PUBLIC LAW 112–272—JAN. 14, 2013 

WORLD WAR I CENTENNIAL 

COMMISSION ACT 


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126 STAT. 2448 PUBLIC LAW 112–272—JAN. 14, 2013 

Public Law 112–272 

112th Congress 

An Act 

To establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of 

World War I, to provide for the designation of memorials to the service of members 

of the United States Armed Forces in World War I, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘World War 

I Centennial Commission Act’’. 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act 

is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Findings. 

Sec. 3. Definitions. 

Sec. 4. Establishment of World War I Centennial Commission. 

Sec. 5. Duties of Centennial Commission. 

Sec. 6. Powers of Centennial Commission. 

Sec. 7. Centennial Commission personnel matters. 

Sec. 8. Termination of Centennial Commission. 

Sec. 9. Prohibition on obligation of Federal funds. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

Congress makes the following findings: 

(1) From 2014 through 2018, the United States and nations 

around the world will mark the centennial of World War I, 

including the entry of the United States into the war in April 

1917. 

(2) America’s support of Great Britain, France, Belgium, 

and its other allies in World War I marked the first time 

in United States history that American soldiers went abroad 

in defense of liberty against foreign aggression, and it marked 

the true beginning of the ‘‘American century’’. 

(3) Although World War I was at the time called ‘‘the 

war to end all wars’’, in fact the United States would commit 

its troops to the defense of foreign lands 3 more times in 

the 20th century. 

(4) More than 4,000,000 men and women from the United 

States served in uniform during World War I, among them 

2 future presidents, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Two million individuals from the United States served 

overseas during World War I, including 200,000 naval personnel 

who served on the seas. The United States suffered 375,000 

casualties during World War I, including 116,516 deaths. 

(5) The events of 1914 through 1918 shaped the world, 

the United States, and the lives of millions of people. 

World War I 

Centennial 

Commission Act. 

36 USC prec. 101 

note. 

Jan. 14, 2013 

[H.R. 6364] 


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PUBLIC LAW 112–272—JAN. 14, 2013 126 STAT. 2449 

(6) The centennial of World War I offers an opportunity 

for people in the United States to learn about and commemorate 

the sacrifices of their predecessors. 

(7) Commemorative programs, activities, and sites allow 

people in the United States to learn about the history of World 

War I, the United States involvement in that war, and the 

war’s effects on the remainder of the 20th century, and to 

commemorate and honor the participation of the United States 

and its citizens in the war effort. 

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act— 

(1) AMERICA’S NATIONAL WORLD WAR I MUSEUM.—The term 

‘‘America’s National World War I Museum’’ means the Liberty 

Memorial Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as recognized 

by Congress in section 1031(b) of the Ronald W. Reagan 

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public 

Law 108–375; 118 Stat. 2045). 

(2) CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Centennial 

Commission’’ means the World War I Centennial Commission 

established by section 4(a). 

(3) VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘veterans 

service organization’’ means any organization recognized by 

the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of 

veterans under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code. 

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF WORLD WAR I CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a commission to be 

known as the ‘‘World War I Centennial Commission’’. 

(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

(1) COMPOSITION.—The Centennial Commission shall be 

composed of 12 members as follows: 

(A) Two members who shall be appointed by the 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

(B) One member who shall be appointed by the 

minority leader of the House of Representatives. 

(C) Two members who shall be appointed by the 

majority leader of the Senate. 

(D) One member who shall be appointed by the 

minority leader of the Senate. 

(E) Three members who shall be appointed by the 

President from among persons who are broadly representative of the people of the United States (including members 

of the Armed Forces, veterans, and representatives of veterans service organizations). 

(F) One member who shall be appointed by the executive director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 

States. 

(G) One member who shall be appointed by the executive director of the American Legion. 

(H) One member who shall be appointed by the president of the Liberty Memorial Association. 

(2) TIME FOR APPOINTMENT.—The members of the Centennial Commission shall be appointed not later than 60 days 

after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

(3) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.—Each member shall be 

appointed for the life of the Centennial Commission. 

President. 

Appointments. 


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126 STAT. 2450 PUBLIC LAW 112–272—JAN. 14, 2013 

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

shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment 

was made. 

(c) MEETINGS.— (1) INITIAL MEETING.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 

date on which all members of the Centennial Commission 

have been appointed, the Centennial Commission shall hold 

its first meeting. 

(B) LOCATION.—The location for the meeting held 

under subparagraph (A) shall be the America’s National 

World War I Museum. 

(2) SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The Centennial Commission shall 

meet at the call of the Chair. 

(B) FREQUENCY.—The Chair shall call a meeting of 

the members of the Centennial Commission not less frequently than once each year. 

(C) LOCATION.—Not less frequently than once each 

year, the Centennial Commission shall meet at the America’s National World War I Museum. 

(3) QUORUM.—Seven members of the Centennial Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold 

hearings. 

(d) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.—The Centennial Commission shall 

select a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members. 

SEC. 5. DUTIES OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The duties of the Centennial Commission 

are as follows: 

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

activities to commemorate the centennial of World War I. 

(2) To encourage private organizations and State and local 

governments to organize and participate in activities commemorating the centennial of World War I. 

(3) To facilitate and coordinate activities throughout the 

United States relating to the centennial of World War I. 

(4) To serve as a clearinghouse for the collection and 

dissemination of information about events and plans for the 

centennial of World War I. 

(5) To develop recommendations for Congress and the President for commemorating the centennial of World War I. 

(b) REPORTS.— (1) PERIODIC REPORT.—Not later than the last day of the 

6-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of 

this Act, and not later than the last day of each 3-month 

period thereafter, the Centennial Commission shall submit to 

Congress and the President a report on the activities and 

plans of the Centennial Commission. 

(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 2 years after the 

date of the enactment of this Act, the Centennial Commission 

shall submit to Congress and the President a report containing 

specific recommendations for commemorating the centennial 

of World War I and coordinating related activities. 

SEC. 6. POWERS OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. 

(a) HEARINGS.—The Centennial Commission may hold such 

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

Deadlines. 


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PUBLIC LAW 112–272—JAN. 14, 2013 126 STAT. 2451 

and receive such evidence as the Centennial Commission considers 

appropriate to carry out its duties under this Act. 

(b) POWERS OF MEMBER AND AGENTS.—If authorized by the 

Centennial Commission, any member or agent of the Centennial 

Commission may take any action which the Centennial Commission 

is authorized to take under this Act. 

(c) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The Centennial 

Commission shall secure directly from any Federal department 

or agency such information as the Centennial Commission considers 

necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. Upon the request 

of the Chair of the Centennial Commission, the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the Centennial 

Commission. 

(d) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon the request of 

the Centennial Commission, the Administrator of the General Services Administration shall provide to the Centennial Commission, 

on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support services necessary for the Centennial Commission to carry out its responsibilities under this Act. 

(e) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 

Centennial Commission is authorized— 

(A) to procure supplies, services, and property; and 

(B) to make or enter into contracts, leases, or other 

legal agreements. 

(2) LIMITATION.—The Centennial Commission may not 

enter into any contract, lease, or other legal agreement that 

extends beyond the date of the termination of the Centennial 

Commission under section 8(a). 

(f) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Centennial Commission may use 

the United States mails in the same manner and under the same 

conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government. 

(g) GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND DEVISES.—The Centennial Commission shall accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises 

of services or property, both real and personal, for the purpose 

of covering the costs incurred by the Centennial Commission to 

carry out its duties under this Act. 

SEC. 7. CENTENNIAL COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 

(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Members of the Centennial 

Commission shall serve without compensation for such service. 

(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the Centennial 

Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem 

in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with the applicable provisions 

of title 5, United States Code. 

(c) STAFF.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chair of the Centennial Commission 

shall, in consultation with the members of the Centennial 

Commission, appoint an executive director and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Centennial 

Commission to perform its duties. 

(2) COMPENSATION.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph (B), the 

Chair of the Centennial Commission may fix the compensation of the executive director and any other personnel 

appointed under paragraph (1). 


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126 STAT. 2452 PUBLIC LAW 112–272—JAN. 14, 2013 

(B) LIMITATION.—The Chair of the Centennial Commission may not fix the compensation of the executive director 

or other personnel appointed under paragraph (1) at a 

rate that exceeds the rate of payable for level IV of the 

Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United 

States Code. 

(C) WORK LOCATION.—If the city government for 

Kansas City, Missouri, and the Liberty Memorial Association make space available in the building in which the 

America’s National World War I Museum is located, the 

executive director of the Centennial Commission and other 

personnel appointed under paragraph (1) shall work in 

such building to the extent practical. 

(d) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Upon request of the 

Centennial Commission, the head of any Federal department or 

agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any employee of that 

department or agency to the Centennial Commission to assist it 

in carrying out its duties under this Act. 

(e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMITTENT SERVICES.—The Chair of the Centennial Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, 

United States Code. 

(f) SOURCE OF FUNDS.—Gifts, bequests, and devises of services 

or property, both real and personal, received by the Centennial 

Commission under section 6(g) shall be the only source of funds 

to cover the costs incurred by the Centennial Commission under 

this section. 

SEC. 8. TERMINATION OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Centennial Commission shall terminate 

on the earlier of— 

(1) the date that is 30 days after the date the completion 

of the activities under this Act honoring the centennial observation of World War I; or 

(2) July 28, 2019. 

(b) APPLICATION OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 

provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 

App.) shall apply to the activities of the Centennial Commission 

under this Act. 

(2) EXCEPTION.—Section 14(a)(2) of such Act shall not apply 

to the Centennial Commission. 

Missouri. 

Liberty Memorial 

Association. 


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PUBLIC LAW 112–272—JAN. 14, 2013 126 STAT. 2453 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 6364: 

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 112–701, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Natural Resources). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 158 (2012): 

Dec. 12, considered and passed House. 

Dec. 21, considered and passed Senate, amended. 

Dec. 31, House concurred in Senate amendment. 

Æ 

SEC. 9. PROHIBITION ON OBLIGATION OF FEDERAL FUNDS. 

No Federal funds may be obligated to carry out this Act. 

Approved January 14, 2013. 


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