I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 202 

To create a commission to develop a plan for establishing a Museum of 

Ideas. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 6, 2009 

Mr. STEARNS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on House 

Administration, 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 create a commission to develop a plan for establishing 

a Museum of Ideas. 

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 ‘‘Museum of Ideas Act 

5 of 2009’’. 

6 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 

7 There is established a commission to be known as the 

8 ‘‘Museum of Ideas Commission’’ (hereinafter in this Act 

9 referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 


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1 SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 

2 (a) PLAN.— 

3 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall de4 velop a plan for establishing in Washington, DC, a 

5 museum that presents the history and evolution of 

6 human ideas. 

7 (2) SPECIFICALLY.—The plan must address the 

8 following issues: 

9 (A) How to present the history and evo10 lution of human ideas, including ideas in the 

11 fields of science, sociology, philosophy, econom12 ics, and politics. 

13 (B) The cost of establishing such a mu14 seum. 

15 (C) Possible locations for such a museum. 

16 (D) Whether such a museum should be es17 tablished within the Smithsonian Institution. 

18 (b) REPORT.—The Commission shall, not later than 

19 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, submit a 

20 report to Congress and the President setting forth the 

21 plan developed under subsection (a). 

22 SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP AND MEETINGS. 

23 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 

24 shall be composed of 11 members, to be appointed as fol25 lows: 


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1 (1) The President shall appoint 2 members, one 

2 of whom shall serve as chairperson of the Commis3 sion. 

4 (2) The majority leader of the House of Rep5 resentatives shall appoint 2 members. 

6 (3) The minority leader of the House of Rep7 resentatives shall appoint 2 members. 

8 (4) The majority leader of the Senate shall ap9 point 2 members. 

10 (5) The minority leader of the Senate shall ap11 point 2 members. 

12 (6) The Secretary of the Interior shall appoint 

13 1 member. 

14 (b) CRITERIA FOR MEMBER.— 

15 (1) NO MEMBER OF CONGRESS.—A Member of 

16 Congress may not be a member of the Commission. 

17 (2) CONSULTATION WITH APPOINTING AU18 THORITIES.—Prior to making an appointment, each 

19 appointing authority should consult with the other 

20 appointing authorities to ensure that the members 

21 appointed to the Commission represent a wide range 

22 of expertise that would assist the Commission in car23 rying out the required duties under this Act, includ24 ing academic leaders, industrial leaders, and individ25 uals familiar with establishing museums. 


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1 (c) DATE FOR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT.—The ap2 pointing authorities described in subsection (a) shall ap3 point the initial members of the Commission not later than 

4 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 

5 (d) TERMS.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—The term of each member is 

7 for the life of the Commission. 

8 (2) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission 

9 shall be filled not later than 30 days after such va10 cancy occurs and in the manner in which the origi11 nal appointment was made. 

12 (e) PAY AND REIMBURSEMENT.— 

13 (1) NO PAY FOR MEMBERS.—Members of the 

14 Commission shall serve without pay. 

15 (2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall 

16 receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 

17 subsistence under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 

18 5, United States Code. 

19 (f) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet upon 

20 the call of the chairperson or a majority of its members. 

21 (g) QUORUM.—Six members of the Commission shall 

22 constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hear23 ings. 


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1 SEC. 5. POWERS OF COMMISSION. 

2 (a) HEARINGS AND EVIDENCE.—The Commission 

3 may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such 

4 hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such 

5 testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission 

6 considers appropriate. 

7 (b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any mem8 ber or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the 

9 Commission, take any action which the Commission is au10 thorized to take by this section. 

11 (c) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United 

12 States mails in the same manner and under the same con13 ditions as other departments and agencies of the United 

14 States. 

15 (d) GIFTS.—To the extent provided in advance in ap16 propriation Acts, the Commission may accept, use, and 

17 dispose of gifts or donations of services or property. 

18 SEC. 6. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. 

19 The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to— 

20 (1) provide assistance to the Commission, in21 cluding advice on collections, storage, and archives; 

22 (2) provide assistance in conducting any public 

23 hearings or forums held by the Commission; and 

24 (3) provide staff assistance and support to the 

25 Commission. 


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1 SEC. 7. TERMINATION. 

2 The Commission shall terminate 60 days after sub3 mitting its final report under section 3. 

Æ 


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