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; 
H. R. 7764—2 

(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 
H. R. 7764—3 

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. 
H. R. 7764—4 

(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.