§80t–5 Building

Summary

The Board of Regents must pick a site for the Museum no later than 2 years after December 27, 2020. The site must be in the District of Columbia. The Board must consider at least two named locations: the “South Monument site” on the National Mall (bordered by 14th Street NW, Jefferson Drive SW, Raoul Wallenberg Place SW, and Independence Avenue SW) and the Northwest United States Capitol site (bordered by 3rd Street NW, Constitution Avenue NW, 1st Street NW, and Pennsylvania Avenue NW). In choosing a site the Board must look at cost estimates, how suitable each site is (size, closeness to other buildings and transit, and other environmental conditions), and the Congressional Commission’s recommendations. The Board must consult with several officials and bodies, including the Chair of the National Capital Planning Commission, the Director of the National Park Service, the Chair of the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission, the Chair of the Commission of Fine Arts, the Chair of the Congressional Commission, the Architect of the Capitol, and the chair and ranking member of seven congressional committees (Senate Rules and Administration; House Administration; Senate Energy and Natural Resources; House Natural Resources; House Transportation and Infrastructure; House Appropriations; Senate Appropriations). Congress intends the Museum be on or near the National Mall as much as practicable. The Board may not pick a site that is under another federal agency’s control unless that agency head sends written notice to the listed committees agreeing to the location. After Congress receives that notice, the agency head must transfer administrative control of the land or building to the Smithsonian as soon as practicable. The Board, working with the council under section 80t–2, may plan, design, and build the Museum at the chosen site. Chapter 89 of Title 40 does not apply to the Museum, but the Museum may not be placed in the Reserve (as defined in section 8902(a) of Title 40). The Board must pay 50 percent of the costs from Federal funds and 50 percent from non‑Federal sources.