119-hr1102

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1102 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 1102

 To establish the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a 
National Museum of Italian American History and Culture, and for other 
 purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 February 6, 2025

Mr. Suozzi (for himself, Mr. Rulli, Mr. Amodei of Nevada, Ms. DeLauro, 
 Mr. Panetta, Mr. Garbarino, Mr. Lawler, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Peters, and 
 Mr. Deluzio) 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 Italian American 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 ``Commission To Study the Potential of 
a National Museum of Italian American History and Culture Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--There is established the Commission to Study the 
Potential Creation of a National Museum of Italian American History and 
Culture (in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').

    (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 demonstrated commitment to the research, study, or 
 promotion of Italian American history, art, political or 
 economic status, or culture;

    (2) expertise or experience in--
        (A) museum administration;
        (B) fundraising for nonprofit or cultural 
 institutions;
            (C) the study and teaching of Italian American 
 history;
            (D) studying the issue of the representation of 
 Italian Americans in art, life, history, and culture at 
 the Smithsonian Institution; or
        (E) public or elected service that is extensive;

    (3) experience in the administration of, or the planning 
 for, the establishment of, museums; or

    (4) experience in the planning, design, or construction of 
 museum facilities.
            (d) Deadline for Initial Appointment.--Not later than the date that 
is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the initial members 
of the Commission shall be appointed under subsection

    (b) .

    (e) 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 under subsection

    (b) .

    (f) 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.

    (g) Prohibition.--No employee of the Federal Government may serve 
as a member of the Commission.

SEC. 3. 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 regarding 
 the feasibility of establishing and maintaining a National 
 Museum of Italian American History and Culture in Washington, 
 D.C., and the environs of such museum (in this Act referred to 
 as the ``Museum'').

    (2) Report on issues.--The Commission shall submit to the 
 President and Congress a report that addresses the following:
        (A) The availability and cost of collections to be 
 acquired and housed in the Museum.
        (B) The impact of the Museum on existing Italian 
 American history-related museums.
            (C) The development of criteria, in consultation 
 with the Smithsonian Institution, for evaluating 
 possible locations for the Museum in Washington, D.C., 
 and the environs of such Museum.
            (D) The feasibility of the Museum becoming part of 
 the Smithsonian Institution, taking into account the 
 potential impact of the Museum on the Smithsonian's 
 existing facilities maintenance backlog, collections 
 storage needs, and identified construction or 
 renovation costs for new or existing museums.
        (E) The governance and organizational structure 
 from which the Museum should operate.
        (F) Best practices for engaging Italian Americans 
 in the development and design of the Museum.
        (G) The cost of constructing, operating, and 
 maintaining the Museum.

    (3) Deadline.--Not later than the date that is 18 months 
 after the date of the first meeting of the Commission, the 
 Commission shall submit the reports required under paragraphs

    (1) and

    (2) .

    (b) Fundraising Plan.--

    (1) In general.--The Commission shall develop a fundraising 
 plan that shall address the ability 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.

    (3) Independent review.--
        (A) In general.--The Commission shall obtain an 
 independent review of the viability of the plan 
 developed under paragraph

    (1) .
        (B) Contents.--The independent review under 
 subparagraph
        (A) shall include an analysis as to 
 whether the plan is able 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.

    (4) Submission.--The Commission shall submit to the 
 Committees on 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 the plan developed 
 under paragraph

    (1) and the review conducted under paragraph

    (3) .
            (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 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 on the feasibility of establishing and constructing 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 2

    (b) , 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 Italian 
Americans.

SEC. 4. 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 other than for purposes of 
 chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code (relating to 
 compensation for injury) and sections 2671 through 2680 
 of title 28, United States Code (relating to tort 
 claims), except that each such individual shall be--
            (i) required to file an annual financial 
 disclosure under chapter 131 of title 5, United 
 States Code; and
            (ii) considered to be a Federal employee 
 for purposes of sections 201 and 208 of title 
 18, United States Code; 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.

    (3) Gifts, bequests, and 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.

    (4) Federal advisory committee act.--The Commission shall 
 not be subject to chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code.

    (b) 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 3 are submitted.
            (c) Funding.--

    (1) In general.--The Commission shall be solely responsible 
 for acceptance of contributions for, and payment of the 
 expenses of, the Commission.

    (2) Prohibition.--No Federal funds may be obligated to 
 carry out this Act.
            (d) Director and Staff of Commission.--

    (1) Director and staff.--
        (A) 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.
        (B) Rates of pay.--Rates of pay for persons 
 employed under subparagraph
        (A) shall be consistent 
 with the rates of pay allowed for employees of a 
 temporary organization under 

section 3161 of title 5, 
 United States Code.

    (2) Not federal employees.--Any individual employed under 
 this subsection shall not be considered a Federal employee for 
 any purpose other than for purposes of chapter 81 of title 5, 
 United States Code (relating to compensation for injury) and 
 sections 2671 through 2680 of title 28, United States Code 
 (relating to tort claims), except that each such individual 
 shall be--
        (A) required to file an annual financial disclosure 
 under chapter 131 of title 5, United States Code; and
        (B) considered to be a Federal employee for 
 purposes of sections 201 and 208 of title 18, United 
 States Code.

    (3) Technical assistance.--
        (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph
        (B) , on 
 request of the Commission, the head of a Federal agency 
 may provide technical assistance to the Commission.
        (B) Prohibition.--No Federal employees may be 
 detailed to the Commission.
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