I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1849 

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. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 1, 2009 

Mr. CLEAVER (for himself, Mr. AKIN, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. CARNAHAN, Mr. CLAY, 

Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. GRAVES, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, and Mr. SKELTON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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 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. 

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’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 Congress finds the following: 

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

4 the United States served in uniform in the defense 

5 of liberty during World War I, among them two fu6 ture presidents, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. 

7 Eisenhower. 

8 (2) 2,000,000 individuals from the United 

9 States served overseas during World War I, includ10 ing 200,000 naval personnel who served on the seas. 

11 (3) The United States suffered 375,000 casual12 ties during World War I. 

13 (4) The events of 1914 through 1918 shaped 

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

15 people in countless ways. 

16 (5) The centennial of World War I offers an op17 portunity for people in the United States to learn 

18 about the sacrifices of their predecessors. 

19 (6) Commemorative efforts allow people in the 

20 United States to gain a historical understanding of 

21 the type of conflicts that cause countries to go to 

22 war and how those conflicts are resolved. 

23 (7) Kansas City is home to the Liberty Memo24 rial and America’s National World War I Museum 

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


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1 Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 

2 (Public Law 108–375)). 

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

4 seeks— 

5 (A) to preserve the history of World War 

6 I; and 

7 (B) to educate and enlighten people about 

8 this significant event, the consequences of which 

9 are still with us. 

10 (9) Kansas City is home to the national head11 quarters for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. 

12 (10) Missouri is the home State of General 

13 John Joseph Pershing, who commanded the Amer14 ican Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World 

15 War I. 

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

17 Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum. 

18 (12) The Dwight David Eisenhower Presi19 dential Library and Museum is located close to Kan20 sas City in the neighboring State of Kansas. 

21 (13) There is no nationally recognized memorial 

22 honoring the service of Americans who served in 

23 World War I. 

24 (14) In 1919, the people of Kansas City, Mis25 souri, expressed an outpouring of support and raised 


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

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

3 fundraising was an accomplishment unparalleled by 

4 any other city in the United States irrespective of 

5 population and reflected the passion of public opin6 ion about World War I, which had so recently ended. 

7 (15) Following the drive, a national architec8 tural competition was held by the American Institute 

9 of Architects for designs for a memorial to the serv10 ice of Americans in World War I, and the competi11 tion yielded a design by architect H. Van Buren 

12 Magonigle. 

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

14 people witnessed the dedication of the site for the 

15 Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. That 

16 dedication marked the only time in history that the 

17 five allied military leaders; Lieutenant General 

18 Baron Jacques of Belgium, General Armando Diaz 

19 of Italy, Marshal Ferdinand Foch of France, Gen20 eral John J. Pershing of the United States, and Ad21 miral Lord Earl Beatty of Great Britain, were to22 gether at one place. 

23 (17) General Pershing noted at the November 

24 1, 1921, dedication that ‘‘[t]he people of Kansas 

25 City, Missouri, are deeply proud of the beautiful meVerDate Nov 24 2008 00:04 Apr 03, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1849.IH H1849

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1 morial, erected in tribute to the patriotism, the gal2 lant achievements, and the heroic sacrifices of their 

3 sons and daughters who served in our country’s 

4 armed forces during the World War. It symbolized 

5 their grateful appreciation of duty well done, an ap6 preciation which I share, because I know so well how 

7 richly it is merited’’. 

8 (18) During an Armistice Day ceremony in 

9 1924, President Calvin Coolidge marked the begin10 ning of a three-year construction project for the Lib11 erty Memorial by the laying of the cornerstone of the 

12 memorial. 

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

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

15 Served in the World War in Defense of Liberty and 

16 Our Country’’ as well as four stone ‘‘Guardian Spir17 its’’ representing courage, honor, patriotism, and 

18 sacrifice, which rise above the observation deck, 

19 making the Liberty Memorial a noble tribute to all 

20 who served in World War I. 

21 (20) During a rededication for the Liberty Me22 morial in 1961, World War I veterans and former 

23 Presidents Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisen24 hower recognized the memorial as a constant reVerDate Nov 24 2008 00:04 Apr 03, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1849.IH H1849

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1 minder of the sacrifices during World War I and the 

2 progress that followed. 

3 (21) The 106th Congress recognized the Lib4 erty Memorial as a national symbol of World War I. 

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

6 only public museum in the United States specifically 

7 dedicated to the history of World War I. 

8 (23) The National World War I Museum is 

9 known throughout the world as a major center of 

10 World War I remembrance. 

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

12 NATIONAL WORLD WAR I MUSEUM IN KANSAS 

13 CITY, MISSOURI, AS THE NATIONAL WORLD 

14 WAR I MEMORIAL. 

15 The Liberty Memorial at the National World War I 

16 Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, is hereby designated 

17 as the ‘‘National World War I Memorial’’. 

18 SEC. 4. COMMISSION ON THE COMMEMORATION OF THE 

19 CENTENNIAL OF WORLD WAR I. 

20 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com21 mission to be known as the World War I Centennial Com22 mission (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

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

24 ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World 

25 War I that promotes the values of honor, courage, patriotVerDate Nov 24 2008 00:04 Apr 03, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1849.IH H1849

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1 ism, and sacrifice, in keeping with the representation of 

2 these values through the four Guardian Spirits sculpted 

3 on the Liberty Memorial Monument at America’s National 

4 World War I Museum. 

5 (c) DUTIES.—The Commission shall have the fol6 lowing duties: 

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

8 projects, and activities to commemorate the centen9 nial of World War I. 

10 (2) To encourage private organizations and 

11 State and local governments to organize and partici12 pate in activities commemorating the centennial of 

13 World War I. 

14 (3) To facilitate and coordinate activities 

15 throughout the United States related to the centen16 nial of World War I. 

17 (4) To serve as a clearinghouse for the collec18 tion and dissemination of information about events 

19 and plans for the centennial of World War I. 

20 (d) MEMBERSHIP.— 

21 (1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Com22 mission shall be composed of 24 members as follows: 

23 (A) Four members appointed by the 

24 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 


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1 (B) Three members appointed by the mi2 nority leader of the House of Representatives. 

3 (C) Four members appointed by the Sen4 ate majority leader. 

5 (D) Three members appointed by the Sen6 ate minority leader. 

7 (E) Seven members who are broadly rep8 resentative of the people of the United States 

9 (including members of the armed services and 

10 veterans), appointed by the President. 

11 (F) The executive director of the Veterans 

12 of Foreign Wars of the United States (or the 

13 director’s delegate). 

14 (G) The executive director of the American 

15 Legion (or the director’s delegate). 

16 (H) The president of the Liberty Memorial 

17 Association, the nonprofit entity responsible for 

18 the management of America’s National World 

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

20 (2) CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP.—If a 

21 member of the Commission under paragraph (1)(F) 

22 through (H) ceases to hold a position named in such 

23 paragraph, that member must resign from the Com24 mission as of the date that the member ceases to 

25 hold that position. 


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1 (3) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed 

2 for the life of the Commission. 

3 (4) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission 

4 shall be filled in the manner in which the original 

5 appointment was made. 

6 (5) PAY.—Members shall serve without pay. 

7 (6) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall 

8 receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 

9 subsistence, in accordance with the applicable provi10 sions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 

11 United States Code. 

12 (7) QUORUM.—Thirteen members of the Com13 mission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num14 ber may hold hearings. 

15 (8) CHAIRPERSON; VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The 

16 Commission shall elect the Chairperson and Vice 

17 Chairperson of the Commission. 

18 (9) MEETINGS.— 

19 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 

20 meet at the call of the Chairperson, except that 

21 the first meeting shall be held before the end of 

22 the 30-day period beginning on the effective 

23 date of this Act. 

24 (B) LOCATION.—The Commission shall 

25 hold the first meeting at America’s National 


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1 World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, 

2 and thereafter shall hold at least one meeting 

3 per year at such location. 

4 (e) DIRECTOR AND ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL OF THE

5 COMMISSION; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.— 

6 (1) DIRECTOR AND STAFF.— 

7 (A) APPOINTMENT.—The Chair of the 

8 Commission shall, in consultation with the 

9 members of the Commission, appoint an execu10 tive director and such other additional per11 sonnel as may be necessary to enable the Com12 mission to perform its duties. 

13 (B) PAY.— 

14 (i) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The exec15 utive director shall be paid at a rate not to 

16 exceed the rate of basic pay payable for 

17 level IV of the Executive Schedule estab18 lished under section 5315 of title 5, United 

19 State Code. 

20 (ii) ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.—The 

21 executive director may fix the pay of any 

22 additional personnel appointed under sub23 paragraph (A) as the executive director 

24 considers appropriate. 


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1 (C) WORK LOCATION.—If the city govern2 ment for Kansas City, Missouri, and the non3 profit organization which administers America’s 

4 National World War I Museum make space 

5 available, the executive director and any addi6 tional personnel appointed under subparagraph 

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

8 museum. 

9 (2) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Com10 mission may procure temporary and intermittent 

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

12 States Code. 

13 (3) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon re14 quest of the Commission, the head of any Federal 

15 department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable 

16 basis, any personnel of that department or agency to 

17 the Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties 

18 under this Act. 

19 (f) POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.— 

20 (1) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—For the pur21 pose of carrying out this Act, the Commission may 

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

23 testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission 

24 considers appropriate. 


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

2 authorized by the Commission, any member or agent 

3 of the Commission may take any action which the 

4 Commission is authorized to take by this section. 

5 (3) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commis6 sion shall secure directly from any department or 

7 agency of the United States information necessary 

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

9 of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of 

10 that department or agency shall furnish that infor11 mation to the Commission. 

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

13 (A) ACCEPTANCE BY COMMISSION.—The 

14 Commission may accept, use, and dispose of 

15 gifts, bequests, or devises of services or prop16 erty, both real and personal, for the purpose of 

17 aiding or facilitating the work of the Commis18 sion. 

19 (B) DEPOSIT AND AVAILABILITY.—Gifts, 

20 bequests, or devises of money and proceeds 

21 from sales of other property received as gifts, 

22 bequests, or devises shall be deposited in the 

23 Treasury and shall be available for disburse24 ment upon order of the Commission. 


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

2 United States mails in the same manner and under 

3 the same conditions as other departments and agen4 cies of the United States. 

5 (6) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.— 

6 Upon the request of the Commission, the Adminis7 trator of General Services shall provide to the Com8 mission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative 

9 support services necessary for the Commission to 

10 carry out its responsibilities under this Act. 

11 (7) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—The Commission 

12 is authorized to procure supplies, services, and prop13 erty and to make or enter in contracts, leases, or 

14 other legal agreements; except that any contract, 

15 lease, or other legal agreement made or entered into 

16 by the Commission may not extend beyond the date 

17 of termination of the Commission. 

18 (g) REPORTS.— 

19 (1) PERIODIC REPORT.—Beginning not later 

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

21 on the date of enactment of this Act and the last 

22 day of each 3-month period thereafter, the Commis23 sion shall submit to Congress and the President a 

24 report on the activities and plans of the Commission. 


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1 (2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 2 

2 years after the effective date of this Act, the Com3 mission shall submit to Congress and the President 

4 a report containing specific recommendations for 

5 commemorating the centennial of World War I and 

6 coordinating related activities. 

7 (h) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 

8 on the earlier of the date that is 30 days after the activi9 ties honoring the centennial observation of World War I 

10 are carried out or July 28, 2019. Section 14(a)(2)(B) of 

11 the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), re12 lating to the termination of advisory committees, shall not 

13 apply to the Commission. 

14 (i) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall be effective 

15 on January 1, 2010. 

Æ 


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