[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 202 (Friday, December 21, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H10538-H10539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
75TH ANNIVERSARY OF WORLD WAR II COMMEMORATION ACT
Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 3661) to provide for a program of the Department of
Defense to commemorate the 75th anniversary of World War II, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 3661
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 ``75th Anniversary of World
War II Commemoration Act''.
SEC. 2. PROGRAM TO COMMEMORATE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF WORLD WAR
II.
(a) Commemorative Program Authorized.--The Secretary of
Defense shall conduct a program to commemorate the 75th
anniversary of World War II. In conducting the commemorative
program, the Secretary shall support and facilitate other
programs and activities of the Federal Government, State and
local governments, and not-for-profit organizations in
commemoration of the 75th anniversary of World War II. The
Secretary shall conduct the commemorative program in
accordance with applicable Department of Defense policy and
using resources available to the Secretary, including amounts
in the Fund under subsection (d).
(b) Commemorative Activities and Objectives.--The
commemorative program may include activities and ceremonies
to achieve the following objectives:
(1) To thank and honor veterans of World War II, including
personnel who were held as prisoners of war or listed as
missing in action, for their service and sacrifice on behalf
of the United States and to thank and honor the families of
these veterans.
(2) To educate the public about the history of World War II
and highlight the service of the Armed Forces during World
War II and the contributions of Federal agencies and
governmental and nongovernmental organizations that served
with, or in support of, the Armed Forces.
(3) To pay tribute to the contributions made on the home
front by the people of the United States during World War II.
(4) To recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by
the allies of the United States during World War II.
(5) To remember the Holocaust, the annihilation of
6,000,000 Jews by the Nazi regime, and to pay tribute to the
Allied troops who liberated Nazi concentration camps during
World War II.
(c) Names and Symbols.--The Secretary of Defense shall have
the sole and exclusive right to use the name ``The United
States of America 75th Anniversary of World War II
Commemoration'', and such seal, emblems, and badges
incorporating such name as the Secretary may lawfully adopt.
Nothing in this section may be construed to supersede rights
that are established or vested before the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(d) Commemorative Fund.--
(1) Establishment and administration.--Upon the Secretary
establishing the commemorative program under subsection (a),
the Secretary of the Treasury shall establish in the Treasury
of the United States an account to be known as the
``Department of Defense World War II Commemoration Fund'' (in
this section referred to as the ``Fund''). The Fund shall be
administered by the Secretary of Defense.
(2) Use of fund.--The Secretary of Defense shall use the
assets of the Fund only for the purpose of conducting the
commemorative program and providing grants to State and local
governments and not-for-profit organizations for
commemorative activities, and shall prescribe such
regulations regarding the use of the Fund as the Secretary
considers to be necessary.
(3) Deposits.--The following shall be deposited into the
Fund:
(A) Amounts appropriated to the Fund.
(B) Proceeds derived from the Secretary's use of the
exclusive rights described in subsection (c).
(C) Donations made in support of the commemorative program
by private and corporate donors.
(D) Funds transferred to the Fund by the Secretary from
funds appropriated for fiscal year 2019 and subsequent years
for the Department of Defense.
(4) Availability.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subsection (g)(2) and except as
provided in subparagraph (B), amounts deposited under
paragraph (3) shall constitute the assets of the Fund and
remain available until expended.
(B) Exception.--Amounts transferred to the Fund under
paragraph (3)(D) from amounts appropriated for fiscal year
2019 may be obligated only during fiscal year 2019.
(5) Budget request.--The Secretary of Defense may establish
a separate budget line for the commemorative program. In the
budget justification materials submitted by the Secretary in
support of the budget of the President for any fiscal year
for which the Secretary establishes the separate budget line,
the Secretary shall--
(A) identify and explain any amounts expended for the
commemorative program in the fiscal year preceding the budget
request;
(B) identify and explain the amounts being requested to
support the commemorative program for the fiscal year of the
budget request; and
(C) present a summary of the fiscal status of the Fund.
(e) Acceptance of Voluntary Services.--
[[Page H10539]]
(1) Authority to accept services.--Notwithstanding section
1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary of
Defense may accept from any person voluntary services to be
provided in furtherance of the commemorative program. The
Secretary of Defense shall prohibit the solicitation of any
voluntary services if the nature or circumstances of such
solicitation would compromise the integrity or the appearance
of integrity of any program of the Department of Defense or
of any individual involved in the program.
(2) Reimbursement of incidental expenses.--The Secretary
may provide for reimbursement of incidental expenses incurred
by a person providing voluntary services under this
subsection. The Secretary shall determine which expenses are
eligible for reimbursement under this paragraph.
(f) Consultation With Director of the United States
Holocaust Memorial Museum.--In designing the commemorative
program conducted under this section, the Secretary of
Defense shall consult with the Director of the United States
Holocaust Memorial Museum.
(g) Final Report.--
(1) Report required.--Not later than 60 days after the end
of the commemorative program established by the Secretary of
Defense under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report containing an accounting of--
(A) all of the funds deposited into and expended from the
Fund;
(B) any other funds expended under this section; and
(C) any unobligated funds remaining in the Fund.
(2) Treatment of unobligated funds.--Unobligated amounts
remaining in the Fund as of the end of the commemorative
period shall be held in the Fund until transferred by law.
(h) Limitation on Expenditures.--Total expenditures from
the Fund, using amounts appropriated to the Department of
Defense, may not exceed $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 or
for any subsequent fiscal year to carry out the commemorative
program.
(i) Sunset.--
(1) Commemorative program.--The commemorative program shall
terminate on December 31, 2021.
(2) Fund.--The Fund shall terminate 60 days after the
termination of the commemorative program.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Missouri (Mr. Graves) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.
General Leave
Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and insert in the Record extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Missouri?
There was no objection.
Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan bill is going to ensure that the Federal
Government plays a constructive role in helping to celebrate the 75th
anniversary of the Allied victory in Europe and over Japan. In 2020, we
expect a number of events and activities, including a flyover of The
National Mall, to honor the sacrifices made by many to preserve the
freedoms that we continue to enjoy today.
The planning for these efforts is already underway, and having the
Congress recognize the importance of these activities not only will
send a message to the rest of the Federal Government, but, more
importantly, to our veterans who have given everything to maintain our
freedom.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of this legislation to establish
a commemorative program to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of
World War II in Europe.
This was fundamentally a war for freedom and human rights. The
victory of the Allies in the war and the contributions of America's
Armed Forces must never be forgotten. That is why commemorating this
anniversary should be done in an extraordinary way.
Commemorating this critical event in history will also allow us to
recognize our World War II veterans who are still living. We must
listen and learn from their stories while we are still able.
I fear that knowledge of history is continuing to decline in our
Nation. We must do all we can to make sure Americans never forget the
lessons of World War II and all the sacrifices that were made to
preserve freedom in the world.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important bill so
we can preserve the memory of the American effort in World War II.
I want to thank Mr. Graves for introducing this legislation, which is
very important for remembering World War II and commemorating it on its
75th anniversary. I thank him for his work. I wish him a merry
Christmas and look forward to working with him next Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman
for all his hard work on this. This is an easy bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support it, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 3661, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. MASSIE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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