I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6960 
To establish the World War I centennial commission to ensure a suitable 
observance of the centennial of World War I. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 
Mr. CLEAVER (for himself, Mr. CARNAHAN, Mr. CLAY, Mr. HULSHOF, Mr. 
GRAVES, Mr. AKIN, Mr. SKELTON, Mrs. EMERSON, and Mr. BLUNT) in-
troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Over-
sight and Government Reform 
A BILL 
To establish the World War I centennial commission to en-
sure a suitable observance of the centennial of World 
War I. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) more than 4,000,000 men and women from 
the United States served in uniform in the defense 
of liberty during World War I, among them two fu-
ture presidents, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. 
Eisenhower; 
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(2) 2,000,000 individuals from the United 
States served overseas during World War I, includ-
ing 200,000 naval personnel who served on the seas; 
(3) the United States suffered 375,000 casual-
ties during World War I; 
(4) the events of 1914 through 1918 shaped the 
world, our country, and the lives of millions of peo-
ple in countless ways; 
(5) the centennial of World War I offers an op-
portunity for people in the United States to learn 
about the sacrifices of their predecessors; 
(6) commemorative efforts allow people in the 
United States to gain a historical understanding of 
the type of conflicts that cause countries to go to 
war and how those conflicts are resolved; 
(7) Kansas City is home to America’s National 
World War I Museum, as so recognized in the Ron-
ald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108–375); 
(8) America’s National World War I Museum 
seeks— 
(A) to preserve the history of World War 
I; and 
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(B) to educate and enlighten people about 
this significant event, the consequences of which 
are still with us; 
(9) Kansas City is home to the national head-
quarters for the Veterans of Foreign Wars; 
(10) Missouri is the home State of General 
John Joseph Pershing, who commanded the Amer-
ican Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World 
War I; 
(11) the Kansas City area is the home of the 
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum; 
and 
(12) the Dwight David Eisenhower Presidential 
Library and Museum is located close to Kansas City 
in the neighboring State of Kansas. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to establish a commission, 
in Kansas City, Missouri, on the centennial of World War 
I to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of 
World War I that promotes the values of honor, courage, 
patriotism, and sacrifice, in keeping with the representa-
tion of these values through the four Guardian Spirits 
sculpted on the Liberty Memorial Monument at America’s 
National World War I Museum. 
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SEC. 3. COMMISSION ON THE COMMEMORATION OF THE 
CENTENNIAL OF WORLD WAR I. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a commission 
to be known as the World War I Centennial Commission 
(in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
(b) DUTIES.—The Commission shall have the fol-
lowing duties: 
(1) To plan, develop, and execute programs, 
projects, and activities to commemorate the centen-
nial of World War I. 
(2) To encourage private organizations and 
State and local governments to organize and partici-
pate in activities commemorating the centennial of 
World War I. 
(3) To facilitate and coordinate activities 
throughout the United States related to the centen-
nial of World War I. 
(4) To serve as a clearinghouse for the collec-
tion and dissemination of information about events 
and plans for the centennial of World War I. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Com-
mission shall be composed of 24 members as follows: 
(A) Four members appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
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(B) Three members appointed by the mi-
nority leader of the House of Representatives. 
(C) Four members appointed by the Sen-
ate majority leader. 
(D) Three members appointed by the Sen-
ate minority leader. 
(E) Seven members who are broadly rep-
resentative of the people of the United States 
(including members of the armed services and 
veterans), appointed by the President. 
(F) The executive director of the Veterans 
of Foreign Wars of the United States (or the 
director’s delegate). 
(G) The executive director of the American 
Legion (or the director’s delegate). 
(H) The president of the Liberty Memorial 
Association, the nonprofit entity responsible for 
the management of America’s National World 
War I Museum (or the president’s delegate). 
(2) CONTINUATION
OF
MEMBERSHIP.—If a 
member of the Commission under paragraph (1)(F) 
through (H) ceases to hold a position named in such 
paragraph, that member must resign from the Com-
mission as of the date that the member ceases to 
hold that position. 
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(3) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed 
for the life of the Commission. 
(4) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission 
shall be filled in the manner in which the original 
appointment was made. 
(5) PAY.—Members shall serve without pay. 
(6) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—Each member shall 
receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, in accordance with the applicable provi-
sions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(7) QUORUM.—Thirteen members of the Com-
mission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num-
ber may hold hearings. 
(8) CHAIRPERSON; VICE
CHAIRPERSON.—The 
Commission shall elect the Chairperson and Vice 
Chairperson of the Commission. 
(9) MEETINGS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 
meet at the call of the Chairperson, except that 
the first meeting shall be held before the end of 
the 30-day period beginning on the effective 
date of this Act. 
(B) LOCATION.—The Commission shall 
hold the first meeting at America’s National 
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World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, 
and thereafter shall hold at least one meeting 
per year at such location. 
(d) DIRECTOR AND ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL OF THE 
COMMISSION; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.— 
(1) DIRECTOR AND STAFF.— 
(A) APPOINTMENT.—The Chair of the 
Commission shall, in consultation with the 
members of the Commission, appoint an execu-
tive director and such other additional per-
sonnel as may be necessary to enable the Com-
mission to perform its duties. 
(B) PAY.— 
(i) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The exec-
utive director shall be paid at a rate not to 
exceed the rate of basic pay payable for 
level IV of the Executive Schedule estab-
lished under section 5315 of title 5, United 
State Code. 
(ii) ADDITIONAL
PERSONNEL.—The 
executive director may fix the pay of any 
additional personnel appointed under sub-
paragraph (A) as the executive director 
considers appropriate. 
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(C) WORK LOCATION.—If the city govern-
ment for Kansas City, Missouri, and the non-
profit organization which administers America’s 
National World War I Museum make space 
available, the executive director and any addi-
tional personnel appointed under subparagraph 
(A) shall work in the building that houses that 
museum. 
(2) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Com-
mission may procure temporary and intermittent 
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(3) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon re-
quest of the Commission, the head of any Federal 
department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable 
basis, any personnel of that department or agency to 
the Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties 
under this Act. 
(e) POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.— 
(1) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—For the pur-
pose of carrying out this Act, the Commission may 
hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take 
testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission 
considers appropriate. 
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(2) POWERS
OF
MEMBERS
AND
AGENTS.—If 
authorized by the Commission, any member or agent 
of the Commission may take any action which the 
Commission is authorized to take by this section. 
(3) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commis-
sion shall secure directly from any department or 
agency of the United States information necessary 
to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon the request 
of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of 
that department or agency shall furnish that infor-
mation to the Commission. 
(4) GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND DEVISES.— 
(A) ACCEPTANCE
BY
COMMISSION.—The 
Commission may accept, use, and dispose of 
gifts, bequests, or devises of services or prop-
erty, both real and personal, for the purpose of 
aiding or facilitating the work of the Commis-
sion. 
(B) DEPOSIT
AND
AVAILABILITY.—Gifts, 
bequests, or devises of money and proceeds 
from sales of other property received as gifts, 
bequests, or devises shall be deposited in the 
Treasury and shall be available for disburse-
ment upon order of the Commission. 
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(5) MAILS.—The Commission may use the 
United States mails in the same manner and under 
the same conditions as other departments and agen-
cies of the United States. 
(6) ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT
SERVICES.— 
Upon the request of the Commission, the Adminis-
trator of General Services shall provide to the Com-
mission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative 
support services necessary for the Commission to 
carry out its responsibilities under this Act. 
(7) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—The Commission 
is authorized to procure supplies, services, and prop-
erty and to make or enter in contracts, leases, or 
other legal agreements; except that any contract, 
lease, or other legal agreement made or entered into 
by the Commission may not extend beyond the date 
of termination of the Commission. 
(f) REPORTS.— 
(1) PERIODIC
REPORT.—Beginning not later 
than the last day of the 3-month period beginning 
on the date of enactment of this Act and the last 
day of each 3-month period thereafter, the Commis-
sion shall submit to Congress and the President a 
report on the activities and plans of the Commission. 
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(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 2 
years after the effective date of this Act, the Com-
mission shall submit to Congress and the President 
a report containing specific recommendations for 
commemorating the centennial of World War I and 
coordinating related activities. 
(g) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 
on the earlier of the date that is 30 days after the activi-
ties honoring the centennial observation of World War I 
are carried out or July 28, 2019. Section 14(a)(2)(B) of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), re-
lating to the termination of advisory committees, shall not 
apply to the Commission. 
(h) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This Act shall be effective on 
January 1, 2010. 
Æ 
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