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[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.
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