Capitol Visitor Center Authorization Act of 1997

Summary: Capitol Visitor Center Authorization Act of 1997 - Authorizes the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), under the direction of the U.S. Capitol Preservation Commission (Commission), to:  (1) plan, construct, equip, administer, and maintain a Capitol Visitor Center under the East Plaza of the Capitol; and (2) reconstruct the East Plaza and its environs to enhance its attractiveness, safety, and security. 
Requires that the design of the Capitol Visitor Center shall be substantially in accordance with the Final Design Report dated November 10, 1995, submitted by the AOC to specified congressional committees.   Authorizes and directs the AOC to finance and develop the project in accordance with this Act.  Directs the AOC to develop and submit to the Commission for approval a plan that will enable the construction of the project to be completed without the appropriation of funds to the legislative branch for such purpose. 
Establishes in the Treasury an Architect of the Capitol, Capitol Buildings and Grounds, Capitol Visitor Center, Gifts and Donations account. 
Authorizes the AOC to establish competitive procedures for work to carry out the project by the use of prequalification standards, and to award contracts on the basis of contractor qualifications as well as price.  States that such procedures and contract awards shall be final and conclusive upon all officers of the Government. 
Amends the Arizona-Idaho Conservation Act to authorize the Commission to establish a special committee to provide the AOC with all necessary oversight and direction.    Repeals the provisions of title III of the National Visitor Center Facilities Act of 1968 to the extent that such provisions are inconsistent with the provisions of the plan approved under this Act.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Capitol Visitor Center Authorization 
Act of 1997''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER.

    (a) In General.--The Architect of the Capitol, under the direction 
of the United States Capitol Preservation Commission, is authorized--
            (1) to plan, construct, equip, administer, and maintain a 
        Capitol Visitor Center under the East Plaza of the United 
        States Capitol with associated improvements to the Capitol to 
        provide access thereto; and
            (2) to reconstruct the East Plaza of the United States 
        Capitol and its environs to enhance its attractiveness, safety, 
        and security.
    (b) Purpose.--It shall be the purpose of the Capitol Visitor Center 
to provide reception facilities, educational exhibits, amenities, 
auditoriums, and other programs and facilities for members of the 
public visiting the United States Capitol.
    (c) Design.--The design of the Capitol Visitor Center shall be 
substantially in accordance with the Final Design Report dated November 
10, 1995, submitted by the Architect of the Capitol to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, and the United 
States Capitol Preservation Commission.
    (d) Plans for Exhibits.--Plans and specifications for the exhibits 
and equipping of the Capitol Visitor Center shall be completed by the 
Architect of the Capitol as soon as practicable after the commencement 
of construction.
    (e) Project Defined.--The activities and purposes set forth in 
subsections (a) through (d) are hereinafter in this Act referred to as 
the ``project''.

SEC. 3. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

    (a) General Authority.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
the Architect of the Capitol is authorized and directed to finance and 
develop the project in accordance with this Act and in accordance with 
a plan developed and approved in accordance with subsection (b).
    (b) Development and Approval of Plan.--The Architect of the Capitol 
shall develop and submit to the United States Capitol Preservation 
Commission for approval a plan that will enable the construction of the 
project to be completed without the appropriation of funds to the 
Legislative Branch for such purpose.
    (c) Performance of Activities.--The performance of any activity 
contemplated by a plan approved under subsection (b) (or by any special 
purpose entity created pursuant to this Act) of any activity is 
expressly authorized. Such activities may include the following:
            (1) The establishment of 1 or more special purpose not-for-
        profit entities (corporations, partnerships, or otherwise) in 
        connection with the project.
            (2) One or more borrowings from the Federal Financing Bank, 
        for which purpose the Architect of the Capitol (and any special 
        purpose entity created pursuant to the plan) shall be deemed a 
        Federal agency within the meaning of section 3 of the Federal 
        Financing Bank Act of 1973 (12 U.S.C. 2282).
            (3) Execution and delivery by the Architect of the Capitol 
        (or by any special purpose entity created pursuant to the plan) 
        of multiple-year agreements, contracts, leases, guaranties, 
        instruments of indebtedness, or such other documentation as may 
        be necessary or desirable to facilitate, support, or act as 
        collateral for the project or to provide goods or services to 
        or for the benefit of the project.
    (c) Use of Gifts.--Gifts received pursuant to section 5 of this Act 
shall be used to reduce, discharge, or provide collateral for any 
indebtedness incurred in connection with the project (whether incurred 
prior or subsequent to the receipt of such gift) until such 
indebtedness (including any accrued but unpaid interest thereon) has 
been repaid in full.

SEC. 4. CONSTRUCTION.

    (a) Building Codes.--The project shall meet design standards 
applicable under nationally recognized building codes, as determined by 
the Architect of the Capitol. During construction, the Architect shall 
conduct periodic inspections for the purpose of assuring that such 
standards are being met.
    (c) Applicability of Certain Laws.--The project shall not be 
subject to any Federal or State law (including laws of the District of 
Columbia) relating to taxes, building codes, permits, or inspections.

SEC. 5. GIFTS.

    (a) In General.--For the purposes of carrying out the project, the 
Architect of the Capitol may solicit, receive, accept, hold, and 
dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.
    (b) Deposit of Receipts.--Subsequent to the repayment of all 
indebtedness and subject to the provisions of the plan approved 
pursuant to section 3, the Architect of the Capitol shall deposit into 
the account established by section 6(a) all monetary gifts received 
under subsection (a) and all proceeds from the disposition of 
nonmonetary gifts received under subsection (a).
    (c) Treatment Under Tax Laws.--Any gift accepted in accordance with 
the plan approved pursuant to section 3 shall be considered a gift to 
the United States for the purposes of income, estate, and gift tax laws 
of the United States.

SEC. 6. ACCOUNT IN THE TREASURY.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of the 
United States a separate account entitled ``Architect of the Capitol, 
Capitol Buildings and Grounds, Capitol Visitor Center, Gifts and 
Donations'' which shall consist of amounts deposited into the account 
by the Architect of the Capitol under section 5(b) and amounts credited 
to the account pursuant to this section.
    (b) Availability of Amounts.--Funds in the account established by 
subsection (a) shall be available to the Architect of the Capitol for 
carrying out the project in such amounts as are specified in 
appropriations Acts. Such funds shall not be subject to any fiscal year 
limitation.
    (c) Reporting of Transactions.--Receipts, obligations, and 
expenditures of funds in the account established by subsection (a) 
shall be reported in annual estimates submitted to Congress by the 
Architect of the Capitol for the operation and maintenance of the 
Capitol Buildings and Grounds.
    (d) Investment.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest 
        such portion of the account established by subsection (a) as is 
        not, in the judgment of the Secretary, required to meet current 
        withdrawals. Such investments may be made only in interest-
        bearing obligations of the United States. For such purpose, 
        such obligations may be acquired--
                    (A) on original issue at the issue price; or
                    (B) by purchase of outstanding obligations at the 
                market price.
            (2) Sale of obligations.--Any obligation acquired by the 
        account may be sold at the market price.
            (3) Interest on certain proceeds.--The interest on, and the 
        proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held 
        in the account shall be credited to and form part of the 
        account.

SEC. 7. AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT.

    To assure that only the most responsible, experienced, and 
qualified parties are utilized to carry out the project, 
notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Architect of the 
Capitol may establish competitive procedures for such work by the use 
of prequalification standards and may award contracts on the basis of 
contractor qualifications as well as price. Such procedures and 
contract awards shall be final and conclusive upon all officers of the 
government.

SEC. 8. SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF UNITED STATES CAPITOL PRESERVATION 
              COMMISSION.

    (a) Delegation of Functions.--The United States Capitol 
Preservation Commission is authorized to delegate to the Special 
Committee appointed pursuant to the amendment made by subsection (b) 
the functions of the Commission under this Act.
    (b) Establishment.--Section 801 of the Arizona-Idaho Conservation 
Act of 1988 (40 U.S.C. 188a) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(f) Special Committee.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Commission is authorized to 
        establish a Special Committee consisting of 3 members as 
        follows:
                    ``(A) One Member of the House of Representatives to 
                be appointed by the Commission.
                    ``(B) One Member of the Senate to be appointed by 
                the Commission.
                    ``(C) One Member of the House of Representatives or 
                the Senate or 1 knowledgeable and experienced private 
                citizen to be appointed by the 2 members appointed 
                pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B).
            ``(2) Chairman; functions.--The Special Committee 
        established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall elect its own 
        chairperson and shall provide the Architect of the Capitol with 
        all necessary oversight and direction in the exercise of the 
        authority granted to the Architect under the Capitol Visitor 
        Center Authorization Act of 1996.''.

SEC. 9. REPEAL.

    The provisions of title III of the National Visitor Center 
Facilities Act of 1968 (82 Stat. 43) shall be superseded and repealed 
to the extent that such provisions are inconsistent with the provisions 
of the plan approved pursuant to section 3.