I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3525 

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 

MAY 25, 2021 

Ms. MENG (for herself, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. TAKANO, Ms. NORTON, Mr. 

DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. LIEU, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of 

New York, Mr. CASE, Mr. CARSON, Mr. SWALWELL, Mr. LOWENTHAL, 

Ms. DELBENE, Mr. SUOZZI, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. KHANNA, Ms. JAYAPAL, 

Mr. TORRES of New York, Ms. ESHOO, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. NADLER, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, Ms. 

STRICKLAND, Mr. POCAN, Ms. CHU, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. KAHELE, 

Mr. BOWMAN, Ms. JACOBS of California, and Mr. SOTO) 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, 


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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 Museum of Asian Pa4 cific American History and Culture Act’’. 

5 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the Commis7 sion to Study the Potential Creation of a National Mu8 seum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture 

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

10 (b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be com11 posed of 8 members, of whom— 

12 (1) 2 members shall be appointed by the major13 ity leader of the Senate; 

14 (2) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speak15 er of the House of Representatives; 

16 (3) 2 members shall be appointed by the minor17 ity leader of the Senate; and 

18 (4) 2 members shall be appointed by the minor19 ity leader of the House of Representatives. 

20 (c) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members of the Commission 

21 shall be appointed to the Commission from among individ22 uals, or representatives of institutions or entities, who pos23 sess— 

24 (1)(A) a demonstrated commitment to the re25 search, study, or promotion of Asian Pacific AmerVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:12 Jul 03, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3525.IH H3525

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1 ican history, art, political or economic status, or cul2 ture; and 

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

4 (ii) expertise in fundraising for nonprofit or cul5 tural institutions; 

6 (iii) experience in the study and teaching of 

7 Asian Pacific American history; 

8 (iv) experience in studying the issue of the rep9 resentation of Asian Pacific Americans in art, life, 

10 history, and culture at the Smithsonian Institution; 

11 or 

12 (v) extensive experience in public or elected 

13 service; 

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

15 planning for, the establishment of, museums; or 

16 (3) experience in the planning, design, or con17 struction of museum facilities. 

18 (d) DEADLINE FOR INITIAL APPOINTMENT.—The 

19 initial members of the Commission shall be appointed not 

20 later than the date that is 90 days after the date of enact21 ment of this Act. 

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

23 (1) shall not affect the powers of the Commis24 sion; and 


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

2 original appointment was made. 

3 (f) CHAIRPERSON.—The Commission shall, by major4 ity vote of all of the members, select 1 member of the 

5 Commission to serve as the Chairperson of the Commis6 sion. 

7 SEC. 3. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 

8 (a) REPORTS.— 

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

10 submit to the President and Congress a report con11 taining the recommendations of the Commission 

12 with respect to a plan of action for the establishment 

13 and maintenance of a National Museum of Asian 

14 Pacific American History and Culture in Wash15 ington, DC (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 

16 ‘‘Museum’’). 

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

18 submit to the President and Congress a report that 

19 addresses the following issues: 

20 (A) The availability and cost of collections 

21 to be acquired and housed in the Museum. 

22 (B) The impact of the Museum on regional 

23 Asian Pacific American history-related muse24 ums. 


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1 (C) Potential locations for the Museum in 

2 Washington, DC, and its environs. 

3 (D) Whether the Museum should be part 

4 of the Smithsonian Institution. 

5 (E) The governance and organizational 

6 structure from which the Museum should oper7 ate. 

8 (F) Best practices for engaging Asian Pa9 cific Americans in the development and design 

10 of the Museum. 

11 (G) The cost of constructing, operating, 

12 and maintaining the Museum. 

13 (3) DEADLINE.—The reports required under 

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

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

16 the first meeting of the Commission. 

17 (b) FUNDRAISING PLAN.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall de19 velop a fundraising plan to support the establish20 ment, operation, and maintenance of the Museum 

21 through contributions from the public. 

22 (2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the fund23 raising plan under paragraph (1), the Commission 

24 shall consider issues relating to funding the operVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:39 Jun 23, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3525.IH H3525

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1 ations and maintenance of the Museum in perpetuity 

2 without reliance on appropriations of Federal funds. 

3 (3) INDEPENDENT REVIEW.—The Commission 

4 shall obtain an independent review of the viability of 

5 the plan developed under paragraph (1) and such re6 view shall include an analysis as to whether the plan 

7 is likely to achieve the level of resources necessary 

8 to fund the construction of the Museum and the op9 erations and maintenance of the Museum in per10 petuity without reliance on appropriations of Federal 

11 funds. 

12 (4) SUBMISSION.—The Commission shall sub13 mit the plan developed under paragraph (1) and the 

14 review conducted under paragraph (3) to the Com15 mittees on Transportation and Infrastructure, 

16 House Administration, Natural Resources, and Ap17 propriations of the House of Representatives and the 

18 Committees on Rules and Administration, Energy 

19 and Natural Resources, and Appropriations of the 

20 Senate. 

21 (c) LEGISLATION TO CARRY OUT PLAN OF AC22 TION.—Based on the recommendations contained in the 

23 report submitted under paragraphs (1) and (2) of sub24 section (a), the Commission shall submit for consideration 

25 to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, 


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1 House Administration, Natural Resources, and Appropria2 tions of the House of Representatives and the Committees 

3 on Rules and Administration, Energy and Natural Re4 sources, and Appropriations of the Senate recommenda5 tions for a legislative plan of action to establish and con6 struct the Museum. 

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

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

9 Commission are appointed under section 2, the Commis10 sion may, in carrying out the duties of the Commission 

11 under this section, convene a national conference relating 

12 to the Museum, to be comprised of individuals committed 

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

14 of Asian Pacific Americans. 

15 SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. 

16 (a) COMPENSATION.—Each member of the Commis17 sion who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Gov18 ernment may receive compensation for each day on which 

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

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

21 Interior. 

22 (b) FACILITIES AND SUPPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF

23 THE INTERIOR.—The Department of the Interior shall 

24 provide from funds appropriated for this purpose adminis25 trative services, facilities, and funds necessary for the perVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:39 Jun 23, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3525.IH H3525

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1 formance of the Commission’s functions. These funds shall 

2 be made available prior to any meetings of the Commis3 sion. 

4 (c) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the Commis5 sion shall be allowed a per diem allowance for travel ex6 penses, at rates consistent with those authorized under 

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

8 (d) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—The 

9 Commission shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory 

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

11 SEC. 5. TERMINATION. 

12 The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 

13 30 days after the date on which the final versions of the 

14 reports required under section 3 are submitted. 

15 SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro17 priated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 

18 Act. 

19 (b) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts made available under 

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

21 until the termination of the Commission, whichever comes 

22 first. 

Æ 


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