To establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Women's History Museum, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Commission to Study the Potential 
Creation of a National Women's History Museum Act of 2012''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the 
        Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National 
        Women's History Museum established by section 3(a).
            (2) Museum.--The term ``Museum'' means the National Women's 
        History Museum.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--There is established the Commission to Study the 
Potential Creation of a National Women's History Museum.
    (b) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of 8 members, of 
whom--
            (1) 2 members shall be appointed by the majority leader of 
        the Senate;
            (2) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
        House of Representatives;
            (3) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
        the Senate; and
            (4) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
        the House of Representatives.
    (c) Qualifications.--Members of the Commission shall be appointed 
to the Commission from among individuals, or representatives of 
institutions or entities, who possess--
            (1)(A) a demonstrated commitment to the research, study, or 
        promotion of women's history, art, political or economic 
        status, or culture; and
            (B)(i) expertise in museum administration;
            (ii) expertise in fundraising for nonprofit or cultural 
        institutions;
            (iii) experience in the study and teaching of women's 
        history at the post-secondary level;
            (iv) experience in studying the issue of the representation 
        of women 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 construction of 
        museum facilities.
    (d) Prohibition.--No employee of the Federal Government may serve 
as a member of the Commission.
    (e) Deadline for Initial Appointment.--The initial members of the 
Commission shall be appointed not later than the date that is 90 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (f) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission--
            (1) shall not affect the powers of the Commission; and
            (2) shall be filled in the same manner as the original 
        appointment was made.
    (g) Chairperson.--The Commission shall, by majority vote of all of 
the members, select 1 member of the Commission to serve as the 
Chairperson of the Commission.

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Reports.--
            (1) Plan of action.--The Commission shall submit to the 
        President and Congress a report containing the recommendations 
        of the Commission with respect to a plan of action for the 
        establishment and maintenance of a National Women's History 
        Museum in Washington, 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.
                    (B) The impact of the Museum on regional women 
                history-related museums.
                    (C) Potential locations for the Museum in 
                Washington, DC, and its environs (including the 
                location located on public land bounded by Independence 
                Avenue SW., 14th Street SW., 15th Street SW., and 
                Jefferson Drive SW., in Washington, DC, that is 
                established subject to chapter 89 of title 40, United 
                States Code (commonly known as the ``Commemorative 
                Works Act'')).
                    (D) Whether the Museum should be part of the 
                Smithsonian Institution.
                    (E) The governance and organizational structure 
                from which the Museum should operate.
                    (F) Best practices for engaging women 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 develop a fundraising 
        plan to support the establishment and maintenance of the Museum 
        through contributions from the public.
            (2) Considerations.--In developing the fundraising plan 
        under paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider--
                    (A) the role of the National Women's History Museum 
                (a nonprofit, educational organization described in 
                section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
                that was incorporated in 1996 in Washington, DC and 
                dedicated for the purpose of establishing a women's 
                history museum) in raising funds for the construction 
                of the Museum; and
                    (B) issues relating to funding the operations and 
                maintenance of the Museum in perpetuity.
    (c) Legislation To Carry Out Plan of Action.--Based on the 
recommendations contained in the report submitted under paragraphs (1) 
and (2) of subsection (a), the Commission shall submit for 
consideration to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
House Administration, Natural Resources, and Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives and the Committees on Rules and 
Administration, Energy and Natural Resources, and Appropriations of the 
Senate recommendations for a legislative plan of action to establish 
and construct the Museum.
    (d) National Conference.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
on which the initial members of the Commission are appointed under 
section 3, the Commission may, in carrying out the duties of the 
Commission under this section, convene a national conference relating 
to the Museum, to be comprised of individuals committed to the 
advancement of the life, art, history, and culture of women.

SEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Director and Staff.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission may employ and compensate 
        an executive director and any other additional personnel that 
        are necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties of 
        the Commission.
            (2) Rates of pay.--Rates of pay for persons employed under 
        paragraph (1) shall be consistent with the rates of pay allowed 
        for employees of a temporary organization under section 3161 of 
        title 5, United States Code.
    (b) Not Federal Employment.--Any individual employed under this Act 
shall not be considered a Federal employee for the purpose of any law 
governing Federal employment.
    (c) Technical Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), on request of 
        the Commission, the head of a Federal agency may provide 
        technical assistance to the Commission.
            (2) Prohibition.--No Federal employees may be detailed to 
        the Commission.

SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    (a) Compensation.--
            (1) In general.--A member of the Commission--
                    (A) shall not be considered to be a Federal 
                employee for any purpose by reason of service on the 
                Commission; and
                    (B) shall serve without pay.
            (2) Travel expenses.--A member of the Commission shall be 
        allowed a per diem allowance for travel expenses, at rates 
        consistent with those authorized under subchapter I of chapter 
        57 of title 5, United States Code.
    (b) Gifts, Bequests, Devises.--The Commission may solicit, accept, 
use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of money, services, or 
real or personal property for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the 
work of the Commission.
    (c) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Commission shall not be 
subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).

SEC. 7. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 30 days after 
the date on which the final versions of the reports required under 
section 4(a) are submitted.

SEC. 8. FUNDING.

    (a) In General.--The Commission shall be solely responsible for 
acceptance of contributions for, and payment of the expenses of, the 
Commission.
    (b) Prohibition.--No Federal funds may be obligated to carry out 
this Act.

Summary: Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Women's History Museum Act of 2012 - Establishes the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Women's History Museum to submit to the President and Congress a report containing recommendations with respect to a plan of action for the establishment and maintenance of a National Women's History Museum in Washington, D.C.

Requires the Commission to be composed of eight members. Directs the Senate Majority Leader, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senate Minority Leader, and House Minority Leader to each appoint two Commission members.

Directs the Commission to: (1) report on issues including potential locations for the Museum and whether it should be part of the Smithsonian Institution, and (2) develop a fundraising plan to support the establishment and maintenance of the Museum through contributions from the public.

Authorizes the Commission to employ and compensate an executive director and other necessary personnel.

Terminates the Commission within a specified period after it has submitted its final reports pursuant to this Act.

Prohibits federal funds from being obligated to carry out this Act.