[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 115 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4729-S4730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2383. Mr. CASEY (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Crapo, Ms. Rosen,
Mr. Scott of Florida, and Mr. Fetterman) submitted an amendment
intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military activities of the
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of title X, insert the following:
Subtitle I--Commission to Study the Potential Transfer of the Weitzman
National Museum of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian
Institution Act
SEC. 1096. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ``Commission to Study the
Potential Transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of
American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution Act''.
SEC. 1096A. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
(a) In General.--There is established the Commission to
Study the Potential Transfer of the Weitzman National Museum
of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution
(hereafter in this subtitle referred to as the
``Commission'').
(b) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of 8
members, of whom--
(1) 2 members shall be appointed by the majority leader of
the Senate;
(2) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives;
(3) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of
the Senate; and
(4) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of
the House of Representatives.
(c) Qualification.--Members of the Commission shall be
appointed to the Commission from among individuals, or
representatives of institutions or entities, who possess--
(1)(A) a demonstrated commitment to the research, study, or
promotion of Jewish American history, art, political or
economic status, or culture; and
(B)(i) expertise in museum administration;
(ii) expertise in fund-raising for nonprofit or cultural
institutions;
(iii) experience in the study and teaching of Jewish
American history;
(iv) experience in the study and teaching of combating and
countering antisemitism;
(v) experience in studying the issue of the representation
of Jewish Americans in art, life, history, and culture at the
Smithsonian Institution; or
(vi) extensive experience in public or elected service;
(2) experience in the administration of, or the strategic
planning for, museums; or
(3) experience in the planning or design of museum
facilities.
(d) Deadline for Initial Appointment.--The initial members
of the Commission shall be appointed not later than the date
that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this subtitle.
(e) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission--
(1) shall not affect the powers of the Commission; and
(2) shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment was made.
(f) Chairperson.--The Commission shall, by majority vote of
all of the members, select 1 member of the Commission to
serve as the Chairperson of the Commission.
(g) Prohibition.--No employee of the Federal Government may
serve as a member of the Commission.
SEC. 1096B. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
(a) Reports and Other Deliverables.--Not later than 2 years
after the date of the first meeting of the Commission, the
Commission shall submit to the President and to Congress the
report, plan, and recommendations described in paragraphs (1)
through (3).
(1) Report on issues.--A report that addresses the
following issues relating to the Weitzman National Museum of
American Jewish History in Philadelphia, PA, and its environs
(hereafter in this subtitle referred to as the ``Museum''):
(A) The collections held by the Museum at the time of the
report, the extent to which such collections are already
represented in the Smithsonian Institution and Federal
memorials at the time of the report, and the availability and
cost of future collections to be acquired and housed in the
Museum.
(B) The impact of the Museum on educational and
governmental efforts to study and counter antisemitism.
(C) The financial assets and liabilities held by the
Museum, and the cost of operating and maintaining the Museum.
(D) The governance and organizational structure from which
the Museum should operate if transferred to the Smithsonian
Institution.
(E) The financial and legal considerations associated with
the potential transfer of the Museum to the Smithsonian
Institution, including--
(i) any donor or legal restrictions on the Museum's
collections, endowments, and real estate;
(ii) costs associated with actions that will be necessary
to resolve the status of employees of the Museum, if the
Museum is transferred to the Smithsonian Institution;
(iii) all additional costs for the Smithsonian Institution
that would be associated with operating and maintaining a new
museum outside of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area; and
(iv) policy and legal restrictions that would become
applicable to the Museum if transferred to the Smithsonian
Institution.
(F) The feasibility of the Museum becoming part of the
Smithsonian Institution, taking into account the Museum's
potential impact on the Smithsonian's existing facilities
maintenance backlog, collections storage needs, and
identified construction or renovation costs for new or
existing museums.
(2) Fund-raising plan.--A fund-raising plan that addresses
the following topics:
(A) The ability to support the transfer, operation, and
maintenance of the Museum through contributions from the
public, including potential charges for admission.
(B) Any potential issues with funding the operations and
maintenance of the Museum in perpetuity without reliance on
appropriations of Federal funds.
(3) Legislative recommendations.--A report containing
recommendations regarding a legislative plan for transferring
the Museum to the Smithsonian Institution, which shall
include each of the following:
(A) Proposals regarding the time frame, one-time
appropriations level, and continuing appropriations levels
that might be included in such legislation.
(B) Recommendations for the future name of the Museum if it
is transferred to the Smithsonian Institution.
(b) National Conference.--Not later than 2 years after the
date on which the initial members of the Commission are
appointed under section 1096A, the Commission may, in
carrying out the duties of the Commission under this section,
convene a national conference relating to the Museum, to be
comprised of individuals committed to the advancement of the
life, art, history, and culture of Jewish Americans.
SEC. 1096C. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
(a) Compensation.--
(1) In general.--A member of the Commission--
(A) shall not be considered to be a Federal employee for
any purpose by reason of service on the Commission; and
(B) shall serve without pay.
(2) Travel expenses.--A member of the Commission shall be
allowed a per diem allowance for travel expenses, at rates
consistent with those authorized under subchapter I of
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
(3) Gifts, bequests, and devises.--The Commission may
solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or
devises of money, services, or real or personal property for
the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the
Commission. Such gifts, bequests, or devises may be from the
Museum.
(4) Federal advisory committee act.--Chapter 10 of title 5,
United States Code, shall not apply to the Commission.
(b) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on the
date that is 30 days after the date on which the final
versions of the report, plan, and recommendations required
under section 1096B are submitted.
(c) Funding.--The Commission shall be solely responsible
for acceptance of contributions for, and payment of the
expenses of, the Commission.
(d) Director and Staff of Commission.--
(1) Director and staff.--
(A) In general.--The Commission may employ and compensate
an executive director and any other additional personnel that
are necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties
of the Commission.
[[Page S4730]]
(B) Rates of pay.--Rates of pay for persons employed under
subparagraph (A) shall be consistent with the rates of pay
allowed for employees of a temporary organization under
section 3161 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Not federal employment.--Any individual employed under
this subsection shall not be considered a Federal employee
for the purpose of any law governing Federal employment.
(3) Technical assistance.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), on request of
the Commission, the head of a Federal agency shall provide
technical assistance to the Commission.
(B) Prohibition.--No Federal employees may be detailed to
the Commission.
(4) Volunteer services.--Notwithstanding section 1342 of
title 31, United States Code, the Commission may accept and
use voluntary and uncompensated services as the Commission
determines necessary.
(e) Administrative Support Services.--Upon 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 subtitle. The involvement of the
General Services Administration shall be limited to providing
administrative support to the Commission, and such
involvement shall terminate upon termination of the
Commission.
(f) Meeting Location.--The Commission may meet virtually or
in-person.
(g) Appointment Delays.--The Commission may begin to meet
and carry out activities under this subtitle before all
members of the Commission have been appointed if--
(1) 90 days have passed since the date of enactment of this
subtitle; and
(2) a majority of the members of the Commission have been
appointed.
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