[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2840 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2840

To establish a Commission on the Bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase 
                  and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 10, 2000

  Mr. Breaux introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
           referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish a Commission on the Bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase 
                  and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and 
Clark Expedition Bicentennial Commission Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase occurs in 
        2003, 200 years after the United States, under the leadership 
        of President Thomas Jefferson and after due consideration and 
        approval by Congress, paid $15,000,000 to France to acquire the 
        vast area in the western half of the Mississippi River basin;
            (2) the Louisiana Purchase was the largest peaceful land 
        transaction in history and virtually doubled the size of the 
        United States;
            (3) the Louisiana Purchase opened the heart of the North 
        American continent for exploration, settlement, and 
        achievement, as exemplified by the Lewis and Clark Expedition 
        of 1803 to 1806, which secured through heroic efforts the first 
        documentation of the inhabitants, riches, and grandeur of this 
        new territory of the United States;
            (4) in the wake of the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and 
        Clark Expedition, immigrants from around the world came to the 
        American frontier, which became emblematic of the search for 
        political, economic, and spiritual freedom; and
            (5) commemoration of the Louisiana Purchase and the opening 
        of the West will--
                    (A) enhance public understanding of the impact of 
                westward expansion on American society; and
                    (B) provide lessons for democratic governance in 
                our own time.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known 
as the ``Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark Expedition Bicentennial 
Commission'' (referred to in this Act as the ``Commission'') to 
encourage, plan, coordinate, and conduct the commemoration of the 200th 
anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark 
Expedition.
    (b) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 24 members, 
who shall be appointed not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, as follows:
            (1) 8 members appointed by the President on the 
        recommendation of the majority leader of the Senate, in 
        consultation with the minority leader of the Senate.
            (2) 8 members appointed by the President on recommendation 
        of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in consultation 
        with the minority leader of the House of Representatives.
            (3) 8 members appointed by the President.
    (c) Qualifications.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission members shall be chosen 
        from among individuals who have demonstrated scholarship, a 
        strong sense of public service, expertise in relevant 
        professions, and abilities likely to contribute to the 
        fulfillment of the duties of the Commission.
            (2) Composition.--The members of the Commission--
                    (A) shall be broadly representative of the people 
                of the United States; and
                    (B) shall not otherwise be officers or employees of 
                the United States.
    (d) Terms.--Members of the Commission shall be appointed for the 
life of the Commission.
    (e) International Participation.--The President is authorized and 
requested to invite the Governments of Canada, France, Great Britain, 
Mexico, and Spain each to appoint, not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, 1 individual to serve as a nonvoting 
participant in the activities of the Commission.
    (f) Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson.--
            (1) Chairperson.--The President shall designate 1 of the 
        members to be Chairperson.
            (2) Vice-chairperson.--The Commission shall elect a Vice-
Chairperson from among its members.
    (g) Quorum.--A quorum shall consist of 13 members of the 
Commission, but a lesser number may conduct meetings.
    (h) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the 
same manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (i) Compensation.--The members of the Commission shall serve 
without compensation, but each member shall be reimbursed for travel, 
subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance 
of Commission duties.

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--The Commission shall--
            (1) plan and develop activities appropriate to commemorate 
        the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and 
        Clark Expedition, including a limited number of projects to be 
        carried out by the Federal Government, seeking to harmonize and 
        balance the important goals of ceremony and celebration with 
        the equally important goals of scholarship and education;
            (2) consult with and encourage Federal agencies, State and 
        local governments, Indian tribes, foreign governments, and 
        private organizations to organize and participate in 
        bicentennial activities commemorating or examining--
                    (A) the history of the Louisiana Territory;
                    (B) the negotiation of the Louisiana Purchase;
                    (C) the Lewis and Clark Expedition; and
                    (D) the characteristics of the frontier movement 
                and the westward expansion of the United States and 
                their influences on world culture; and
            (3) coordinate throughout the United States and 
        internationally, activities related to the history and 
        influence of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark 
        Expedition.
    (b) Federal Agency Cooperation.--The head of each Federal agency 
shall cooperate with the Commission in encouraging, coordinating, 
planning, and conducting appropriate commemorative activities.

SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--The Commission may provide for--
            (1) the preparation, exhibition, dissemination, and sale of 
        historical, commemorative, and informational materials and 
        objects that contribute to public awareness of, and interest 
        in, the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis 
        and Clark Expedition, except that any commemorative coins, 
        medals, or postage stamps recommended to be issued by the 
        United States shall be sold only by an agency of the United 
        States;
            (2) competitions and awards for historical, scholarly, 
        artistic, literary, musical, and other works, programs, and 
        projects relating to the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase 
        and the Lewis and Clark Expedition;
            (3) a bicentennial calendar or register of programs and 
        projects;
            (4) a central clearinghouse for information and 
        coordination regarding dates, events, places, documents, 
        artifacts, and personalities of historical and commemorative 
        significance relating to the bicentennial of the Louisiana 
        Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition; and
            (5) the design and designation of logos, symbols, or marks 
        for use in connection with the commemoration of the 
        bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark 
        Expedition, on the condition that the Commission may not sell, 
        lease, or otherwise grant to any person the right to use any 
        such logo, symbol, or mark in connection with the production or 
        manufacture of any commercial goods, or as part of an 
        advertisement promoting any commercial goods or services.
    (b) Donations.--The Commission may solicit, accept, use, and 
dispose of donations of money, property, or personal services.
    (c) Preservation.--All books, manuscripts, printed matter, 
memorabilia, relics, and other materials or property relating to the 
time period of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark 
Expedition that are donated to the Commission may be deposited for 
preservation in National, State, or local libraries, museums, or other 
agencies.

SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS AND POWERS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Appointment of officers.--The Chairperson, with the 
        advice of the Commission, shall appoint, without regard to the 
        provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing 
        appointments in the competitive service--
                    (A) a Director, who may be compensated at a rate 
                not to exceed the rate of basic pay payable for level 
                IV of the Executive Schedule established under section 
                5315 of that title; and
                    (B) a Deputy Director, who may be compensated at a 
                rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay payable for 
                level V of the Executive Schedule established under 
                section 5316 of that title.
            (2) Delegation to director.--The Commission may delegate 
        such powers and duties to the Director as may be necessary for 
        the efficient operation and management of the Commission.
    (b) General Powers.--Subject to regulations promulgated by the 
Commission, the Commission may--
            (1) appoint and fix the compensation of such additional 
        personnel as the Commission considers necessary, not to exceed 
        20 staff members, without regard to the provisions of title 5, 
        United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive 
        service, and without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of 
        chapter 53 of that title relating to classification and General 
        Schedule pay rates, but at rates not in excess of the maximum 
        rate for grade GS-15 of the General Schedule under section 5332 
        of that title;
            (2) appoint such advisory committees as the Commission 
        considers necessary; and
            (3) procure supplies, services, and property, make 
        contracts, and expend funds appropriated, donated, or received 
        to carry out the contracts.
    (c) Staff Detailed From Federal Agencies.--On request of the 
Commission, the head of any Federal agency may detail any of the 
personnel of the agency to the Commission to assist the Commission in 
carrying out the duties of the Commission under this Act.
    (d) Staff Paid From Donated Funds.--The Commission may appoint and 
fix the pay of additional personnel to be paid out of private 
donations.
    (e) Principal Office.--The principal office of the Commission shall 
be in St. Louis, Missouri.

SEC. 7. REPORTS.

    (a) Annual Reports.--Not later than 60 days after the end of a 
fiscal year, the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress 
a report that--
            (1) describes the activities of the Commission during the 
        fiscal year; and
            (2) states--
                    (A) the amount of expenditures made by the 
                Commission during the fiscal year;
                    (B) for each donation received by the Commission 
                during the fiscal year--
                            (i) the amount of the donation; and
                            (ii) the name of the person that made the 
                        donation.
    (b) Comprehensive Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the 
        President and Congress a report incorporating specific 
        recommendations for the commemoration of the bicentennial of 
        the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark Expedition and 
        related events.
            (2) Contents of report.--The report under paragraph (1)--
                    (A) shall include recommendations for the 
                allocation of financial and administrative 
                responsibility among the public and private authorities 
                and organizations recommended for participation by the 
                Commission; and
                    (B) may recommend activities such as--
                            (i) the production, publication, and 
                        distribution of books, pamphlets, films, 
                        electronic publications, and other educational 
                        materials focusing on the history and impact of 
                        the Louisiana Purchase on the United States and 
                        the world;
                            (ii) bibliographical and documentary 
                        projects, publications, and electronic 
                        resources;
                            (iii) conferences, convocations, lectures, 
                        seminars, and other programs;
                            (iv) the development of programs by and for 
                        libraries, museums, parks, and historic sites, 
                        including national and international traveling 
                        exhibitions;
                            (v) ceremonies and celebrations 
                        commemorating specific events;
                            (vi) the production, distribution, and 
                        performance of artistic works, and of programs 
                        and activities, focusing on the national and 
                        international significance of the Louisiana 
                        Purchase and the westward expansion opening the 
                        frontier for present and future generations; 
                        and
                            (vii) the issuance of commemorative coins, 
                        medals, certificates of recognition, and 
                        postage stamps.
    (c) Final Report.--The Commission shall submit to the President and 
Congress a final report not later than 90 days before the termination 
of the Commission.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this Act--
            (1) $1,000,000 for the first fiscal year for which 
        appropriations are made; and
            (2) such sums as are necessary for subsequent fiscal years 
        until the termination of the Commission.
    (b) Availability of Funds.--Amounts appropriated under this section 
for any fiscal year shall remain available until the termination of the 
Commission.

SEC. 9. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 8 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act.
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