S 281 IS

To authorize the design and construction of a temporary education center at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

February 7, 2001

Mr. HAGEL (for himself, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. CLELAND, and Mr. KERRY) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

To authorize the design and construction of a temporary education center at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

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 `Vietnam Veterans Memorial Education Act'.

SEC. 2. TEMPORARY EDUCATION CENTER.

Public Law 96-297 (16 U.S.C. 431 note; 94 Stat. 827) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`SEC. 6. TEMPORARY EDUCATION CENTER.

`(a) IN GENERAL- The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc., may, in accordance with this section, construct a temporary education center (referred to in this section as the `Center') for the purpose of educating people about the memorial authorized by this Act.

`(b) ELEMENTS- The Center shall--

`(1) be placed on the memorial described in section 5(f);

`(2) replace the National Park Service visitor center located on the site as of the date of enactment of this section; and

`(3) have an area of not to exceed 1,200 square feet.

`(c) DURATION-

`(1) IN GENERAL- The Center shall be a temporary structure to be erected for a period of 10 years beginning on the date of completion of construction of the Center, subject to paragraph (2).

`(2) REEVALUATION- On expiration of the period referred to in paragraph (1), Congress may reevaluate the continuing need for the Center.

`(d) FUNDING- All funds required for the design and construction of the Center shall be provided by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc.

`(e) RELATION TO COMMEMORATIVE WORKS ACT- The Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) shall apply to the design and placement of the Center.

`(f) LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF EXCESS COIN FUNDS-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (2), none of the funds made available under section 208(b) of the United States Veterans Commemorative Coin Act of 1993 (31 U.S.C. 5112 note; 107 Stat. 2249) may be used to carry out this section.

`(2) USE OF EXCESS COIN FUNDS- Funds described in paragraph (1) may be used to carry out this section only if--

`(A) excess funds are available after the purposes of section 208(b) of the United States Veterans Commemorative Coin Act of 1993 (31 U.S.C. 5112 note; 107 Stat. 2249) have been met; and

`(B) the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc-

`(i) prepares a detailed written explanation of its compliance with section 208(b) of the United States Veterans Commemorative Coin Act of 1993 (31 U.S.C. 5112 note; 107 Stat. 2249) (including an accounting of any excess funds);

`(ii) prepares a detailed written explanation of the actual purposes for which the excess funds, or any portion of the funds, would be used (including documentation, in sufficient detail, of the actual uses of those funds);

`(iii) has the explanations and documentation under clauses (i) and (ii) certified by each member of its board of directors and by its chief executive officer;

`(iv) provides for an appropriate contingency reserve; and

`(v) makes available, on request by any Member of Congress or authorized representative of a Federal department or agency, any explanation or certified document (including supporting documents) described in any of clauses (i) through (iii).'.

END