I 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6364 
To establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial 
of World War I, to designate memorials to the service of members 
of the United States Armed Forces in World War I, including a National 
World War I Memorial on the National Mall in the District of Columbia, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 
Mr. POE of Texas (for himself, Ms. NORTON, and Mr. CLEAVER) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Re-
sources, 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 a commission to ensure a suitable observance 
of the centennial of World War I, to designate memorials 
to the service of members of the United States Armed 
Forces in World War I, including a National World 
War I Memorial on the National Mall in the District 
of Columbia, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
Sec. 4. Establishment of World War I Centennial Commission. 
Sec. 5. Duties of Centennial Commission. 
Sec. 6. Powers of Centennial Commission. 
Sec. 7. Centennial Commission personnel matters. 
Sec. 8. Termination of Centennial Commission. 
Sec. 9. Designation of National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas 
City, Missouri. 
Sec. 10. Establishment of National World War I Memorial on the National 
Mall in the District of Columbia. 
Sec. 11. Prohibition on obligation of Federal funds. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) From 2014 through 2018, the United 
States and nations around the world will mark the 
centennial of World War I, including the entry of 
the United States into the war in April 1917. 
(2) America’s support of Great Britain, France, 
Belgium, and its other allies in World War I marked 
the first time in United States history that Amer-
ican soldiers went abroad in defense of liberty 
against foreign aggression, and it marked the true 
beginning of the ‘‘American century’’. 
(3) Although World War I was at the time 
called ‘‘the war to end all wars’’, in fact the United 
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States would commit its troops to the defense of for-
eign lands 3 more times in the 20th century. 
(4) More than 4,000,000 men and women from 
the United States served in uniform during World 
War I, among them 2 future presidents, Harry S. 
Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Two million in-
dividuals from the United States served overseas 
during World War I, including 200,000 naval per-
sonnel who served on the seas. The United States 
suffered 375,000 casualties during World War I, in-
cluding 116,516 deaths. 
(5) The events of 1914 through 1918 shaped 
the world, the United States, and the lives of mil-
lions of people. 
(6) The centennial of World War I offers an op-
portunity for people in the United States to learn 
about and commemorate the sacrifices of their pred-
ecessors. 
(7) Commemorative programs, activities, and 
sites allow people in the United States to learn 
about the history of World War I, the United States 
involvement in that war, and the war’s effects on the 
remainder of the 20th century, and to commemorate 
and honor the participation of the United States and 
its citizens in the war effort. 
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(8) While the other great conflicts of the 20th 
century, World War II, the Korean War, and the 
Vietnam War, have national memorials on the Mall 
in Washington, DC, there currently exists no na-
tional memorial honoring the service of the United 
States and its citizens in World War I. 
(9) In 1921, the people of Kansas City, Mis-
souri, dedicated a site in that city for a memorial to 
the service of Americans in World War I, a cere-
mony attended by General John J. Pershing and 
military leaders of Great Britain, France, Belgium, 
and Italy. In 1924, the cornerstone of the 217-foot 
Liberty Memorial Tower was laid. On Armistice Day 
1926, President Calvin Coolidge delivered the key 
note address at the Memorial’s dedication ceremony. 
The Memorial and surrounding grounds were com-
pleted in 1938, with an inscription that reads ‘‘In 
Honor of Those Who Served in the World War in 
Defense of Liberty and Our Country.’’. 
(10) The 106th Congress recognized the Lib-
erty Memorial as a national symbol of World War I. 
(11) The 108th Congress designated the mu-
seum at the base of the Liberty Memorial as ‘‘Amer-
ica’s National World War I Museum’’. The museum 
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preserves the story of World War I, and educates 
and enlightens people about this significant event. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act— 
(1) AMERICA’S NATIONAL WORLD WAR I MU-
SEUM.—The term ‘‘America’s National World War I 
Museum’’ means the Liberty Memorial Museum in 
Kansas City, Missouri, as recognized by Congress in 
section 1031(b) of the Ronald W. Reagan National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 
(Public Law 108–375; 118 Stat. 2045). 
(2) 
CENTENNIAL
COMMISSION.—The 
term 
‘‘Centennial Commission’’ means the World War I 
Centennial Commission established by section 4(a). 
(3) MEMORIAL FOUNDATION.—The term ‘‘Me-
morial Foundation’’ means the World War I Memo-
rial Foundation authorized to establish the National 
World War I Memorial in the District of Columbia 
under section 10. 
(4) VETERANS
SERVICE
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘‘veterans service organization’’ means any or-
ganization recognized by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs for the representation of veterans under sec-
tion 5902 of title 38, United States Code. 
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SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF WORLD WAR I CENTENNIAL 
COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com-
mission to be known as the ‘‘World War I Centennial 
Commission’’. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) COMPOSITION.—The Centennial Commis-
sion shall be composed of 12 members as follows: 
(A) Two members who shall be appointed 
by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
(B) One member who shall be appointed 
by the minority leader of the House of Rep-
resentatives. 
(C) Two members who shall be appointed 
by the majority leader of the Senate. 
(D) One member who shall be appointed 
by the minority leader of the Senate. 
(E) Three members who shall be appointed 
by the President from among persons who are 
broadly representative of the people of the 
United States (including members of the Armed 
Forces, veterans, and representatives of vet-
erans service organizations). 
(F) One member who shall be appointed by 
the executive director of the Veterans of For-
eign Wars of the United States. 
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(G) One member who shall be appointed by 
the executive director of the American Legion. 
(H) One member who shall be appointed 
by the president of the Liberty Memorial Asso-
ciation. 
(2) TIME FOR APPOINTMENT.—The members of 
the Centennial Commission shall be appointed not 
later than 60 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(3) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT.—Each member 
shall be appointed for the life of the Centennial 
Commission. 
(4) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Centennial 
Commission shall be filled in the manner in which 
the original appointment was made. 
(c) MEETINGS.— 
(1) INITIAL MEETING.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days 
after the date on which all members of the Cen-
tennial Commission have been appointed, the 
Centennial Commission shall hold its first meet-
ing. 
(B) LOCATION.—The location for the 
meeting held under subparagraph (A) shall be 
the America’s National World War I Museum. 
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(2) SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Centennial Com-
mission shall meet at the call of the Chair. 
(B) FREQUENCY.—The Chair shall call a 
meeting of the members of the Centennial Com-
mission not less frequently than once each year. 
(C) LOCATION.—Not less frequently than 
once each year, the Centennial Commission 
shall meet at the America’s National World 
War I Museum. 
(3) QUORUM.—Seven members of the Centen-
nial Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a 
lesser number may hold hearings. 
(d) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.—The Centennial Com-
mission shall select a Chair and Vice Chair from among 
its members. 
SEC. 5. DUTIES OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The duties of the Centennial 
Commission are as follows: 
(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-
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pate in activities commemorating the centennial of 
World War I. 
(3) To facilitate and coordinate activities 
throughout the United States relating 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. 
(5) To develop recommendations for Congress 
and the President for commemorating the centennial 
of World War I. 
(b) REPORTS.— 
(1) PERIODIC REPORT.—Not later than the last 
day of the 6-month period beginning on the date of 
the enactment of this Act, and not later than the 
last day of each 3-month period thereafter, the Cen-
tennial Commission shall submit to Congress and 
the President a report on the activities and plans of 
the Centennial Commission. 
(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 2 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Centennial Commission shall submit to Congress 
and the President a report containing specific rec-
ommendations for commemorating the centennial of 
World War I and coordinating related activities. 
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SEC. 6. POWERS OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS.—The Centennial Commission may 
hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, 
take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Cen-
tennial Commission considers appropriate to carry out its 
duties under this Act. 
(b) POWERS OF MEMBER AND AGENTS.—If author-
ized by the Centennial Commission, any member or agent 
of the Centennial Commission may take any action which 
the Centennial Commission is authorized to take under 
this Act. 
(c) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The 
Centennial Commission shall secure directly from any 
Federal department or agency such information as the 
Centennial Commission considers necessary to carry out 
the provisions of this Act. Upon the request of the Chair 
of the Centennial Commission, the head of such depart-
ment or agency shall furnish such information to the Cen-
tennial Commission. 
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon 
the request of the Centennial Commission, the Adminis-
trator of the General Services Administration shall provide 
to the Centennial Commission, on a reimbursable basis, 
the administrative support services necessary for the Cen-
tennial Commission to carry out its responsibilities under 
this Act. 
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(e) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the Centennial Commission is author-
ized— 
(A) to procure supplies, services, and prop-
erty; and 
(B) to make or enter into contracts, leases, 
or other legal agreements. 
(2) LIMITATION.—The Centennial Commission 
may not enter into any contract, lease, or other legal 
agreement that extends beyond the date of the ter-
mination of the Centennial Commission under sec-
tion 8(a). 
(f) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Centennial Commission 
may use the United States mails in the same manner and 
under the same conditions as other departments and agen-
cies of the Federal Government. 
(g) GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND DEVISES.—The Centen-
nial Commission shall accept, use, and dispose of gifts, 
bequests, or devises of services or property, both real and 
personal, for the purpose of covering the costs incurred 
by the Centennial Commission to carry out its duties 
under this Act. 
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SEC. 7. CENTENNIAL COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 
(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Members of the 
Centennial Commission shall serve without compensation 
for such service. 
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the Cen-
tennial Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, in-
cluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with 
the applicable provisions of title 5, United States Code. 
(c) STAFF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chair of the Centennial 
Commission shall, in consultation with the members 
of the Centennial Commission, appoint an executive 
director and such other additional personnel as may 
be necessary to enable the Centennial Commission to 
perform its duties. 
(2) COMPENSATION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the Chair of the Centennial Commis-
sion may fix the compensation of the executive 
director and any other personnel appointed 
under paragraph (1). 
(B) LIMITATION.—The Chair of the Cen-
tennial Commission may not fix the compensa-
tion of the executive director or other personnel 
appointed under paragraph (1) at a rate that 
exceeds the rate of payable for level IV of the 
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Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 
5, United States Code. 
(C) WORK LOCATION.—If the city govern-
ment for Kansas City, Missouri, and the Lib-
erty Memorial Association make space available 
in the building in which the America’s National 
World War I Museum is located, the executive 
director of the Centennial Commission and 
other personnel appointed under paragraph (1) 
shall work in such building to the extent prac-
tical. 
(d) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Upon 
request of the Centennial Commission, the head of any 
Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimburs-
able basis, any employee of that department or agency to 
the Centennial Commission to assist it in carrying out its 
duties under this Act. 
(e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT-
TENT SERVICES.—The Chair of the Centennial Commis-
sion may procure temporary and intermittent services 
under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code. 
(f) SOURCE OF FUNDS.—Gifts, bequests, and devises 
of services or property, both real and personal, received 
by the Centennial Commission under section 6(g) shall be 
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