Title: Commission to Study the Creation of a National Museum of Irish American History
Policy area: Arts, Culture, Religion

Summary:
Commission to Study the Creation of a National Museum of Irish American History
This bill establishes a commission to study the potential for creating a National Museum of Irish American History.
The commission shall report to the President and Congress on:
The commission shall: (1) develop and obtain an independent review of a fund-raising plan to support the museum through public contributions, and (2) submit recommendations for a legislative plan of action for the creation and construction of the museum.
The commission may host a national conference on the museum for individuals who are committed to the advancement of Irish-American life, art, history, and culture.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1596 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1596

   To establish the Commission to study the potential creation of a 
   National Museum of Irish American History, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 17, 2017

Mr. Byrne (for himself, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Neal, Mr. Meehan, Mr. 
 Murphy of Pennsylvania, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Lynch, and Mr. McGovern) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
     Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on House 
   Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish the Commission to study the potential creation of a 
   National Museum of Irish American History, 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 ``Commission to Study the Creation of 
a National Museum of Irish American History''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the 
        Commission to study the potential creation of a National Museum 
        of Irish American History established by section 3(a).
            (2) Museum.--The term ``Museum'' means the National Museum 
        of Irish American History.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment of Commission.--
            (1) In general.--There is established the Commission to 
        study the potential creation of an Irish American Museum.
            (2) Membership.--The Commission shall consist of 23 members 
        appointed not later than 6 months after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act as follows:
                    (A) The President shall appoint 7 voting members.
                    (B) The Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
                the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, 
                the Majority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority 
                Leader of the Senate shall each appoint--
                            (i) 3 voting members; and
                            (ii) 1 nonvoting member.
            (3) Qualifications.--Members of the Commission shall be 
        chosen from individuals, or representatives of institutions or 
        entities, who possess either--
                    (A) a demonstrated commitment to the research, 
                study, or promotion of Irish-American life, art, 
                history, political or economic status, or culture, 
                together with--
                            (i) expertise in museum administration;
                            (ii) expertise in fundraising for nonprofit 
                        or cultural institutions;
                            (iii) experience in the study and teaching 
                        of Irish-American culture and history at the 
                        post-secondary level;
                            (iv) experience in studying the issue of 
                        the Smithsonian Institution's representation of 
                        Irish-American art, life, history, and culture; 
                        or
                            (v) extensive experience in public or 
                        elected service; or
                    (B) experience in the administration of, or the 
                planning for the establishment of, museums devoted to 
                the study and promotion of the role of ethnic, racial, 
                or cultural groups in American history.
            (4) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission--
                    (A) shall not affect the powers of the Commission; 
                and
                    (B) shall be filled in the same manner as the 
                original appointment was made.
            (5) 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 for the establishment and maintenance of 
        museum.--The Commission shall submit a report to the President 
        and the Congress containing its recommendations with respect to 
        a plan of action for the establishment and maintenance of an 
        Irish-American Museum in Washington, D.C.
            (2) Report on issues.--The Commission shall examine, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 
        and submit a report to the President and the Congress on 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 Irish-
                American-related museums.
                    (C) Possible locations for the Museum in 
                Washington, D.C. and its environs, to be considered in 
                consultation with the National Capital Planning 
                Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts, the 
                Department of the Interior, and Smithsonian 
                Institution.
                    (D) Whether the Museum should be located within the 
                Smithsonian Institution.
                    (E) The governance and organizational structure 
                from which the Museum should operate.
                    (F) How to engage the Irish-American community in 
                the development and design of the Museum.
                    (G) The cost of constructing, operating, and 
                maintaining the Museum.
    (b) Fundraising Plan.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall develop a fundraising 
        plan to support the establishment, operation, and maintenance 
        of the Museum through contributions from the public.
            (2) Considerations.--In developing the fundraising plan 
        under paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider issues 
        relating to funding the operations and maintenance of the 
        Museum in perpetuity without reliance on appropriations of 
        Federal funds.
    (c) Independent Review.--The Commission shall obtain an independent 
review of the viability of the plan developed under subsection (b)(1) 
and such review shall include an analysis as to whether the plan is 
likely to achieve the level of resources necessary to fund the 
construction of the Museum and the operations and maintenance of the 
Museum in perpetuity without reliance on appropriations of Federal 
funds.
    (d) Submission.--The Commission shall submit the plan developed 
under subsection (b)(1) and the review conducted under paragraph (3) 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.
    (e) Recommendations for Legislation To Carry Out Plan of Action.--
Based on the recommendations contained in the report submitted under 
subsection (a), the Commission shall submit for consideration 
recommendations for a legislative plan of action to create and 
construct the Museum to--
            (1) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
        the House of Representatives;
            (2) the Committee on House Administration of the House of 
        Representatives;
            (3) the Committee on Rules and Administration of the 
        Senate;
            (4) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
        Representatives;
            (5) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
        Senate; and
            (6) the Committees on Appropriations of the House of 
        Representatives and the Senate
    (f) Deadline for Submission of Reports.--The Commission shall 
submit final versions the reports and plans required--
            (1) under subsection (a) and (b) not later than 24 months 
        after the date of the Commission's first meeting; and
            (2) under subsection (e) not later than 12 months after the 
        date that the reports and plans referred to in paragraph (1) 
        are submitted.
    (g) National Conference.--In carrying out its functions under this 
section, not later than 18 months after the commission members are 
selected, the Commission may host a national conference on the Museum, 
comprised of individuals committed to the advancement of Irish-American 
life, art, history, and culture.

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) Detailees.--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 is not subject 
to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

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 and plans required 
under section 4 are submitted.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated for carrying out the 
activities of the Commission--
            (1) $2,100,000 for the first fiscal year beginning after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act; and
            (2) $1,100,000 for the second fiscal year beginning after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act.
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