[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2885 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2885

  To establish the Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 18, 2000

 Mr. Warner (for himself and Mr. Robb) introduced the following bill; 
   which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources.

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish the Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission, and for 
                            other purposes.

    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 ``Jamestown 400th Commemoration 
Commission Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the founding of the colony at Jamestown, Virginia in 
        1607, the first permanent English colony in the New World, and 
        the capital of Virginia for 92 years, has major significance in 
        the history of the United States;
            (2) the settlement brought people from throughout the 
        Atlantic Basin together to form a multicultural society, 
        including English, other Europeans, Native Americans, and 
        Africans;
            (3) the economic, political, religious, and social 
        institutions that developed during the first 9 decades of the 
        existence of Jamestown continue to have profound effects on the 
        United States, particularly in English common law and language, 
        cross cultural relationships, and economic structure and 
        status;
            (4) the National Park Service, the Association for the 
        Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, and the Jamestown-
        Yorktown Foundation of the Commonwealth of Virginia 
        collectively own and operate significant resources related to 
        the early history of Jamestown; and
            (5) in 1996--
                    (A) the Commonwealth of Virginia designated the 
                Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation as the State agency 
                responsible for planning and implementing the 
                Commonwealth's portion of the commemoration of the 
                400th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown 
                settlement;
                    (B) the Foundation created the Celebration 2007 
                Steering Committee, known as the Jamestown 2007 
                Steering Committee; and
                    (C) planning for the commemoration began.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish the Jamestown 
400th Commemoration Commission to--
            (1) ensure a suitable national observance of the Jamestown 
        2007 anniversary by complementing the programs and activities 
        of the State of Virginia;
            (2) cooperate with and assist the programs and activities 
        of the State in observance of the Jamestown 2007 anniversary;
            (3) assist in ensuring that Jamestown 2007 observances 
        provide an excellent visitor experience and beneficial 
        interaction between visitors and the natural and cultural 
        resources of the Jamestown sites;
            (4) assist in ensuring that the Jamestown 2007 observances 
        are inclusive and appropriately recognize the experiences of 
        all people present in 17th century Jamestown;
            (5) provide assistance to the development of Jamestown-
        related programs and activities;
            (6) facilitate international involvement in the Jamestown 
        2007 observances;
            (7) support and facilitate marketing efforts for a 
        commemorative coin, stamp, and related activities for the 
        Jamestown 2007 observances; and
            (8) assist in the appropriate development of heritage 
        tourism and economic benefits to the United States.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Commemoration.--The term ``commemoration'' means the 
        commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of the 
        Jamestown settlement.
            (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the 
        Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission established by section 
        4(a).
            (3) Governor.--The term ``Governor'' means the Governor of 
        the State.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (5) State.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``State'' means the State 
                of Virginia.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``State'' includes 
                agencies and entities of the State.

SEC. 4. JAMESTOWN 400TH COMMEMORATION COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--There is established a commission to be known as 
the ``Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission''.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 16 
        members, of whom--
                    (A) 4 members shall be appointed by the Secretary, 
                taking into consideration the recommendations of the 
                Chairperson of the Jamestown 2007 Steering Committee;
                    (B) 4 members shall be appointed by the Secretary, 
                taking into consideration the recommendations of the 
                Governor;
                    (C) 2 members shall be employees of the National 
                Park Service, of which--
                            (i) 1 shall be the Director of the National 
                        Park Service (or a designee); and
                            (ii) 1 shall be an employee of the National 
                        Park Service having experience relevant to the 
                        commemoration, to be appointed by the 
                        Secretary; and
                    (D) 5 members shall be individuals that have an 
                interest in, support for, and expertise appropriate to, 
                the commemoration, to be appointed by the Secretary.
            (2) Term; vacancies.--
                    (A) Term.--A member of the Commission shall be 
                appointed for the life of the Commission.
                    (B) Vacancies.--
                            (i) In general.--A vacancy on the 
                        Commission shall be filled in the same manner 
                        in which the original appointment was made.
                            (ii) Partial term.--A member appointed to 
                        fill a vacancy on the Commission shall serve 
                        for the remainder of the term for which the 
                        predecessor of the member was appointed.
            (3) Meetings.--
                    (A) In general.--The Commission shall meet--
                            (i) at least twice each year; or
                            (ii) at the call of the Chairperson or the 
                        majority of the members of the Commission.
                    (B) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after 
                the date on which all members of the Commission have 
                been appointed, the Commission shall hold the initial 
                meeting of the Commission.
            (4) Voting.--
                    (A) In general.--The Commission shall act only on 
                an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the 
                Commission.
                    (B) Quorum.--A majority of the Commission shall 
                constitute a quorum.
            (5) Chairperson.--The Secretary shall appoint a Chairperson 
        of the Commission, taking into consideration any 
        recommendations of the Governor.
    (c) Duties.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall--
                    (A) plan, develop, and execute programs and 
                activities appropriate to commemorate the 400th 
                anniversary of the founding of Jamestown;
                    (B) generally facilitate Jamestown-related 
                activities throughout the United States;
                    (C) encourage civic, patriotic, historical, 
                educational, religious, economic, and other 
                organizations throughout the United States to organize 
                and participate in anniversary activities to expand the 
                understanding and appreciation of the significance of 
                the founding and early history of Jamestown;
                    (D) coordinate and facilitate for the public 
                scholarly research on, publication about, and 
                interpretation of, Jamestown; and
                    (E) ensure that the 400th anniversary of Jamestown 
                provides a lasting legacy and long-term public benefit 
                by assisting in the development of appropriate programs 
                and facilities.
            (2) Plans; reports.--
                    (A) Strategic plan; annual performance plans.--In 
                accordance with the Government Performance and Results 
                Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-62; 107 Stat. 285), the 
                Commission shall prepare a strategic plan and annual 
                performance plans for the activities of the Commission 
                carried out under this Act.
                    (B) Final report.--Not later than September 30, 
                2008, the Commission shall complete a final report that 
                contains--
                            (i) a summary of the activities of the 
                        Commission;
                            (ii) a final accounting of funds received 
                        and expended by the Commission; and
                            (iii) the findings and recommendations of 
                        the Commission.
    (d) Powers of the Commission.--The Commission may--
            (1) accept donations and make dispersions of money, 
        personal services, and real and personal property related to 
        Jamestown and of the significance of Jamestown in the history 
        of the United States;
            (2) appoint such advisory committees as the Commission 
        determines to be necessary to carry out this Act;
            (3) authorize any member or employee of the Commission to 
        take any action that the Commission is authorized to take by 
        this Act;
            (4) procure supplies, services, and property, and make or 
        enter into contracts, leases or other legal agreements, to 
        carry out this Act (except that any contracts, leases or other 
        legal agreements made or entered into by the Commission shall 
        not extend beyond the date of termination of the Commission);
            (5) use the United States mails in the same manner and 
        under the same conditions as other Federal agencies;
            (6) subject to approval by the Commission, make grants in 
        amounts not to exceed $10,000 to communities and nonprofit 
        organizations to develop programs to assist in the 
        commemoration;
            (7) make grants to research and scholarly organizations to 
        research, publish, or distribute information relating to the 
        early history of Jamestown; and
            (8) provide technical assistance to States, localities, and 
        nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration.
    (e) Commission Personnel Matters.--
            (1) Compensation of members of the commission.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (B), a member of the Commission shall serve without 
                compensation.
                    (B) Federal employees.--A member of the Commission 
                who is an officer or employee of the Federal Government 
                shall serve without compensation in addition to the 
                compensation received for the services of the member as 
                an officer or employee of the Federal Government.
                    (C) Travel expenses.--A member of the Commission 
                shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
                lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an 
                employee of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 
                of title 5, United States Code, while away from the 
                home or regular place of business of the member in the 
                performance of the duties of the Commission.
            (2) Staff.--
                    (A) In general.--The Chairperson of the Commission 
                may, without regard to the civil service laws 
                (including regulations), appoint and terminate an 
                executive director and such other additional personnel 
                as are necessary to enable the Commission to perform 
                the duties of the Commission.
                    (B) Confirmation of executive director.--The 
                employment of an executive director shall be subject to 
                confirmation by the Commission.
            (3) Compensation.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (B), the Chairperson of the Commission may fix the 
                compensation of the executive director and other 
                personnel without regard to the provisions of chapter 
                51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United 
                States Code, relating to classification of positions 
                and General Schedule pay rates.
                    (B) Maximum rate of pay.--The rate of pay for the 
                executive director and other personnel shall not exceed 
                the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule 
                under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
            (4) Detail of government employees.--
                    (A) Federal employees.--
                            (i) In general.--On the request of the 
                        Commission, the head of any Federal agency may 
                        detail, on a reimbursable or non-reimbursable 
                        basis, 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.
                            (ii) Civil service status.--The detail of 
                        an employee under clause (i) shall be without 
                        interruption or loss of civil service status or 
                        privilege.
                    (B) State employees.--The Commission may--
                            (i) accept the services of personnel 
                        detailed from States (including subdivisions of 
                        States); and
                            (ii) reimburse States for services of 
                        detailed personnel.
            (5) Volunteer and uncompensated services.--Notwithstanding 
        section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Commission 
        may accept and use voluntary and uncompensated services as the 
        Commission determines necessary.
            (6) Support services.--The Director of the National Park 
        Service shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable 
        basis, such administrative support services as the Commission 
        may request.
    (f) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The 
Chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent 
services in accordance with section 3109(b) of title 5, United States 
Code, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily equivalent 
of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5316 of that title.
    (g) FACA Nonapplicability.--Section 14(b) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Commission.
    (h) No Effect on Authority.--Nothing in this section supersedes the 
authority of the State, the National Park Service, or the Association 
for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, concerning the 
commemoration.
    (i) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on December 31, 
2008.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this Act.
                                 <all>