IIB
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4115
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
SEPTEMBER 8, 2000
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources
AN ACT
To authorize appropriations for the United States Holocaust
Memorial Museum, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. AMENDMENT.
Chapter 23 of title 36, United States Code, is amend-
ed to read as follows:
‘‘CHAPTER 23—UNITED STATES
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM
‘‘Sec. 2301. Establishment of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum;
functions.
‘‘Sec. 2302. Functions of the Council; membership.
‘‘Sec. 2303. Compensation; travel expenses; full-time officers or employees of
United States or Members of Congress.
‘‘Sec. 2304. Administrative provisions.
‘‘Sec. 2305. Staff.
‘‘Sec. 2306. Insurance for museum.
‘‘Sec. 2307. Gifts, bequests, and devises of property; tax treatment.
‘‘Sec. 2308. Annual report.
‘‘Sec. 2309. Audit of financial transactions.
‘‘Sec. 2310. Authorization of appropriations.
‘‘SEC. 2301. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNITED STATES HOL-
OCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM; FUNCTIONS.
‘‘The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
(hereafter in this chapter referred to as the ‘Museum’) is
an independent establishment of the United State Govern-
ment. The Museum shall—
‘‘(1) provide for appropriate ways for the Na-
tion to commemorate the Days of Remembrance, as
an annual, national, civic commemoration of the
Holocaust, and encourage and sponsor appropriate
observances of such Days of Remembrance through-
out the United States;
‘‘(2) operate and maintain a permanent living
memorial museum to the victims of the Holocaust,
in cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior and
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other Federal agencies as provided in section 2306
of this title; and
‘‘(3) carry out the recommendations of the
President’s Commission on the Holocaust in its re-
port to the President of September 27, 1979, to the
extent such recommendations are not otherwise pro-
vided for in this chapter.
‘‘SEC. 2302. FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL; MEMBERSHIP.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The United States Holocaust
Memorial Council (hereafter in this chapter referred to as
the ‘Council’) shall be the board of trustees of the Museum
and shall have overall governance responsibility for the
Museum, including policy guidance and strategic direction,
general oversight of Museum operations, and fiduciary re-
sponsibility. The Council shall establish an Executive
Committee which shall exercise ongoing governance re-
sponsibility when the Council is not in session.
‘‘(b) COMPOSITION OF COUNCIL; APPOINTMENT; VA-
CANCIES.—The Council shall consist of 65 voting members
appointed (except as otherwise provided in this section)
by the President and the following ex officio nonvoting
members:
‘‘(1) One appointed by the Secretary of the In-
terior.
‘‘(2) One appointed by the Secretary of State.
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‘‘(3) One appointed by the Secretary of Edu-
cation.
Of the 65 voting members, five shall be appointed by the
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
from among Members of the United States House of Rep-
resentatives and five shall be appointed by the President
pro tempore of the United States Senate upon the rec-
ommendation of the majority and minority leaders from
among Members of the United States Senate. Any vacancy
in the Council shall be filled in the same manner as the
original appointment was made.
‘‘(c) TERM OF OFFICE.—
‘‘(1) Except as otherwise provided in this sub-
section, Council members shall serve for 5-year
terms.
‘‘(2) The terms of the five Members of the
United States House of Representatives and the five
Members of the United States Senate appointed dur-
ing any term of Congress shall expire at the end of
such term of Congress.
‘‘(3) Any member appointed to fill a vacancy
occurring before the expiration of the term for which
his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed
only for the remainder of such term. A member,
other than a Member of Congress appointed by the
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Speaker of the United States House of Representa-
tives or the President pro tempore of the United
States Senate, may serve after the expiration of his
term until his successor has taken office.
‘‘(d) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON; TERM
OF OFFICE.—The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of
the Council shall be appointed by the President from
among the members of the Council and such Chairperson
and Vice Chairperson shall each serve for terms of 5 years.
‘‘(e) REAPPOINTMENT.—Members whose terms ex-
pire may be reappointed, and the Chairperson and Vice
Chairperson may be reappointed to those offices.
‘‘(f) BYLAWS.—The Council shall adopt bylaws to
carry out its functions under this chapter. The Chair-
person may waive a bylaw when the Chairperson decides
that waiver is in the best interest of the Council. Imme-
diately after waiving a bylaw, the Chairperson shall send
written notice of the waiver to every voting member of the
Council. The waiver becomes final 30 days after the notice
is sent unless a majority of Council members disagree in
writing before the end of the 30-day period.
‘‘(g) QUORUM.—One-third of the members of the
Council shall constitute a quorum, and any vacancy in the
Council shall not affect its powers to function.
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‘‘(h) ASSOCIATED COMMITTEES.—Subject to appoint-
ment by the Chairperson, an individual who is not a mem-
ber of the Council may be designated as a member of a
committee associated with the Council. Such an individual
shall serve without cost to the Federal Government.
‘‘SEC. 2303. COMPENSATION; TRAVEL EXPENSES; FULL-
TIME OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES OF UNITED
STATES OR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection
(b) of this section, members of the Council are each au-
thorized to be paid the daily equivalent of the annual rate
of basic pay in effect for positions at level IV of the Execu-
tive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, for each day
(including travel time) during which they are engaged in
the actual performance of duties of the Council. While
away from their homes or regular places of business in
the performance of services for the Council, members of
the Council shall be allowed travel expenses, including per
diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons
employed intermittently in Government service are allowed
expenses under section 5703 of title 5.
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION.—Members of the Council who are
full-time officers or employees of the United States or
Members of Congress shall receive no additional pay by
reason of their service on the Council.
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‘‘SEC. 2304. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
‘‘(a) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Museum
may obtain the services of experts and consultants in ac-
cordance with the provisions of section 3109 of title 5,
at rates not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual
rate of basic pay in effect for positions at level IV of the
Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5.
‘‘(b) AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT.—The Museum may,
in accordance with applicable law, enter into contracts and
other arrangements with public agencies and with private
organizations and persons and may make such payments
as may be necessary to carry out its functions under this
chapter.
‘‘(c) ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER FEDERAL DEPART-
MENTS AND AGENCIES.—The Secretary of the Smithso-
nian Institution, the Library of Congress, and the heads
of all executive branch departments, agencies, and estab-
lishments of the United States may assist the Museum
in the performance of its functions under this chapter.
‘‘(d) ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND SUPPORT.—
The Secretary of the Interior may provide administrative
services and support to the Museum on a reimbursable
basis.
‘‘SEC. 2305. STAFF.
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MUSEUM DIRECTOR
AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.—There shall be a direc-
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tor of the Museum (hereafter in this chapter referred to
as the ‘Director’) who shall serve as chief executive officer
of the Museum and exercise day-to-day authority for the
Museum. The Director shall be appointed by the Chair-
person of the Council, subject to confirmation of the Coun-
cil. The Director may be paid with nonappropriated funds,
and, if paid with appropriated funds shall be paid the rate
of basic pay for positions at level IV of the Executive
Schedule under section 5315 of title 5. The Director shall
report to the Council and its Executive Committee
through the Chairperson. The Director shall serve at the
pleasure of the Council.
‘‘(b) APPOINTMENT OF EMPLOYEES.—The Director
shall have authority to—
‘‘(1) appoint employees in the competitive serv-
ice subject to the provisions of chapter 51 and sub-
chapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, relating to clas-
sification and general schedule pay rates;
‘‘(2) appoint and fix the compensation (at a
rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay in effect for
positions at level IV of the Executive Schedule under
section 5315 of title 5) of up to three employees not-
withstanding any other provision of law; and
‘‘(3) implement the decisions and strategic plan
for the Museum, as approved by the Council, and
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perform such other functions as may be assigned
from time to time by the Council, the Executive
Committee of the Council, or the Chairperson of the
Council, consistent with this legislation.
‘‘SEC. 2306. INSURANCE FOR MUSEUM.
‘‘The Museum shall maintain insurance on the memo-
rial museum to cover such risks, in such amount, and con-
taining such terms and conditions as the Museum deems
necessary.
‘‘SEC. 2307. GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND DEVISES OF PROPERTY;
TAX TREATMENT.
‘‘The Museum may solicit, and the Museum may ac-
cept, hold, administer, invest, and use gifts, bequests, and
devises of property, both real and personal, and all reve-
nues received or generated by the Museum to aid or facili-
tate the operation and maintenance of the memorial mu-
seum. Property may be accepted pursuant to this section,
and the property and the proceeds thereof used as nearly
as possible in accordance with the terms of the gift, be-
quest, or devise donating such property. Funds donated
to and accepted by the Museum pursuant to this section
or otherwise received or generated by the Museum are not
to be regarded as appropriated funds and are not subject
to any requirements or restrictions applicable to appro-
priated funds. For the purposes of Federal income, estate,
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and gift taxes, property accepted under this section shall
be considered as a gift, bequest, or devise to the United
States.
‘‘SEC. 2308. ANNUAL REPORT.
‘‘The Director shall transmit to Congress an annual
report on the Director’s stewardship of the authority to
operate and maintain the memorial museum. Such report
shall include the following:
‘‘(1) An accounting of all financial transactions
involving donated funds.
‘‘(2) A description of the extent to which the
objectives of this chapter are being met.
‘‘(3) An examination of future major endeavors,
initiatives, programs, or activities that the Museum
proposes to undertake to better fulfill the objectives
of this chapter.
‘‘(4) An examination of the Federal role in the
funding of the Museum and its activities, and any
changes that may be warranted.
‘‘SEC. 2309. AUDIT OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS.
‘‘Financial transactions of the Museum, including
those involving donated funds, shall be audited by the
Comptroller General as requested by Congress, in accord-
ance with generally accepted auditing standards. In con-
ducting any audit pursuant to this section, appropriate
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representatives of the Comptroller General shall have ac-
cess to all books, accounts, financial records, reports, files
and other papers, items or property in use by the Museum,
as necessary to facilitate such audit, and such representa-
tives shall be afforded full facilities for verifying trans-
actions with the balances.
‘‘SEC. 2310. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
‘‘To carry out the purposes of this chapter, there are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be nec-
essary. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none
of the funds authorized to carry out this chapter may be
made available for construction. Authority to enter into
contracts and to make payments under this chapter, using
funds authorized to be appropriated under this chapter,
shall be effective only to the extent, and in such amounts,
as provided in advance in appropriations Acts.’’.
Passed the House of Representatives September 7,
2000.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.