United States Capitol Preservation Commission
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The United States Capitol Preservation Commission was established under Title VIII of Public Law 100-696 (2 U.S.C. § 2081) in November 1988 for the purpose of providing for improvements in, preservation of, and acquisitions (including works of fine art and other property for display) for the United States Capitol and other locations under the control of the Congress. In September 1999, the commission was given the responsibility, pursuant to Public Law 106–57, for approving the planning, engineering, design, and construction milestones of the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). The CVC will be a facility, located under the East Plaza of the Capitol that is designed to enhance the experience of visitors to the Capitol through improved visitor orientation and related services, strengthened Capitol security, and integration of the center's design concepts with the appropriate improvements to the Capitol's East Plaza.
Title VIII of Public Law 100-696 established the Capitol Preservation Fund (the Fund within the U.S. Treasury to finance improvement, preservation, and acquisition activities of the commission). In addition, in January 2002, the commission received authority to transfer amounts from the Fund to the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) for use in planning, engineering, design, or construction of the CVC, under Public Law 107–117. In April 2003, the Commission approved an authorization to the AOC to use $65 million from the Fund to fund a portion of the AOC's contract for Sequence 2 CVC construction.
The Fund's assets consist of amounts derived from charitable contributions and related pledges receivable, surcharge proceeds from the Secretary of the Treasury (U.S. Mint) arising from the sale of commemorative coins, and interest earned on the invested portions of the Fund's assets.
Fund assets not needed to finance current improvement, preservation, or acquisition projects are invested in interest-bearing obligations of the United States. The Fund's assets have not been used to fund management activities or raise funds.
Since its establishment, the Fund has been designated to receive coin surcharge proceeds from three commemorative coin programs authorized by the Congress. The commission is also exploring the use of funding for investments in new technologies that could enhance visitor experiences and improve preservation efforts.
- Prior to fiscal year 2002, the Fund received surcharge proceeds authorized by the Bicentennial of the United States Congress Commemorative Coin Act and the Bicentennial of the United States Capitol Commemorative Coin Act. These proceeds were received without restriction, deposited into the Fund and have been available to the Commission for use in funding approved improvement, preservation, and acquisition projects.
- In 1999, the Commission was designated to receive surcharge proceeds authorized by the United States Capitol Visitor Center Commemorative Coin Act. Proceeds received from this commemorative coin are restricted to use in the construction, maintenance, and preservation of the CVC. The CVC Commemorative Coin sales program ended in March 2002. All surcharge proceeds from this coin program have been received and deposited in the Fund.
Function
In accordance with its rules, the Commission may fund or assist in the funding of improvements to the Capitol Building and surrounding grounds if such improvements are authorized, undertaken, and completed under the procedures established by the Congress for such purposes. With respect to works of fine art and other property for display, the commission is authorized to expend $400,000 ($200,000 for the House of Representatives and $200,000 for the Senate) for the purchase of art, furnishings, or items of historical interest, provided that such expenses are approved by a majority of the members of the commission from the body of Congress for which such purchases are made. However, the Commission may not maintain any collection of fine or decorative art, or other property, but may assist in the transfer of such items to a congressional entity (such as the Senate Commission on Art, the House of Representatives Fine Arts Board, or the Joint Committee on the Library) or facilitate the disposal of items. The commission is exploring the use of technology to enhance visitor experiences and improve preservation efforts.
