I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4132 

To establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National 

Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 30, 2019 

Ms. MENG (for herself, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, Mr. COX of California, 

Mr. ROUDA, Ms. LEE of California, Ms. HAALAND, Mr. TED LIEU of 

California, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mr. CISNEROS, Mr. CASE, and Ms. 

VELA ́ZQUEZ) 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 establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation 

of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History 

and Culture, 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, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

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

5 the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pa6 cific American History and Culture Act’’. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
2 

•HR 4132 IH

1 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the Commis3 sion to Study the Potential Creation of a National Mu4 seum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture 

5 (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

6 (b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be com7 posed of 8 members, of whom— 

8 (1) 2 members shall be appointed by the major9 ity leader of the Senate; 

10 (2) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speak11 er of the House of Representatives; 

12 (3) 2 members shall be appointed by the minor13 ity leader of the Senate; and 

14 (4) 2 members shall be appointed by the minor15 ity leader of the House of Representatives. 

16 (c) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members of the Commission 

17 shall be appointed to the Commission from among individ18 uals, or representatives of institutions or entities, who pos19 sess— 

20 (1)(A) a demonstrated commitment to the re21 search, study, or promotion of Asian Pacific Amer22 ican history, art, political or economic status, or cul23 ture; and 

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

25 (ii) expertise in fundraising for nonprofit or cul26 tural institutions; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
3 

•HR 4132 IH

1 (iii) experience in the study and teaching of 

2 Asian Pacific American history; 

3 (iv) experience in studying the issue of the rep4 resentation of Asian Pacific Americans in art, life, 

5 history, and culture at the Smithsonian Institution; 

6 or 

7 (v) extensive experience in public or elected 

8 service; 

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

10 planning for, the establishment of, museums; or 

11 (3) experience in the planning, design, or con12 struction of museum facilities. 

13 (d) DEADLINE FOR INITIAL APPOINTMENT.—The 

14 initial members of the Commission shall be appointed not 

15 later than the date that is 90 days after the date of enact16 ment of this Act. 

17 (e) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission— 

18 (1) shall not affect the powers of the Commis19 sion; and 

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

21 original appointment was made. 

22 (f) CHAIRPERSON.—The Commission shall, by major23 ity vote of all of the members, select 1 member of the 

24 Commission to serve as the Chairperson of the Commis25 sion. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
4 

•HR 4132 IH

1 SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 

2 (a) REPORTS.— 

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

4 submit to the President and Congress a report con5 taining the recommendations of the Commission 

6 with respect to a plan of action for the establishment 

7 and maintenance of a National Museum of Asian 

8 Pacific American History and Culture in Wash9 ington, DC (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 

10 ‘‘Museum’’). 

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

12 submit to the President and Congress a report that 

13 addresses the following issues: 

14 (A) The availability and cost of collections 

15 to be acquired and housed in the Museum. 

16 (B) The impact of the Museum on regional 

17 Asian Pacific American history-related muse18 ums. 

19 (C) Potential locations for the Museum in 

20 Washington, DC, and its environs. 

21 (D) Whether the Museum should be part 

22 of the Smithsonian Institution. 

23 (E) The governance and organizational 

24 structure from which the Museum should oper25 ate. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
5 

•HR 4132 IH

1 (F) Best practices for engaging Asian Pa2 cific Americans in the development and design 

3 of the Museum. 

4 (G) The cost of constructing, operating, 

5 and maintaining the Museum. 

6 (3) DEADLINE.—The reports required under 

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

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

9 the first meeting of the Commission. 

10 (b) FUNDRAISING PLAN.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall de12 velop a fundraising plan to support the establish13 ment, operation, and maintenance of the Museum 

14 through contributions from the public. 

15 (2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the fund16 raising plan under paragraph (1), the Commission 

17 shall consider issues relating to funding the oper18 ations and maintenance of the Museum in perpetuity 

19 without reliance on appropriations of Federal funds. 

20 (3) INDEPENDENT REVIEW.—The Commission 

21 shall obtain an independent review of the viability of 

22 the plan developed under paragraph (1) and such re23 view shall include an analysis as to whether the plan 

24 is likely to achieve the level of resources necessary 

25 to fund the construction of the Museum and the opVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:40 Aug 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4132.IH H4132

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
6 

•HR 4132 IH

1 erations and maintenance of the Museum in per2 petuity without reliance on appropriations of Federal 

3 funds. 

4 (4) SUBMISSION.—The Commission shall sub5 mit the plan developed under paragraph (1) and the 

6 review conducted under paragraph (3) to the Com7 mittees on Transportation and Infrastructure, 

8 House Administration, Natural Resources, and Ap9 propriations of the House of Representatives and the 

10 Committees on Rules and Administration, Energy 

11 and Natural Resources, and Appropriations of the 

12 Senate. 

13 (c) LEGISLATION TO CARRY OUT PLAN OF AC14 TION.—Based on the recommendations contained in the 

15 report submitted under paragraphs (1) and (2) of sub16 section (a), the Commission shall submit for consideration 

17 to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, 

18 House Administration, Natural Resources, and Appropria19 tions of the House of Representatives and the Committees 

20 on Rules and Administration, Energy and Natural Re21 sources, and Appropriations of the Senate recommenda22 tions for a legislative plan of action to establish and con23 struct the Museum. 

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

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


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
7 

•HR 4132 IH

1 Commission are appointed under section 2, the Commis2 sion may, in carrying out the duties of the Commission 

3 under this section, convene a national conference relating 

4 to the Museum, to be comprised of individuals committed 

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

6 of Asian Pacific Americans. 

7 SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. 

8 (a) COMPENSATION.—Each member of the Commis9 sion who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Gov10 ernment may receive compensation for each day on which 

11 the member is engaged in the work of the Commission, 

12 at a daily rate to be determined by the Secretary of the 

13 Interior. 

14 (b) FACILITIES AND SUPPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF

15 THE INTERIOR.—The Department of the Interior shall 

16 provide from funds appropriated for this purpose adminis17 trative services, facilities, and funds necessary for the per18 formance of the Commission’s functions. These funds shall 

19 be made available prior to any meetings of the Commis20 sion. 

21 (c) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the Commis22 sion shall be allowed a per diem allowance for travel ex23 penses, at rates consistent with those authorized under 

24 subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
8 

•HR 4132 IH

1 (d) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—The 

2 Commission shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory 

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

4 SEC. 5. TERMINATION. 

5 The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 

6 30 days after the date on which the final versions of the 

7 reports required under section 3 are submitted. 

8 SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro10 priated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 

11 Act. 

12 (b) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts made available under 

13 subsection (a) shall remain available until expended, or 

14 until the termination of the Commission, whichever comes 

15 first. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS