‘‘SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS.
‘‘In this title:
‘‘(1) ARTS
EDUCATION
PARTNERSHIP.—The
term ‘Arts Education Partnership’ means a private,
nonprofit coalition of education, arts, business, phil-
anthropic, and government organizations that dem-
onstrates and promotes the essential role of arts
education in enabling all students to succeed in
school, life, and work, and was formed in 1995.
‘‘(2) BOARD.—The term ‘Board’ means the
Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts
Education Awards Board established under section
204.
‘‘(3) 
ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL; 
SECONDARY
SCHOOL.—The terms ‘elementary school’ and ‘sec-
ondary school’ mean—
‘‘(A) a public or private elementary school
or secondary school (as the case may be), as de-
fined in section 14101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
8801); or
‘‘(B) a bureau funded school as defined in
section 1146 of the Education Amendments of
1978 (25 U.S.C. 2026).
‘‘(4) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means each of
the several States of the United States, the District
of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin
Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mar-
iana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands,
the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Repub-
lic of Palau.
‘‘SEC. 204. ESTABLISHMENT OF BOARD.
‘‘There is established within the legislative branch of
the Federal Government a Congressional Recognition for
Excellence in Arts Education Awards Board. The Board
shall be responsible for administering the awards program
described in section 205.
‘‘SEC. 205. BOARD DUTIES.
‘‘(a) AWARDS PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.—The Board
shall establish and administer an awards program to be
known as the ‘Congressional Recognition for Excellence in
Arts Education Awards Program’. The purpose of the pro-
gram shall be to—
‘‘(1) celebrate the positive impact and public
benefits of the arts;
‘‘(2) encourage all elementary schools and sec-
ondary schools to integrate the arts into the school
curriculum;
‘‘(3) spotlight the most compelling evidence of
the relationship between the arts and student learn-
ing;
‘‘(4) demonstrate how community involvement
in the creation and implementation of arts policies
enriches the schools;
‘‘(5) recognize school administrators and faculty
who provide quality arts education to students;
‘‘(6) acknowledge schools that provide profes-
sional development opportunities for their teachers;
‘‘(7) create opportunities for students to experi-
ence the relationship between early participation in
the arts and developing the life skills necessary for
future personal and professional success;
‘‘(8) increase, encourage, and ensure com-
prehensive, sequential arts learning for all students;
and
‘‘(9) expand student access to arts education in
schools in every community.
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—
‘‘(1) SCHOOL AWARDS.—The Board shall—
‘‘(A) make annual awards to elementary
schools and secondary schools in the States in
accordance with criteria established under sub-
paragraph (B), which awards—
‘‘(i) shall be of such design and mate-
rials as the Board may determine, includ-
ing a well-designed certificate or a work of
art, designed for the awards event by an
appropriate artist; and
‘‘(ii) shall be reflective of the dignity
of Congress;
‘‘(B) establish criteria required for a school
to receive the award, and establish such proce-
dures as may be necessary to verify that the
school meets the criteria, which criteria shall in-
clude criteria requiring—
‘‘(i) that the school—
‘‘(I) provides comprehensive, se-
quential arts learning; and
‘‘(II) integrates the arts through-
out the curriculum in subjects other
than the arts; and
‘‘(ii) 3 of the following:
‘‘(I) that the community serving
the school is actively involved in shap-
ing and implementing the arts policies
and programs of the school;
‘‘(II) that the school principal
supports the policy of arts education
for all students;
‘‘(III) that arts teachers in the
school are encouraged to learn and
grow in mastery of their art form as
well as in their teaching competence;
‘‘(IV) that the school actively en-
courages the use of arts assessment
techniques for improving student,
teacher, and administrative perform-
ance; and
‘‘(V) that school leaders engage
the total school community in arts ac-
tivities that create a climate of sup-
port for arts education; and
‘‘(C) include, in the procedures necessary
for verification that a school meets the criteria
described in subparagraph (B), written evidence
of the specific criteria, and supporting docu-
mentation, that includes—
‘‘(i) 3 letters of support for the school
from community members, which may in-
clude a letter from—
‘‘(I) the school’s Parent Teacher
Association (PTA);
‘‘(II) community leaders, such as
elected or appointed officials; and
‘‘(III) arts organizations or insti-
tutions in the community that partner
with the school; and
‘‘(ii) the completed application for the
award signed by the principal or other edu-
cation leader such as a school district arts
coordinator, school board member, or
school superintendent;
‘‘(D) determine appropriate methods for
disseminating information about the program
and make application forms available to schools;
‘‘(E) delineate such roles as the Board
considers to be appropriate for the Director in
administering the program, and set forth in the
bylaws of the Board the duties, salary, and ben-
efits of the Director;
‘‘(F) raise funds for the operation of the
program;
‘‘(G) determine, and inform Congress re-
garding, the national readiness for interdiscipli-
nary individual student awards described in
paragraph (2), on the basis of the framework
established in the 1997 National Assessment of
Educational Progress and such other criteria as
the Board determines appropriate; and
‘‘(H) take such other actions as may be
appropriate for the administration of the Con-
gressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts
Education Awards Program.
‘‘(2) STUDENT AWARDS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—At such time as the
Board determines appropriate, the Board—
‘‘(i) shall make annual awards to ele-
mentary school and secondary school stu-
dents for individual interdisciplinary arts
achievement; and
‘‘(ii) establish criteria for the making
of the awards.
‘‘(B) AWARD MODEL.—The Board may use
as a model for the awards the Congressional
Award Program and the President’s Physical
Fitness Award Program.
‘‘(c) PRESENTATION.—The Board shall arrange for
the presentation of awards under this section to the recipi-
ents and shall provide for participation by Members of
Congress in such presentation, when appropriate.
‘‘(d) DATE OF ANNOUNCEMENT.—The Board shall
determine an appropriate date or dates for announcement
of the awards under this section, which date shall coincide
with a National Arts Education Month or a similarly des-
ignated day, week or month, if such designation exists.
‘‘(e) REPORT.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall prepare
and submit an annual report to Congress not later
than March 1 of each year summarizing the activi-
ties of the Congressional Recognition for Excellence
in Arts Education Awards Program during the pre-
vious year and making appropriate recommendations
for the program. Any minority views and rec-
ommendations of members of the Board shall be in-
cluded in such reports.
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The annual report shall con-
tain the following:
‘‘(A) Specific information regarding the
methods used to raise funds for the Congres-
sional Recognition for Excellence in Arts Edu-
cation Awards Program and a list of the
sources of all money raised by the Board.
‘‘(B) Detailed information regarding the
expenditures made by the Board, including the
percentage of funds that are used for adminis-
trative expenses.
‘‘(C) A description of the programs formu-
lated by the Director under section 207(b)(1),
including an explanation of the operation of
such programs and a list of the sponsors of the
programs.
‘‘(D) A detailed list of the administrative
expenditures made by the Board, including the
amounts expended for salaries, travel expenses,
and reimbursed expenses.
‘‘(E) A list of schools given awards under
the program, and the city, town, or county, and
State in which the school is located.
‘‘(F) An evaluation of the state of arts
education in schools, which may include anec-
dotal evidence of the effect of the Congressional
Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education
Awards Program on individual school cur-
riculum.
‘‘(G) On the basis of the findings described
in section 202 and the purposes of the Congres-
sional Recognition for Excellence in Arts Edu-
cation Awards Program described in section
205(a), a recommendation regarding the na-
tional readiness to make individual student
awards under subsection (b)(2).
‘‘SEC. 206. COMPOSITION OF BOARD; ADVISORY BOARD.
‘‘(a) COMPOSITION.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall consist of
9 members as follows:
‘‘(A) 2 Members of the Senate appointed
by the Majority Leader of the Senate.
‘‘(B) 2 Members of the Senate appointed
by the Minority Leader of the Senate.
‘‘(C) 2 Members of the House of Rep-
resentatives appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
‘‘(D) 2 Members of the House of Rep-
resentatives appointed by the Minority Leader
of the House of Representatives.
‘‘(E) The Director of the Board, who shall
serve as a nonvoting member.
‘‘(2) ADVISORY BOARD.—There is established
an Advisory Board to assist and advise the Board
with respect to its duties under this title, that shall
consist of 15 members appointed—
‘‘(A) in the case of the initial such mem-
bers of the Advisory Board, by the leaders of
the Senate and House of Representatives mak-
ing the appointments under paragraph (1),
from recommendations received from organiza-
tions and entities involved in the arts such as
businesses, civic and cultural organizations, and
the Arts Education Partnership steering com-
mittee; and
‘‘(B) in the case of any other such mem-
bers of the Advisory Board, by the Board.
‘‘(3) SPECIAL RULE FOR ADVISORY BOARD.—In
making appointments to the Advisory Board, the in-
dividuals and entity making the appointments under
paragraph (2) shall consider recommendations sub-
mitted by any interested party, including any mem-
ber of the Board.
‘‘(4) INTEREST.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Members of Congress
appointed to the Board shall have an interest in
1 of the purposes described in section 205(a).
‘‘(B) DIVERSITY.—The membership of the
Advisory Board shall represent a balance of ar-
tistic and education professionals, including at
least 1 representative who teaches in each of
the following disciplines:
‘‘(i) Music.
‘‘(ii) Theater.
‘‘(iii) Visual Arts.
‘‘(iv) Dance.
‘‘(b) TERMS.—
‘‘(1) BOARD.—Members of the Board shall
serve for terms of 6 years, except that of the mem-
bers first appointed—
‘‘(A) 1 Member of the House of Represent-
atives and 1 Member of the Senate shall serve
for terms of 2 years;
‘‘(B) 1 Member of the House of Represent-
atives and 1 Member of the Senate shall serve
for terms of 4 years; and
‘‘(C) 2 Members of the House of Rep-
resentatives and 2 Members of the Senate shall
serve for terms of 6 years,
as determined by lot when all such members have
been appointed.
‘‘(2) ADVISORY BOARD.—Members of the Advi-
sory Board shall serve for terms of 6 years, except
that of the members first appointed, 3 shall serve
for terms of 2 years, 4 shall serve for terms of 4
years, and 8 shall serve for terms of 6 years, as de-
termined by lot when all such members have been
appointed.
‘‘(c) VACANCY.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Any vacancy in the mem-
bership of the Board or Advisory Board shall be
filled in the same manner in which the original ap-
pointment was made.
‘‘(2) TERM.—Any member appointed to fill a
vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term
for which the member’s predecessor was appointed
shall be appointed only for the remainder of such
term.
‘‘(3) EXTENSION.—Any appointed member of
the Board or Advisory Board may continue to serve
after the expiration of the member’s term until the
member’s successor has taken office.
‘‘(4) SPECIAL RULE.—Vacancies in the mem-
bership of the Board shall not affect the Board’s
power to function if there remain sufficient members
of the Board to constitute a quorum under sub-
section (d).
‘‘(d) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the
Board shall constitute a quorum.
‘‘(e) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Board and
Advisory Board shall serve without pay but may be com-
pensated, from amounts in the trust fund, for reasonable
travel expenses incurred by the members in the perform-
ance of their duties as members of the Board.
‘‘(f) MEETINGS.—The Board shall meet annually at
the call of the Chairperson and at such other times as
the Chairperson may determine to be appropriate. The
Chairperson shall call a meeting of the Board whenever
1⁄3 of the members of the Board submit written requests
for such a meeting.
‘‘(g) OFFICERS.—The Chairperson and the Vice
Chairperson of the Board shall be elected from among the
members of the Board, by a majority vote of the members
of the Board, for such terms as the Board determines.
The Vice Chairperson shall perform the duties of the
Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson.
‘‘(h) COMMITTEES.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Board may appoint
such committees, and assign to the committees such
functions, as may be appropriate to assist the Board
in carrying out its duties under this title. Members
of such committees may include the members of the
Board or the Advisory Board.
‘‘(2) SPECIAL RULE.—Any employee or officer
of the Federal Government may serve as a member
of a committee created by the Board, but may not
receive compensation for services performed for such
a committee.
‘‘(i) BYLAWS
AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS.—The
Board shall establish such bylaws and other requirements
as may be appropriate to enable the Board to carry out
the Board’s duties under this title.
‘‘SEC. 207. ADMINISTRATION.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In the administration of the
Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts Edu-
cation Awards Program, the Board shall be assisted by
a Director, who shall be the principal executive of the pro-
gram and who shall supervise the affairs of the Board.
The Director shall be appointed by a majority vote of the
Board.
‘‘(b) DIRECTOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Director
shall, in consultation with the Board—
‘‘(1) formulate programs to carry out the poli-
cies of the Congressional Recognition for Excellence
in Arts Education Awards Program;
‘‘(2) establish such divisions within the Con-
gressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts Edu-
cation Awards Program as may be appropriate; and
‘‘(3) employ and provide for the compensation
of such personnel as may be necessary to carry out
the Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts
Education Awards Program, subject to such policies
as the Board shall prescribe under its bylaws.
‘‘(c) APPLICATION.—Each school or student desiring
an award under this title shall submit an application to
the Board at such time, in such manner and accompanied
by such information as the Board may require.
‘‘SEC. 208. LIMITATIONS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to such limitations as
may be provided for under this section, the Board may
take such actions and make such expenditures as may be
necessary to carry out the Congressional Recognition for
Excellence in Arts Education Awards Program, except
that the Board shall carry out its functions and make ex-
penditures with only such resources as are available to the
Board from the Congressional Recognition for Excellence
in Arts Education Awards Trust Fund under section 211.
‘‘(b) CONTRACTS.—The Board may enter into such
contracts as may be appropriate to carry out the business
of the Board, but the Board may not enter into any con-
tract which will obligate the Board to expend an amount
greater than the amount available to the Board for the
purpose of such contract during the fiscal year in which
the expenditure is made.
‘‘(c) GIFTS.—The Board may seek and accept, from
sources other than the Federal Government, funds and
other resources to carry out the Board’s activities. The
Board may not accept any funds or other resources that
are—
‘‘(1) donated with a restriction on their use un-
less such restriction merely provides that such funds
or other resources be used in furtherance of the
Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts
Education Awards Program; or
‘‘(2) donated subject to the condition that the
identity of the donor of the funds or resources shall
remain anonymous.
‘‘(d) VOLUNTEERS.—The Board may accept and uti-
lize the services of voluntary, uncompensated personnel.
‘‘(e) REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY.—The Board
may lease (or otherwise hold), acquire, or dispose of real
or personal property necessary for, or relating to, the du-
ties of the Board.
‘‘(f) PROHIBITIONS.—The Board shall have no
power—
‘‘(1) to issue bonds, notes, debentures, or other
similar obligations creating long-term indebtedness;
‘‘(2) to issue any share of stock or to declare
or pay any dividends; or
‘‘(3) to provide for any part of the income or
assets of the Board to inure to the benefit of any
director, officer, or employee of the Board except as
reasonable compensation for services or reimburse-
ment for expenses.
‘‘SEC. 209. AUDITS.
‘‘The financial records of the Board may be audited
by the Comptroller General of the United States at such
times as the Comptroller General may determine to be ap-
propriate. The Comptroller General, or any duly author-
ized representative of the Comptroller General, shall have
access for the purpose of audit to any books, documents,
papers, and records of the Board (or any agent of the
Board) which, in the opinion of the Comptroller General,
may be pertinent to the Congressional Recognition for Ex-
cellence in Arts Education Awards Program.
‘‘SEC. 210. TERMINATION.
‘‘The Board shall terminate 6 years after the date
of enactment of this title. The Board shall set forth, in
its bylaws, the procedures for dissolution to be followed
by the Board.
‘‘SEC. 211. TRUST FUND.
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF FUND.—There shall be es-
tablished in the Treasury of the United States a trust fund
which shall be known as the ‘‘Congressional Recognition
for Excellence in Arts Education Awards Trust Fund’’.
The fund shall be administered by the Board, and shall
consist of amounts donated to the Board under section
208(c) and amounts credited to the fund under subsection
(d).
‘‘(b) INVESTMENT.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—It shall be the duty of the
Secretary of the Treasury to invest, at the direction
of the Director of the Board, such portion of the
fund that is not, in the judgment of the Director of
the Board, required to meet the current needs of the
fund.
‘‘(2) AUTHORIZED INVESTMENTS.—Such invest-
ments shall be in public debt obligations with matu-
rities suitable to the needs of the fund, as deter-
mined by the Director of the Board. Investments in
public debt obligations shall bear interest at rates
determined by the Secretary of the Treasury taking
into consideration the current market yield on out-
standing marketable obligations of the United States
of comparable maturity.
‘‘(c) AUTHORITY TO SELL OBLIGATIONS.—Any obli-
gation acquired by the fund may be sold by the Secretary
of the Treasury at the market price.
‘‘(d) PROCEEDS
FROM
CERTAIN
TRANSACTIONS
CREDITED TO FUND.—The interest on, and the proceeds
from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held in
the fund shall be credited to and form a part of the fund.’’.