text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``American Heroes Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress finds the following:
              (1) Each State has chosen statues of 2 local heroes to 
          exhibit in the Capitol.
              (2) Most of these heroes depict figures who lived during 
          the early years of the Nation's history.
              (3) The completion of the construction of the Capitol 
          Visitor Center will increase the size of the public space 
          inside the Capitol complex, making more space available in 
          which statues of noteworthy Americans should be displayed.
              (4) On September 11, 2001, the passengers of United 
          Airlines flight number 93 made a unique contribution which 
          helped to protect the Capitol from attack.
  
  SEC. 3. STATE HERO DESIGNATION.
  
      (a) In General.--Each State may provide 1 statue of an individual 
  representing that State which shall be displayed in the Capitol Visitor 
  Center.
      (b) Criteria for Heroes.--The statues displayed in the Capitol 
  Visitor Center shall be depictions of individuals who participated in 
  the life of the State they represent in ways that will inspire young 
  Americans to embrace the ideals of the United States as reflected in 
  the Constitution.
      (c) Selection of Heroes.--No statue shall be displayed in the 
  Capitol Visitor Center unless the individual depicted in the statue was 
  selected in the manner described in section 4.
      (d) American Hero Administrator.--
              (1) In general.--The Clerk of the House of Representatives 
          and the Secretary of the Senate shall jointly assign to 1 of 
          their employees the post of the American Hero Administrator, 
          with such term as agreed upon by the Clerk and the Secretary.
              (2) Statue guidelines.--The American Hero Administrator 
          shall prepare guidelines establishing the size, weight, and 
          other necessary restrictions to be placed on the statues to be 
          displayed in the Capitol Visitor Center under this Act.
  
  SEC. 4. STATE AMERICAN HERO COMMISSIONS.
  
      (a) In General.--In order for a statue provided by a State to be 
  placed in the Capitol Visitor Center under this Act, the State shall 
  establish an American Hero Commission to select the individual to 
  represent that State.
      (b) Duties of the Commission.--
              (1) Selection of heroes.--Each American Hero Commission 
          shall choose, by a majority vote, after considering any 
          suggestions submitted under subsection (b), the individual 
          whose statue will represent the State of that Commission.
              (2) Commission and delivery of statue.--Each American Hero 
          Commission shall commission an artist to design and create the 
          statue and shall arrange for the delivery of the statue to the 
          Capitol Visitor Center.
              (3) Procurement of funds.--Each American Hero Commission 
          shall raise private or State funds to pay for the cost of 
          commissioning the statue and delivering it to the Capitol 
          Visitor Center.
      (c) Commissioners.--
              (1) Appointment.--Each American Hero Commission shall be 
          comprised of commissioners who are appointed by Members of 
          Congress.
              (2) Number.--Each Member of Congress shall appoint 1 
          commissioner to the American Hero Commission for that Member's 
          State so that the total number of commissioners shall be equal 
          to the number of Senators plus the number of Members of the 
          House of Representatives for the State.
              (3) Qualifications.--Commissioners shall be individuals who 
          are respected in their communities and who are residents in 
          good standing of the State represented by the appointing 
          Member.
              (4) Compensation.--Commissioners shall serve on the 
          American Hero Commission without compensation.
              (5) Administration.--The commissioners of each American 
          Hero Commission shall establish the rules, meeting schedules, 
          and deadlines that they consider appropriate in carrying out 
          their duties.
      (d) Consultation of Essays.--
              (1) Request for essays.--Each American Hero Commission 
          shall ask that young people who are between the ages of 14 and 
          18 and who live in the State to write essays suggesting 
          individuals to represent the State in a statue displayed in the 
          Capitol Visitor Center under this Act and to submit the essays 
          to the Commission.
              (2) Consultation.--In determining who will represent their 
          State, the commissioners of each American Hero Commission shall 
          consider any individuals suggested in the essays submitted 
          under paragraph (1).
  
  SEC. 5. STATUE HONORING THE PASSENGERS OF FLIGHT 93.
  
      (a) Procurement and Installation of Statue.--The Architect of the 
  Capitol shall procure and install a statue honoring the passengers of 
  United Airlines flight number 93 who died on September 11, 2001 for 
  their heroic role in protecting Washington, DC from attack.
      (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
  appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
target: American Heroes Act - Authorizes each State to provide one statue of an individual representing that State to be displayed in the Capitol Visitor Center.
  
  Specifies criteria for such statues.
  
  Requires the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate to assign jointly to one of their employees the post of the American Hero Administrator to prepare statue guidelines.
  
  Requires: (1) a State to establish an American Hero Commission to select the individual to represent that State; and (2) the Architect of the Capitol to procure and install a statue honoring the passengers of United Airlines flight number 93 who died on September 11, 2001, for their heroic role in protecting Washington, D.C. from attack.
feat_title: To permit each State to provide a statue of an individual representing that State to be displayed in the Capitol Visitor Center, and for other purposes.