```

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9987 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9987

   To establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a 
National Museum of Italian American History and Culture, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 11, 2024

 Mr. Suozzi (for himself, Mr. Amodei, and Ms. Bonamici) introduced the 
    following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
 Resources, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
                        the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
   To establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a 
National Museum of Italian American History and Culture, 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 of 
a National Museum of Italian American History and Culture Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--There is established the Commission to Study the 
Potential Creation of a National Museum of Italian American History and 
Culture (in this Act 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) Qualifications.--Members of the Commission shall be appointed 
to the Commission from among individuals, or representatives of 
institutions or entities, who possess--
            (1) a demonstrated commitment to the research, study, or 
        promotion of Italian American history, art, political or 
        economic status, or culture;
            (2) expertise or experience in--
                    (A) museum administration;
                    (B) fundraising for nonprofit or cultural 
                institutions;
                    (C) the study and teaching of Italian American 
                history;
                    (D) studying the issue of the representation of 
                Italian Americans in art, life, history, and culture at 
                the Smithsonian Institution; or
                    (E) public or elected service that is extensive;
            (3) experience in the administration of, or the planning 
        for, the establishment of, museums; or
            (4) experience in the planning, design, or construction of 
        museum facilities.
    (d) Deadline for Initial Appointment.--Not later than the date that 
is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the initial members 
of the Commission shall be appointed under subsection (b).
    (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 under subsection (b).
    (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. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Reports.--
            (1) Plan of action.--The Commission shall submit to the 
        President and Congress a report containing the recommendations 
        of the Commission with respect to a plan of action regarding 
        the feasibility of establishing and maintaining a National 
        Museum of Italian American History and Culture in Washington, 
        DC, and the environs of such museum (in this Act referred to as 
        the ``Museum'').
            (2) Report on issues.--The Commission shall submit to the 
        President and Congress a report that addresses the following:
                    (A) The availability and cost of collections to be 
                acquired and housed in the Museum.
                    (B) The impact of the Museum on existing Italian 
                American history-related museums.
                    (C) The development of criteria, in consultation 
                with the Smithsonian Institution, for evaluating 
                possible locations for the Museum in Washington, DC, 
                and the environs of such Museum.
                    (D) The feasibility of the Museum becoming part of 
                the Smithsonian Institution, taking into account the 
                potential impact of the Museum on the Smithsonian's 
                existing facilities maintenance backlog, collections 
                storage needs, and identified construction or 
                renovation costs for new or existing museums.
                    (E) The governance and organizational structure 
                from which the Museum should operate.
                    (F) Best practices for engaging Italian Americans 
                in the development and design of the Museum.
                    (G) The cost of constructing, operating, and 
                maintaining the Museum.
            (3) Deadline.--Not later than the date that is 18 months 
        after the date of the first meeting of the Commission, the 
        Commission shall submit the reports required under paragraphs 
        (1) and (2).
    (b) Fundraising Plan.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall develop a fundraising 
        plan that shall address the ability to support the 
        establishment, operation, and maintenance of the Museum through 
        contributions from the public.
            (2) Considerations.--In developing the fundraising plan 
        under paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider issues 
        relating to funding the operations and maintenance of the 
        Museum in perpetuity without reliance on appropriations of 
        Federal funds.
            (3) Independent review.--
                    (A) In general.--The Commission shall obtain an 
                independent review of the viability of the plan 
                developed under paragraph (1).
                    (B) Contents.--The independent review under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include an analysis as to 
                whether the plan is able to achieve the level of 
                resources necessary to fund the construction of the 
                Museum and the operations and maintenance of the Museum 
                in perpetuity without reliance on appropriations of 
                Federal funds.
            (4) Submission.--The Commission shall submit to the 
        Committees on House Administration, Natural Resources, and 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committees on Rules and Administration, Energy and Natural 
        Resources, and Appropriations of the Senate the plan developed 
        under paragraph (1) and the review conducted under paragraph 
        (3).
    (c) Legislation To Carry Out Plan of Action.--Based on the 
recommendations contained in the report submitted under paragraphs (1) 
and (2) of subsection (a), the Commission shall submit for 
consideration to the Committees on House Administration, Natural 
Resources, and Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
Committees on Rules and Administration, Energy and Natural Resources, 
and Appropriations of the Senate recommendations for a legislative plan 
of action on the feasibility of establishing and constructing the 
Museum.
    (d) National Conference.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
on which the initial members of the Commission are appointed under 
section 2(b), 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 Italian 
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 other than for purposes of 
                chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code (relating to 
                compensation for injury) and sections 2671 through 2680 
                of title 28, United States Code (relating to tort 
                claims), except that each such individual shall be--
                            (i) required to file an annual financial 
                        disclosure under chapter 131 of title 5, United 
                        States Code; and
                            (ii) considered to be a Federal employee 
                        for purposes of sections 201 and 208 of title 
                        18, United States Code; 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.
            (4) Federal advisory committee act.--The Commission shall 
        not be subject to chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code.
    (b) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on the date that 
is 30 days after the date on which the final versions of the reports 
required under section 3 are submitted.
    (c) Funding.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall be solely responsible 
        for acceptance of contributions for, and payment of the 
        expenses of, the Commission.
            (2) Prohibition.--No Federal funds may be obligated to 
        carry out this Act.
    (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 employees.--Any individual employed under 
        this subsection shall not be considered a Federal employee for 
        any purpose other than for purposes of chapter 81 of title 5, 
        United States Code (relating to compensation for injury) and 
        sections 2671 through 2680 of title 28, United States Code 
        (relating to tort claims), except that each such individual 
        shall be--
                    (A) required to file an annual financial disclosure 
                under chapter 131 of title 5, United States Code; and
                    (B) considered to be a Federal employee for 
                purposes of sections 201 and 208 of title 18, United 
                States Code.
            (3) Technical assistance.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), on 
                request of the Commission, the head of a Federal agency 
                may provide technical assistance to the Commission.
                    (B) Prohibition.--No Federal employees may be 
                detailed to the Commission.
                                 <all>
```