111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1849 

AN ACT 

To designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World 

War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National 

World War I Memorial, to establish the World War I 

centennial commission to ensure a suitable observance 

of the centennial of World War I, and for other purposes. 
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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 ‘‘World War I Memorial 

5 and Centennial Act of 2009’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) More than 4,000,000 men and women from 

9 the United States served in uniform in the defense 

10 of liberty during World War I, among them two fu11 ture presidents, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. 

12 Eisenhower. 

13 (2) 2,000,000 individuals from the United 

14 States served overseas during World War I, includ15 ing 200,000 naval personnel who served on the seas. 

16 (3) The United States suffered 375,000 casual17 ties during World War I. 

18 (4) The events of 1914 through 1918 shaped 

19 the world, our country, and the lives of millions of 

20 people in countless ways. 

21 (5) The centennial of World War I offers an op22 portunity for people in the United States to learn 

23 about the sacrifices of their predecessors. 

24 (6) Commemorative efforts allow people in the 

25 United States to gain a historical understanding of 
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1 the type of conflicts that cause countries to go to 

2 war and how those conflicts are resolved. 

3 (7) Kansas City is home to the Liberty Memo4 rial and America’s National World War I Museum 

5 (as so recognized in the Ronald W. Reagan National 

6 Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 

7 (Public Law 108–375)). 

8 (8) America’s National World War I Museum 

9 seeks— 

10 (A) to preserve the history of World War 

11 I; and 

12 (B) to educate and enlighten people about 

13 this significant event, the consequences of which 

14 are still with us. 

15 (9) Kansas City is home to the national head16 quarters for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. 

17 (10) Missouri is the home State of General 

18 John Joseph Pershing, who commanded the Amer19 ican Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World 

20 War I. 

21 (11) The Kansas City area is the home of the 

22 Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum. 

23 (12) The Dwight David Eisenhower Presi24 dential Library and Museum is located close to Kan25 sas City in the neighboring State of Kansas. 
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1 (13) There is no nationally recognized memorial 

2 honoring the service of Americans who served in 

3 World War I. 

4 (14) In 1919, the people of Kansas City, Mis5 souri, expressed an outpouring of support and raised 

6 more than $2,000,000 in two weeks for a memorial 

7 to the service of Americans in World War I. That 

8 fundraising was an accomplishment unparalleled by 

9 any other city in the United States irrespective of 

10 population and reflected the passion of public opin11 ion about World War I, which had so recently ended. 

12 (15) Following the drive, a national architec13 tural competition was held by the American Institute 

14 of Architects for designs for a memorial to the serv15 ice of Americans in World War I, and the competi16 tion yielded a design by architect H. Van Buren 

17 Magonigle. 

18 (16) On November 1, 1921, more than 100,000 

19 people witnessed the dedication of the site for the 

20 Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. That 

21 dedication marked the only time in history that the 

22 five allied military leaders; Lieutenant General 

23 Baron Jacques of Belgium, General Armando Diaz 

24 of Italy, Marshal Ferdinand Foch of France, Gen25 eral John J. Pershing of the United States, and Ad-
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1 miral Lord Earl Beatty of Great Britain, were to2 gether at one place. 

3 (17) General Pershing noted at the November 

4 1, 1921, dedication that ‘‘[t]he people of Kansas 

5 City, Missouri, are deeply proud of the beautiful me6 morial, erected in tribute to the patriotism, the gal7 lant achievements, and the heroic sacrifices of their 

8 sons and daughters who served in our country’s 

9 armed forces during the World War. It symbolized 

10 their grateful appreciation of duty well done, an ap11 preciation which I share, because I know so well how 

12 richly it is merited’’. 

13 (18) During an Armistice Day ceremony in 

14 1924, President Calvin Coolidge marked the begin15 ning of a three-year construction project for the Lib16 erty Memorial by the laying of the cornerstone of the 

17 memorial. 

18 (19) The 217-foot Liberty Memorial Tower has 

19 an inscription that reads ‘‘In Honor of Those Who 

20 Served in the World War in Defense of Liberty and 

21 Our Country’’ as well as four stone ‘‘Guardian Spir22 its’’ representing courage, honor, patriotism, and 

23 sacrifice, which rise above the observation deck, 

24 making the Liberty Memorial a noble tribute to all 

25 who served in World War I. 
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1 (20) During a rededication for the Liberty Me2 morial in 1961, World War I veterans and former 

3 Presidents Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisen4 hower recognized the memorial as a constant re5 minder of the sacrifices during World War I and the 

6 progress that followed. 

7 (21) The 106th Congress recognized the Lib8 erty Memorial as a national symbol of World War I. 

9 (22) The National World War I Museum is the 

10 only public museum in the United States specifically 

11 dedicated to the history of World War I. 

12 (23) The National World War I Museum is 

13 known throughout the world as a major center of 

14 World War I remembrance. 

15 SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF THE LIBERTY MEMORIAL AT THE 

16 NATIONAL WORLD WAR I MUSEUM IN KANSAS 

17 CITY, MISSOURI, AS THE NATIONAL WORLD 

18 WAR I MEMORIAL. 

19 The Liberty Memorial at the National World War I 

20 Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, is hereby designated 

21 as the ‘‘National World War I Memorial’’. No Federal 

22 funds may be used for the annual operation or mainte23 nance of such Memorial. 
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1 SEC. 4. COMMISSION ON THE COMMEMORATION OF THE 

2 CENTENNIAL OF WORLD WAR I. 

3 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com4 mission to be known as the World War I Centennial Com5 mission (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

6 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Commission is to 

7 ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World 

8 War I that promotes the values of honor, courage, patriot9 ism, and sacrifice, in keeping with the representation of 

10 these values through the four Guardian Spirits sculpted 

11 on the Liberty Memorial Monument at America’s National 

12 World War I Museum. 

13 (c) DUTIES.—The Commission shall have the fol14 lowing duties: 

15 (1) To plan, develop, and execute programs, 

16 projects, and activities to commemorate the centen17 nial of World War I. 

18 (2) To encourage private organizations and 

19 State and local governments to organize and partici20 pate in activities commemorating the centennial of 

21 World War I. 

22 (3) To facilitate and coordinate activities 

23 throughout the United States related to the centen24 nial of World War I. 
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1 (4) To serve as a clearinghouse for the collec2 tion and dissemination of information about events 

3 and plans for the centennial of World War I. 

4 (d) MEMBERSHIP.— 

5 (1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Com6 mission shall be composed of 24 members as follows: 

7 (A) Four members appointed by the 

8 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

9 (B) Three members appointed by the mi10 nority leader of the House of Representatives. 

11 (C) Four members appointed by the Sen12 ate majority leader. 

13 (D) Three members appointed by the Sen14 ate minority leader. 

15 (E) Seven members who are broadly rep16 resentative of the people of the United States 

17 (including members of the armed services and 

18 veterans), appointed by the President. 

19 (F) The executive director of the Veterans 

20 of Foreign Wars of the United States (or the 

21 director’s delegate). 

22 (G) The executive director of the American 

23 Legion (or the director’s delegate). 

24 (H) The president of the Liberty Memorial 

25 Association, the nonprofit entity responsible for 
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1 the management of America’s National World 

2 War I Museum (or the president’s delegate). 

3 (2) EX OFFICIO MEMBERS.—The Archivist of 

4 the United States and the Secretary of the Smithso5 nian Institution shall serve in an ex officio capacity 

6 on the Commission to provide advice and informa7 tion to the Commission. 

8 (3) CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP.—If a 

9 member of the Commission under subparagraph (F), 

10 (G), or (H) of paragraph (1) ceases to hold a posi11 tion named in such subparagraph, that member 

12 must resign from the Commission as of the date 

13 that the member ceases to hold that position. 

14 (4) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed 

15 for the life of the Commission. 

16 (5) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT.—All mem17 bers of the Commission shall be appointed not later 

18 than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 

19 Act. 

20 (6) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Commission 

21 shall— 

22 (A) not affect the powers of the Commis23 sion; and 

24 (B) be filled in the manner in which the 

25 original appointment was made. 
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1 (7) PAY.—Members shall not receive compensa2 tion for the performance of their duties on behalf of 

3 the Commission. 

4 (8) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall 

5 receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 

6 subsistence, in accordance with the applicable provi7 sions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 

8 United States Code. 

9 (9) QUORUM.—A majority of members of the 

10 Commission plus one shall constitute a quorum, but 

11 a lesser number may hold hearings. 

12 (10) CHAIRPERSON; VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The 

13 Commission shall elect the Chairperson and Vice 

14 Chairperson of the Commission by a majority vote of 

15 the members of the Commission. 

16 (11) MEETINGS.— 

17 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 

18 meet at the call of the Chairperson, except that 

19 the first meeting shall be held before the end of 

20 the 120-day period beginning on the effective 

21 date of this Act. 

22 (B) LOCATION.—The Commission shall 

23 hold the first meeting at America’s National 

24 World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, 
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1 and thereafter shall hold at least one meeting 

2 per year at such location. 

3 (e) DIRECTOR AND ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL OF THE

4 COMMISSION; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.— 

5 (1) DIRECTOR AND STAFF.— 

6 (A) APPOINTMENT.—The Chairperson of 

7 the Commission shall, in consultation with the 

8 members of the Commission, appoint an execu9 tive director and such other additional per10 sonnel as may be necessary to enable the Com11 mission to perform its duties. 

12 (B) PAY.—The executive director and staff 

13 of the Commission may be appointed without 

14 regard to the provisions of title 5, United 

15 States Code, governing appointments in the 

16 competitive service, and may be paid without 

17 regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and sub18 chapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating 

19 to classification and General Schedule pay 

20 rates, except that the rate of pay for the execu21 tive director and other staff may not exceed the 

22 rate payable for level V of the Executive Sched23 ule under section 5316 of such title. 

24 (C) WORK LOCATION.—If the city govern25 ment for Kansas City, Missouri, and the non-
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1 profit organization which administers America’s 

2 National World War I Museum make space 

3 available, the executive director and any addi4 tional personnel appointed under subparagraph 

5 (A) shall work in the building that houses that 

6 museum. 

7 (2) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Com8 mission may procure temporary and intermittent 

9 services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United 

10 States Code. 

11 (3) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon re12 quest of the Commission, the head of any Federal 

13 department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable 

14 basis, any personnel of that department or agency to 

15 the Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties 

16 under this Act. 

17 (f) POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.— 

18 (1) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—For the pur19 pose of carrying out this Act, the Commission may 

20 hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take 

21 testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission 

22 considers appropriate. 

23 (2) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—If 

24 authorized by the Commission, any member or agent 
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1 of the Commission may take any action which the 

2 Commission is authorized to take by this section. 

3 (3) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commis4 sion shall secure directly from any department or 

5 agency of the United States information necessary 

6 to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon the request 

7 of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of 

8 that department or agency shall furnish that infor9 mation to the Commission. 

10 (4) GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND DEVISES.— 

11 (A) ACCEPTANCE BY COMMISSION.—The 

12 Commission may accept, use, and dispose of 

13 gifts, bequests, or devises of services or prop14 erty, both real and personal, for the purpose of 

15 aiding or facilitating the work of the Commis16 sion. 

17 (B) DEPOSIT AND AVAILABILITY.—Gifts, 

18 bequests, or devises of money and proceeds 

19 from sales of other property received as gifts, 

20 bequests, or devises shall be deposited in the 

21 Treasury and shall be available for disburse22 ment upon order of the Commission. 

23 (5) MAILS.—The Commission may use the 

24 United States mails in the same manner and under 
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1 the same conditions as other departments and agen2 cies of the United States. 

3 (6) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.— 

4 Upon the request of the Commission, the Adminis5 trator of General Services shall provide to the Com6 mission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative 

7 support services necessary for the Commission to 

8 carry out its responsibilities under this Act. 

9 (7) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—The Commission 

10 is authorized to procure supplies, services, and prop11 erty and to make or enter in contracts, leases, or 

12 other legal agreements; except that any contract, 

13 lease, or other legal agreement made or entered into 

14 by the Commission may not extend beyond the date 

15 of termination of the Commission. 

16 (g) REPORTS.— 

17 (1) PERIODIC REPORT.—Beginning not later 

18 than the last day of the 3-month period beginning 

19 on the effective date of this Act, and the last day of 

20 each 3-month period thereafter, the Commission 

21 shall submit to Congress and the President a report 

22 on the activities and plans of the Commission. 

23 (2) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Commission shall 

24 submit to the President and Congress annual re25 ports on the revenue and expenditures of the Com-
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1 mission, including a list of each gift, bequest, or de2 vise to the Commission with a value of more than 

3 $250, together with the identity of the donor of each 

4 gift, bequest, or devise. 

5 (3) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 2 

6 years after the effective date of this Act, the Com7 mission shall submit to Congress and the President 

8 a report containing specific recommendations for 

9 commemorating the centennial of World War I and 

10 coordinating related activities. 

11 (h) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT WAIV12 ER.—Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 

13 (5 U.S.C. App.), relating to the termination of advisory 

14 committees, shall not apply to the Commission. 

15 (i) AUTHORIZATION OF FUNDS.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 

17 appropriated to the Commission to carry out this 

18 Act $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 

19 2019. 

20 (2) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts made available 

21 under this subsection shall remain available until the 

22 termination of the Commission as described in sub23 section (k). 

24 (j) ANNUAL AUDIT.—For any fiscal year for which 

25 the Commission receives an appropriation of funds, the In-
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1 spector General of the Department of the Interior shall 

2 perform an audit of the Commission, shall make the re3 sults of any audit performed available to the public, and 

4 shall transmit such results to the Committee on Oversight 

5 and Government Reform of the House of Representatives 

6 and the Committee on Homeland Security and Govern7 mental Affairs of the Senate. 

8 (k) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 

9 on the earlier of the date that is 30 days after the activi10 ties honoring the centennial observation of World War I 

11 are carried out, or July 28, 2019. 

12 (l) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

13 on January 1, 2010. 

Passed the House of Representatives November 5, 

2009. 

Attest: 

Clerk. 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1849 

AN ACT 

To designate the Liberty Memorial at the National 

World War I, and for other purposes. ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of lish the World War I centennial commission to as the National World War I Memorial, to estabWorld War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri,