[112th Congress Public Law 272]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[[Page 2447]]
WORLD WAR I CENTENNIAL
COMMISSION ACT
[[Page 126 STAT. 2448]]
Public Law 112-272
112th Congress
An Act
To establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the
centennial of World War I, to provide for the designation of memorials
to the service of members of the United States Armed Forces in World War
I, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Jan. 14, 2013 - [H.R. 6364]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: World War I
Centennial Commission Act. 36 USC prec. 101 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``World War I
Centennial Commission 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. 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 American 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 States would commit its
troops to the defense of foreign 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 individuals from the United States served overseas
during World War I, including 200,000 naval personnel who served
on the seas. The United States suffered 375,000 casualties
during World War I, including 116,516 deaths.
(5) The events of 1914 through 1918 shaped the world, the
United States, and the lives of millions of people.
[[Page 126 STAT. 2449]]
(6) The centennial of World War I offers an opportunity for
people in the United States to learn about and commemorate the
sacrifices of their predecessors.
(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.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act--
(1) America's national world war i museum.--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) Veterans service organization.--The term ``veterans
service organization'' means any organization recognized by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of veterans
under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF WORLD WAR I CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known as
the ``World War I Centennial Commission''.
(b) Membership.--
(1) Composition.--The
Centennial <<NOTE: Appointments.>> Commission 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 Representatives.
(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) <<NOTE: President.>> 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 veterans service organizations).
(F) One member who shall be appointed by the
executive director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of
the United States.
(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 Association.
(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.
[[Page 126 STAT. 2450]]
(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 <<NOTE: Deadlines.>> 30 days after the date on
which all members of the Centennial Commission have been
appointed, the Centennial Commission shall hold its
first meeting.
(B) Location.--The location for the meeting held
under subparagraph (A) shall be the America's National
World War I Museum.
(2) Subsequent meetings.--
(A) In general.--The Centennial Commission shall
meet at the call of the Chair.
(B) Frequency.--The Chair shall call a meeting of
the members of the Centennial Commission 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 Centennial Commission
shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold
hearings.
(d) Chair and Vice Chair.--The Centennial Commission 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 centennial of World War I.
(2) To encourage private organizations and State and local
governments to organize and participate in activities
commemorating the centennial of World War I.
(3) To facilitate and coordinate activities throughout the
United States relating to the centennial of World War I.
(4) To serve as a clearinghouse for the collection 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 Centennial 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 recommendations for commemorating the centennial of
World War I and coordinating related activities.
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,
[[Page 126 STAT. 2451]]
and receive such evidence as the Centennial Commission considers
appropriate to carry out its duties under this Act.
(b) Powers of Member and Agents.--If authorized 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 department or agency shall
furnish such information to the Centennial Commission.
(d) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the
Centennial Commission, the Administrator of the General Services
Administration shall provide to the Centennial Commission, on a
reimbursable basis, the administrative support services necessary for
the Centennial Commission to carry out its responsibilities under this
Act.
(e) Contract Authority.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Centennial Commission is authorized--
(A) to procure supplies, services, and property; 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 termination of the Centennial Commission
under section 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 agencies of the Federal Government.
(g) Gifts, Bequests, and Devises.--The Centennial 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.
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 Centennial Commission shall
be allowed travel expenses, including 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 subparagraph (B), the
Chair of the Centennial Commission may fix the
compensation of the executive director and any other
personnel appointed under paragraph (1).
[[Page 126 STAT. 2452]]
(B) Limitation.--The Chair of the Centennial
Commission may not fix the compensation 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 Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title
5, United States Code.
(C) Work location.--If the <<NOTE: Missouri. Liberty
Memorial Association.>> city government for Kansas City,
Missouri, and the Liberty 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 practical.
(d) Detail of Government Employees.--Upon request of the Centennial
Commission, the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on
a reimbursable 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 Intermittent Services.--The Chair
of the Centennial Commission 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 the only source of funds to cover the costs
incurred by the Centennial Commission under this section.
SEC. 8. TERMINATION OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.
(a) In General.--The Centennial Commission shall terminate on the
earlier of--
(1) the date that is 30 days after the date the completion
of the activities under this Act honoring the centennial
observation of World War I; or
(2) July 28, 2019.
(b) Application of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)
shall apply to the activities of the Centennial Commission under
this Act.
(2) Exception.--Section 14(a)(2) of such Act shall not apply
to the Centennial Commission.
[[Page 126 STAT. 2453]]
SEC. 9. PROHIBITION ON OBLIGATION OF FEDERAL FUNDS.
No Federal funds may be obligated to carry out this Act.
Approved January 14, 2013.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 6364:
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 112-701, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 158 (2012):
Dec. 12, considered and passed House.
Dec. 21, considered and passed Senate, amended.
Dec. 31, House concurred in Senate amendment.
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