I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2197 
To amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize appropriations 
for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 10, 2019 
Mr. DEFAZIO (for himself, Ms. TITUS, Mr. GRAVES of Missouri, and Mr. 
MEADOWS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize 
appropriations for the John F. Kennedy Center for the 
Performing Arts, 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 ‘‘John F. Kennedy Cen-
ter Reauthorization Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 13 of the John F. Kennedy Center Act (20 
U.S.C. 76r) is amended by striking subsections (a) and 
(b) and inserting the following: 
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‘‘(a) MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, AND
SECURITY.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Board to 
carry out section 4(a)(1)(H)— 
‘‘(1) $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
‘‘(2) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(3) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(4) $29,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; and 
‘‘(5) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2024. 
‘‘(b) CAPITAL PROJECTS.—There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Board to carry out subparagraphs 
(F) and (G) of section 4(a)(1)— 
‘‘(1) $17,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; 
‘‘(2) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(3) $19,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(4) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; and 
‘‘(5) $21,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.’’. 
SEC. 3. COMMEMORATION OF THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CEN-
TER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing 
Arts (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Center’’)— 
(1) recognize the 50th anniversary of the open-
ing of the Center; 
(2) acknowledge and commemorate the mission 
of the Center as a national center for the performing 
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arts and a national memorial to President John F. 
Kennedy; and 
(3) recognize the 60th anniversary of the sign-
ing of the National Cultural Center Act (now known 
as the ‘‘John F. Kennedy Center Act’’) (20 U.S.C. 
76h et seq.), signed into law by President Dwight D. 
Eisenhower on September 2, 1958. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION FOR PLAQUE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Center shall place with-
in the Center a plaque containing an inscription to 
commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of 
the National Cultural Center Act (20 U.S.C. 76h et 
seq.) by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 
(2) SPECIFICATIONS.—The plaque shall be— 
(A)(i) not less than 6 square feet in size; 
and 
(ii) not more than 18 square feet in size; 
(B) of any shape that the Trustees of the 
Center determine to be appropriate; and 
(C) placed at a location within the Center 
approximate to the Eisenhower Theater that 
the Trustees of the Center determine to be ap-
propriate. 
(3) FUNDING.— 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—No Federal funds may 
be used to design, procure, or install the plaque. 
(B) EXCEPTION.—Subparagraph (A) shall 
not affect the payment of salaries, expenses, 
and benefits otherwise authorized by law for 
members and employees of the Center who par-
ticipate in carrying out this subsection. 
(4) PRIVATE FUNDRAISING AUTHORIZED.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Center may solicit 
and accept private contributions for the design, 
procurement, and installation of the plaque. 
(B) ACCOUNTING.—The Center may— 
(i) establish an account into which 
any contributions received pursuant to sub-
paragraph (A) shall be deposited; and 
(ii) maintain documentation of any 
contributions received pursuant to sub-
paragraph (A). 
Æ 
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