[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7764 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
H.R.7764
One Hundred Eighteenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-four
An Act
To establish a commission to study the potential transfer of the
Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian
Institution, and for other purposes.
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 ``Commission to Study the Potential
Transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History to
the Smithsonian Institution Act''.
SEC. 2. 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 Act referred
to as the ``Commission'').
(b) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of 8 members, of
whom--
(1) 2 voting members shall be appointed by the majority leader
of the Senate;
(2) 2 voting members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives;
(3) 2 voting members shall be appointed by the minority leader
of the Senate; and
(4) 2 voting 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 Act.
(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 voting 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. 3. 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
Act 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; and
(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.
(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
2, 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. 4. 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.
(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 3 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.
(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 Act. 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 Act before all members of the Commission have
been appointed if--
(1) 90 days have passed since the date of the enactment of this
Act; and
(2) a majority of the members of the Commission have been
appointed.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.