[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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