An Act to extend the authority of the American Battle Monuments Commission to all areas In which the Armed Forces of the United States have conducted operations since April 8, 1917, and for other purposes
PL 84-792 (S.3498), enacted 07/25/1956

640 
PUBLIC LAW 792-JULY 25, 1956 
[70 8T 
A T , 
July 25, 1956 
[S. 3498] 
Public Law 792 
CHAPTER 721 
AN ACT 
To extend authority of the American Battle Monuments Commission to ail areas 
in which the Armed Forces of the United States have conducted operations 
since April 6,1917, and for other purposes. 
American Battle 
Monuments C o m -
mission. 
Compensation. 
Personnel. 
EffecUve date. 
Repeals. 
33 u s e 126, 129, 
130. 
Redesignations. 
Cemeteries out-
side U. S. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the second and 
third paragraphs of the first section of the Act entitled "An Act for 
the creation or the American Battle Monuments Commission to erect 
suitable memorials commemorating the services of the American 
Soldier in Europe, and for other purposes", approved March 4, 1923 
(42 Stat. 1509, as amended; 36 U. S. C. 121), are amended to read as 
follows: 
"The members of the Commission shall serve as such without com-
pensation, except that (1) their actual expenses in connection with the 
work of the Commission,^ and (2) when in a travel status, a per diem of 
$20 in lieu of subsistence, may be paid to them from any funds appro-
priated for the purposes of this Act, or acquired by other means here-
inafter authorized, 
"Upon the request of the Commission, the heads of the Federal 
departments or agencies are authorized to designate such personnel, 
and to make available to the Commission such facilities, of their re-
spective departments or agencies, or of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or 
Marine Corps, as the case may be, as may be necessary to assist in 
carrying out the purposes of this Act, and may expend for such pur-
poses any funds appropriated to such departments, agencies, and serv-
ices, with reimbursement from the Commission for the pay and 
allowances of the personnel so designated. 
The Commission is au-
thorized to employ such further personnel as may be necessary to 
carry out the purposes of this Act, within the limits of any appro-
priation or apj)ropriations made for such purposes. 
"The provisions of this subsection shall take effect on the first day 
of the first calendar month following the date of enactment of this 
Act." 
SEC. 2. (a) Sections 5,8, and 9 of such Act are repealed. 
(b) Sections 2, 3, and 4 of such Act are redesignated as sections 3, 4, 
and 5, respectively, of such Act. 
(c) Sections 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 of such Act are redesignated as 
sections 8, 9,10, 11, and 12, respectively, of such Act. 
(d) Each reference made hereinafter to any section of such Act, 
the numbering of which is redesignated by subsection (b) or (c) of 
this section, shall be deemed to be made to such section as so redesig-
nated. 
SEC. 3. (a) Such Act is amended by inserting, immediately after the 
first section thereof, the following new section: 
" S E C 2. AVhen, as a result of combat operations, the Armed Forces 
shall establish military cemeteries in zones of operations outside the 
United States and its Territories and possessions, the Commission and 
the Secretary of the Army immediately upon the cessation of hostili-
ties, shall determine which of the cemeteries so established, if any, 
shall become permanent cemeteries or, as they may deem desirable, 
select new sites at any other location for such cemeteries. 
The 
Commission shall be solely responsible for the design and construc-
tion of such permanent cemeteries, and of all buildings, plantings, 
headstones, and other permanent improvements incidental thereto 
except that (1) the Armed Forces shall be responsible for the main-
tenance of such permanent cemeteries until such time as the Commis-
sion shall express its readiness to assume the functions of administra-
70 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 792-JULY 25, 1956 
641 
tion hereinafter authorized^ (2) all construction undertaken by the 
Armed Forces in establishing and maintaining the cemetery prior 
to its transfer to the Commission shall be nonpermanent in nature, 
(3) burials and reburials therein by the Armed Forces shall be carried 
out in accordance with plans prepared by the Commission, (4) the 
Armed Forces shall have the right to re-enter any cemeteries trans-
ferred to the Commission for the purpose of making exhumations or 
reinterments should they deem any such action to be necessary." 
(b) Section 3 of such Act is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 3. The Commission shall prepare plans and estimates for the 
erection of suitable memorials to commemorate the services of the 
American Armed Forces, and shall erect and maintain memorials in 
the United States and at such places outside the United States where 
the American Armed Forces have served since April 6, 1917, or shall 
hereafter serve, as the Commission shall determine. 
The Commission 
shall also erect and maintain works of architecture and art in such 
American cemeteries located outside of the United States, its Terri-
tories, and possessions, as have been or may hereafter be declared to 
be permanent cemeteries. Works of architecture and art erected by 
the Commission in cemeteries within the United States, its Territories 
and possessions, shall be maintained by the Department of Defense. 
"The Commission shall control as to materials and design and pro-
vide regulations for, and supervise the erection of, all memorial monu-
ments and buildings in American cemeteries located outside the 
United States, its Territories, and possessions. 
"The Commission shall control as to design and provide regulations 
for the erection of all memorial monuments and buildings commemo-
rating the services of the American Armed Forces erected in any for-
eign country or political division thereof which may authorize the 
Commission to perform such functions." 
(c) Section 4 of such Act is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 4. Before any design for any memorial is accepted by the 
Commission, it shall be approved by the National Commission of 
Fine Arts." 
SEC. 4. (a) Section 9 of such Act is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 9. The records and archives of the Commission, shall, when 
no longer required by the Commission, be deposited with the Na-
tional Archives in accordance with the provisions of the Federal 
Kecords Act of 1950 (44 U. S. C. 397)." 
(b) Section 10 of such Act is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 10. The President may by Executive order transfer to the 
Commission, with respect to any permanent military cemeteries lo-
cated outside of the United States, its Territories and possessions, 
the same functions of administration which were transferred to the 
Commission by Executive Order 6614, dated February 26, 1934, and 
Executive Order 10057, dated May 14, 1949, as amended by Executive 
Order 10087, dated December 3, 1949, together with any supplies, 
materials and equipment located therein or in military depots over-
seas which are excess to the needs of the Department of Defense 
and are requested by the Commission for the performance of such 
functions. 
Thereafter the Commission shall be responsible for the 
maintenance of such cemetery and of all improvements therein." 
(c) Section 12 of such Act is amended by— 
(1) striking out the words "such purposes" in the first para-
graph thereof, and inserting in lieu thereof the words "the pur-
poses of this Act"; 
(2) inserting in the second paragraph thereof, immediately 
after the word "outside", a comma and the words "or for use 
outside,"; and, 
36 u s e 123. 
Memorials. 
Powers and du-
ties. 
36 u s e 124. 
Design. 
Approval. 
36 u s e 138. 
R e c o r d s 
archives. 
a n d 
36 u s e 132. 
Admin 1 strative 
functions. 
Transfer. 
36 u s e 132 notes. 
60 Stat. 317. 
36 u s e 138b. 
69225 O - 57 - 45 (Vol. 70) 
642 
PUBLIC LAW 793-JULY 25, 1956 
[70 S T A T . 
Claims. 
57 Stat. 66. 
(3) inserting, immediately after the third paragraph thereof, 
the following new paragraph: 
"Claims of the type described in the first section of the Act entitled 
'An Act to provide for the prompt settlement of claims for damages 
occasioned by Army, Navy, and Marine Corps forces in foreign coun-
tries', approved January 2,1942 (55 Stat. 880, as amended; 31 U. S. C. 
224d), on account of damage to or loss or destruction of property both 
real and personal, or personal injury or death of any person, arising 
on or after the date of the enactment of this paragraph and caused by 
the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any officer or civilian 
employee of the Commission while acting within the scope of his office 
or employment, may be considered, ascertained, adjusted, determined, 
and paid in the manner provided in such Act for the settlement of 
Army claims, except that in such cases one or more officers or employees 
of the Commission may be appointed by the Secretary of the Army 
to a claims commission or commissions or as officers to approve settle-
ments of claims made by such commission or commissions, and all pay-
ments in settlement of such claims shall be made out of appropriations 
made for the purposes of this Act." 
Approved July 25, 1956. 
July 25, 1956 
[S. 3180] 
Public Law 793 
CHAPTER 722 
AN ACT 
To amend title 28 of the United States Code to authorize the appointment of 
two United States commissioners for Cumberland Gap National Historical 
Park. 
Cumberland Gap 
National Historical 
Park. 
62 Stat. 916. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate imd House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 631 
(a) of title 28 of the United States (^ode is amended by inserting 
after the third paragraph of such section the following new paragraph: 
"Two United States commissioners may be appointed for Cumber-
land Gap National Historical Park. 
One, whose jurisdiction shall 
be limited to the portion of the park situated in Kentucky, shall be 
appointed by the District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky; 
the other, whose jurisdiction shall be limited to the portion of the 
park situated in Tennessee and Virginia, shall be appointed by joint 
action of the District Courts for the Eastern District of Tennessee 
and the Western District of Virginia." 
Approved July 25, 1956. 
July 25, 1956 
[S.3397] 
Public Law 794 
CHAPTER 723 
AN ACT 
To amend section 3 of the Act of May 19, 1947 (ch. 80, 61 Stat. 102), as amended, 
for the purpose of extending the time in which payments are to be made to 
members of the Shoshone Tribe and the Arapahoe Tribe of the Wind River 
Reservation in Wyoming, and for other purposes. 
Indians. 
S h o s h o n e and 
Arapahoe Tribes. 
25 u s e 613. 
Per capita pay-
ments. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 3 of 
the Act entitled "An Act to authorize the segregation and expenditure 
of trust funds held in joint ownership by the Shoshone and Arapahoe 
Tribes of the Wind River Reservation", approved May 19, 1947 (ch. 
80, 61 Stat. 102), as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 3. Notwithstanding any other provision of existing law, the 
trust funds credited to the Shoshone Tribe and the Arapahoe Tribe,