[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2635 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2635

To establish the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Commemoration Commission, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 18, 2002

 Mrs. Clinton introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
       referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 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 ``Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 
Commemoration Commission Act of 2002''.

 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the first European exploration of the Hudson River and 
        Lake Champlain and the introduction of steam navigation to 
        maritime commerce were events of major historical importance in 
        the United States and throughout the world;
            (2) in 1609--
                    (A) Englishman Henry Hudson, acting on behalf of 
                the Dutch East India Company, was the first European to 
                sail up the river later named for him in the vessel 
                Half Moon; and
                    (B) French explorer Samuel de Champlain was the 
                first European to discover the lake later named for 
                him;
            (3) those voyages--
                    (A) were 2 of the most significant passages in the 
                European exploration and discovery of America;
                    (B) resulted in 2 of the earliest contacts in the 
                New World between Native Americans and Europeans; and
                    (C) led to the establishment of--
                            (i) the Dutch and later English settlement 
                        Fort Orange in the area that is now Albany, New 
                        York; and
                            (ii) French Quebec settlements located as 
                        far south as Lake George;
            (4) those early settlements influenced the history, 
        culture, law, commerce, and traditions of liberty of the United 
        States;
            (5) in 1807, the navigation of the Hudson River from the 
        city of New York to Albany by Robert Fulton in the steamboat 
        Clermont--
                    (A) successfully inaugurated steam navigation on a 
                commercial basis;
                    (B) is 1 of the most important events in the 
                history of navigation;
                    (C) revolutionized waterborne commerce on the 
                rivers of the United States;
                    (D) transformed naval warfare; and
                    (E) fostered international relations through 
                transoceanic travel and trade;
            (6) the National Park Service owns and operates significant 
        resources in the State of New York relating to the early 
        history of the United States and the Hudson River Valley; and
            (7) in 2002 the State of New York enacted legislation 
        establishing a State Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Commission.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish the Hudson-
Fulton-Champlain Commemoration Commission to--
            (1) ensure a suitable national observance, in 2009, of the 
        anniversaries of the voyages of Henry Hudson, Robert Fulton, 
        and Samuel de Champlain through cooperation with and assistance 
        to the programs and activities of the States of New York, New 
        Jersey, and Vermont;
            (2) assist in ensuring that Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 2009 
        observances--
                    (A) provide an excellent visitor experience and 
                beneficial interaction between visitors and the natural 
                and cultural resources of sites in the States of New 
                York, New Jersey, and Vermont; and
                    (B) are inclusive and recognize the diverse Hudson 
                River and Lake Champlain communities that developed 
                over 4 centuries;
            (3) facilitate international involvement in the Hudson-
        Fulton-Champlain 2009 observances;
            (4) support and facilitate marketing efforts for a 
        commemorative coin, a commemorative stamp, and related 
        activities for the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 2009 observances; 
        and
            (5) 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--
                    (A) the 200th anniversary of the voyage of Robert 
                Fulton in the steamboat Clermont;
                    (B) the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Henry 
                Hudson in the vessel Half Moon; and
                    (C) the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Samuel 
                de Champlain.
            (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Hudson-
        Fulton-Champlain Commemoration Commission established by 
        section 4(a).
            (3) Governor.--The term ``Governor'' means the Governor of 
        each State.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (5) State.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``State'' means--
                            (i) the State of New York;
                            (ii) the State of New Jersey; and
                            (iii) the State of Vermont.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``State'' includes 
                agencies and entities of each State specified in 
                subparagraph (A).

SEC. 4. HUDSON-FULTON-CHAMPLAIN COMMEMORATION COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--There is established a commission to be known as 
the ``Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Commemoration Commission''.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 31 
        members, of whom--
                    (A) 3 members shall be appointed by the Secretary, 
                taking into consideration the recommendations of the 
                Governors;
                    (B) 14 members shall be appointed by the Secretary, 
                taking into consideration the recommendations of--
                            (i) the Members of the House of 
                        Representatives whose districts encompass the 
                        Hudson River Valley; and
                            (ii) the Members of the House of 
                        Representatives whose districts encompass 
                        Champlain Valley;
                    (C) 6 members shall be appointed by the Secretary, 
                taking into consideration the recommendations of the 
                Members of the Senate from the States;
                    (D) 2 members shall be employees of the National 
                Park Service, of whom--
                            (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;
                    (E) 1 member shall be an individual knowledgeable 
                about the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, 
                to be appointed by the Secretary; and
                    (F) 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 
                        as 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 members of the 
                Commission shall constitute a quorum.
            (5) Chairperson and vice chairperson.--
                    (A) In general.--The Commission shall annually 
                select the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson of the 
                Commission from among the members of the Commission.
                    (B) Authority.--The Vice Chairperson shall serve as 
                the Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson.
    (c) Duties.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall--
                    (A) plan, develop, and execute programs and 
                activities appropriate for the commemoration;
                    (B) facilitate activities relating to the 
                commemoration throughout the United States;
                    (C) coordinate activities of the Commission with--
                            (i) commemoration commissions of the 
                        States;
                            (ii) appropriate Federal agencies, 
                        including--
                                    (I) the Department of Agriculture;
                                    (II) the Department of Defense;
                                    (III) the Department of State;
                                    (IV) the Department of 
                                Transportation; and
                                    (V) the National Park Service; and
                            (iii) the American Heritage Rivers 
                        Initiative Interagency Committee established by 
                        Executive Order No. 13061, dated September 11, 
                        1997;
                    (D) encourage civic, patriotic, historical, 
                educational, religious, economic, and other 
                organizations throughout the United States to organize 
                and participate in activities to expand the 
                understanding and appreciation of the significance of 
                the voyages of Hudson, Fulton, and Champlain;
                    (E) provide technical assistance to States, 
                localities, and nonprofit organizations to carry out 
                activities relating to the commemoration;
                    (F) coordinate and facilitate for the public 
                scholarly research on, publication concerning, and 
                interpretation of, the voyages of Hudson, Fulton, and 
                Champlain; and
                    (G) ensure that the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 2009 
                anniversaries provide 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 section 306 of title 5, United States 
                Code, and section 1115 of title 31, United States Code, 
                the Commission shall prepare a strategic plan for the 
                activities of the Commission carried out under this 
                Act.
                    (B) Final report.--Not later than September 30, 
                2010, the Commission shall submit to the Secretary 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 and dispose of donations of money, personal 
        services, and real and personal property related to the 
        commemoration;
            (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 $20,000 to communities and nonprofit 
        organizations to develop programs to assist in the 
        commemoration; and
            (7) make grants to research and scholarly organizations to 
        research, publish, or distribute information relating to the 
        voyages of Hudson, Fulton, and Champlain.
    (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.--At the request of the 
                        Commission, the head of any Federal agency may 
                        detail, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable 
                        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 to be 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 States or the National Park Service concerning the 
commemoration.
    (i) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on December 31, 
2010.
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