I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 869 
To establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National 
Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 3, 2017 
Ms. MENG (for herself, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, Mr. TED LIEU of Cali-
fornia, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, and Mr. SWALWELL of California) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on House Adminis-
tration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation 
of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History 
and Culture, 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 ‘‘Commission to Study 
the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pa-
cific American History and Culture Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Commission to Study the Potential Cre-
ation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific Amer-
ican History and Culture established by section 3(a). 
(2) MUSEUM.—The term ‘‘Museum’’ means the 
National Museum of Asian Pacific American History 
and Culture. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the Commis-
sion to Study the Potential Creation of a National Mu-
seum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 8 members, of whom— 
(1) 2 members shall be appointed by the major-
ity leader of the Senate; 
(2) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speak-
er of the House of Representatives; 
(3) 2 members shall be appointed by the minor-
ity leader of the Senate; and 
(4) 2 members shall be appointed by the minor-
ity leader of the House of Representatives. 
(c) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members of the Commission 
shall be appointed to the Commission from among individ-
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uals, or representatives of institutions or entities, who pos-
sess— 
(1)(A) a demonstrated commitment to the re-
search, study, or promotion of Asian Pacific Amer-
ican history, art, political or economic status, or cul-
ture; and 
(B)(i) expertise in museum administration; 
(ii) expertise in fundraising for nonprofit or cul-
tural institutions; 
(iii) experience in the study and teaching of 
Asian Pacific American history; 
(iv) experience in studying the issue of the rep-
resentation of Asian Pacific Americans in art, life, 
history, and culture at the Smithsonian Institution; 
or 
(v) extensive experience in public or elected 
service; 
(2) experience in the administration of, or the 
planning for, the establishment of, museums; or 
(3) experience in the planning, design, or con-
struction of museum facilities. 
(d) PROHIBITION.—No employee of the Federal Gov-
ernment may serve as a member of the Commission. 
(e) DEADLINE
FOR INITIAL APPOINTMENT.—The 
initial members of the Commission shall be appointed not 
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later than the date that is 90 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
(f) 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. 
(g) CHAIRPERSON.—The Commission shall, by ma-
jority vote of all of the members, select 1 member of the 
Commission to serve as the Chairperson of the Commis-
sion. 
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) REPORTS.— 
(1) PLAN OF ACTION.—The Commission shall 
submit to the President and Congress a report con-
taining the recommendations of the Commission 
with respect to a plan of action for the establishment 
and maintenance of a National Museum of Asian 
Pacific American History and Culture in Wash-
ington, DC. 
(2) REPORT ON ISSUES.—The Commission shall 
submit to the President and Congress a report that 
addresses the following issues: 
(A) The availability and cost of collections 
to be acquired and housed in the Museum. 
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(B) The impact of the Museum on regional 
Asian Pacific American history-related muse-
ums. 
(C) Potential locations for the Museum in 
Washington, DC, and its environs. 
(D) Whether the Museum should be part 
of the Smithsonian Institution. 
(E) The governance and organizational 
structure from which the Museum should oper-
ate. 
(F) Best practices for engaging Asian Pa-
cific Americans in the development and design 
of the Museum. 
(G) The cost of constructing, operating, 
and maintaining the Museum. 
(3) DEADLINE.—The reports required under 
paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be submitted not later 
than the date that is 18 months after the date of 
the first meeting of the Commission. 
(b) FUNDRAISING PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall de-
velop a fundraising plan to support the establish-
ment, operation, and maintenance of the Museum 
through contributions from the public. 
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(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the fund-
raising plan under paragraph (1), the Commission 
shall consider issues relating to funding the oper-
ations and maintenance of the Museum in perpetuity 
without reliance on appropriations of Federal funds. 
(3) INDEPENDENT REVIEW.—The Commission 
shall obtain an independent review of the viability of 
the plan developed under paragraph (1) and such re-
view shall include an analysis as to whether the plan 
is likely to achieve the level of resources necessary 
to fund the construction of the Museum and the op-
erations and maintenance of the Museum in per-
petuity without reliance on appropriations of Federal 
funds. 
(4) SUBMISSION.—The Commission shall sub-
mit the plan developed under paragraph (1) and the 
review conducted under paragraph (3) to the Com-
mittees on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
House Administration, Natural Resources, and Ap-
propriations of the House of Representatives and the 
Committees on Rules and Administration, Energy 
and Natural Resources, and Appropriations of the 
Senate. 
(c) LEGISLATION TO CARRY OUT PLAN
OF AC-
TION.—Based on the recommendations contained in the 
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