I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1849 
To designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum 
in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National World War I Memorial, to 
establish the World War I centennial commission to ensure a suitable 
observance of the centennial of World War I, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 1, 2009 
Mr. CLEAVER (for himself, Mr. AKIN, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. CARNAHAN, Mr. CLAY, 
Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. GRAVES, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, and Mr. SKELTON) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Over-
sight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Nat-
ural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World 
War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National 
World War I Memorial, to establish the World War I 
centennial commission to ensure a suitable observance 
of the centennial of World War I, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘World War I Memorial 
and Centennial Act of 2009’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) More than 4,000,000 men and women from 
the United States served in uniform in the defense 
of liberty during World War I, among them two fu-
ture presidents, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. 
Eisenhower. 
(2) 2,000,000 individuals from the United 
States served overseas during World War I, includ-
ing 200,000 naval personnel who served on the seas. 
(3) The United States suffered 375,000 casual-
ties during World War I. 
(4) The events of 1914 through 1918 shaped 
the world, our country, and the lives of millions of 
people in countless ways. 
(5) The centennial of World War I offers an op-
portunity for people in the United States to learn 
about the sacrifices of their predecessors. 
(6) Commemorative efforts allow people in the 
United States to gain a historical understanding of 
the type of conflicts that cause countries to go to 
war and how those conflicts are resolved. 
(7) Kansas City is home to the Liberty Memo-
rial and America’s National World War I Museum 
(as so recognized in the Ronald W. Reagan National 
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Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 
(Public Law 108–375)). 
(8) America’s National World War I Museum 
seeks— 
(A) to preserve the history of World War 
I; and 
(B) to educate and enlighten people about 
this significant event, the consequences of which 
are still with us. 
(9) Kansas City is home to the national head-
quarters for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. 
(10) Missouri is the home State of General 
John Joseph Pershing, who commanded the Amer-
ican Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World 
War I. 
(11) The Kansas City area is the home of the 
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum. 
(12) The Dwight David Eisenhower Presi-
dential Library and Museum is located close to Kan-
sas City in the neighboring State of Kansas. 
(13) There is no nationally recognized memorial 
honoring the service of Americans who served in 
World War I. 
(14) In 1919, the people of Kansas City, Mis-
souri, expressed an outpouring of support and raised 
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more than $2,000,000 in two weeks for a memorial 
to the service of Americans in World War I. That 
fundraising was an accomplishment unparalleled by 
any other city in the United States irrespective of 
population and reflected the passion of public opin-
ion about World War I, which had so recently ended. 
(15) Following the drive, a national architec-
tural competition was held by the American Institute 
of Architects for designs for a memorial to the serv-
ice of Americans in World War I, and the competi-
tion yielded a design by architect H. Van Buren 
Magonigle. 
(16) On November 1, 1921, more than 100,000 
people witnessed the dedication of the site for the 
Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. That 
dedication marked the only time in history that the 
five allied military leaders; Lieutenant General 
Baron Jacques of Belgium, General Armando Diaz 
of Italy, Marshal Ferdinand Foch of France, Gen-
eral John J. Pershing of the United States, and Ad-
miral Lord Earl Beatty of Great Britain, were to-
gether at one place. 
(17) General Pershing noted at the November 
1, 1921, dedication that ‘‘[t]he people of Kansas 
City, Missouri, are deeply proud of the beautiful me-
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morial, erected in tribute to the patriotism, the gal-
lant achievements, and the heroic sacrifices of their 
sons and daughters who served in our country’s 
armed forces during the World War. It symbolized 
their grateful appreciation of duty well done, an ap-
preciation which I share, because I know so well how 
richly it is merited’’. 
(18) During an Armistice Day ceremony in 
1924, President Calvin Coolidge marked the begin-
ning of a three-year construction project for the Lib-
erty Memorial by the laying of the cornerstone of the 
memorial. 
(19) The 217-foot Liberty Memorial Tower has 
an inscription that reads ‘‘In Honor of Those Who 
Served in the World War in Defense of Liberty and 
Our Country’’ as well as four stone ‘‘Guardian Spir-
its’’ representing courage, honor, patriotism, and 
sacrifice, which rise above the observation deck, 
making the Liberty Memorial a noble tribute to all 
who served in World War I. 
(20) During a rededication for the Liberty Me-
morial in 1961, World War I veterans and former 
Presidents Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisen-
hower recognized the memorial as a constant re-
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minder of the sacrifices during World War I and the 
progress that followed. 
(21) The 106th Congress recognized the Lib-
erty Memorial as a national symbol of World War I. 
(22) The National World War I Museum is the 
only public museum in the United States specifically 
dedicated to the history of World War I. 
(23) The National World War I Museum is 
known throughout the world as a major center of 
World War I remembrance. 
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF THE LIBERTY MEMORIAL AT THE 
NATIONAL WORLD WAR I MUSEUM IN KANSAS 
CITY, MISSOURI, AS THE NATIONAL WORLD 
WAR I MEMORIAL. 
The Liberty Memorial at the National World War I 
Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, is hereby designated 
as the ‘‘National World War I Memorial’’. 
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-
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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. 
(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. 
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(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 
the management of America’s National World 
War I Museum (or the president’s delegate). 
(2) CONTINUATION
OF
MEMBERSHIP.—If a 
member of the Commission under paragraph (1)(F) 
through (H) ceases to hold a position named in such 
paragraph, that member must resign from the Com-
mission as of the date that the member ceases to 
hold that position. 
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(3) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed 
for the life of the Commission. 
(4) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission 
shall be filled in the manner in which the original 
appointment was made. 
(5) PAY.—Members shall serve without pay. 
(6) 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. 
(7) QUORUM.—Thirteen members of the Com-
mission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num-
ber may hold hearings. 
(8) CHAIRPERSON; VICE
CHAIRPERSON.—The 
Commission shall elect the Chairperson and Vice 
Chairperson of the Commission. 
(9) 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 30-day period beginning on the effective 
date of this Act. 
(B) LOCATION.—The Commission shall 
hold the first meeting at America’s National 
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World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, 
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 Chair 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.— 
(i) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The exec-
utive director shall be paid at a rate not to 
exceed the rate of basic pay payable for 
level IV of the Executive Schedule estab-
lished under section 5315 of title 5, United 
State Code. 
(ii) ADDITIONAL
PERSONNEL.—The 
executive director may fix the pay of any 
additional personnel appointed under sub-
paragraph (A) as the executive director 
considers appropriate. 
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(C) WORK LOCATION.—If the city govern-
ment for Kansas City, Missouri, and the non-
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. 
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(2) POWERS
OF
MEMBERS
AND
AGENTS.—If 
authorized by the Commission, any member or agent 
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. 
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(5) MAILS.—The Commission may use the 
United States mails in the same manner and under 
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 date of enactment of this Act and the last 
day of each 3-month period thereafter, the Commis-
sion shall submit to Congress and the President a 
report on the activities and plans of the Commission. 
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(2) 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) 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. Section 14(a)(2)(B) of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), re-
lating to the termination of advisory committees, shall not 
apply to the Commission. 
(i) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall be effective 
on January 1, 2010. 
Æ 
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