I

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 4315

To designate a site for the relocation of the public facility of the National

Museum of Health and Medicine, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 28, 1994

Ms. NORTON (for herself, Mr. DELLUMS, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of

Texas, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. MINETA, Mr.

MOAKLEY, Mr. MONTGOMERY, Mr. PORTER, Mr. TRAFICANT, and Mr.

WAXMAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Public Works and Transportation

A BILL

To designate a site for the relocation of the public facility

of the National Museum of Health and Medicine, and

for other purposes.

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

3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

4 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—

5 (1) the United States faces critical health care

6 problems, solutions for which will arise from an at7 tentive and educated citizenry;
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1 (2) there is a great need for an increased em2 phasis to be placed on public health education and

3 the development of scientific literacy concerning

4 health care issues;

5 (3) when the National Museum of Health and

6 Medicine, formerly the Army Medical Museum, was

7 located on the Mall in Washington, District of Co8 lumbia, from 1888 to 1968, it was one of the most

9 popular and well-visited museums in the Nation’s

10 capital;

11 (4) with the removal of the Museum from the

12 Mall to the grounds of the Walter Reed Army Medi13 cal Center in 1968, there was no longer a national

14 education facility devoted to this purpose located

15 within the District of Columbia within easy access to

16 the up to 25,000,000 individuals who visit the Mall

17 each year; and

18 (5) the American taxpayer, through the United

19 States Government, pays approximately 30 percent

20 of the costs of all health care services, costs which

21 could be dramatically reduced with the advent of

22 better educated, informed Americans.

23 (b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act to des24 ignate a site for the relocation of the public facility of the

25 National Museum of Health and Medicine so that it may
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1 serve as a central resource of instruction about, and be

2 involved in, the critical health issues which confront all

3 American citizens.

4 SEC. 2. SITE OF FACILITY.

5 The public facility of the National Museum of Health

6 and Medicine shall be located on the following adjacent

7 areas of land owned by the Federal Government in the

8 District of Columbia:

9 (1) The east plaza of the Hubert Humphrey

10 Building, presently occupied by the Department of

11 Health and Human Services.

12 (2) The entire portion of 2nd Street, South13 west, that is located between C Street and Washing14 ton Avenue, Southwest.

15 (3) A triangular park, known as ‘‘Square N–

16 580’’, which lies immediately to the east of 2nd

17 Street, Southwest.

18 SEC. 3. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZA19 TION.

20 In accordance with procedures of the District of Co21 lumbia, the Administrator of General Services is author22 ized to apply for the closing and transfer of jurisdiction

23 over the entire portion of 2nd Street, Southwest, located

24 between C Street and Washington Avenue, Southwest, and

25 the transfer of jurisdiction over Square N–580, from the
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1 District of Columbia to the General Services Administra2 tion for the purpose of locating the National Museum of

3 Health and Medicine.

4 SEC. 4. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

5 Nothing in this Act shall be construed as limiting the

6 authority or responsibilities of the National Capital Plan7 ning Commission or the Commission of Fine Arts.

8 SEC. 5. DEFINITION.

9 As used in this Act, the term ‘‘Mall’’ means—

10 (1) the land designated as ‘‘Union Square’’,

11 District of Columbia Reservation 6A;

12 (2) the land designated as the ‘‘Mall’’, District

13 of Columbia Reservations 3, 4, 5, and 6;

14 (3) the land designated as the ‘‘Monument

15 Grounds’’, District of Columbia Reservation 2; and

16 (4) the land designated as ‘‘West Potomac

17 Park’’, District of Columbia Reservations 3, 3, and

18 2.

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