,,ii  #aah? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #cefg  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,janu>y #aj1 #bjbd,mr4 
,br[n 7= himself & ,mr4 ,vance7         
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
e/abli% )9 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans       
,affairs a ,vet]ans ,affairs ,hi/ory    
,(fice1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort    
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,vet]ans
 ,affairs ,c5t5nial & ,h]itage ,act (   
#bjbd4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress makes !    
foll[+ f9d+s3 7#a7 ,on ,janu>y #ai1     
#bjag1 ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs    
,rob]t ,a4 ,mc,donald sign$ a ,memor&um 
( ,agreem5t t e/abli%$ goals = !        
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs & regional
 lead]s ( ,dayton1 ,ohio1 to advance a  
hi/ory (fice z a community p>tn]%ip4    
7#b7 ,a report commission$ by !         
,dep>tm5t det]m9$ t1 a c5tral ,hi/ory   
,(fice1 prop]ly /aff$ & res\rc$1 c      
become an ess5tial ally = ! ,dep>tm5t's 
s5ior /aff at ,headqu>t]s & 9 ! field44 

7#c7 ,! e/abli%m5t ( a ,hi/ory ,(fice 9 
! ,dep>tm5t pursuant to an executive    
memor&um ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 dat$ ,april #aj1
 #bjbj1 is a vital contribution to      
honor+ vet]ans & improv+ ! und]/&+ ( h[ 
!y s]v$ ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  7#d7 ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,vet]ans ,affairs ,directive #gggg1  
titl$ ,implem5tation ( ! ,,va ,hi/ory   
,program1 0 issu$ on ,febru>y #i1 #bjba1
 & e/abli%$ ! policies1                 
responsibilities1 & managem5t directions
 = ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs      
,hi/ory ,program4  7#e7 ,! c5t5nial ye> 
( ! ,dep>tm5t is #bjcj & su* ye> is a   
goal = e/abli%+ a robu/ program ( ongo+ 
hi/ory outrea* activities & p]man5t     
public exhibits tell+ ! /ory ( !        
,dep>tm5t4  #c4 ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans    
,affairs ,hi/ory ,(fice  7a7 ,9 g5]al   
,*apt] #c ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !      
foll[+ new section3  #cbe4 ,hi/ory      
,(fice  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t  7#a7 ,9 g5]al  
,!re is e/abli%$ )9 ! ,dep>tm5t an (fice
 compris+ a hi/ory program & a national 

hi/ory c5t]4  7#b7 ,designation ,! (fice
 e/abli%$ by p>agraph 7#a7 %all be kn[n 
z ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs       
,hi/ory ,(fice 79 ?is section ! ,(fice74
  7b7 ,purposes ,! purposes ( ! ,(fice  
are-- 7#a7 to collect1 pres]ve1 &       
provide access to relevant hi/orical    
records1 artifacts1 & cultural res\rces 
( ! ,dep>tm5t 7includ+ ^? ( its         
pr$ecessor organizations72 &  7#b7 to   
tell a compreh5sive /ory ( ! ,dep>tm5t &
 its pr$ecessor organizations to        
vet]ans1 gov]nm5t ag5cies1 & ! public4  
7c7 ,*ief ,hi/orian & /aff ,! ,(fice    
%all be l$ by ! ,*ief ,hi/orian ( !     
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 79 ?is    
section ref]r$ to z ! ,*ief ,hi/orian7  
:o may be assi/$ by su* pr(essional &   
adm9i/rative /aff z ! ,secret>y consid]s
 necess>y to c>ry out ! purposes ( !    
,(fice "u subsection 7b7 & ! requirem5ts
 set =? "u subsection 7d74  7d7         
,requirem5ts ,! ,(fice %all-- 7#a7 c>ry 
out ! activities set =? 9 ,dep>tm5t     
,directive #gggg 7relat+ to             

implem5tation ( a ,dep>tm5t hi/ory      
program71 or successor directive2  7#b7 
assi/ ) plann+ appropriate hi/ory-relat$
 ev5ts lead+ up to ! c5t5nial ( !       
,dep>tm5t 9 #bjcj 79 ?is section ref]r$ 
to z ! ,c5t5nial7 & 9 ev5ts aft] !      
,c5t5nial z ! ,*ief ,hi/orian consid]s  
appropriate 9 ! context ( ! purposes ( !
 ,(fice set =? "u subsection 7b72  7#c7 
c>ry out public activities & educational
 opportunities1 includ+ pr9t & web-bas$ 
publications & exhibits1 t increase     
aw>5ess ( ! contributions ( ! ,dep>tm5t 
9 support+ vet]ans2  7#d7 con/ruct1     
r5ovate1 repair1 op]ate1 & ma9ta9 new or
 exi/+ ,dep>tm5t facilities us$ =-- 7,a7
 pres]vation1 re/oration1 & public      
access to ,dep>tm5t hi/oric mat]ials1   
ar*ives1 & artifacts2  7,b7 tra9+ on !  
pres]vation ( hi/oric mat]ials1 ar*ives1
 & artifacts2 or  7,c7 education relat+ 
to ! hi/ory ( ! ,dep>tm5t & its         
pr$ecessor organizations2  7#e7 ma9ta9  
facilities = access to1 & /orage (1     
hi/oric mat]ials1 artifacts1 & ar*ives1 

compliant ) recogniz$ specifications =  
su* facilities1 :i* may include /orage1 
conf]5ce1 & public exhibit space2 &     
7#f7 conduct education & tra9+ on !     
pres]vation ( hi/orical mat]ials1       
ar*ival managem5t1 digitization1        
re/oration1 hi/orical rese>*1 & relat$  
subjects to assi/ ! ,dep>tm5t4  7e7     
,gifts & beque/s  7#a7 ,au?ority to     
accept ,! ,secret>y may accept1 hold1   
adm9i/]1 & sp5d any gift1 devise1 or    
beque/ ( real prop]ty1 p]sonal prop]ty1 
or money made on ! condition t ! gift1  
devise1 or beque/ be us$ = ! b5efit1 or 
9 connection )1 ! purposes & activities 
( ! ,(fice1 includ+ a gift1 devise1 or  
beque/ ( an improvem5t made pursuant to 
subsection 7f77#c74  7#b7 ,disposition (
 prop]ty ,! ,secret>y may au?orize !    
sale ( donat$ prop]ty receiv$ "u        
p>agraph 7#a74 ,a sale "u ?is p>agraph  
ne$ n be conduct$ 9 accordance )        
disposal requirem5ts t w\ld o!rwise     
apply1 s long z ! sale is conduct$ at   
arms-l5g? & includes an auditable       

transaction record4  7#c7 ,use ( money &
 proce$s ,any money receiv$ "u p>agraph 
7#a7 & any proce$s f ! sale ( prop]ty "u
 p>agraph 7#b7 %all be deposit$ into a  
fund e/abli%$ 9 ! ,treasury to support !
 purposes & activities ( ! ,(fice4  7f7 
,p>tn]%ips1 coop]ative agreem5ts1 &     
lease au?ority  7#a7 ,p>tn]%ips ,!      
,secret>y may ent] into a p>tn]%ip or   
coop]ative agreem5t ) an organization to
 support ! purposes set =? 9 subsection 
7b74  7#b7 ,lease au?ority  7,a7 ,9     
g5]al ,! ,secret>y may lease portions ( 
any real prop]ty or facility ( ! ,(fice 
to a nonpr(it organization = use 9      
g5]at+ rev5ue = ! support ( activities (
 ! ,(fice & = su* adm9i/rative purposes 
z may be necess>y = support ( ! ,(fice4 
7,b7 ,r5t ,any r5t receiv$ by !         
,secret>y "u a lease "u subp>agraph     
7,a71 includ+ r5t-9-k9d1 %all be us$    
solely to cov] or defray ! co/s ( c>ry+ 
out subsection 7b7 or 7d74  7#c7        
,improvem5ts ,! ,secret>y may p]mit a   
nonpr(it organization to make           

improvem5ts to real prop]ty or a        
facility ( ! ,(fice = ! con/ruction ( a 
multipurpose facility to be us$ =       
hi/orical displays = public view+1      
curation1 & /orage ( artifacts1 rese>*  
facilities1 classrooms1 (fices1 &       
associat$ activities consi/5t ) !       
mission ( ! ,(fice4  7g7 ,int]nal       
coord9ation gr\p  7#a7 ,e/abli%m5t  7,a7
 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] !  
date ( ! enactm5t ( ! ,vet]ans ,affairs 
,c5t5nial & ,h]itage ,act ( #bjbd1 !    
,secret>y %all e/abli% an int]nal       
coord9at+ gr\p 79 ?is subsection !      
,gr\p7 to assi/ ! ,(fice 9 c>ry+ out !  
purposes "u subsection 7b7 & !          
requirem5ts ( subsection 7d7 by advis+ !
 ,(fice on matt]s relat+ to op]ations ( 
! ,(fice1 :i* may include advis+ on     
matt]s relat+ to ! provisions (         
cont9uity & res\rc+ = ! ,c5t5nial or =  
developm5t ( ! hi/ory program or !      
hi/ory c5t] describ$ 9 subsection 7a74  
7,b7 ,proc$ures & *>t] ,! ,gr\p %all    
op]ate 9 accordance ) su* proc$ures z ! 

,secret>y may e/abli% & 9 accordance ) a
 *>t] ! ,secret>y %all e/abli% = !      
,gr\p4  7#b7 ,composition ,! ,gr\p %all 
be compos$ ( ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,! ,deputy  
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  7,b7 ,! 
,assi/ant ,secret>y = ,managem5t & ,*ief
 ,f9ancial ,(fic]1 or designee4  7,c7 ,!
 ,*ief ,hi/orian4  7,d7 ,a s5ior        
employee select$ by ! ,secret>y f ea* ( 
! foll[+3 7i7 ,! ,vet]ans ,exp]i5ce     
,(fice4  7ii7 ,! ,(fice ( ,congressional
 & ,legislative ,affairs4  7iii7 ,!     
,(fice ( ,acquisition ,logi/ics &       
,con/ruction4  7iv7 ,! ,(fice ( ! ,g5]al
 ,c\nsel4  7v7 ,! ,vet]ans ,heal?       
,adm9i/ration4  7vi7 ,! ,vet]ans        
,b5efits ,adm9i/ration4  7vii7 ,!       
,national ,cemet]y ,adm9i/ration4  7,e7 
,su* o!r (fic]s & employees ( !         
,dep>tm5t z ! ,secret>y consid]s        
appropriate4  7#c7 ,*airp]son ,!        
*airp]son ( ! ,gr\p %all be ! ,deputy   
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs4  7h7     
,nonconflict ,?is section %all n be     
con/ru$ to affect ! au?ority ( !        

,ar*ivi/ ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates = managem5t (
 p]man5t records ( ! ,dep>tm5t4  7i7    
,def9ition ( nonpr(it organization ,9   
?is section1 ! t]m nonpr(it organization
 means an organization describ$ 9       
section #eja7;c77#c7 ( ! ,int]nal       
,rev5ue ,code ( #aihf & exempt f        
taxation "u section #eja7;a7 ( t ,code4 
4  7b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table (      
sections at ! beg9n+ ( *apt] #c ( su*   
title is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+
 new item3  #cbe4 ,hi/ory ,(fice4  4    
#d4 ,reports  7a7 ,long-,range plann+ ,n
 lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( !     
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      
,vet]ans ,affairs %all submit to !      
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report on propos$ activities ( !        
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs ,hi/ory   
,(fice e/abli%$ pursuant to section     
#cbe7;a7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates     
,code1 z add$ by section #c1 lead+ up to
 ! c5t5nial describ$ 9 subsection       

7d77#b7 ( su* section #cbe4  7b7        
,cont5ts ,! report submitt$ pursuant to 
subsection 7a7 %all include plans = !   
foll[+3 7#a7 ,/aff+ & budget4  7#b7     
,organization *>ts p]ta9+ to ! curr5t   
/aff & location ( ! ,hi/ory ,(fice )9 ! 
,dep>tm5t4  7#c7 ,con/ruction &         
r5ovation ( facilities support+ !       
,hi/ory ,(fice1 includ+ ! ,national     
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs ,hi/ory   
,c5t]4  7#d7 ,public activities to m>k !
 c5t5nial describ$ 9 subsection 7a74    
7#e7 ,su* recomm5dations = legislative  
or adm9i/rative action z ! ,secret>y may
 h ) respect to ! ,hi/ory ,(fice & !    
c5t5nial describ$ 9 subsection 7a74  7c7
 ,annual progress reports ,n lat] ?an "o
 ye> aft] ! date on :i* ! ,secret>y     
submits ! report requir$ by subsection  
7a7 pursuant to su* subsection & n less 
frequ5tly ?an once ea* ye> !reaft] until
 ,decemb] #ca1 #bjcj1 ! ,*ief ,hi/orian 
( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all  
submit to ! committees describ$ 9 su*   
subsection a report on ! progress ( !   

,hi/ory ,(fice4