[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3432 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3432

  To establish the 200th Anniversary Commemoration Commission of the 
  Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 3, 2007

  Mr. Payne (for himself, Mr. Jefferson, Ms. Lee, Ms. Kilpatrick, Mr. 
 Lewis of Georgia, Ms. Clarke, Mr. Rush, Mr. Conyers, and Ms. Jackson-
Lee of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish the 200th Anniversary Commemoration Commission of the 
  Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, 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 ``200th Anniversary Commemoration 
Commission of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Act of 
2007''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) On March 3, 1807, President Thomas Jefferson signed 
        into law a bill approved by Congress ``An Act to prohibit the 
        importation of slaves into any port or place within the 
        jurisdiction of the United States'' and made it unlawful ``to 
        import or bring into the United Sates or territories thereof 
        from any foreign kingdom, place or country, any negro, mulatto, 
        or person of colour, with intent to hold, sell, or dispose of 
        such ... as a slave, or to be held to service or labour''.
            (2) Article I, Section 9 of the United States Constitution 
        clearly spelled out that the international slave trade could 
        not be banned before 1808, and it is only on January 1, 1808, 
        that the American Act went into effect.
            (3) An Act entitled ``An Act to continue in force `An act 
        to protect the commerce of the United States, and punish the 
        crime of piracy,' and also to make further provisions for 
        punishing the crime of piracy'', enacted May 15, 1820, made it 
        unlawful for any citizen of the United States to engage ``in 
        the slave trade, or ... , being of the crew or ship's company 
        of any ship ... , seize any negro or mulatto ... with the 
        intent to make ... a slave ... or forcibly bring ... on board 
        any such ship ... .''.
            (4) The transatlantic slave trade was the capture and 
        procurement of Africans, mostly from West Africa, in order to 
        bring them to the United States and the colonies that became 
        the United States, for the purpose of enslavement between the 
        sixteenth and late nineteenth centuries.
            (5) The Middle Passage was the forced migration through 
        overseas transport of millions of Africans to the Americas, 
        many of whom suffered abuses of rape and perished as a result 
        of torture, malnutrition, disease, and resistance in transit, 
        with those who survived sold into slavery.
            (6) During the transatlantic slave trade more than 
        12,000,000 Africans were transported in bondage from their 
        African homelands to the Americas.
            (7) The thirteenth amendment to the Constitution of the 
        United States recognizes that ``Neither slavery nor involuntary 
        servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party 
        shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United 
        States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.''.
            (8) The slave trade and the legacy of slavery continue to 
        have a profound impact on social and economic disparity, 
        hatred, bias, racism, and discrimination, and continue to 
        affect people of African descent today.
            (9) In 2007, the British Parliament marked the 200th 
        anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the former 
        British Empire with plans launched by the Department for 
        Education and Skills which provided joint funding of 
        <brit-pound>910,000 ($1,800,000) for the understanding slavery 
        initiative, and the Heritage Lottery Fund announced awards of 
        over <brit-pound>20,000,000 ($40,000,000) for projects to 
        commemorate the anniversary.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish the 200th 
Anniversary Commemoration Commission of the Abolition of the 
Transatlantic Slave Trade to--
            (1) ensure a suitable national observance of the 200th 
        anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade 
        by sponsoring and supporting commemorative programs;
            (2) cooperate with and assist the programs and activities 
        throughout the United States in observance of the 200th 
        anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade;
            (3) assist in ensuring that the observations of the 200th 
        anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade 
        are inclusive and appropriately recognize the experiences of 
        all people during this period in history; and
            (4) support and facilitate international involvement in 
        observances of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the 
        transatlantic slave trade act.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

    There is established a commission to be known as the 
``Transatlantic Slave Trade 200th Anniversary Commission'' (referred to 
in this Act as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 4. THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE 200TH ANNIVERSARY COMMISSION.

    (a) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 9 
        members, of whom--
                    (A) 4 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
                House of Representatives;
                    (B) 3 shall be appointed by the majority leader of 
                the Senate;
                    (C) 1 shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
                the House of Representatives; and
                    (D) 1 shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
                the Senate.
            (2) Qualifications.--Members of the Commission shall be 
        individuals with demonstrated expertise or experience in the 
        study and program facilitation on the transatlantic slave trade 
        and the institution of slavery as it relates to the United 
        States, or both.
            (3) 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.
            (4) Meetings.--
                    (A) In general.--The Commission shall meet--
                            (i) as many times as necessary; 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 its initial 
                meeting.
                    (C) Appointment of chairperson and executive 
                director.--Not later than 60 days after the date on 
                which all members of the Commission have been 
                appointed, the Commission shall--
                            (i) designate 1 of the members as 
                        Chairperson; and
                            (ii) select an executive director as 
                        described under subsection (d)(2).
            (5) 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 for conducting 
                business but fewer members may meet or hold hearings.
    (b) Duties.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall--
                    (A) plan, develop, and execute programs and 
                activities appropriate to commemorate the 200th 
                anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave 
                trade;
                    (B) facilitate commemoration-related activities 
                throughout the United States;
                    (C) encourage civic, historical, educational, 
                religious, economic, and other organizations, as well 
                as State and local governments, throughout the United 
                States to organize and participate in anniversary 
                activities to expand the understanding and appreciation 
                of the significance of the transatlantic slave trade 
                and the institution of slavery particularly as it 
                relates to the United States, or both;
                    (D) coordinate and facilitate for the public 
                scholarly research on, publication about, and 
                interpretation of, the transatlantic slave trade and 
                the institution of slavery particularly as it relates 
                to the United States, or both;
                    (E) assist in the development of appropriate 
                programs and facilities to ensure that the 200th 
                anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave 
                trade provides a lasting legacy and long-term public 
                benefit;
                    (F) support and facilitate marketing efforts for 
                the issuance of a commemorative coin, postage stamp, 
                and related activities for observances;
                    (G) facilitate the convening of a joint meeting or 
                joint session of the Congress for ceremonies and 
                activities relating to the transatlantic slave trade 
                and the institution of slavery particularly as it 
                relates to the United States, or both;
                    (H) promote the sponsorship of conferences, 
                exhibitions, or public meetings concerning the 
                transatlantic slave trade and the institution of 
                slavery particularly as it relates to the United 
                States, or both;
                    (I) coordinate and facilitate the sponsorship of 
                high school and collegiate essay contests concerning 
                the transatlantic slave trade and the institution of 
                slavery particularly as it relates to the United 
                States, or both;
                    (J) examine reports of modern-day slavery and human 
                trafficking to raise the public's awareness of these 
                matters and ensure such atrocities do not go unnoticed 
                by the people of the United States.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 11 months after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the 
        Congress a report containing a summary of the activities of the 
        Commission.
    (c) Powers of the Commission.--The Commission may--
            (1) recommend to the Congress the activities that the 
        Commission considers most fitting and proper to commemorate the 
        anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade 
        and the entity in the Federal Government that the Commission 
        considers most appropriate to carry out such activities;
            (2) accept donations and gifts, and make dispersions of 
        money, personal services, and real and personal property 
        related to the transatlantic slave trade, the institution of 
        slavery, and the significance of slavery to the history of the 
        United States;
            (3) appoint such advisory committees as the Commission 
        determines necessary to carry out this Act;
            (4) authorize any member or employee of the Commission to 
        take any action that the Commission is authorized to take under 
        this Act;
            (5) 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 the termination of the 
        Commission); and
            (6) use the United States mails in the same manner and 
        under the same conditions as other Federal agencies;
    (d) Personnel Matters.--
            (1) Compensation of members of the commission.--
                    (A) Basic pay.--Members of the Commission shall not 
                receive compensation for the performance of their 
                duties on behalf of the Commission.
                    (B) 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 their 
                homes or regular place of business in the performance 
                of the duties on behalf 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 
                its duties.
                    (B) Executive director.--
                            (i) Qualifications.--The Chairperson shall 
                        appoint an executive director with demonstrated 
                        expertise or experience in the study and 
                        program facilitation on the transatlantic slave 
                        trade and the institution of slavery 
                        particularly as it relates to the United 
                        States, or both.
                            (ii) Confirmation.--The employment of an 
                        executive director shall be subject to 
                        confirmation by the members of the Commission.
                    (C) Compensation.--The Chairperson of the 
                Commission may fix the compensation of the executive 
                director and other personnel without regard to the 
                provision 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, except that the rate of pay for the executive 
                director and other personnel may not exceed the rate 
                payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under 
                section 5316 of such title.
                    (D) 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.
    (e) 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.
    (f) Non-Applicability of FACA.--Section 14(b) of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the 
Commission.

SEC. 5. TERMINATION.

    (a) Date of Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on 
December 31, 2009.
    (b) Final Report.--Upon termination, the Commission shall submit to 
the Congress a report containing--
            (1) a detailed statement of the activities of the 
        Commission; and
            (2) a final accounting of the funds received and expended 
        by the Commission.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

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