I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1442

To authorize the design and construction of a visitor center for the Vietnam 

Veterans Memorial. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 26, 2003

Mr. POMBO (for himself, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. GIBBONS, and Mr. MURTHA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources 

A BILL

To authorize the design and construction of a visitor center 

for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Vietnam Veterans Me5 morial Visitor Center Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL VISITOR CENTER. 

7 Public Law 96–297 (16 U.S.C. 431 note) is amended 

8 by adding at the end the following: 

9 ‘‘SEC. 6. VISITOR CENTER. 

10 ‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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1 ‘‘(1) CENTER.—The term ‘Center’ means the 

2 visitor center for the Memorial authorized by sub3 section (b). 

4 ‘‘(2) MEMORIAL.—The term ‘Memorial’ has the 

5 meaning given the term ‘Vietnam Veterans Memo6 rial’ in section 5(f). 

7 ‘‘(3) MEMORIAL FUND.—The term ‘Memorial 

8 Fund’ means the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, 

9 Inc. 

10 ‘‘(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 

11 the Secretary of the Interior. 

12 ‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF CENTER.—The Memorial 

13 Fund may design and construct a visitor center for the 

14 Memorial to provide information to the public on the Me15 morial. 

16 ‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS.—The Center—

17 ‘‘(1) shall be located—

18 ‘‘(A) above ground or underground, as de19 termined in accordance with chapter 89 of title 

20 40, United States Code; and 

21 ‘‘(B) on or adjacent to the Memorial; 

22 ‘‘(2) shall be the minimum size necessary to—

23 ‘‘(A) carry out appropriate educational and 

24 interpretive activities relating to the Memorial; 
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1 ‘‘(B) prevent interference with or en2 croachment on the Memorial; and 

3 ‘‘(C) protect open space and visual 

4 sightlines on the National Mall; and 

5 ‘‘(3) shall be constructed and landscaped in a 

6 manner that is consistent with the Memorial and the 

7 National Mall. 

8 ‘‘(d) DESIGN.—The Commission on Fine Arts shall 

9 approve a final design for the Center not later than 1 year 

10 after the date of the enactment of this section. 

11 ‘‘(e) OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE.—

12 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to an agreement 

13 entered into under paragraph (2), the Center shall 

14 be operated and maintained by the Secretary. 

15 ‘‘(2) AGREEMENT.—The Secretary shall offer to 

16 enter into an agreement with the Memorial Fund for 

17 the operation and maintenance of the Center that 

18 provides the following: 

19 ‘‘(A) The Memorial Fund shall lease the 

20 Center from the Secretary for a term of 20 

21 years. The lease may be renewed thereafter for 

22 periods of 20 years. 

23 ‘‘(B) During the term of a lease under 

24 subparagraph (A), the Memorial Fund—
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1 ‘‘(i) shall be responsible for maintain2 ing exhibits at the Center; and 

3 ‘‘(ii) shall share other maintenance re4 sponsibilities for the Center with the Sec5 retary. 

6 ‘‘(C) The Secretary shall submit to the 

7 Committee on Resources of the House of Rep8 resentatives and the Committee on Energy and 

9 Natural Resources of the Senate—

10 ‘‘(i) a copy of any lease entered into 

11 or renewed under subparagraph (A); and 

12 ‘‘(ii) not less than once every 7 years, 

13 an assessment by the Secretary on the 

14 need for and use of the Center. 

15 ‘‘(3) DONATION FOR PERPETUAL MAINTENANCE

16 AND PRESERVATION.—Notwithstanding paragraph 

17 (1), section 8906(b) of title 40, United States Code, 

18 shall apply to the Memorial Fund. 

19 ‘‘(f) APPLICABLE LAW.—

20 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para21 graph (2), chapter 89 of title 40, United States 

22 Code, shall apply to the Center. 

23 ‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—Section 8908(b)(1) of title 

24 40, United States Code, shall not apply to the Cen25 ter. 
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1 ‘‘(g) USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS PROHIBITED.—No 

2 Federal funds shall be used for the planning, design, con3 struction, operation, or maintenance of the Center.’’.

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