[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 761 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 761

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

                             April 1, 2009

  Mr. Bond (for himself and Mrs. McCaskill) 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) Two million 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''.
    (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) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the World 
        War I Centennial Commission established by section 3(a).
            (3) 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>