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SEC. 4. COMMISSION ON THE COMMEMORATION OF THE 
CENTENNIAL OF WORLD WAR I. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com-
mission to be known as the World War I Centennial Com-
mission (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Commission is to 
ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World 
War I that promotes the values of honor, courage, patriot-
ism, and sacrifice, in keeping with the representation of 
these values through the four Guardian Spirits sculpted 
on the Liberty Memorial Monument at America’s National 
World War I Museum. 
(c) DUTIES.—The Commission shall have the fol-
lowing duties: 
(1) To plan, develop, and execute programs, 
projects, and activities to commemorate the centen-
nial of World War I. 
(2) To encourage private organizations and 
State and local governments to organize and partici-
pate in activities commemorating the centennial of 
World War I. 
(3) To facilitate and coordinate activities 
throughout the United States related to the centen-
nial of World War I. 
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(4) To serve as a clearinghouse for the collec-
tion and dissemination of information about events 
and plans for the centennial of World War I. 
(d) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Com-
mission shall be composed of 24 members as follows: 
(A) Four members appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
(B) Three members appointed by the mi-
nority leader of the House of Representatives. 
(C) Four members appointed by the Sen-
ate majority leader. 
(D) Three members appointed by the Sen-
ate minority leader. 
(E) Seven members who are broadly rep-
resentative of the people of the United States 
(including members of the armed services and 
veterans), appointed by the President. 
(F) The executive director of the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars of the United States (or the 
director’s delegate). 
(G) The executive director of the American 
Legion (or the director’s delegate). 
(H) The president of the Liberty Memorial 
Association, the nonprofit entity responsible for 
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the management of America’s National World 
War I Museum (or the president’s delegate). 
(2) EX OFFICIO MEMBERS.—The Archivist of 
the United States and the Secretary of the Smithso-
nian Institution shall serve in an ex officio capacity 
on the Commission to provide advice and informa-
tion to the Commission. 
(3) CONTINUATION
OF
MEMBERSHIP.—If a 
member of the Commission under subparagraph (F), 
(G), or (H) of paragraph (1) ceases to hold a posi-
tion named in such subparagraph, that member 
must resign from the Commission as of the date 
that the member ceases to hold that position. 
(4) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed 
for the life of the Commission. 
(5) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT.—All mem-
bers of the Commission shall be appointed not later 
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(6) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Commission 
shall— 
(A) not affect the powers of the Commis-
sion; and 
(B) be filled in the manner in which the 
original appointment was made. 
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(7) PAY.—Members shall not receive compensa-
tion for the performance of their duties on behalf of 
the Commission. 
(8) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—Each member shall 
receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, in accordance with the applicable provi-
sions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(9) QUORUM.—A majority of members of the 
Commission plus one shall constitute a quorum, but 
a lesser number may hold hearings. 
(10) CHAIRPERSON; VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The 
Commission shall elect the Chairperson and Vice 
Chairperson of the Commission by a majority vote of 
the members of the Commission. 
(11) MEETINGS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 
meet at the call of the Chairperson, except that 
the first meeting shall be held before the end of 
the 120-day period beginning on the effective 
date of this Act. 
(B) LOCATION.—The Commission shall 
hold the first meeting at America’s National 
World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, 
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and thereafter shall hold at least one meeting 
per year at such location. 
(e) DIRECTOR AND ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL OF THE 
COMMISSION; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.— 
(1) DIRECTOR AND STAFF.— 
(A) APPOINTMENT.—The Chairperson of 
the Commission shall, in consultation with the 
members of the Commission, appoint an execu-
tive director and such other additional per-
sonnel as may be necessary to enable the Com-
mission to perform its duties. 
(B) PAY.—The executive director and staff 
of the Commission may be appointed without 
regard to the provisions of title 5, United 
States Code, governing appointments in the 
competitive service, and may be paid without 
regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and sub-
chapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating 
to classification and General Schedule pay 
rates, except that the rate of pay for the execu-
tive director and other staff may not exceed the 
rate payable for level V of the Executive Sched-
ule under section 5316 of such title. 
(C) WORK LOCATION.—If the city govern-
ment for Kansas City, Missouri, and the non-
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profit organization which administers America’s 
National World War I Museum make space 
available, the executive director and any addi-
tional personnel appointed under subparagraph 
(A) shall work in the building that houses that 
museum. 
(2) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Com-
mission may procure temporary and intermittent 
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(3) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon re-
quest of the Commission, the head of any Federal 
department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable 
basis, any personnel of that department or agency to 
the Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties 
under this Act. 
(f) POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.— 
(1) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—For the pur-
pose of carrying out this Act, the Commission may 
hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take 
testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission 
considers appropriate. 
(2) POWERS
OF
MEMBERS
AND
AGENTS.—If 
authorized by the Commission, any member or agent 
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of the Commission may take any action which the 
Commission is authorized to take by this section. 
(3) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commis-
sion shall secure directly from any department or 
agency of the United States information necessary 
to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon the request 
of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of 
that department or agency shall furnish that infor-
mation to the Commission. 
(4) GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND DEVISES.— 
(A) ACCEPTANCE
BY
COMMISSION.—The 
Commission may accept, use, and dispose of 
gifts, bequests, or devises of services or prop-
erty, both real and personal, for the purpose of 
aiding or facilitating the work of the Commis-
sion. 
(B) DEPOSIT
AND
AVAILABILITY.—Gifts, 
bequests, or devises of money and proceeds 
from sales of other property received as gifts, 
bequests, or devises shall be deposited in the 
Treasury and shall be available for disburse-
ment upon order of the Commission. 
(5) MAILS.—The Commission may use the 
United States mails in the same manner and under 
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the same conditions as other departments and agen-
cies of the United States. 
(6) ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT
SERVICES.— 
Upon the request of the Commission, the Adminis-
trator of General Services shall provide to the Com-
mission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative 
support services necessary for the Commission to 
carry out its responsibilities under this Act. 
(7) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—The Commission 
is authorized to procure supplies, services, and prop-
erty and to make or enter in contracts, leases, or 
other legal agreements; except that any contract, 
lease, or other legal agreement made or entered into 
by the Commission may not extend beyond the date 
of termination of the Commission. 
(g) REPORTS.— 
(1) PERIODIC
REPORT.—Beginning not later 
than the last day of the 3-month period beginning 
on the effective date of this Act, and the last day of 
each 3-month period thereafter, the Commission 
shall submit to Congress and the President a report 
on the activities and plans of the Commission. 
(2) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Commission shall 
submit to the President and Congress annual re-
ports on the revenue and expenditures of the Com-
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mission, including a list of each gift, bequest, or de-
vise to the Commission with a value of more than 
$250, together with the identity of the donor of each 
gift, bequest, or devise. 
(3) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 2 
years after the effective date of this Act, the Com-
mission shall submit to Congress and the President 
a report containing specific recommendations for 
commemorating the centennial of World War I and 
coordinating related activities. 
(h) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT WAIV-
ER.—Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(5 U.S.C. App.), relating to the termination of advisory 
committees, shall not apply to the Commission. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION OF FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Commission to carry out this 
Act $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 
2019. 
(2) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts made available 
under this subsection shall remain available until the 
termination of the Commission as described in sub-
section (k). 
(j) ANNUAL AUDIT.—For any fiscal year for which 
the Commission receives an appropriation of funds, the In-
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spector General of the Department of the Interior shall 
perform an audit of the Commission, shall make the re-
sults of any audit performed available to the public, and 
shall transmit such results to the Committee on Oversight 
and Government Reform of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Homeland Security and Govern-
mental Affairs of the Senate. 
(k) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 
on the earlier of the date that is 30 days after the activi-
ties honoring the centennial observation of World War I 
are carried out, or July 28, 2019. 
(l) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
on January 1, 2010. 
Passed the House of Representatives November 5, 
2009. 
Attest: 
LORRAINE C. MILLER, 
Clerk. 
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