United States Academy of Peace Act

(Reported to Senate from the Committee on Labor and Human Resources with amendment, S. Rept. 98-244)

United States Academy of Peace Act - Establishes the United States Academy of Peace as an independent nonprofit corporation.

Permits the Academy to use "United States" or "U.S." or any other reference to the United States Government or Nation in its title, corporate seal, emblem, or other mark of recognition in any fiscal year only if there is an authorization of appropriations for the Academy for such fiscal year provided by law.

Directs the Board of Directors of the Academy, in selecting a site for the principal office of the Academy, to: (1) give preference to federally-owned facilities first and then to university-owned and privately-owned facilities; (2) base its decision on the need for a setting in which to encourage the pursuit of scholarly research and educational activities; (3) bear in mind that the purpose of the Academy is not to serve as a base for public political activity of any kind against U.S. foreign policy or U.S. peacemaking efforts; and (4) make such selection as cost-effective as possible.

Sets forth the powers and the duties of the Academy, including the establishment of an Endowment of the United States Academy of Peace.

Authorizes the Academy to establish a Center for International Peace.

Authorizes the Academy to recommend to the Congress the establishment of a United States Medal of Peace.

Authorizes the Academy to request and secure classified information if the Academy staff and members of the Board who have access to such classified information obtain appropriate security clearances from the Departments of Defense and State. Authorizes the Academy to disseminate such information to government personnel with appropriate security clearances.

Requires that at least one-fourth of the Academy's annual appropriations shall be used for grants and contracts to specified nonprofit and official public institutions. Permits such grants and contracts to be used for specified purposes, including study of conflict resolution between free trade unions and Communist-dominated organizations in the context of the global struggle for the protection of human rights.

Permits the Academy to obtain grants and contracts, including contracts for classified research for the Departments of State and Defense, the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and the intelligence community, and receive gifts and contributions from government at all levels, private agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Prohibits the Academy from accepting any gift, contribution, or grant from, or enter into any contract with: (1) any foreign government or its agency or instrumentality; (2) any international organization; or (3) any foreign national (except a tuition payment by a foreign national for instruction provided by the Academy.

Prohibits the Academy from undertaking to influence the passage or defeat of any Federal, State, local, or United Nations legislation, but permits Academy personnel to testify or make other appropriate communication when formally requested to do so by a legislative body, committee, or member thereof.

Provides for appointment of members of the Academy's Board of Directors (including four ex-officio members, consisting of the Secretaries of State and Defense, the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmanent Agency, and the Commandant of the National Defense University or their designees). Sets forth grounds for removal of Board members. Permits Board meetings to be closed only in exceptional circumstances.

Sets forth provisions for Academy officers and employees. Authorizes the president of the Academy to: (1) request the assignment of any Federal officer or employee to the Academy by an appropriate department, agency, or congressional official or Member of Congress; and (2) enter into agreement for such assignment if the affected officer or employee agrees and the assignment causes no prejudice to their salary, benefits, status, or advancement. Authorizes the Secretaries of State and Defense, the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and the Director of Central Intelligence to assign officers and employees to the Academy, on a rotating basis to be determined by the Board.

Sets forth provisions for Academy procedures and records.

Provides that, with certain exceptions, the Academy shall not be considered a department, agency, or instrumentality of the Government.

Prohibits the use of any political test or political qualification with respect to personnel actions of the Academy or financial assistance by the Academy.

Authorizes appropriations in a specified amount for an Academy principal office capitalization fund. Prohibits use of such funds for construction of any building or facility for the Academy. Authorizes appropriations in specified amounts for FY 1984 and 1985 for Academy programs and administration.

Requires that Academy expenses in connection with the United States Medal of Peace or the accompanying cash award be paid out of the private funds of the Endowment.

Restricts contract-making authority under this Act to the extent and amounts provided in appropriation Acts.

Prohibits the Academy from obligating or expending any funds held by the Academy which are not appropriated to the Academy by an Act of Congress unless such obligation or expenditure is specifically approved by the Board.

Directs the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Academy to report to the Congress and the President, beginning two years after the enactment of this Act and at two-year intervals thereafter. Directs the President to transmit to the Congress the recommendations of the appropriate Federal agencies with respect to such report and to any legislation concerning the Academy. Requires the appropriate congressional committees to hold hearings to review such report and recommendations.