I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3498
To urge the President to establish the White House Commission on National
Military Appreciation month, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DECEMBER 13, 2001
Mr. SHOWS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Armed Services
A BILL
To urge the President to establish the White House Commis-
sion on National Military Appreciation month, 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 ‘‘White House Commis-
sion on National Military Appreciation Month Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The vigilance of the United States Armed
Forces, past and present, has been instrumental to
the preservation of the freedom, security, and pros-
perity that the United States enjoys.
(2) The vigilance and capabilities of the United
States Armed Forces depend on the dedicated serv-
ice of its members, their families, and the civilian
employees of the Department of Defense and United
States Coast Guard.
(3) The role of the United States as a world
leader, and the global scope that such role imparts
to our Nation’s interests, requires a military force
that is well-trained, well-equipped, and appropriately
sized.
(4) For such a force to be fielded, the young
men and women of the United States must possess
a commitment to military service that is sufficient to
achieve the levels of recruitment and retention of en-
listed, officer, and civilian personnel necessary for
sustaining the strength, vitality, and character of the
United States Armed Forces.
(5) To foster and sustain such a commitment,
it is vital for youth in the United States to under-
stand that the service provided by members of the
United States Armed Forces is an honorable legacy
that has protected the freedoms that are enjoyed by
United States citizens and citizens of many other
nations.
(6) The Federal Government has a responsi-
bility to raise awareness of and respect for this as-
pect of our national heritage and to encourage citi-
zens to dedicate themselves to the values and prin-
ciples for which Americans have served and sac-
rificed throughout our history.
(7) Service in the United States Armed Forces
entails special sacrifices and hazards.
(8) The special duties required of those who
serve in the United States Armed Forces demand
special sacrifices from the families of service mem-
bers, and the support of the families is an essential
force multiplier that enhances the effectiveness and
capabilities of the United States Armed Forces.
(9) The Nation’s observance of events recog-
nizing the contributions of the Armed Forces is a
tangible and highly effective way of sustaining mo-
rale and improving quality of life for the military
family.
(10) Senate Resolution 33 (106th Congress, 1st
session), a resolution entitled ‘‘Senate Resolution
Designating May 1999 as ‘National Military Appre-
ciation Month’ ’’, agreed to on April 30, 1999, called
on the people of the United States, in a symbolic act
of unity, to observe a National Military Appreciation
Month in May 1999, to honor the service men and
women of the United States past and present, in-
cluding those who have died in the pursuit of free-
dom and peace.
(11) It is important for the relevance of the his-
tory and activities of the United States Armed
Forces to be emphasized to current and future citi-
zens of the United States through an annual Na-
tional Military Appreciation Month that includes as-
sociated local and national observances and activi-
ties.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF WHITE HOUSE COMMISSION
ON 
NATIONAL 
MILITARY 
APPRECIATION
MONTH.
It is the sense of Congress that the President should
establish a commission known as the ‘‘White House Com-
mission on National Military Appreciation Month’’ to
make recommendations to the President on the proclama-
tion of ‘‘National Military Appreciation Month’’ to be cele-
brated each year.
SEC. 4. COMMISSION DUTIES.
(a) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The White House Com-
mission on National Military Appreciation Month, if estab-
lished pursuant to this Act, shall submit to the President
its recommendations on actions that should be taken to—
(1) foster public service and civic virtue on the
part of the people of the United States by—
(A) inspiring respect and understanding
for the spirit of America;
(B) recognizing the many sacrifices made
by members of the United States Armed Forces
and the members of their families;
(C) recognizing the importance of main-
taining a strong, well-equipped, educated, and
trained military force for the United States to
safeguard peace and freedom;
(D) encouraging the citizens of the United
States to take pride in the United States
Armed Forces for the protection and service
that the Armed Forces provide;
(E) recognizing and honoring the dedica-
tion and commitment of members of the United
States Armed Forces, and expressing apprecia-
tion for all contributions made by the members
of the Armed Forces throughout the history of
the United States; and
(F) promoting education of America’s
youth that focuses on the history and world role
of the United States Armed Forces;
(2) inspire national, State, local, and tribal par-
ticipation in the commemoration of the United
States Armed Forces throughout the year in celebra-
tions of National Military Appreciation Month and
patriotic and military commemorative days, such as
Flag Day, D-day, Veterans Day, and Pearl Harbor
Day, by—
(A) encouraging the participation of di-
verse entities including—
(i) national humanitarian and patri-
otic organizations;
(ii) elementary, secondary, and higher
education institutions;
(iii) veterans’ societies and civic, pa-
triotic, educational, sporting, artistic, cul-
tural, and historical organizations;
(iv) Federal departments and agen-
cies; and
(v) museums, including cultural and
historical museums; and
(B) recommending appropriate activities to
observe National Military Appreciation Month
and patriotic and military commemorative days
including—
(i) the production, publication, and
distribution of books, pamphlets, films, and
other educational materials;
(ii) bibliographical and documentary
projects and publications;
(iii) conferences, convocations, lec-
tures, seminars, and other similar pro-
grams;
(iv) the development of exhibits for li-
braries, museums, and other appropriate
institutions;
(v) ceremonies and celebrations com-
memorating specific events that relate to
the establishment of the Armed Forces of
the United States and the history of the
Armed Forces participation in wars and
other hostilities;
(vi) competitions, commissions, and
awards regarding historical, scholarly, ar-
tistic, literary, musical, and other works,
programs, and projects related to such
commemorations;
(vii) recommendations to appropriate
agencies or advisory bodies regarding the
issuance by the United States of com-
memorative coins, medals, and stamps re-
lating to National Military Appreciation
Month and other military commemorative
events; and
(viii) recommendations for any legisla-
tion or administrative action that the Com-
mission determines to be appropriate re-
garding the commemoration of National
Military Appreciation Month and other
military commemorative events; and
(3) provide national coordination for the observ-
ance of National Military Appreciation Month.
(b) ANNUAL REPORT.—
(1) REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT.—For each fis-
cal year in which the Commission carries out activi-
ties pursuant to this Act, the Commission shall sub-
mit to the President and Congress a report describ-
ing the activities.
(2) CONTENT.—The report under paragraph
(1) shall include—
(A) an accounting of funds received and
expended by the Commission in the fiscal year,
including a detailed description of the sources
and amounts of any donations of funds accept-
ed by the Commission under any authority
granted to the Commission by the President;
and
(B) a description of cooperative agree-
ments and contracts entered into by the Com-
mission under any authority granted to the
Commission by the President.
SEC. 5. COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP.
It is the sense of Congress that any White House
Commission on National Military Appreciation Month
should be composed of the following members:
(1) Five members appointed by the President,
including at least 1 representative of tribal organiza-
tions (as defined in section 4(l) of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 450b(l))).
(2) The Secretary of Defense.
(3) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(4) The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion.
(5) The Director of the Office of Personnel
Management.
(6) The Administrator of General Services.
(7) The Secretary of Transportation.
(8) The Secretary of Education.
(9) The Secretary of the Interior.
(10) The Secretary of State.
(11) The Executive Director of the President’s
Commission on White House Fellows.
(12) The Secretary of the Army.
(13) The Secretary of the Navy.
(14) The Secretary of the Air Force.
(15) The Commandant of the Marine Corps.
(16) The Commandant of the Coast Guard.
(17) The Chief of Staff of the Army.
(18) The Chief of Naval Operations.
(19) The Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
(20) Any other persons appointed by the Presi-
dent upon the recommendation of the Commission.
SEC. 6. SPIRIT OF AMERICA ALLIANCE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—It is the sense of Congress
that, if the President establishes the White House Com-
mission on National Military Appreciation Month, the
President should also establish an alliance to be known
as the ‘‘Spirit of America Alliance’’ that is composed of
individuals, appointed by the Commission, who are rep-
resentatives or members of—
(1) the print, broadcast, or other media indus-
try;
(2) the national sports community;
(3) the recreation industry;
(4) the entertainment industry;
(5) the retail industry;
(6) the food industry;
(7) the health care industry;
(8) the transportation industry;
(9) the education community;
(10) national veterans organizations;
(11) families that have lost loved ones in com-
bat or to terrorist acts;
(12) the nonprofit community; and
(13) honorary, nonvoting members appointed by
the Commission.
(b) 
DUTIES.—The 
Alliance 
shall 
assist 
the
Commission—
(1) in the planning, organization, and conduct
of an annual White House Conference on National
Military Appreciation Month and other similar
events;
(2) in the promotion of the observance of Na-
tional Military Appreciation Month and other mili-
tary commemorative events through appropriate
means, subject to any guidelines developed by the
Commission;
(3) in the establishment of necessary incentives
for Federal, State, and local governments and pri-
vate sector entities to sponsor and participate in
programs initiated by the Commission or the Alli-
ance;
(4) in the evaluation of the effectiveness of ef-
forts by the Commission and the Alliance in carrying
out this Act; and
(5) by the performance of any other related du-
ties that are assigned by the Commission.
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