H. R. 2135
One Hundred Third Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the twenty-fifth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-four
An Act
To provide for a National Native American Veterans’ Memorial.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Native American Veterans’ Memo-
rial Establishment Act of 1994’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Native Americans across the Nation—Indians, Native
Alaskans, and Native Hawaiians—have a long, proud and
distinguished tradition of service in the Armed Forces of the
United States.
(2) Native Americans have historically served in the Armed
Forces of the United States in numbers which far exceed their
representation in the population of the United States.
(3) Native American veterans count among themselves a
number of Medal of Honor recipients. Their numbers are also
conspicuous in the ranks of those who have received other
decorations for valor and distinguished service.
(4) Native Americans have lost their lives in the service
of their Nation and in the cause of peace.
(5) The National Museum of the American Indian was
established as a living memorial to Native Americans. Its mis-
sion is to advance knowledge and understanding of Native
American cultures, including art, history, language, and the
contributions Native Americans have made to our society.
(6) The National Museum of the American Indian is an
extraordinary site and an ideal location to establish a National
Native American Veterans’ Memorial.
(7) A National Native American Veterans’ Memorial would
further the purposes of the National Museum of the American
Indian by giving all Americans the opportunity to learn of
the proud and courageous tradition of service of Native Ameri-
cans in the Armed Forces of the United States.
SEC. 3. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH MEMORIAL.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The National Museum of the American Indian
(established by the National Museum of the American Indian Act
(20 U.S.C. 80q et seq.)), in close consultation with the National
Congress of American Indians and other Native American groups,
is authorized to construct and maintain a National Native American
H. R. 2135—2
Veterans’ Memorial (hereafter in this Act referred to as the
‘‘memorial’’).
(b) LOCATION.—The memorial shall be located at a site deter-
mined to be suitable by the Museum within the interior structure
of the facility provided for by section 7(a) of such Act (20 U.S.C.
80q–5(a)) (relating to housing the portion of the Museum to be
located in the District of Columbia).
(c) DESIGN AND PLANS.—(1) The National Congress of American
Indians, in consultation with the Museum, is authorized to hold
a competition to select the design of the Memorial. Any design
so selected shall be compatible with both the purpose of the
Museum, as set forth in section 3(b) of the National Museum
of the American Indian Act (20 U.S.C. 80q–1), and with any existing
design plans for the Museum’s structure and its surroundings.
(2) Any design so selected shall be subject to the approval
of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
SEC. 4. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES AND USE OF NAME.
(a) RESPONSIBILITY
OF NATIONAL CONGRESS
OF AMERICAN
INDIANS.—The National Congress of American Indians shall be
solely responsible for acceptance of contributions for, and payment
of the expenses of, the establishment of the memorial. No Federal
funds may be used to pay any expense of the establishment of
the memorial.
(b) USE OF NAME.—Use of the name of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion or the National Museum of the American Indian in any mate-
rial regarding the memorial produced by the National Congress
of American Indians, other than in a manner simply describing
the location of the memorial, shall be subject to consultation with,
and the approval of, the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian
Institution.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.