[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2528 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2528

     To establish the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 400th Commemoration 
                  Commission, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 19, 2003

   Mr. Hinchey (for himself, Mr. McHugh, Mr. Engel, Mr. McNulty, Mr. 
Walsh, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Nadler, and Mr. Owens) introduced the following 
     bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To establish the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 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 ``Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 400th 
Commemoration Commission Act of 2003''.

 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (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, 
        both in the United States and internationally.
            (2) In 1609, Englishman Henry Hudson, acting in service 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 
        French explorer Samuel de Champlain was the first European to 
        see the lake later named for him.
            (3) These voyages were 2 of the most significant passages 
        in the European exploration and discovery of America, and began 
        2 of the earliest contacts in the New World between Native 
        Americans and Europeans.
            (4) These explorations led to the establishment of Fort 
        Orange, Dutch and later English settlement of what is now the 
        capital city of the State of New York, and settlement of French 
        Quebec settlements as far south as Lake George. From these 
        early settlements came an influence on our history, culture, 
        law, commerce, and traditions of liberty which extends to the 
        present day, and which is constantly reflected in the position 
        of the United States as the leader of the nations of the free 
        world.
            (5) In 1807, Robert Fulton navigated the Hudson River from 
        the city of New York to Albany in the steamboat CLERMONT, 
        successfully inaugurating steam navigation on a commercial 
        basis. This event is one of the most important events in the 
        history of navigation. It revolutionized waterborne commerce on 
        the great rivers of the United States, transformed naval 
        warfare, and fostered international relations through 
        transoceanic travel and trade.
            (6) The National Park Service owns and operates significant 
        resources in New York related to the early history of the 
        nation and the Hudson River Valley.
            (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 400th Commemoration Commission to--
            (1) ensure a suitable national observance of the Henry 
        Hudson, Robert Fulton, and Samuel de Champlain 2009 
        anniversaries through cooperation with and assistance to the 
        programs and activities of New York, New Jersey, and Vermont;
            (2) assist in ensuring that Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 2009 
        observances provide an excellent visitor experience and 
        beneficial interaction between visitors and the natural and 
        cultural resources of the New York, New Jersey, and Vermont 
        sites;
            (3) assist in ensuring that Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 2009 
        observances are inclusive and appropriately recognize the 
        diverse Hudson River and Lake Champlain communities that 
        developed over 4 centuries;
            (4) facilitate international involvement in the Hudson-
        Fulton-Champlain 2009 observances;
            (5) support and facilitate marketing efforts for a 
        commemorative coin, a commemorative stamp, and related 
        activities for the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 2009 observances; 
        and
            (6) 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 Robert Fulton's voyage 
                in the CLERMONT;
                    (B) the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage 
                in the HALF MOON; and
                    (C) the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's 
                voyage.
            (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Hudson-
        Fulton-Champlain 400th Commemoration Commission established by 
        section 4(a).
            (3) Governors.--The term ``Governors'' means the Governors 
        of the States of New York, New Jersey, and Vermont.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (5) States.--The term ``States''--
                    (A) means the States of New York, New Jersey, and 
                Vermont; and
                    (B) includes agencies and entities of each such 
                State.

SEC. 4. HUDSON-FULTON-CHAMPLAIN 400TH COMMEMORATION COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--There is established a commission to be known as 
the ``Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 400th 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, 
                after consideration of the recommendations of the 
                Governors;
                    (B) 13 members shall be appointed by the Secretary, 
                after consideration of the recommendations from the 
                Members of the House of Representatives whose districts 
                encompass the Hudson River Valley and Champlain Valley;
                    (C) 6 members shall be appointed by the Secretary, 
                after consideration of the recommendations from the 
                Members of the Senate from New York, New Jersey, and 
                Vermont;
                    (D) 2 members shall be employees of the National 
                Park Service, of whom--
                            (i) one shall be the Director of the 
                        National Park Service (or a designee); and
                            (ii) one shall be an employee of the 
                        National Park Service having experience 
                        relevant to the commemoration, who shall be 
                        appointed by the Secretary;
                    (E) one member shall be appointed by the Secretary, 
                and shall be an individual knowledgeable of the Hudson 
                River Valley National Heritage Area; and
                    (F) 6 members shall be appointed by the Secretary, 
                and shall be individuals that have an interest in, 
                support for, and expertise appropriate to, the 
                commemoration.
            (2) Term; vacancies.--
                    (A) Term.--Each 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 and vice chairperson.--(A) The Commission 
        shall elect the chairperson and the vice chairperson of the 
        Commission on an annual basis.
            (B) 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 to commemorate the 400th 
                anniversary of the voyage of Henry Hudson, the first 
                European to sail up the Hudson River, the 200th 
                anniversary of the voyage of Robert Fulton, the first 
                person to use steam navigation on a commercial basis, 
                the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Samuel de 
                Champlain, the first European to discover and explore 
                Lake Champlain;
                    (B) facilitate Hudson-Fulton-Champlain-related 
                activities throughout the United States;
                    (C) coordinate its activities with State 
                commemoration commissions and appropriate Federal 
                Government agencies, including the Departments of 
                Agriculture, Defense, State, and Transportation, the 
                National Park Service with respect to the Hudson River 
                Valley National Heritage Area, and the American 
                Heritage Rivers Initiative Interagency Committee 
                established by Executive Order 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 anniversary activities to expand the 
                understanding and appreciation of the significance of 
                the voyages of Henry Hudson, Robert Fulton, and Samuel 
de Champlain;
                    (E) provide technical assistance to States, 
                localities, and nonprofit organizations to further the 
                commemoration;
                    (F) coordinate and facilitate for the public 
                scholarly research on, publication about, and 
                interpretation of, the voyages of Henry Hudson, Robert 
                Fulton, and Samuel de 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.--The 
                Commission shall prepare a strategic plan in accordance 
                with section 306 of title 5, United States Code, and 
                annual performance plans in accordance with section 
                1115 of title 31, United States Code, 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) disperse funds, and accept donations of personal 
        services and real and personal property related to Hudson-
        Fulton-Champlain 2009 and of the significance of Hudson, 
        Fulton, and Champlain 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 $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 
        early history of 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 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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