II 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 863 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 8, 2014 

Received 

AN ACT 

To establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation 

of a National Women’s History Museum, 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, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Commission to Study 

3 the Potential Creation of a National Women’s History 

4 Museum Act’’. 

5 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

6 In this Act: 

7 (1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 

8 means the Commission to Study the Potential Cre9 ation of a National Women’s History Museum estab10 lished by section 3(a). 

11 (2) MUSEUM.—The term ‘‘Museum’’ means the 

12 National Women’s History Museum. 

13 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the Commis15 sion to Study the Potential Creation of a National Wom16 en’s History Museum. 

17 (b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be com18 posed of 8 members, of whom— 

19 (1) 2 members shall be appointed by the major20 ity leader of the Senate; 

21 (2) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speak22 er of the House of Representatives; 

23 (3) 2 members shall be appointed by the minor24 ity leader of the Senate; and 

25 (4) 2 members shall be appointed by the minor26 ity leader of the House of Representatives. 


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1 (c) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members of the Commission 

2 shall be appointed to the Commission from among individ3 uals, or representatives of institutions or entities, who pos4 sess— 

5 (1)(A) a demonstrated commitment to the re6 search, study, or promotion of women’s history, art, 

7 political or economic status, or culture; and 

8 (B)(i) expertise in museum administration; 

9 (ii) expertise in fundraising for nonprofit or cul10 tural institutions; 

11 (iii) experience in the study and teaching of 

12 women’s history; 

13 (iv) experience in studying the issue of the rep14 resentation of women in art, life, history, and cul15 ture at the Smithsonian Institution; or 

16 (v) extensive experience in public or elected 

17 service; 

18 (2) experience in the administration of, or the 

19 planning for, the establishment of, museums; or 

20 (3) experience in the planning, design, or con21 struction of museum facilities. 

22 (d) PROHIBITION.—No employee of the Federal Gov23 ernment may serve as a member of the Commission. 

24 (e) DEADLINE FOR INITIAL APPOINTMENT.—The 

25 initial members of the Commission shall be appointed not 


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1 later than the date that is 90 days after the date of enact2 ment of this Act. 

3 (f) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission–– 

4 (1) shall not affect the powers of the Commis5 sion; and 

6 (2) shall be filled in the same manner as the 

7 original appointment was made. 

8 (g) CHAIRPERSON.—The Commission shall, by ma9 jority vote of all of the members, select 1 member of the 

10 Commission to serve as the Chairperson of the Commis11 sion. 

12 SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 

13 (a) REPORTS.— 

14 (1) PLAN OF ACTION.—The Commission shall 

15 submit to the President and Congress a report con16 taining the recommendations of the Commission 

17 with respect to a plan of action for the establishment 

18 and maintenance of a National Women’s History 

19 Museum in Washington, DC. 

20 (2) REPORT ON ISSUES.—The Commission shall 

21 submit to the President and Congress a report that 

22 addresses the following issues: 

23 (A) The availability and cost of collections 

24 to be acquired and housed in the Museum. 


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1 (B) The impact of the Museum on regional 

2 women history-related museums. 

3 (C) Potential locations for the Museum in 

4 Washington, DC, and its environs. 

5 (D) Whether the Museum should be part 

6 of the Smithsonian Institution. 

7 (E) The governance and organizational 

8 structure from which the Museum should oper9 ate. 

10 (F) Best practices for engaging women in 

11 the development and design of the Museum. 

12 (G) The cost of constructing, operating, 

13 and maintaining the Museum. 

14 (3) DEADLINE.—The reports required under 

15 paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be submitted not later 

16 than the date that is 18 months after the date of 

17 the first meeting of the Commission. 

18 (b) FUNDRAISING PLAN.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall de20 velop a fundraising plan to support the establish21 ment, operation, and maintenance of the Museum 

22 through contributions from the public. 

23 (2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the fund24 raising plan under paragraph (1), the Commission 

25 shall consider— 


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1 (A) the role of the National Women’s His2 tory Museum (a nonprofit, educational organi3 zation described in section 501(c)(3) of the In4 ternal Revenue Code of 1986 that was incor5 porated in 1996 in Washington, DC, and dedi6 cated for the purpose of establishing a women’s 

7 history museum) in raising funds for the con8 struction of the Museum; and 

9 (B) issues relating to funding the oper10 ations and maintenance of the Museum in per11 petuity without reliance on appropriations of 

12 Federal funds. 

13 (3) INDEPENDENT REVIEW.—The Commission 

14 shall obtain an independent review of the viability of 

15 the plan developed under paragraph (1) and such re16 view shall include an analysis as to whether the plan 

17 is likely to achieve the level of resources necessary 

18 to fund the construction of the Museum and the op19 erations and maintenance of the Museum in per20 petuity without reliance on appropriations of Federal 

21 funds. 

22 (4) SUBMISSION.—The Commission shall sub23 mit the plan developed under paragraph (1) and the 

24 review conducted under paragraph (3) to the Com25 mittees on Transportation and Infrastructure, 


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1 House Administration, Natural Resources, and Ap2 propriations of the House of Representatives and the 

3 Committees on Rules and Administration, Energy 

4 and Natural Resources, and Appropriations of the 

5 Senate. 

6 (c) LEGISLATION TO CARRY OUT PLAN OF AC7 TION.—Based on the recommendations contained in the 

8 report submitted under paragraphs (1) and (2) of sub9 section (a), the Commission shall submit for consideration 

10 to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, 

11 House Administration, Natural Resources, and Appropria12 tions of the House of Representatives and the Committees 

13 on Rules and Administration, Energy and Natural Re14 sources, and Appropriations of the Senate recommenda15 tions for a legislative plan of action to establish and con16 struct the Museum. 

17 (d) NATIONAL CONFERENCE.—Not later than 18 

18 months after the date on which the initial members of the 

19 Commission are appointed under section 3, the Commis20 sion may, in carrying out the duties of the Commission 

21 under this section, convene a national conference relating 

22 to the Museum, to be comprised of individuals committed 

23 to the advancement of the life, art, history, and culture 

24 of women. 


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1 SEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION. 

2 (a) DIRECTOR AND STAFF.— 

3 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may em4 ploy and compensate an executive director and any 

5 other additional personnel that are necessary to en6 able the Commission to perform the duties of the 

7 Commission. 

8 (2) RATES OF PAY.—Rates of pay for persons 

9 employed under paragraph (1) shall be consistent 

10 with the rates of pay allowed for employees of a tem11 porary organization under section 3161 of title 5, 

12 United States Code. 

13 (b) NOT FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT.—Any individual 

14 employed under this Act shall not be considered a Federal 

15 employee for the purpose of any law governing Federal 

16 employment. 

17 (c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), on 

19 request of the Commission, the head of a Federal 

20 agency may provide technical assistance to the Com21 mission. 

22 (2) PROHIBITION.—No Federal employees may 

23 be detailed to the Commission. 

24 SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. 

25 (a) COMPENSATION.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—A member of the Commis2 sion— 

3 (A) shall not be considered to be a Federal 

4 employee for any purpose by reason of service 

5 on the Commission; and 

6 (B) shall serve without pay. 

7 (2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the 

8 Commission shall be allowed a per diem allowance 

9 for travel expenses, at rates consistent with those 

10 authorized under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 

11 5, United States Code. 

12 (b) GIFTS, BEQUESTS, DEVISES.—The Commission 

13 may solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or 

14 devises of money, services, or real or personal property for 

15 the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Com16 mission. 

17 (c) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—The 

18 Commission shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory 

19 Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). 

20 SEC. 7. TERMINATION. 

21 The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 

22 30 days after the date on which the final versions of the 

23 reports required under section 4(a) are submitted. 


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1 SEC. 8. FUNDING. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be solely 

3 responsible for acceptance of contributions for, and pay4 ment of the expenses of, the Commission. 

5 (b) PROHIBITION.—No Federal funds may be obli6 gated to carry out this Act. 

Passed the House of Representatives May 7, 2014. 

Attest: KAREN L. HAAS, 

Clerk. 


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