SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Commission to Study 
the Potential Transfer of the Weitzman National Museum 
of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institu-
tion Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the Commis-
sion to Study the Potential Transfer of the Weitzman Na-
tional Museum of American Jewish History to the Smith-
sonian Institution (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 
‘‘Commission’’). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be com-
posed 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 individ-
uals, or representatives of institutions or entities, who pos-
sess—
(1)(A) a demonstrated commitment to the re-
search, study, or promotion of Jewish American his-
tory, art, political or economic 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 American history; 
(iv) experience in the study and teaching of 
combating and countering antisemitism; 
(v) experience in studying the issue of the rep-
resentation of Jewish Americans in art, life, history, 
and culture at the Smithsonian Institution; or 
(vi) extensive experience in public or elected 
service; 
(2) experience in the administration of, or the 
strategic planning for, museums; or 
(3) experience in the planning or design of mu-
seum facilities. 
(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 enact-
ment of this Act. 
(e) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission—
(1) shall not affect the powers of the Commis-
sion; and 
(2) shall be filled in the same manner as the 
original appointment was made. 
(f) CHAIRPERSON.—The Commission shall, by major-
ity vote of all of the voting members, select 1 member of 
the Commission to serve as the Chairperson of the Com-
mission. 
(g) PROHIBITION.—No employee of the Federal Gov-
ernment 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 Commission shall submit to the 
President and to Congress the report, plan, and rec-
ommendations described in paragraphs (1) through (3). 
(1) REPORT
ON
ISSUES.—A report that ad-
dresses the following 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 availability 
and cost of future collections to be acquired and 
housed in the Museum. 
(B) The impact of the Museum on edu-
cational 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 oper-
ate if transferred to the Smithsonian Institu-
tion. 
(E) The financial and legal considerations 
associated with the potential transfer of the 
Museum to the Smithsonian Institution, includ-
ing— 
(i) any donor or legal restrictions on 
the Museum’s collections, endowments, and 
real estate; 
(ii) costs associated with actions that 
will be necessary to resolve the status of 
employees of the Museum, if the Museum 
is transferred to the Smithsonian Institu-
tion; and
(iii) all additional costs for the Smith-
sonian Institution that would be associated 
with operating and maintaining a new mu-
seum outside of the Washington, D.C. met-
ropolitan area. 
(F) The feasibility of the Museum becom-
ing part of the Smithsonian Institution, taking 
into account the Museum’s potential impact on 
the Smithsonian’s existing facilities mainte-
nance 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, op-
eration, 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 re-
port containing recommendations regarding a legis-
lative 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 Smith-
sonian 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 Commis-
sion 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 Commis-
sion— 
(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 fa-
cilitating 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 re-
sponsible 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.
(B) RATES OF PAY.—Rates of pay for per-
sons employed under subparagraph (A) shall be 
consistent with the rates of pay allowed for em-
ployees of a temporary organization under sec-
tion 3161 of title 5, United States Code. 
(2) NOT
FEDERAL
EMPLOYMENT.—Any indi-
vidual employed under this subsection shall not be 
considered a Federal employee for the purpose of 
any law governing Federal employment. 
(3) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (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 un-
compensated services as the Commission determines 
necessary. 
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon re-
quest of the Commission, the Administrator of the General 
Services Administration shall provide to the Commission, 
on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support serv-
ices necessary for the Commission to carry out its respon-
sibilities under this Act. The involvement of the General 
Services Administration shall be limited to providing ad-
ministrative support to the Commission, and such involve-
ment 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 be-
fore 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 Commis-
sion have been appointed. 
Passed the House of Representatives September 23, 
2024. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7764 
AN ACT 
To establish a commission to study the potential 
transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of 
American Jewish History to the Smithsonian In-
stitution, and for other purposes.