National Museum of American LGBTQ+ History and Culture Act
Bill: H.R.9070 | Sponsor: Rep. Pocan, Mark (D-WI)
Policy area: Arts, Culture, Religion

Summary:
National Museum of American LGBTQ+ History and Culture Act
This bill establishes within the Smithsonian Institution the National Museum of American LGBTQ+ History and Culture.
The museum (1) may carry out educational and liaison programs in support of its goals, and (2) shall establish specified grant and scholarship programs.

To establish within the Smithsonian Institution the National Museum of 
      American LGBTQ+ History and Culture, and for other purposes.

    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 ``National Museum of American LGBTQ+ 
History and Culture Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Board of regents.--The term ``Board of Regents'' means 
        the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
            (2) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the National 
        Museum of American LGBTQ+ History and Culture Council 
        established by section 4.
            (3) Museum.--The term ``Museum'' means the National Museum 
        of American LGBTQ+ History and Culture established by section 
        3.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Smithsonian Institution.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF MUSEUM.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established within the Smithsonian 
Institution a museum to be known as the ``National Museum of American 
LGBTQ+ History and Culture''.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Museum shall be to provide for--
            (1) the collection, study, and establishment of programs 
        relating to American LGBTQ+ life, art, history, and culture;
            (2) the creation and maintenance of permanent and temporary 
        exhibits documenting the history of American LGBTQ+ life, art, 
        history, and culture;
            (3) the collection and study of artifacts and documents 
        relating to American LGBTQ+ life, art, history, and culture; 
        and
            (4) collaboration between the Museum and other museums, 
        LGBTQ+-serving institutions, historical societies, educational 
        institutions, and other organizations that promote the study or 
        appreciation of American LGBTQ+ life, art, history, or culture, 
        including collaboration concerning--
                    (A) development of cooperative programs and 
                exhibitions;
                    (B) identification, management, and care of 
                collections; and
                    (C) training of museum professionals.

SEC. 4. COUNCIL.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established within the Smithsonian 
Institution a council to be known as the ``National Museum of American 
LGBTQ+ History and Culture Council''.
    (b) Duties.--
            (1) In general.--The Council shall--
                    (A) make recommendations to the Board of Regents 
                concerning the planning, design, and construction of 
                the Museum;
                    (B) advise and assist the Board of Regents on all 
                matters relating to the administration, operation, 
                maintenance, and preservation of the Museum;
                    (C) recommend annual operating budgets for the 
                Museum to the Board of Regents;
                    (D) report annually to the Board of Regents on the 
                acquisition, disposition, and display of objects 
                relating to American LGBTQ+ life, art, history, and 
                culture; and
                    (E) adopt bylaws for the operation of the Council.
            (2) Principal responsibilities.--The Council, subject to 
        the general policies of the Board of Regents, shall have sole 
        authority to--
                    (A) purchase, accept, borrow, and otherwise acquire 
                artifacts for addition to the collections of the 
                Museum;
                    (B) loan, exchange, sell, and otherwise dispose of 
                any part of the collections of the Museum, but only if 
                the funds generated by that disposition are used for 
                additions to the collections of the Museum; or
                    (C) specify criteria with respect to the use of the 
                collections and resources of the Museum, including 
                policies on programming, education, exhibitions, and 
                research.
            (3) Other responsibilities.--The Council, subject to the 
        general policies of the Board of Regents, shall have 
        authority--
                    (A) to provide for preservation, restoration, and 
                maintenance of the collections of the Museum; and
                    (B) to solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, 
                bequests, and devises of personal property for the 
                purpose of aiding and facilitating the work of the 
                Museum.
    (c) Composition and Appointment.--
            (1) In general.--The Council shall be composed of 19 voting 
        members as provided under paragraph (2).
            (2) Voting members.--The Council shall include the 
        following voting members:
                    (A) The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
                    (B) One member of the Board of Regents, appointed 
                by the Board of Regents.
                    (C) Seventeen individuals appointed by the Board of 
                Regents--
                            (i) taking into consideration individuals 
                        recommended by organizations and entities that 
                        are committed to the advancement of knowledge 
                        of American LGBTQ+ life, art, history, and 
                        culture; and
                            (ii) taking into consideration individuals 
                        recommended by the members of the Council.
            (3) Initial appointments.--The Board of Regents shall make 
        initial appointments to the Council under paragraph (2) not 
        later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (d) Terms.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in this subsection, 
        each appointed member of the Council shall be appointed for a 
        term of 3 years.
            (2) Initial appointees.--As designated by the Board of 
        Regents at the time of appointment, of the voting members first 
        appointed under subsection (c)(2)(C)--
                    (A) six members shall be appointed for a term of 1 
                year;
                    (B) six members shall be appointed for a term of 2 
                years; and
                    (C) five members shall be appointed for a term of 3 
                years.
            (3) Reappointment.--A member of the Council may be 
        reappointed, except that no individual may serve on the Council 
        for a total of more than 2 terms. For purposes of this 
        paragraph, the number of terms an individual serves on the 
        Council shall not include any portion of a term for which an 
        individual is appointed to fill a vacancy under paragraph 
        (4)(B).
            (4) Vacancies.--
                    (A) In general.--A vacancy on the Council--
                            (i) shall not affect the powers of the 
                        Council; and
                            (ii) shall be filled in the same manner as 
                        the original appointment was made.
                    (B) Term.--Any member of the Council appointed to 
                fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the 
                term for which the member's predecessor was appointed 
                shall be appointed for the remainder of that term.
    (e) Compensation.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a 
        member of the Council shall serve without pay.
            (2) Travel expenses.--A member of the Council shall be 
        allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency 
        under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
        Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of 
        the member in the performance of the duties of the Council.
    (f) Chairperson.--By a majority vote of its voting members, the 
Council shall elect a chairperson from its members.
    (g) Meetings.--
            (1) In general.--The Council shall meet at the call of the 
        chairperson or on the written request of a majority of the 
        voting members of the Council, but not fewer than twice each 
        year.
            (2) Initial meetings.--During the 1-year period beginning 
        on the date of the first meeting of the Council, the Council 
        shall meet not fewer than 4 times for the purpose of carrying 
        out the duties of the Council under this Act.
    (h) Quorum.--A majority of the voting members of the Council 
holding office shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting 
business, but a lesser number may receive information on behalf of the 
Council.

SEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF THE MUSEUM.

    (a) Director.--
            (1) In general.--The Museum shall have a Director who shall 
        be appointed by the Secretary, taking into consideration 
        individuals recommended by the Council.
            (2) Duties.--The Director shall manage the Museum subject 
        to the policies of the Board of Regents.
    (b) Staff.--The Secretary may appoint two additional employees to 
serve under the Director, except that such additional employees may be 
appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States 
Code, governing appointments in the competitive service.
    (c) Pay.--The employees appointed by the Secretary under subsection 
(b) may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and 
subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating 
to classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates.

SEC. 6. EDUCATIONAL AND LIAISON PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Programs authorized.--The Director of the Museum may 
        carry out educational and liaison programs in support of the 
        goals of the Museum.
            (2) Specific activities described.--In carrying out this 
        section, the Director shall--
                    (A) carry out educational programs relating to 
                American LGBTQ+ life, art, history, and culture, 
                including--
                            (i) programs using digital, electronic, and 
                        interactive technologies; and
                            (ii) programs carried out in collaboration 
                        with elementary schools, secondary schools, and 
                        postsecondary schools; and
                    (B) consult with the Director of the Institute of 
                Museum and Library Services concerning the grant and 
                scholarship programs carried out under subsection (b).
    (b) Grant and Scholarship Programs.--In consultation with the 
Council and the Director of the Museum, the Director of the Institute 
of Museum and Library Services shall establish--
            (1) a grant program with the purpose of improving 
        operations, care of collections, and development of 
        professional management at American LGBTQ+ museums;
            (2) a grant program with the purpose of providing 
        internship and fellowship opportunities at American LGBTQ+ 
        museums; and
            (3) a scholarship program with the purpose of assisting 
        individuals who are pursuing careers or carrying out studies in 
        the arts, humanities, and sciences in the study of American 
        LGBTQ+ life, art, history, and culture.
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