What This Bill Does
This bill allows the museum at Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, Arkansas to be officially called the "National Cold War Center." The bill aims to preserve Cold War history and educate Americans about the nation's Cold War experiences.
Who It Affects
The bill directly affects BAFB Cold War Museum, Inc., a nonprofit organization that manages the museum. It also affects visitors, students, and the general public who will learn about Cold War history at the center.
Key Provisions
- The museum at Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, Arkansas is authorized to be called the "National Cold War Center" (Sec. 4)
- The bill's purposes include ensuring the continuing preservation, maintenance, and interpretation of artifacts, documents, images, and history collected by the Center (Sec. 3)
- The bill aims to enhance knowledge among Americans about the United States' experience during the Cold War years (Sec. 3)
- The bill supports providing a public facility for displaying Cold War artifacts, photographs, and personal histories (Sec. 3)
What Changes
The museum can now officially use the name "National Cold War Center" for itself, its future exhibits, collections, and educational programs.
Important Definitions
None defined in bill text.
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 859
To authorize references to the museum located at Blytheville/Eaker Air Force
Base in Blytheville, Arkansas, as the ‘‘National Cold War Center’’.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 7, 2023
Mr. CRAWFORD (for himself, Mr. HILL, Mr. WOMACK, and Mr. WESTERMAN)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Armed Services
A BILL
To authorize references to the museum located at Blytheville/
Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, Arkansas, as the
‘‘National Cold War Center’’.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Cold War
4
Center Act of 2023’’.
5
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
6
Congress makes the following findings:
7
(1) The BAFB Cold War Museum, Inc., a non-
8
profit corporation under section 501(c)(3) of the In-
9
VerDate Sep 11 2014
00:18 Mar 02, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H859.IH
H859
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
2
•HR 859 IH
ternal Revenue Code of 1986, is responsible for the
1
finances and management of the National Cold War
2
Museum at Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base in
3
Blytheville, Arkansas.
4
(2) The National Cold War Center, located on
5
the Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base, will be recog-
6
nized as a major tourist attraction in Arkansas that
7
will provide an immersive and authoritative experi-
8
ence in informing, interpreting, and honoring the
9
legacy of the Cold War.
10
(3) The Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base has
11
the only intact, publicly accessible Alert Facility and
12
Weapons Storage Facility in the United States.
13
(4) There is an urgent need to preserve the sto-
14
ries, artifacts, and heroic achievements of the Cold
15
War.
16
(5) The United States has a need to preserve
17
forever the knowledge and history of the United
18
States’ achievements in the Cold War century and to
19
portray that history to citizens, visitors, and school
20
children for centuries to come.
21
(6) The National Cold War Center seeks to
22
educate a diverse group of audiences through its col-
23
lection of artifacts, photographs, and firsthand per-
24
VerDate Sep 11 2014
00:18 Mar 02, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H859.IH
H859
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
3
•HR 859 IH
sonal accounts of the participants in the war on the
1
home front.
2
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
3
The purposes of this Act are—
4
(1) to authorize references to the museum lo-
5
cated at Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base in Blythe-
6
ville, Arkansas, including its future and expanded
7
exhibits, collections, and educational programs, as
8
the ‘‘National Cold War Center’’;
9
(2) to ensure the continuing preservation, main-
10
tenance, and interpretation of the artifacts, docu-
11
ments, images, and history collected by the Center;
12
(3) to enhance the knowledge of the American
13
people of the experience of the United States during
14
the Cold War years;
15
(4) to provide and support a facility for the
16
public display of the artifacts, photographs, and per-
17
sonal histories of the Cold War years; and
18
(5) to ensure that all future generations under-
19
stand the sacrifices made to preserve freedom and
20
democracy, and the benefits of peace for all future
21
generations in the 21st century and beyond.
22
VerDate Sep 11 2014
00:18 Mar 02, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H859.IH
H859
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
4
•HR 859 IH
SEC. 4. REFERENCE TO AMERICA’S COLD WAR CENTER.
1
The museum located at Blytheville/Eaker Air Force
2
Base in Blytheville, Arkansas, is hereby authorized to be
3
referred to as the ‘‘National Cold War Center’’.
4
Æ
VerDate Sep 11 2014
00:18 Mar 02, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H859.IH
H859
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB