Commission to Study the Potential Transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution Act
Public Law 118-144 · H.R. 7764 · 118th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Joe Biden (D) on Dec 11, 2024 · Arts, Culture, Religion
Sponsor: Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25)
Cosponsors (94): Rep. Michael Turner, Rep. Brendan Boyle,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
This act establishes a commission to study the potential transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia to the Smithsonian Institution. The commission must report its plan and recommendations to Congress and the President no later than two years after the commission's first meeting.
The commission shall be composed of eight voting members appointed from among individuals or representatives of institutions with relevant expertise or interests (as further specified in the act). The Senate majority leader, Senate minority leader, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and House minority leader shall each appoint two voting members, with the chair elected by the commission members.
The commission's report must detail (1) the museum's collections and the extent to which such collections are already represented in the Smithsonian Institution; (2) the impact of the museum on educational and governmental efforts to study and counter antisemitism; (3) the museum's financial assets and liabilities; and (4) operating and maintenance costs for the museum. The report must also contain a fundraising plan and legislative recommendations.
The commission terminates 30 days after the final versions of its report, plan, and recommendations are submitted to Congress.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Related bills
2 bills the Library of Congress relates to this one.
H.R. 7764Related bill
Commission to Study the Potential Transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution Act
S. 4001Identical bill
Commission to Study the Potential Transfer of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution Act
Data notes
Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 18 actions.
- Dec 11, 2024Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 118-144.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Dec 5, 2024FloorFloor · Presented to President.
- Dec 4, 2024FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Dec 3, 2024FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
- CommitteeCommittee · Senate Committee on Rules and Administration discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- Sep 24, 2024CommitteeCommittee · Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
- Sep 23, 2024FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7764.
- FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Steil moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Sep 17, 2024CalendarCalendar · Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 578.
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported (Amended) by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 118-683.
- Sep 11, 2024CommitteeCommittee · Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Voice Vote.
- CommitteeCommittee · Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Mar 20, 2024CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in House
Data notes
Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.
Amendments
No amendments to this bill are on record.
Data notes
Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.
Official record
The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.