79–010 

115TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 115–303 

NATIONAL NORDIC MUSEUM ACT 

JULY 16, 2018.—Ordered to be printed 

Ms. MURKOWSKI, from the Committee on Energy and Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 2857] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 

referred the bill (S. 2857) to designate the Nordic Museum in Seattle, Washington, as the ‘‘National Nordic Museum’’, and for other 

purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon 

without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of S. 2857 is to designate the Nordic Museum in Seattle, Washington, as the ‘‘National Nordic Museum.’’ 

BACKGROUND AND NEED

From the mid-19th to mid-20th century, about 2.5 million people 

immigrated to the United States from the five Nordic nations of 

Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. They settled primarily in the Midwest, and many eventually traveled on to the 

West Coast. Many emigrants fled crop failures, famine, unemployment, political instability, and persecution to find new homes and 

livelihoods in the United States. Today, about 185 million Nordic 

Americans live in the United States. 

The Nordic Museum in Seattle, Washington (Museum) is the 

only museum in the United States dedicated to the history, culture 

and art of all five Nordic nations. The Museum highlights NordicAmerican contributions in the United States and collects, preserves, and educates about Nordic culture, history, art, traditions, 

and spirit. The Museum serves as a cultural anchor and valuable 

resource for Seattle and the nation by expanding knowledge related 

to Nordic heritage and the impact Nordic heritage has had 

throughout the United States. 

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Originally established in 1980 as the Nordic Heritage Museum 

and now occupying a new facility, the Museum has been a mainstay of Ballard — a Seattle neighborhood built by Nordic immigrants — since its inception. The Museum’s new 57,000 square-foot 

facility was opened on May 5, 2018, with contributions from the 

State of Washington; King County, Washington; the Nordic Council, which is composed of representatives from the national parliaments of Nordic countries; the national museums of Denmark, 

Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; the City of Seattle; and 

many private individuals and foundations. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

On May 16, 2018, Senator Cantwell introduced S. 2857, the National Nordic Museum Act. 

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources met in open 

business session on May 17, 2018, and ordered S. 2857 favorably 

reported. 

On June 6, 2018, the Senate passed S. 2857 by voice vote. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in 

open business session on May 17, 2018, by a majority voice vote of 

a quorum present recommends that the Senate pass S. 2857. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title 

Section 1 contains the short title. 

Section 2. Findings 

Section 2 contains Congressional findings. 

Section 3. Designation of National Nordic Museum 

Section 3 designates the Nordic Museum located in Seattle, 

Washington, as the ‘‘National Nordic Museum’’ and specifies that 

the Museum is not a unit of the National Park System. This section further clarifies that the designation shall not require Federal 

funds to be expended for any purpose related to the museum. 

COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

The following estimate of the costs of this measure has been provided by the Congressional Budget Office: 

The act would designate the Nordic Museum in Seattle, Washington, as the National Nordic Museum and would require that federal funds not be expended for that designation. CBO estimates 

that enacting S. 2857 would have no significant effect on the federal budget and would not affect direct spending or revenues; 

therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

CBO estimates that enacting S. 2857 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 

10-year periods beginning in 2029. 

S. 2857 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Janani Shankaran. 

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REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION

In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following evaluation 

of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in carrying out 

S. 2857. The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of imposing Government-established standards or significant economic responsibilities on private individuals and businesses. 

No personal information would be collected in administering the 

program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal privacy. 

Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the enactment of S. 2857, as ordered reported. 

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

S. 2857, as ordered reported, does not contain any congressionally directed spending items, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 

benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate. 

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

The Committee did not request Executive Agency views regarding S. 2857. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no changes in existing law are made by the bill as ordered reported. 

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