[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2449 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2449

 To establish a commission to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the 
                          American Civil War.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 12, 2003

   Mr. Baker (for himself, Mr. Alexander, Mr. John, Mr. Vitter, Mr. 
  McCrery, Mr. Goode, and Mr. Platts) introduced the following bill; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish a commission to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the 
                          American Civil War.

    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 ``Civil War Sesquicentennial 
Commission Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The American Civil War was a defining experience in the 
        development of the United States.
            (2) The people of the United States continue to struggle 
        with issues of race, civil rights, the politics of federalism, 
        and heritage which are legacies of the Civil War and 
        Reconstruction.
            (3) There is a resurgence of interest in the Civil War that 
        is evidenced by the multitude of publications, exhibits, 
        reenactments, research organizations, Internet and multimedia 
        resources, historic parks, and preservation associations 
        focused on the Civil War.
            (4) The years 2011 through 2015 mark the sesquicentennial 
        of the Civil War.
            (5) The sesquicentennial of the Civil War presents a 
        significant opportunity for Americans to recall and reflect 
        upon the Civil War and its legacy in a spirit of reconciliation 
        and reflection.
            (6) The United States Civil War Center at Louisiana State 
        University, Louisiana, and the Civil War Institute at 
        Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania, have been designated by the 
        Federal government to plan and facilitate the commemoration of 
        the sesquicentennial of the Civil War.
            (7) The State of Virginia--
                    (A) witnessed more Civil War military engagements 
                on its soil than any other State;
                    (B) hosts more historic sites related to the Civil 
                War than any other State; and
                    (C) is home to the Pamplin Historical Park and the 
                National Museum of the Civil War Soldier and the 
                Virginia Center for Civil War Studies at Virginia 
                Polytechnic Institute and State University, both of 
                which are nationally recognized centers of expertise in 
                the study of the Civil War.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish a Civil War 
Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission to--
            (1) ensure a suitable national observance of the 
        sesquicentennial of the Civil War;
            (2) cooperate with and assist States and national 
        organizations with programs and activities for the observance 
        of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War;
            (3) assist in ensuring that any observance of the 
        sesquicentennial of the Civil War is inclusive and 
        appropriately recognizes the experiences and points of view of 
        all people affected by the Civil War; and
            (4) provide assistance for the development of programs, 
        projects, and activities on the Civil War that have lasting 
        educational value.

SEC. 3. CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION COMMISSION.

     There is established a commission to be known as the Civil War 
Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission (hereafter in this Act 
referred to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 4. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--The Commission shall be composed of 27 members as 
follows:
            (1) Government members.--The Commission shall include--
                    (A) 2 Members of the House of Representatives 
                appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
                Representatives;
                    (B) 2 Members of the Senate appointed by the 
                President pro tempore of the Senate, in consultation 
                with the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the 
                Senate;
                    (C) the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 
                or the designee of the Secretary;
                    (D) the Secretary of the Department of Education, 
                or the designee of the Secretary;
                    (E) the Chairman of the National Endowment for the 
                Humanities, or the designee of the Chairman;
                    (F) the Archivist of the United States, or the 
                designee of the Archivist;
                    (G) the Librarian of Congress, or the designee of 
                the Librarian; and
                    (H) the Director of the National Park Service, or 
                the designee of the Director.
            (2) Private members.--The Commission shall include--
                    (A) an individual appointed by the President after 
                consultation with the Director of the United States 
                Civil War Center at Louisiana State University, 
                Louisiana;
                    (B) an individual appointed by the President after 
                consultation with the Director of the Civil War 
                Institute at Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania;
                    (C) 5 members appointed by the President from among 
                individuals who are representative of the corporate 
                community;
                    (D) an individual appointed by the President after 
                consultation with--
                            (i) the Director of the Virginia Center for 
                        Civil War Studies at Virginia Polytechnic 
                        Institute and State University, Virginia; and
                            (ii) the Director of Pamplin Historical 
                        Park and the National Museum of the Civil War 
                        Soldier, Virginia; and
                    (E) 9 individuals, appointed by the President, from 
                among persons who by reason of education, training, and 
                experience, are experts on the Antebellum, Civil War, 
                and Reconstruction eras, including--
                            (i) 6 individuals with expertise in 
                        history;
                            (ii) 1 individual with specific expertise 
                        in art history, historic preservation, or a 
                        related field;
                            (iii) 1 individual with expertise in 
                        anthropology, cultural geography, sociology, or 
                        a related field; and
                            (iv) 1 individual with expertise in 
                        political science, law, economics, or a related 
                        field.
    (b) Terms.--Members shall be appointed for the life of the 
Commission.
    (c) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its 
powers, and shall be filled in the same manner as the original 
appointment.
    (d) Initial Appointments.--The appointment of the members of the 
Commission shall be made not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

    (a) Meetings.--
            (1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 60 days after the date 
        on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the 
        members appointed under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 
        4(a)(2) shall call the first meeting of the Commission.
            (2) Subsequent meetings.--The Commission shall hold 
        subsequent meetings at the call of the chairperson.
    (b) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--At the initial meeting, the 
Commission shall elect a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among 
its voting members.
    (c) Quorum.--A majority of voting members shall constitute a 
quorum, but a lesser number may hold meetings.
    (d) Voting.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall act only on an 
        affirmative vote of a majority of the voting members of the 
        Commission.
            (2) Nonvoting members.--The individuals appointed under 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 4(a)(1) shall be nonvoting 
        members, and shall serve only in an advisory capacity.

SEC. 6. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Activities Related to the Sesquicentennial.--The Commission 
shall--
            (1) plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities 
        appropriate to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil 
        War;
            (2) encourage interdisciplinary examination of the Civil 
        War;
            (3) facilitate Civil War-related activities throughout the 
        United States;
            (4) encourage civic, historical, educational, 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 Civil War;
            (5) coordinate and facilitate the public distribution of 
        scholarly research, publications, and interpretations of the 
        Civil War;
            (6) provide technical assistance to States, localities, and 
        nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration of the 
        sesquicentennial of the Civil War;
            (7) develop programs and facilities to ensure that the 
        sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War results in a 
        positive legacy and long-term public benefit;
            (8) administer the grant program under section 7; and
            (9) encourage the development and conduct of programs 
        designed to involve the international community in activities 
        that commemorate the Civil War.
    (b) Plans and Report.--
            (1) Plans.--The Commission shall prepare a strategic plan 
        in accordance with section 306 of title 5, United States Code, 
        and the annual plan and report required by sections 1115 and 
        1116, respectively, of title 31, United States Code.
            (2) Report.--Not later than December 30, 2015, the 
        Commission shall submit to Congress a final report that 
        contains--
                    (A) a summary of activities of the Commission;
                    (B) a final accounting of funds received and 
                expended by the Commission; and
                    (C) the findings and recommendations of the 
                Commission.

SEC. 7. GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--The Commission shall award a grant in each 
of the fiscal years 2004 through 2016 to each of the following:
            (1) The United States Civil War Center at Louisiana State 
        University, Louisiana.
            (2) The Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College, 
        Pennsylvania.
            (3) The Virginia Center for Civil War Studies at Virginia 
        Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia, and the 
        Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil 
        War Soldier, Virginia.
    (b) Limitations.--The amount of any grant under subsection (a) in 
any fiscal year may not exceed $100,000, nor may the amount of such 
grant be less than $80,000.
    (c) Use of Funds.--Amounts awarded under subsection (a) shall be 
used for appropriate activities relating to the sesquicentennial of the 
Civil War.

SEC. 8. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.----The Commission may--
            (1) solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations 
        of services or property, and acknowledge publicly the sources 
        of such gifts and donations;
            (2) appoint any advisory committee as the Commission 
        considers appropriate for the purposes of this Act;
            (3) authorize any voting member or employee of the 
        Commission to take any action that the Commission is authorized 
        to take under this Act; and
            (4) procure supplies and services to carry out this Act.
    (b) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States 
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

SEC. 9. PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Compensation of Members.--Members of the Commission, and 
members of any advisory committee appointed under section 8(a)(2), 
shall serve without compensation.
    (b) Travel Expenses.--Members of the Commission, and members of any 
advisory committees appointed under section 8(a)(2), 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.
    (c) Staff.--
            (1) In general.--The Chairperson of the Commission may, 
        without regard to civil service laws and regulations, appoint 
        and terminate an executive director and other additional 
        personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to 
        perform its duties.
            (2) Confirmation of the executive director.--The employment 
        of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by 
        the Commission.
    (d) Detail of Government Employees.--Any Federal Government 
employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and 
any detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service 
status or privilege.
    (e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The 
Chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent 
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at daily 
rates for individuals which 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 such title.

SEC. 10. TERMINATION.

     The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 90 days after 
the date on which the Commission submits its report under section 
6(b)(2).

SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this Act $500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2016.
    (b) Availability.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated by 
subsection (a) shall remain available until expended. Any unexpended 
balance of appropriations available pursuant to the authorization of 
appropriations in subsection (a) as of December 30, 2016 are canceled 
effective December 30, 2021.
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