Volume 97 · 3
Public Law 98–1
To designate a “Nancy Hanks Center” and the “Old Post Office Building” in Washington, District of Columbia, and for other purposes.
Approved February 15, 1983
Statutory text
An Act
To designate a “Nancy Hanks Center” and the “Old Post Office Building” in Washington, District of Columbia, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the Congress hereby finds and declares—
Nancy Hanks served as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts from 1969 to 1977 and during that period presided with distinction over a substantial increase in support for the arts in the United States;
she provided wise leadership in defining a proper role for the Federal Government in the cultural life of the Nation, and safeguarding the creative integrity of artists and arts institutions against Government interference;
her wide-ranging interests in the arts, including architecture, led her to promote initiatives to improve the quality of Federal buildings and to work tirelessly to secure the preservation and renovation of the Old Post Office Building as a headquarters for Federal cultural agencies and as a site for cultural and commercial activities that would enliven the building and its surroundings; and
the renovation of the Old Post Office Building, its occupancy in this year 1983 by Federal cultural agencies and commercial enterprises and its impending use for public performances and exhibits are due in large measure to the foresightedness, persuasiveness, intellect, and vigor of Nancy Hanks.
Sec. 2.
There is herein designated the “Nancy Hanks Center” in Washington, District of Columbia, comprising the building located on the south side of Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest, between Eleventh and Twelfth Streets which is known as and hereby designated the “Old Post Office Building”, the plaza adjoining said building to the east and other immediately adjacent grounds, and the public use spaces within the Old Post Office Building, which include but are not limited to the commercial and performing areas known as the Pavilion and the clock-observation tower.
Sec. 3.
The Administrator of General Services, in consultation
Markers or displays.
with the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, shall erect at suitable locations at the Nancy Hanks Center appropriate markers or displays commemorating the accomplishments of Nancy Hanks in the fields of government and culture and describing her actions and those of others in Government and private life that led to the renovation and mixed-use development of the Old Post Office Building.
The Administrator of General Services is authorized to expend
Appropriation authorization.
for the purposes of subparagraph (a) of this section a sum not to exceed $50,000 available in any fiscal year out of revenues and collections deposited into the fund established pursuant to section 210(f) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, and any additional contributions of money provided
to him by private individuals or organizations for these purposes within six months of enactment of this Act.
Sec. 4.
The Administrator of General Services shall execute an
Observation tower, operation.
agreement with the Secretary of the Interior providing for operation of the observation tower in the Old Post Office Building by the National Park Service and further providing, if necessary, for transfer to the National Park Service in fiscal year 1983 and each succeeding fiscal year, out of revenues and collections from the Old Post Office Building deposited into the fund established pursuant to section 210(f) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, such sums as may be necessary to operate the observation tower.
Approved February 15, 1983.