[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 18449-18452]
[From the U.S. 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 service of 
members of the United

[[Page 18450]]

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.

[[Page 18451]]

       (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.--
       (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

[[Page 18452]]

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.
  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.

                          ____________________