COVID–19 National Memorial Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 96 To authorize a national memorial to commemorate those whose lives were lost to COVID–19 and those who helped the country to recover, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 4, 2021 Mr. ESPAILLAT (for himself and Mr. RASKIN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To authorize a national memorial to commemorate those whose lives were lost to COVID–19 and those who helped the country to recover, and for other purposes. 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 ‘‘COVID–19 National 4 Memorial Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. MEMORIAL. 6 There is established a memorial located at a des- 7 ignated location in the Bronx, New York, to honor the 8 lives lost and the heroes who helped. 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:29 Jan 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H96.IH H96 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 96 IH SEC. 3. ADVISORY COMMISSION. 1 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com- 2 mission to be known as the ‘‘COVID–19 National Memo- 3 rial Commission’’ (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 4 ‘‘Commission’’). 5 (b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall consist of 6 15 members, including the Director of the National Park 7 Service, or the Director’s designee, and 14 members ap- 8 pointed by the Secretary. 9 (c) TERM.—The term of the members of the Commis- 10 sion shall be for the life of the Commission. 11 (d) CHAIR.—The members of the Commission shall 12 select the Chair of the Commission. 13 (e) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Commission 14 shall not affect its powers if a quorum is present, but shall 15 be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. 16 (f) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the 17 call of the Chairperson or a majority of the members, but 18 not less often than quarterly. Notice of the Commission 19 meetings and agendas for the meetings shall be published 20 in local newspapers in the vicinity of Somerset County and 21 in the Federal Register. Meetings of the Commission shall 22 be subject to section 552b of title 5, United States Code 23 (relating to open meetings). 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:29 Jan 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H96.IH H96 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 96 IH (g) QUORUM.—A majority of the members serving on 1 the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the trans- 2 action of any business. 3 (h) NO COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commis- 4 sion shall serve without compensation, but may be reim- 5 bursed for expenses incurred in carrying out the duties 6 of the Commission. 7 (i) DUTIES.—The duties of the Commission shall be 8 to— 9 (1) not later than 3 years after the date of the 10 enactment of this Act, submit to the Secretary and 11 Congress a report containing recommendations for 12 the planning, design, construction, and long-term 13 management of a permanent memorial; 14 (2) advise the Secretary on the boundaries of 15 the memorial site; 16 (3) advise the Secretary in the development of 17 a management plan for the memorial site; 18 (4) consult and coordinate closely with the 19 State of New York, New York City, the Bronx Bor- 20 ough, and other interested parties; and 21 (5) provide significant opportunities for public 22 participation in the planning and design of the me- 23 morial. 24 (j) POWERS.—The Commission may— 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:29 Jan 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H96.IH H96 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 96 IH (1) make such expenditures for services and 1 materials for the purpose of carrying out this Act as 2 the Commission considers advisable from funds ap- 3 propriated or received as gifts for that purpose; 4 (2) subject to approval by the Secretary, solicit 5 and accept donations of funds and gifts, personal 6 property, supplies, or services from individuals, foun- 7 dations, corporations, and other private or public en- 8 tities to be used in connection with the construction 9 or other expenses of the memorial; 10 (3) hold hearings, enter into contracts for per- 11 sonal services and otherwise; 12 (4) do such other things as are necessary to 13 carry out this Act; and 14 (5) by a vote of the majority of the Commis- 15 sion, delegate such of its duties as it determines ap- 16 propriate to employees of the National Park Service. 17 (k) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 18 upon dedication of the completed memorial. 19 SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. 20 The Secretary is authorized to— 21 (1) provide assistance to the Commission, in- 22 cluding advice on collections, storage, and archives; 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:29 Jan 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H96.IH H96 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 96 IH (2) consult and assist the Commission in pro- 1 viding information, interpretation, and the conduct 2 of oral history interviews; 3 (3) provide assistance in conducting public 4 meetings and forums held by the Commission; 5 (4) provide project management assistance to 6 the Commission for planning, design, and construc- 7 tion activities; 8 (5) provide programming and design assistance 9 to the Commission for possible memorial exhibits, 10 collections, or activities; 11 (6) provide staff assistance and support to the 12 Commission; 13 (7) participate in the formulation of plans for 14 the design of the memorial, to accept funds raised 15 by the Commission for construction of the memorial, 16 and to construct the memorial; 17 (8) acquire from willing sellers the land or in- 18 terests in land for the memorial site by donation, 19 purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or ex- 20 change; and 21 (9) to administer the memorial as a unit of the 22 National Park System in accordance with this Act 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:29 Jan 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H96.IH H96 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 96 IH and with the laws generally applicable to units of the 1 National Park System. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:29 Jan 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H96.IH H96 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS