103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 2135

AN ACT

To provide for a National Native American Veterans’

Memorial.

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 ‘‘Native American

5 Veterans’ Memorial Establishment Act of 1994’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

7 The Congress finds the following:

8 (1) Native Americans across the Nation—Indi9 ans, Native Alaskans, and Native Hawaiians—have

10 a long, proud and distinguished tradition of service

11 in the Armed Forces of the United States.
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1 (2) Native Americans have historically served in

2 the Armed Forces of the United States in numbers

3 which far exceed their representation in the popu4 lation of the United States.

5 (3) Native American veterans count among

6 themselves a number of Medal of Honor recipients.

7 Their numbers are also conspicuous in the ranks of

8 those who have received other decorations for valor

9 and distinguished service.

10 (4) Native Americans have lost their lives in the

11 service of their Nation and in the cause of peace.

12 (5) The National Museum of the American In13 dian was established as a living memorial to Native

14 Americans. Its mission is to advance knowledge and

15 understanding of Native American cultures, includ16 ing art, history, language, and the contributions Na17 tive Americans have made to our society.

18 (6) The National Museum of the American In19 dian is an extraordinary site and an ideal location to

20 establish a National Native American Veterans’ Me21 morial.

22 (7) A National Native American Veterans’ Me23 morial would further the purposes of the National

24 Museum of the American Indian by giving all Ameri25 cans the opportunity to learn of the proud and cou-
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1 rageous tradition of service of Native Americans in

2 the Armed Forces of the United States.

3 SEC. 3. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH MEMORIAL.

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—The National Museum of the

5 American Indian (established by the National Museum of

6 the American Indian Act (20 U.S.C. 80q et seq.)), in close

7 consultation with the National Congress of American Indi8 ans and other Native American groups, is authorized to

9 construct and maintain a National Native American Vet10 erans’ Memorial (hereafter in this Act referred to as the

11 ‘‘memorial’’).

12 (b) LOCATION.—The memorial shall be located at a

13 site determined to be suitable by the Museum within the

14 interior structure of the facility provided for by section

15 7(a) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 80q–5(a)) (relating to housing

16 the portion of the Museum to be located in the District

17 of Columbia).

18 (c) DESIGN AND PLANS.—(1) The National Congress

19 of American Indians, in consultation with the Museum,

20 is authorized to hold a competition to select the design

21 of the Memorial. Any design so selected shall be compat22 ible with both the purpose of the Museum, as set forth

23 in section 3(b) of the National Museum of the American

24 Indian Act (20 U.S.C. 80q–1), and with any existing de-
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1 sign plans for the Museum’s structure and its surround2 ings.

3 (2) Any design so selected shall be subject to the ap4 proval of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institu5 tion.

6 SEC. 4. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES AND USE OF NAME.

7 (a) RESPONSIBILITY OF NATIONAL CONGRESS OF

8 AMERICAN INDIANS.—The National Congress of Amer9 ican Indians shall be solely responsible for acceptance of

10 contributions for, and payment of the expenses of, the es11 tablishment of the memorial. No Federal funds may be

12 used to pay any expense of the establishment of the memo13 rial.

14 (b) USE OF NAME.—Use of the name of the Smithso15 nian Institution or the National Museum of the American

16 Indian in any material regarding the memorial produced

17 by the National Congress of American Indians, other than

18 in a manner simply describing the location of the memo19 rial, shall be subject to consultation with, and the approval

20 of, the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

Passed the House of Representatives October 5,

1994.

Attest:

Clerk.

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 2135

AN ACT

To provide for a Native American Veterans’

Memorial.