.--The term `Memorial Fund' means the 
        Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc.
            ``(4) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
    ``(b) Authorization of Center.--The Memorial Fund may design and 
construct a visitor center for the Memorial to provide information to 
the public on the Memorial.
    ``(c) Requirements.--The Center--
            ``(1) shall be located--
                    ``(A) above ground or underground, as determined in 
                accordance with chapter 89 of title 40, United States 
                Code; and
                    ``(B) on or adjacent to the Memorial;
            ``(2) shall be the minimum size necessary to--
                    ``(A) carry out appropriate educational and 
                interpretive activities relating to the Memorial;
                    ``(B) prevent interference with or encroachment on 
                the Memorial; and
                    ``(C) protect open space and visual sightlines on 
                the National Mall; and
            ``(3) shall be constructed and landscaped in a manner that 
        is consistent with the Memorial and the National Mall.
    ``(d) Design.--The Commission on Fine Arts shall approve a final 
design for the Center not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this section.
    ``(e) Operation and Maintenance.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to an agreement entered into 
        under paragraph (2), the Center shall be operated and 
        maintained by the Secretary.
            ``(2) Agreement.--The Secretary shall offer to enter into 
        an agreement with the Memorial Fund for the operation and 
        maintenance of the Center that provides the following:
                    ``(A) The Memorial Fund shall lease the Center from 
                the Secretary for a term of 20 years. The lease may be 
                renewed thereafter for periods of 20 years.
                    ``(B) During the term of a lease under subparagraph 
                (A), the Memorial Fund--
                            ``(i) shall be responsible for maintaining 
                        exhibits at the Center; and
                            ``(ii) shall share other maintenance 
                        responsibilities for the Center with the 
                        Secretary.
                    ``(C) The Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
                on Resources of the House of Representatives and the 
                Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
                Senate--
                            ``(i) a copy of any lease entered into or 
                        renewed under subparagraph (A); and
                            ``(ii) not less than once every 7 years, an 
                        assessment by the Secretary on the need for and 
                        use of the Center.
            ``(3) Donation for perpetual maintenance and 
        preservation.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), section 8906(b) 
        of title 40, United States Code, shall apply to the Memorial 
        Fund.
    ``(f) Applicable Law.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code, shall apply to the 
        Center.
            ``(2) Exception.--Section 8908(b)(1) of title 40, United 
        States Code, shall not apply to the Center.
    ``(g) Use of Federal Funds Prohibited.--No Federal funds shall be 
used for the planning, design, construction, operation, or maintenance 
of the Center.''.
                                 <all>