[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1977 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1977

   To establish a commission to investigate the expulsion of African-
 American residents of the Missouri cities of Aurora, Monett, Newburg, 
 Pierce City, Cassville, and Webb City from their homes that occurred 
between August 1894 and August 1901, and make recommendations regarding 
 the feasibility and appropriateness of providing reparations to such 
                               residents.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 28, 2005

  Mr. Clay (for himself, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Owens, Mr. Payne, Ms. 
Kilpatrick of Michigan, Ms. McKinney, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Ms. Lee, 
Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Jackson 
of Illinois, and Mr. Cummings) introduced the following bill; which was 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish a commission to investigate the expulsion of African-
 American residents of the Missouri cities of Aurora, Monett, Newburg, 
 Pierce City, Cassville, and Webb City from their homes that occurred 
between August 1894 and August 1901, and make recommendations regarding 
 the feasibility and appropriateness of providing reparations to such 
                               residents.

    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 ``1901 Missouri African American 
Expulsion Commission Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a commission to be known as the ``1901 
Missouri African American Expulsion Commission'' (in this Act referred 
to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall--
            (1) investigate the expulsion of any African-American 
        resident in or around the Missouri cities of Aurora, Monett, 
        Newburg, Pierce City, Cassville, or Webb City from the home or 
        farm of such resident occurring between August 1894 and August 
        1901, including--
                    (A) any cause for the expulsion;
                    (B) any burning or vandalism of the home of such 
                resident;
                    (C) any tortuous or criminal conduct committed 
                against such resident; and
                    (D) any mob activity directed against such 
                resident;
            (2) identify any person--
                    (A) who is a relative of a resident described in 
                paragraph (1); or
                    (B) whom the Commission determines sustained an 
                identifiable loss, including a loss to the personal 
                relations, real property, or personal property of such 
                person, because of conduct described in paragraph (1), 
                whether or not such conduct has previously been the 
                subject of a legal proceeding;
            (3) research and develop a historical record of the 
        expulsion described in paragraph (1); and
            (4) make recommendations regarding--
                    (A) the feasibility of providing reparations to any 
                person identified under paragraph (2); and
                    (B) the appropriate method to provide such 
                reparations.

SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) Number and Appointment.--
            (1) The Commission shall be composed of seven members as 
        follows:
                    (A) Four members appointed by the House of 
                Representatives, in the manner prescribed by the House 
                of Representatives.
                    (B) Three members appointed by the Senate, in the 
                manner prescribed by the Senate.
            (2) Of the three members appointed under paragraph (1)(B), 
        one shall be a member of the Missouri Historical Society.
    (b) Qualifications.--In making appointments under this section, the 
appointing authorities shall make a special effort to appoint 
individuals who are particularly qualified to perform the functions of 
the Commission, by reason of either practical experience or academic 
expertise in politics or government.
    (c) Terms and Vacancies.--Each member shall be appointed for the 
life of the Commission. A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in 
the manner in which the original appointment was made. Any member 
appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term 
for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed 
only for the remainder of that term. A member may serve after the 
expiration of that member's term until a successor has taken office.
    (d) Basic Pay.--
            (1) Rates of pay.--To the extent or in the amounts provided 
        in advance in appropriation Acts, except as provided in 
        paragraph (2), each member of the Commission shall be paid the 
        daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay payable for 
        level V of the Executive Schedule for each day (including 
        travel time) during which the member is engaged in the actual 
        performance of duties of the Commission.
            (2) Prohibition of compensation of federal employees.--
        Members of the Commission who are full-time officers or 
        employees of the United States or Members of Congress may not 
        receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of 
        their service on the Commission.
    (e) Travel Expenses.--Each member shall receive travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with 
applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
United States Code.
    (f) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
    (g) Chairman.--The Chairman of the Commission shall be elected by 
the members.
    (h) Meetings.--
            (1) Frequency of meetings.--The Commission shall meet as 
        often as the Chairman determines is necessary to perform the 
        duties of the Commission.
            (2) Initial meeting.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall hold the 
        initial meeting of the Commission.

SEC. 5. STAFF OF COMMISSION AND EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.

    (a) Staff.--Subject to rules prescribed by the Commission, the 
Chairman may appoint and fix the pay of personnel as the Chairman 
considers appropriate.
    (b) Experts and Consultants.--With the approval of the Commission, 
the Chairman may procure temporary and intermittent services in the 
manner prescribed in section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, 
but at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the 
maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for grade GS-15 of the General 
Schedule under section 5332 of such title.
    (c) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon the request of the Commission, 
the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a 
reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency 
to the Commission to assist it in performing its duties under this Act.

SEC. 6. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings.--The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out 
this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take 
testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers 
appropriate. The Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to 
witnesses appearing before it.
    (b) Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of the Commission may, 
if authorized by the Commission, take any action that the Commission is 
authorized to take by this section.
    (c) Obtaining Official Data.--Subject to sections 552, 552a, and 
552b of title 5, United States Code, the Commission may secure directly 
from any department or agency of the United States information 
necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the 
Chairman of the Commission, the head of that department or agency shall 
furnish the information to the Commission.
    (d) Gifts, Bequests, and Devises.--To the extent or in the amounts 
provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the Commission may accept, 
use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or 
property, both real and personal, for the purposes of aiding or 
facilitating the work of the Commission. Gifts, bequests, or devises of 
money and proceeds from sales of other property received as gifts, 
bequests, or devises shall be deposited in the Treasury and shall be 
available for disbursement upon order of the Commission.
    (e) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the 
same manner and under the same conditions as departments and agencies 
of the United States.
    (f) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the 
Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the 
Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support 
services necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities 
under this Act.

SEC. 7. REPORT.

    The Commission shall submit to Congress a report not later than 18 
months after the date of the first meeting of the Commission. The 
report shall contain a detailed statement of the findings and 
conclusions of the Commission, together with such recommendations as 
the Commission considers appropriate.

SEC. 8. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate 10 days after submitting its report 
under section 7.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act.
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