I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3442
To establish the National Museum of African American History and Culture
Plan for Action Presidential Commission to develop a plan of action
for the establishment and maintenance of the National Museum of Afri-
can American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., and for other
purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DECEMBER 11, 2001
Mr. LEWIS of Georgia (for himself, Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma, and Mr. REG-
ULA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Resources, and in addition to the Committees on House Administra-
tion and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
DECEMBER 11, 2001
Committees on Resources, House Administration and Transportation and In-
frastructure discharged; considered under suspension of the rules and
passed
A BILL
To establish the National Museum of African American His-
tory and Culture Plan for Action Presidential Commis-
sion to develop a plan of action for the establishment
and maintenance of the National Museum of African
American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., 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 ‘‘National Museum of
African American History and Culture Plan for Action
Presidential Commission Act of 2001’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the National
Museum of African American History and Culture Plan
for Action Presidential Commission (hereafter in this Act
referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall consist of
not more than 23 members appointed as follows:
(1) The President shall appoint 7 voting mem-
bers.
(2) The Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives and the Senate Majority Leader shall each ap-
point 6 voting members.
(3) In addition to the members appointed under
paragraph (2), the Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Senate Majority Leader shall
each appoint 2 additional nonvoting members.
(c) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members of the Commission
shall be chosen from the following professional groups:
(1) Professional museum associations, including
the Association of African American Museums and
African American Museum Cultural Complex. Inc.
(2) Academic institutions and groups com-
mitted to the research and study of African Amer-
ican life, art, history, and culture, including Histori-
cally Black Colleges and Universities and the Joint
Center for Political and Economic Studies.
SEC. 3. FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) PLAN
OF ACTION
FOR ESTABLISHMENT
AND
MAINTENANCE OF MUSEUM.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall sub-
mit a report to the President and the Congress con-
taining its recommendations with respect to a plan
of action for the establishment and maintenance of
the National Museum of African American History
and Culture in Washington, D.C. (hereafter in this
Act referred to as the ‘‘Museum’’).
(2) NATIONAL
CONFERENCE.—In developing
the recommendations, the commission shall convene
a national conference on the Museum, comprised of
individuals committed to the advancement of African
American life, art, history, and culture, not later
than 3 months after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
(b) FUNDRAISING PLAN.—The Commission shall de-
velop a fundraising plan for supporting the creation and
maintenance of the Museum through contributions by the
American people, and a separate plan on fundraising by
the African American community.
(c) REPORT ON ISSUES.—The Commission shall ex-
amine and submit a report to the President and the Con-
gress on the following issues:
(1) The availability and cost of collections to be
acquired and housed in the Museum.
(2) The impact of the Museum on regional Afri-
can American museums.
(3) Possible locations for the Museum on or ad-
jacent to the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
(4) The cost of converting the Smithsonian In-
stitution’s Arts and Industries Building into a mod-
ern museum with requisite temperature and humid-
ity controls.
(5) Whether the Museum should be located
within the Smithsonian Institution.
(6) The governance and organizational struc-
ture from which the museum should operate.
(d) LEGISLATION TO CARRY OUT PLAN
OF AC-
TION.—Based on the recommendations contained in the
report submitted under subsection (a) and the report sub-
mitted under subsection (c), the Commission shall submit
for consideration to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, the Com-
mittee on House Administration of the House of Rep-
resentatives, Committee on Resources, the Committee on
Rules and Administration of the Senate, and the Commit-
tees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and Senate a legislative plan of action to create and con-
struct the Museum.
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
(a) FACILITIES AND SUPPORT OF SECRETARY OF IN-
TERIOR.—The Secretary of the Interior shall provide the
administrative services, facilities, and funds necessary for
the performance of the Commission’s functions.
(b) COMPENSATION.—Each member of the Commis-
sion who is not an officer or employee of the Federal gov-
ernment may receive compensation for each day on which
the member is engaged in the work of the Commission,
at a daily rate to be determined by the Secretary of the
Interior.
(c) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall receive
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence,
in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter
I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 5. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF REPORTS; TERMI-
NATION.
(a) DEADLINE.—The Commission shall submit final
versions of the reports and plans required under section
3 not later than 9 months after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
(b) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate
not later than 30 days after submitting the final versions
of reports and plans pursuant to subsection (a).
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000
for activities of the Commission during fiscal year 2002.
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