With Public Law 106-579, Congress created the White House Commission on Remembrance. The only active White House Commission established by law, its operational requirements are:
- 10 year mission
- Mission: (1) To sustain the American spirit through acts of remembrance on Memorial Day and throughout the year (2) to institutionalize the National Moment of Remembrance, (3) to enhance the commemoration and understanding of Memorial Day and (4) to educate and give the younger generation a sense of our history and what it means to be an American.
- The Commission is an independent government agency
- Chair/Vice Chair selected by voting members
- 12 voting members, 10 non-voting members
- Executive Director and White House Liaison (Carmella LaSpada)
- Commission Membership:
- Four Presidential Appointments
- Secretary of Defense, or designee
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee
- Administrator, General Services Administration, or designee
- Secretary of Transportation, or designee
- Secretary of Education, or designee
- Secretary of Interior, or designee
- Director, Office of Personnel Management
- Executive Director, Presidential Commission on White House Fellows
- Secretaries of Army, Navy, Air Force
- Service Chiefs of Staff
- Archivist, The National Archives
- Librarian, Library of Congress
- Director, Smithsonian Institution
- Additional Non-voting members may be added at the discretion of the Commission
- Commission appoints “Remembrance Alliance” members
- May solicit and accept private contributions
- Development of other initiatives through partnerships with the private sector, state/local/tribal governments and others
- Obtain support from all federal agencies
- May license products, collect royalties and enter into legal agreements
- Budget
- $250,000 authorized annually
- Majority of operating funds to be derived through donations, licensing and promotions