II 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 253 

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

of World War I, and to designate memorials to the service of men 

and women of the United States in World War I. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 1, 2011 

Mr. ROCKEFELLER (for himself, Mr. WEBB, Mrs. MCCASKILL, Mr. THUNE, 

and Mr. BLUNT) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 

referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance 

of the centennial of World War I, and to designate 

memorials to the service of men and women of the 

United States in World War I. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 

4 Congress makes the following findings: 

5 (1) From 2014 through 2018, the United 

6 States and nations around the world will mark the 

7 centennial of World War I, including the entry of 

8 the United States into the war in April 1917. 


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

2 Belgium, and its other allies in World War I marked 

3 the first time in this Nation’s history that American 

4 soldiers went abroad in defense of liberty against 

5 foreign aggression, and it marked the true beginning 

6 of ‘‘the American century’’. 

7 (3) Although World War I was at the time 

8 called ‘‘the war to end all wars’’, in fact the United 

9 States would commit its troops to the defense of for10 eign lands 3 more times in the 20th century. 

11 (4) More than 4,000,000 men and women from 

12 the United States served in uniform during World 

13 War I, among them 2 future presidents, Harry S. 

14 Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Two million in15 dividuals from the United States served overseas 

16 during World War I, including 200,000 naval per17 sonnel who served on the seas. The United States 

18 suffered 375,000 casualties during World War I, in19 cluding 116,516 deaths. 

20 (5) The events of 1914 through 1918 shaped 

21 the world, the United States, and the lives of mil22 lions of people in countless ways. 

23 (6) The centennial of World War I offers an op24 portunity for people in the United States to learn 


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1 about and commemorate the sacrifices of their pred2 ecessors. 

3 (7) Commemorative programs, activities, and 

4 sites allow people in the United States to learn 

5 about the history of World War I, the United States 

6 involvement in that war, and the war’s effects on the 

7 remainder of the 20th century, and to commemorate 

8 and honor the participation of the United States and 

9 its citizens in the war effort. 

10 (8) While the other great conflicts of the 20th 

11 century, World War II, the Korean War, and the 

12 Vietnam War, have national memorials on the Mall 

13 in Washington, DC, there currently exists no nation14 ally recognized memorial honoring the service of the 

15 United States and its citizens in World War I. 

16 (9) In 1921, the people of Kansas City, Mis17 souri dedicated a site in that city for a memorial to 

18 the service of Americans in World War I, a cere19 mony attended by General John J. Pershing and 

20 military leaders of Great Britain, France, Belgium, 

21 and Italy. In 1924, the cornerstone of the 217-foot 

22 Liberty Memorial Tower was laid. On Armistice Day 

23 1926, President Calvin Coolidge delivered the key24 note address at the Memorial’s dedication ceremony. 

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1 pleted in 1938, with an inscription that reads ‘‘In 

2 Honor of Those Who Served in the World War in 

3 Defense of Liberty and Our Country.’’. 

4 (10) The 106th Congress recognized the Lib5 erty Memorial as a national symbol of World War I. 

6 (11) The 108th Congress designated the mu7 seum at the base of the Liberty Memorial as ‘‘Amer8 ica’s National World War I Museum’’. The museum 

9 preserves the history of World War I, and educates 

10 and enlightens people about this significant event. 

11 (12) The District of Columbia War Memorial 

12 was authorized in 1924 by resolution of the 68th 

13 Congress, and was dedicated on Armistice Day 1931 

14 by President Herbert Hoover. The DC War Memo15 rial, erected in memory of the 499 residents of the 

16 District of Columbia who died in World War I, is 

17 often overlooked by residents and visitors to Wash18 ington. 

19 (13) The DC War Memorial is located on the 

20 national Mall in Washington, adjacent to the World 

21 War II, Korean War, and Vietnam memorials. Of 

22 these memorials, which now compose a quartet of 

23 memorials to the 4 great wars of the American Cen24 tury, only the DC War Memorial is not a national 

25 memorial. 


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1 SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 

2 The purpose of this Act is to— 

3 (1) establish a commission, in Kansas City, 

4 Missouri, to ensure a suitable national observance of 

5 the centennial of World War I; and 

6 (2) rededicate the Liberty Memorial of Kansas 

7 City and the District of Columbia War Memorial, re8 spectively, as the ‘‘National World War I Museum 

9 and Memorial’’ and the ‘‘District of Columbia and 

10 National World War I Memorial’’. 

11 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

12 In this Act: 

13 (1) AMERICA’S NATIONAL WORLD WAR I MU14 SEUM.—The term ‘‘America’s National World War I 

15 Museum’’ means the Liberty Memorial Museum in 

16 Kansas City, Missouri, as recognized by Congress in 

17 section 1031(b) of the Ronald W. Reagan National 

18 Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 

19 (Public Law 108–375; 118 Stat. 2045). 

20 (2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 

21 means the World War I Centennial Commission es22 tablished by section 4(a). 

23 (3) VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION.—The 

24 term ‘‘veterans service organization’’ means any or25 ganization recognized by the Secretary of Veterans 


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1 Affairs for the representation of veterans under sec2 tion 5902 of title 38, United States Code. 

3 SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 

4 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com5 mission to be known as the ‘‘World War I Centennial 

6 Commission’’. 

7 (b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

8 (1) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be 

9 composed of 24 members as follows: 

10 (A) Four members who shall be appointed 

11 by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

12 (B) Three members who shall be appointed 

13 by the minority leader of the House of Rep14 resentatives. 

15 (C) Four members who shall be appointed 

16 by the majority leader of the Senate. 

17 (D) Three members who shall be appointed 

18 by the minority leader of the Senate. 

19 (E) Seven members who shall be appointed 

20 by the President from among persons who are 

21 broadly representative of the people of the 

22 United States (including members of the Armed 

23 Forces, veterans, and representatives of vet24 erans service organizations). 


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1 (F) One member who shall be appointed by 

2 the executive director of the Veterans of For3 eign Wars of the United States. 

4 (G) One member who shall be appointed by 

5 the executive director of the American Legion. 

6 (H) One member who shall be appointed 

7 by the president of the Liberty Memorial Asso8 ciation. 

9 (2) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.—Each member 

10 shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. 

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

12 shall be filled in the manner in which the original 

13 appointment was made. 

14 (4) INITIAL MEETING.— 

15 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days 

16 after the date on which all members of the 

17 Commission have been appointed, the Commis18 sion shall hold its first meeting. 

19 (B) LOCATION.—The location for the 

20 meeting held under subparagraph (A) shall be 

21 the America’s National World War I Museum. 

22 (5) MEETINGS.— 

23 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 

24 meet at the call of the Chair. 


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1 (B) FREQUENCY.—The Chair shall call a 

2 meeting of the members of the Commission not 

3 less frequently than once each year. 

4 (C) LOCATION.—Not less frequently than 

5 once each year, the Commission shall meet at 

6 the America’s National World War I Museum. 

7 (6) QUORUM.—Thirteen members of the Com8 mission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num9 ber may hold hearings. 

10 (7) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.—The Commission 

11 shall select a Chair and Vice Chair from among its 

12 members. 

13 SEC. 5. DUTIES. 

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

15 as follows: 

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

17 projects, and activities to commemorate the centen18 nial of World War I. 

19 (2) To encourage private organizations and 

20 State and local governments to organize and partici21 pate in activities commemorating the centennial of 

22 World War I. 

23 (3) To facilitate and coordinate activities 

24 throughout the United States relating to the centen25 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 (5) To develop recommendations for Congress 

5 and the President for commemorating the centennial 

6 of World War I. 

7 (b) REPORTS.— 

8 (1) PERIODIC REPORT.—Beginning not later 

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

10 on the date described in section 10 and the last day 

11 of each 3-month period thereafter, the Commission 

12 shall submit to Congress and the President a report 

13 on the activities and plans of the Commission. 

14 (2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 2 

15 years after the date described in section 10, the 

16 Commission shall submit to Congress and the Presi17 dent a report containing specific recommendations 

18 for commemorating the centennial of World War I 

19 and coordinating related activities. 

20 SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 

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

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

23 testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission 

24 considers appropriate to carry out the purposes of this 

25 Act. 


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1 (b) POWERS OF MEMBER AND AGENTS.—If author2 ized by the Commission, any member or agent of the Com3 mission may take any action which the Commission is au4 thorized to take under this Act. 

5 (c) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The 

6 Commission shall secure directly from any Federal depart7 ment or agency such information as the Commission con8 siders necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 

9 Upon the request of the Chair of the Commission, the 

10 head of such department or agency shall furnish such in11 formation to the Commission. 

12 (d) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon 

13 the request of the Commission, the Administrator of the 

14 General Services Administration shall provide to the Com15 mission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative sup16 port services necessary for the Commission to carry out 

17 its responsibilities under this Act. 

18 (e) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para20 graph (2), the Commission is authorized— 

21 (A) to procure supplies, services, and prop22 erty; and 

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

24 or other legal agreements. 


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1 (2) LIMITATION.—The Commission may not 

2 enter into any contract, lease, or other legal agree3 ment that extends beyond the date of the termi4 nation of the Commission under section 8(a). 

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

6 the United States mails in the same manner and under 

7 the same conditions as other departments and agencies of 

8 the Federal Government. 

9 (g) GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND DEVISES.— 

10 (1) ACCEPTANCE BY COMMISSION.—The Com11 mission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts, be12 quests, or devises of services or property, both real 

13 and personal, for the purpose of aiding or facili14 tating the work of the Commission. 

15 (2) DEPOSIT AND AVAILABILITY.—Gifts, be16 quests, or devises of money and proceeds from sales 

17 of other property received as gifts, bequests, or de18 vises shall de deposited in the Treasury of the 

19 United States and shall be available for disburse20 ment upon order of the Commission. 

21 SEC. 7. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 

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

23 Commission shall serve without compensation for such 

24 service. 


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1 (b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the Com2 mission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per 

3 diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with the applica4 ble provisions of title 5, United States Code. 

5 (c) STAFF.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Chair of the Commis7 sion shall, in consultation with the members of the 

8 Commission, appoint an executive director and such 

9 other additional personnel as may be necessary to 

10 enable the Commission to perform its duties. 

11 (2) COMPENSATION.— 

12 (A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subpara13 graph (B), the Chair of the Commission may 

14 fix the compensation of the executive director 

15 and any other personnel appointed under para16 graph (1). 

17 (B) LIMITATION.—The Chair of the Com18 mission may not fix the compensation of the ex19 ecutive director or other personnel appointed 

20 under paragraph (1) at a rate that exceeds the 

21 rate of payable for level IV of the Executive 

22 Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United 

23 States Code. 

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1 erty Memorial Association make space available 

2 in the building in which the America’s National 

3 World War I Museum is located, the executive 

4 director of the Commission and other personnel 

5 appointed under paragraph (1) shall work in 

6 such building to the extent practical. 

7 (d) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Upon 

8 request of the Commission, the head of any Federal de9 partment or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, 

10 any employee of that department or agency to the Com11 mission to assist it in carrying out its duties under this 

12 Act. 

13 (e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT14 TENT SERVICES.—The Chair of the Commission may pro15 cure temporary and intermittent services under section 

16 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code. 

17 SEC. 8. TERMINATION OF THE COMMISSION. 

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

19 on the earlier of— 

20 (1) the date that is 30 days after the date of 

21 the completion of the activities under this Act hon22 oring the centennial observation of World War I; or 

23 (2) July 28, 2019. 

24 (b) APPLICATION OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COM25 MITTEE ACT.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para2 graph (2), the provisions of the Federal Advisory 

3 Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the 

4 activities of the Commission under this Act. 

5 (2) EXCEPTION.—Section 14(a)(2) of such Act 

6 shall not apply to the Commission. 

7 SEC. 9. DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL WORLD WAR I MEMO8 RIALS. 

9 (a) DESIGNATION OF THE NATIONAL WORLD WAR

10 I MUSEUM AND MEMORIAL, MISSOURI.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Liberty Memorial of 

12 Kansas City at the America’s National World War 

13 I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, is designated as 

14 the ‘‘National World War I Museum and Memorial’’. 

15 (2) CEREMONIES.—The Commission may plan, 

16 develop, and execute ceremonies to rededicate the 

17 Liberty Memorial of Kansas City as the National 

18 World War I Museum and Memorial. 

19 (b) DESIGNATION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

20 AND NATIONAL WORLD WAR I MEMORIAL.— 

21 (1) DESIGNATION.—The District of Columbia 

22 War Memorial in Washington, DC, is designated as 

23 the ‘‘District of Columbia and National World War 

24 I Memorial’’. 


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1 (2) CEREMONIES.—The Commission may plan, 

2 develop, and execute ceremonies to rededicate the 

3 District of Columbia War Memorial as the District 

4 of Columbia and National World War I Memorial. 

5 (3) AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH COMMEMORA6 TIVE WORK.— 

7 (A) IN GENERAL.—The World War I Me8 morial Foundation may establish a commemora9 tive work at the site of the District of Columbia 

10 and National World War I Memorial consisting 

11 of an appropriate sculptural or other commemo12 rative element reflecting the national character 

13 of the memorial. 

14 (B) REQUIREMENTS.—Any commemorative 

15 work established under subparagraph (A) shall 

16 complement and preserve the memorial (includ17 ing the landscape of the memorial), as in exist18 ence on the date of enactment of this Act. 

19 (4) COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS FOR COM20 MEMORATIVE WORKS; LOCATION OF MEMORIAL.— 

21 (A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subpara22 graph (B), the rededication of the District of 

23 Columbia and National World War I Memorial 

24 shall be in accordance with chapter 89 of title 

25 40, United States Code. 


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1 (B) CONGRESSIONAL FINDING.—Congress 

2 finds that because this Act authorizes the re3 dedication and related enhancement of a com4 memorative work that, as of the date of enact5 ment of this Act, is in existence and is sited 

6 within the Reserve (as defined in section 

7 8902(a)(3) of title 40, United States Code), the 

8 provisions regarding site approval and location 

9 of commemorative works under sections 8905 

10 and 8908(c) of title 40, United States Code, do 

11 not apply to this Act. 

12 (5) DEPOSIT OF EXCESS FUNDS.—The World 

13 War I Memorial Foundation shall transmit to the 

14 Secretary of the Treasury for deposit in the account 

15 provided for in section 8906(b)(3) of title 40, United 

16 States Code— 

17 (A) any funds that remain after payment 

18 of all expenses incurred in the rededication of 

19 the memorial (including payment of the amount 

20 for maintenance and preservation required 

21 under section 8906(b) of that title); or 

22 (B) any funds that remain for the com23 memorative work authorized under subsection 

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1 memorative work under section 8903(e) of that 

2 title. 

3 SEC. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

4 This Act takes effect on the date that is 90 days after 

5 the date of enactment of this Act. 

Æ 


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