H. R. 7764 
One Hundred Eighteenth Congress 
of the 
United States of America 
AT THE SECOND SESSION 
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, 
the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-four 
An Act 
To establish a commission to study the potential transfer of the Weitzman National 
Museum of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Commission to Study the Poten-
tial Transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish 
History to the Smithsonian Institution Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the Commission to Study 
the Potential Transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of Amer-
ican Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution (hereafter in 
this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be composed of 8 
members, of whom— 
(1) 2 voting members shall be appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate; 
(2) 2 voting members shall be appointed by the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives; 
(3) 2 voting members shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the Senate; and 
(4) 2 voting members shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives. 
(c) QUALIFICATION.—Members of the Commission shall be 
appointed to the Commission from among individuals, or represent-
atives of institutions or entities, who possess— 
(1)(A) a demonstrated commitment to the research, study, 
or promotion of Jewish American history, art, political or eco-
nomic status, or culture; and 
(B)(i) expertise in museum administration; 
(ii) expertise in fund-raising for nonprofit or cultural 
institutions; 
(iii) experience in the study and teaching of Jewish Amer-
ican history; 
(iv) experience in the study and teaching of combating 
and countering antisemitism; 
(v) experience in studying the issue of the representation 
of Jewish Americans in art, life, history, and culture at the 
Smithsonian Institution; or 
(vi) extensive experience in public or elected service;
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(2) experience in the administration of, or the strategic 
planning for, museums; or 
(3) experience in the planning or design of museum facili-
ties. 
(d) DEADLINE FOR INITIAL APPOINTMENT.—The initial members 
of the Commission shall be appointed not later than the date 
that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(e) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission— 
(1) shall not affect the powers of the Commission; and 
(2) shall be filled in the same manner as the original 
appointment was made. 
(f) CHAIRPERSON.—The Commission shall, by majority vote of 
all of the voting members, select 1 member of the Commission 
to serve as the Chairperson of the Commission. 
(g) PROHIBITION.—No employee of the Federal Government may 
serve as a member of the Commission. 
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 
(a) REPORTS AND OTHER DELIVERABLES.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of the first meeting of the Commission, the Commis-
sion shall submit to the President and to Congress the report, 
plan, and recommendations described in paragraphs (1) through 
(3). 
(1) REPORT ON ISSUES.—A report that addresses the fol-
lowing issues relating to the Weitzman National Museum of 
American Jewish History in Philadelphia, PA, and its environs 
(hereafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Museum’’): 
(A) The collections held by the Museum at the time 
of the report, the extent to which such collections are 
already represented in the Smithsonian Institution and 
Federal memorials at the time of the report, and the avail-
ability and cost of future collections to be acquired and 
housed in the Museum. 
(B) The impact of the Museum on educational and 
governmental efforts to study and counter antisemitism. 
(C) The financial assets and liabilities held by the 
Museum, and the cost of operating and maintaining the 
Museum. 
(D) The governance and organizational structure from 
which the Museum should operate if transferred to the 
Smithsonian Institution. 
(E) The financial and legal considerations associated 
with the potential transfer of the Museum to the Smithso-
nian Institution, including— 
(i) any donor or legal restrictions on the Museum’s 
collections, endowments, and real estate; 
(ii) costs associated with actions that will be nec-
essary to resolve the status of employees of the 
Museum, if the Museum is transferred to the Smithso-
nian Institution; and 
(iii) all additional costs for the Smithsonian 
Institution that would be associated with operating 
and maintaining a new museum outside of the Wash-
ington, D.C. metropolitan area. 
(F) The feasibility of the Museum becoming part of 
the Smithsonian Institution, taking into account the 
Museum’s potential impact on the Smithsonian’s existing
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facilities maintenance backlog, collections storage needs, 
and identified construction or renovation costs for new 
or existing museums. 
(2) 
FUND-RAISING
PLAN.—A 
fund-raising 
plan 
that 
addresses the following topics: 
(A) The ability to support the transfer, operation, and 
maintenance of the Museum through contributions from 
the public, including potential charges for admission. 
(B) Any potential issues with funding the operations 
and maintenance of the Museum in perpetuity without 
reliance on appropriations of Federal funds. 
(3) LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS.—A report containing 
recommendations regarding a legislative plan for transferring 
the Museum to the Smithsonian Institution, which shall include 
each of the following: 
(A) Proposals regarding the time frame, one-time 
appropriations level, and continuing appropriations levels 
that might be included in such legislation. 
(B) Recommendations for the future name of the 
Museum if it is transferred to the Smithsonian Institution. 
(b) NATIONAL CONFERENCE.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date on which the initial members of the Commission are appointed 
under section 2, the Commission may, in carrying out the duties 
of the Commission under this section, convene a national conference 
relating to the Museum, to be comprised of individuals committed 
to the advancement of the life, art, history, and culture of Jewish 
Americans. 
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. 
(a) COMPENSATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A member of the Commission— 
(A) shall not be considered to be a Federal employee 
for any purpose by reason of service on the Commission; 
and 
(B) shall serve without pay. 
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the Commission shall 
be allowed a per diem allowance for travel expenses, at rates 
consistent with those authorized under subchapter I of chapter 
57 of title 5, United States Code. 
(3) GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND DEVISES.—The Commission may 
solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises 
of money, services, or real or personal property for the purpose 
of aiding or facilitating the work of the Commission. Such 
gifts, bequests, or devises may be from the Museum. 
(b) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate on the date 
that is 30 days after the date on which the final versions of the 
report, plan, and recommendations required under section 3 are 
submitted. 
(c) FUNDING.—The Commission shall be solely responsible for 
acceptance of contributions for, and payment of the expenses of, 
the Commission. 
(d) DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION.— 
(1) DIRECTOR AND STAFF.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may employ and 
compensate an executive director and any other additional 
personnel that are necessary to enable the Commission 
to perform the duties of the Commission.
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(B) RATES OF PAY.—Rates of pay for persons employed 
under subparagraph (A) shall be consistent with the rates 
of pay allowed for employees of a temporary organization 
under section 3161 of title 5, United States Code. 
(2) NOT FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT.—Any individual employed 
under this subsection shall not be considered a Federal 
employee for the purpose of any law governing Federal employ-
ment. 
(3) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph (B), on 
request of the Commission, the head of a Federal agency 
shall provide technical assistance to the Commission. 
(B) PROHIBITION.—No Federal employees may be 
detailed to the Commission. 
(4) VOLUNTEER SERVICES.—Notwithstanding section 1342 
of title 31, United States Code, the Commission may accept 
and use voluntary and uncompensated services as the Commis-
sion determines necessary. 
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon request of the 
Commission, the Administrator of the General Services Administra-
tion shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, 
the administrative support services necessary for the Commission 
to carry out its responsibilities under this Act. The involvement 
of the General Services Administration shall be limited to providing 
administrative support to the Commission, and such involvement 
shall terminate upon termination of the Commission. 
(f) MEETING LOCATION.—The Commission may meet virtually 
or in-person. 
(g) APPOINTMENT DELAYS.—The Commission may begin to meet 
and carry out activities under this Act before all members of the 
Commission have been appointed if— 
(1) 90 days have passed since the date of the enactment 
of this Act; and 
(2) a majority of the members of the Commission have 
been appointed. 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.