[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 171 (Monday, December 31, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H7495-H7498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WORLD WAR I CENTENNIAL COMMISSION ACT
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur
in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 6364) to establish a
commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World
War I, to provide for the designation of memorials to the
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service of members of the United States Armed Forces in World War I,
and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the Senate amendment is as follows:
Senate amendment:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``World War
I Centennial Commission Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Establishment of World War I Centennial Commission.
Sec. 5. Duties of Centennial Commission.
Sec. 6. Powers of Centennial Commission.
Sec. 7. Centennial Commission personnel matters.
Sec. 8. Termination of Centennial Commission.
Sec. 9. Prohibition on obligation of Federal funds.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) From 2014 through 2018, the United States and nations
around the world will mark the centennial of World War I,
including the entry of the United States into the war in
April 1917.
(2) America's support of Great Britain, France, Belgium,
and its other allies in World War I marked the first time in
United States history that American soldiers went abroad in
defense of liberty against foreign aggression, and it marked
the true beginning of the ``American century''.
(3) Although World War I was at the time called ``the war
to end all wars'', in fact the United States would commit its
troops to the defense of foreign lands 3 more times in the
20th century.
(4) More than 4,000,000 men and women from the United
States served in uniform during World War I, among them 2
future presidents, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Two million individuals from the United States served
overseas during World War I, including 200,000 naval
personnel who served on the seas. The United States suffered
375,000 casualties during World War I, including 116,516
deaths.
(5) The events of 1914 through 1918 shaped the world, the
United States, and the lives of millions of people.
(6) The centennial of World War I offers an opportunity for
people in the United States to learn about and commemorate
the sacrifices of their predecessors.
(7) Commemorative programs, activities, and sites allow
people in the United States to learn about the history of
World War I, the United States involvement in that war, and
the war's effects on the remainder of the 20th century, and
to commemorate and honor the participation of the United
States and its citizens in the war effort.
SEC. 3. 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) Centennial commission.--The term ``Centennial
Commission'' means the World War I Centennial Commission
established by section 4(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. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF WORLD WAR I CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be
known as the ``World War I Centennial Commission''.
(b) Membership.--
(1) Composition.--The Centennial Commission shall be
composed of 12 members as follows:
(A) Two members who shall be appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives.
(B) One member who shall be appointed by the minority
leader of the House of Representatives.
(C) Two members who shall be appointed by the majority
leader of the Senate.
(D) One member who shall be appointed by the minority
leader of the Senate.
(E) Three 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) Time for appointment.--The members of the Centennial
Commission shall be appointed not later than 60 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
(3) Period of appointment.--Each member shall be appointed
for the life of the Centennial Commission.
(4) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Centennial Commission
shall be filled in the manner in which the original
appointment was made.
(c) Meetings.--
(1) Initial meeting.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date on
which all members of the Centennial Commission have been
appointed, the Centennial Commission shall hold its first
meeting.
(B) Location.--The location for the meeting held under
subparagraph (A) shall be the America's National World War I
Museum.
(2) Subsequent meetings.--
(A) In general.--The Centennial Commission shall meet at
the call of the Chair.
(B) Frequency.--The Chair shall call a meeting of the
members of the Centennial Commission not less frequently than
once each year.
(C) Location.--Not less frequently than once each year, the
Centennial Commission shall meet at the America's National
World War I Museum.
(3) Quorum.--Seven members of the Centennial Commission
shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold
hearings.
(d) Chair and Vice Chair.--The Centennial Commission shall
select a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members.
SEC. 5. DUTIES OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.
(a) In General.--The duties of the Centennial 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.--Not later than the last day of the 6-
month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this
Act, and not later than the last day of each 3-month period
thereafter, the Centennial Commission shall submit to
Congress and the President a report on the activities and
plans of the Centennial Commission.
(2) Recommendations.--Not later than 2 years after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Centennial 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. 6. POWERS OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.
(a) Hearings.--The Centennial Commission may hold such
hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Centennial
Commission considers appropriate to carry out its duties
under this Act.
(b) Powers of Member and Agents.--If authorized by the
Centennial Commission, any member or agent of the Centennial
Commission may take any action which the Centennial
Commission is authorized to take under this Act.
(c) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Centennial
Commission shall secure directly from any Federal department
or agency such information as the Centennial Commission
considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Upon the request of the Chair of the Centennial Commission,
the head of such department or agency shall furnish such
information to the Centennial Commission.
(d) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of
the Centennial Commission, the Administrator of the General
Services Administration shall provide to the Centennial
Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative
support services necessary for the Centennial Commission to
carry out its responsibilities under this Act.
(e) Contract Authority.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Centennial 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 Centennial Commission may not enter
into any contract, lease, or other legal agreement that
extends beyond the date of the termination of the Centennial
Commission under section 8(a).
(f) Postal Services.--The Centennial 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.--The Centennial
Commission shall accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests,
or devises of services or property, both real and personal,
for the purpose of covering the costs incurred by the
Centennial Commission to carry out its duties under this Act.
SEC. 7. CENTENNIAL COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(a) Compensation of Members.--Members of the Centennial
Commission shall serve without compensation for such service.
(b) Travel Expenses.--Each member of the Centennial
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.
(c) Staff.--
(1) In general.--The Chair of the Centennial Commission
shall, in consultation with the members of the Centennial
Commission, appoint an executive director and such other
additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the
Centennial Commission to perform its duties.
(2) Compensation.--
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(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the Chair of
the Centennial Commission may fix the compensation of the
executive director and any other personnel appointed under
paragraph (1).
(B) Limitation.--The Chair of the Centennial Commission may
not fix the compensation of the executive director or other
personnel appointed under paragraph (1) 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
Centennial Commission and other personnel appointed under
paragraph (1) shall work in such building to the extent
practical.
(d) Detail of Government Employees.--Upon request of the
Centennial Commission, the head of any Federal department or
agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any employee of
that department or agency to the Centennial Commission to
assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act.
(e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--
The Chair of the Centennial Commission may procure temporary
and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5,
United States Code.
(f) Source of Funds.--Gifts, bequests, and devises of
services or property, both real and personal, received by the
Centennial Commission under section 6(g) shall be the only
source of funds to cover the costs incurred by the Centennial
Commission under this section.
SEC. 8. TERMINATION OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.
(a) In General.--The Centennial 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; or
(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 Centennial
Commission under this Act.
(2) Exception.--Section 14(a)(2) of such Act shall not
apply to the Centennial Commission.
SEC. 9. PROHIBITION ON OBLIGATION OF FEDERAL FUNDS.
No Federal funds may be obligated to carry out this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia
(Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah.
General Leave
Mr. CHAFFETZ. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5
legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Utah?
There was no objection.
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, at this time, I would like to yield such
time as he may consume to the original sponsor of this bill, the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe).
Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentleman from Utah for yielding and
for his support on this legislation. I also thank the gentlewoman from
the District of Columbia.
Madam Speaker, they said that World War I would be ``the war to end
all wars.'' But it wasn't. It was a world war and encompassed the
entire globe and most of the countries in the world.
The war started in 1914, and the United States entered in April of
1917. The United States entered the war for three main reasons: one,
the sinking of the British liner Lusitania and 128 Americans being
killed in that submarine attack; and then seven U.S. Merchant Marine
ships were sunk by German submarines when they had unconditional rights
to sink any ship on the high seas, according to the German Government;
and the third thing was when the Germans sent the Zimmerman telegram to
Mexico.
Madam Speaker, a lot of Americans don't know what that was, but
basically the Germans were telling the country of Mexico if they would
enter the war on the side of Germany, the central powers, that they
would help Mexico invade the United States and take the States of
Texas, New Mexico and Arizona and give them to the country of Mexico.
So the United States entered the war in April 1917.
H.R. 3159 would create a commission to commemorate the 100th
anniversary of World War I. Over 116,000 Americans died in World War I.
That's more than in Korea, Vietnam, and both Iraq wars and Afghanistan
combined.
Madam Speaker, to my left is a photograph of American doughboys, as
they were called because of the color of their uniform, going over out
of a trench, ``over the top'' as it was called in World War I. They
were primarily teenagers. Like in most of our wars, the teenagers go to
fight those wars. And they are leaving the trench going into what is
called ``no man's land.'' And those Americans served, along with their
allies in World War I.
Two U.S. Presidents served in World War I, Harry Truman and Dwight
Eisenhower. And if World War II veterans were known as the Greatest
Generation, then World War I veterans should be known as the Selfless
Generation. After all, these World War I veterans--the ones that
survived--were the fathers of the Greatest Generation.
America's last doughboy was Frank Buckles. He died on February 26,
2011. He was 110 years of age. I got to know Frank Buckles when he came
to the United States Capitol on some legislation that I will talk about
momentarily. Frank Buckles in World War I was too young to join. Nobody
would let him in. He went from recruiter to recruiter. He was 16--he
might have been 15--but he lied about his age, and he finally convinced
an Army recruiter to take him in. He joined the doughboys, and he went
``Over There,'' that song that George Cohan wrote talking about the
Americans that wouldn't ``come back 'till it's over, over there.''
He drove an ambulance in World War I helping rescue other doughboys
that were wounded out here in no man's land and some that had died
bringing them back behind the lines. After the Great War was over with,
he was in the Philippines when World War II started. And, sure enough,
he's captured by the Japanese. Frank Buckles was held in a prisoner-of-
war camp by the Japanese for 3\1/2\ years, and he was finally released
when rescued by Americans who liberated the Philippines.
After the war, he moved to West Virginia and he worked on the farm
until he was 106 driving the tractor. Frank Buckles, the last surviving
doughboy, lived half of our Nation's history. So, today, we have an
opportunity to remember Frank Buckles, these doughboys, other
doughboys, and all those great Americans who fought for America 100
years ago.
The bill establishes a commission to commemorate the centennial of
World War I. The commission will plan programs and activities to
commemorate the 100th anniversary of that Great War. Time is short. The
centennial for the start of World War I is in 2014, and many of our
allies have already started planning different events. It must be noted
that no Federal funds will be spent for this commission--they have to
raise their own money from private funds.
Madam Speaker, in the last century, there were four great wars where
Americans participated, and we have built memorials on the Mall for all
of them, except one. We built a memorial for the Vietnam veterans, the
Korean veterans and the World War II veterans; but there is no memorial
on the Mall for all of those doughboys that served in World War I.
There is a D.C. memorial that recognizes and honors the D.C. soldiers
and sailors that served in World War I, but there is no great memorial
for all that served throughout the United States.
It is my hope and the intent of the original legislation that passed
the House that there one day will be a national World War I memorial on
the Mall.
And that's where I met Frank Buckles. He came to Washington, D.C., as
the guest of many of our Senators. And it was his hope, and really it
was one of his dying wishes, that we would build, that Congress would
authorize the building of a memorial on the Mall for all of those that
served in the great World War I. The original bill that passed this
House by unanimous vote had that memorial in the bill. It went to the
Senate, and now we have only the commission.
So it is my intent to reauthorize, or reoffer, that bill in our next
session of Congress, and I'd encourage the commission to consider this
building of a memorial on the Mall in their commemoration. There would
be no better way to commemorate these brave Americans than to honor
them with a memorial on the Mall.
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When one of our warriors dies, Madam Speaker, for our country, they
become a casualty of war; but the worst casualty of war is to be
forgotten. So I hope we would build that memorial on the Mall. But now
let's pass this bill to commemorate them and honor them with this
commission.
Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this important legislation. H.R.
6364 establishes a commission to ensure that there is suitable
observation of the centennial of World War I. This bill is a fitting
tribute to all servicemembers who valiantly fought in all theaters of
World War I.
The commission the bill establishes leaves ample time for appropriate
commemorative works, events, and a tribute before the 100th anniversary
of the war in 2014.
I would like to thank my colleagues, but especially Representative
Ted Poe, who has been singularly focused on this bill and who has
worked with me and with others until this day, and I certainly pledge
to work with him next year as he continues on this very laudable
mission. I thank also my friend, Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri, Rob
Bishop of Utah, and Raul Grijalva of Arizona for working with me to
preserve the District of Columbia World War I memorial in particular.
{time} 1200
Earlier this year, in his search for a suitable memorial for World
War I, Representative Ted Poe introduced H.R. 938, which would have
nationalized the D.C. memorial by redesignating it as the District of
Columbia and National World War I Memorial. He made clear, however,
that he was not necessarily focused on the D.C. memorial, but that his
goal was a World War I memorial here.
While I very much support commemorating all the servicemen and -women
who fought in World War I, I had to oppose altering the integrity of
the D.C. memorial. The D.C. memorial was built with the blood and
treasure of D.C. residents only, including funds from schoolchildren.
Of the more than 26,000 D.C. residents who served in World War I, the
499 who died, more than the number from three States, have their names
engraved on the memorial. Our memorial is deeply symbolic of the
historic and continuing concerns of District residents, particularly
our veterans who continue to serve without equal congressional
representation, equal rights as citizens, and equal local government
control.
In the spirit of cooperation among Members of both parties, the
House-passed version of H.R. 6364 would have protected the D.C. War
Memorial, and H.R. 6364 as amended by the Senate similarly will have no
effect on the D.C. War Memorial. In fact, all of the provisions
regarding memorials have been removed from the bill. Instead, it
establishes a commission to observe World War I across the country as
we approach the centennial of the start of the war. I believe that the
reason that this has been done reflects nothing more than the fact that
the commission's approach to two important commemorations has been the
usual approach almost always to important commemorations, and World War
I had enormous effects on those who fought, on the Nation and on the
world.
More than 4 million men and women from the United States served in
uniform during World War I. Among them, two future Presidents: Harry S.
Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Two million men and women from the
United States served overseas during World War I. The United States
suffered 375,000 casualties during that war, including 116,516 deaths.
The national commission will plan, develop, and execute programs,
projects, and activities to commemorate the centennial of World War I
throughout the United States. Importantly, not only here, but
throughout the United States, people are anxious to learn more about
the history of this war, to become involved in its commemoration,
especially considering the effects of this war on the 20th century
until today. We very much look forward to the commission's efforts to
honor the participation and sacrifices of the United States and its
citizens in the war effort.
And once again, I want to thank Representative Poe for the
extraordinary effort and energy he has put into this bill and the way
he has worked cooperatively with all of us on both sides of the aisle.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this
bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I would like to again thank
Representative Poe from the State of Texas for introducing this
legislation and his tenacious pursuit of making this happen.
The bill is bipartisan in its approach. It creates a means for
properly commemorating the centennial of the Great War in honoring
those who gallantly fought. I would encourage my colleagues to vote in
concurrence with the Senate amendment to H.R. 6364 and remind people
that no taxpayer dollars will be used to carry out this act.
I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this, and I yield back
the balance my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) that the House suspend the rules and
concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 6364.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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