[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5599 Introduced in House (IH)]

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114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5599

To establish the Plymouth 400th Commemoration Commission, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 28, 2016

    Mr. Keating (for himself, Mr. Capuano, Mr. Castro of Texas, Mr. 
Cicilline, Ms. Clark of Massachusetts, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. McDermott, Mr. 
McGovern, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Neal, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Tsongas, Mr. Welch, Mr. 
 Lynch, Ms. DeLauro, and Ms. McCollum) introduced the following bill; 
 which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish the Plymouth 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 ``Plymouth 400th Commemoration 
Commission Act of 2016''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the voyage of the Mayflower and the founding of the 
        colony at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620, the first permanent 
        and sustaining English colony in the New World, and the treaty 
        of mutual protection between the Wampanoag indigenous tribe and 
        the English colonists, has major significance in the history of 
        the United States;
            (2) the colonists that traveled with their families were 
        the first true immigrants to the New World; relocating their 
        families in search of the right to self-governance and 
        religious freedom;
            (3) Plymouth Colony brought people together to form a 
        multicultural society, including English and other European 
        settlers and indigenous tribes;
            (4) the economic, political, religious, and social 
        institutions that developed during the early years of Plymouth 
        Colony including the signing of the Mayflower Compact and the 
        treaty that ensured 50 years of peaceful relations between the 
        indigenous Wampanoags and the English colonists at Plymouth 
        continue to have profound effects on the United States; 
        influencing the content of United States Constitution, English 
        common law and language, cross-cultural relationships, and 
        economic structure and status; and
            (5) in 2016, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts designated 
        Plymouth 400, Incorporated as the official agency responsible 
        for planning and implementing the commemoration of the 400th 
        anniversary of the Mayflower voyage and the founding of 
        Plymouth Colony.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish the Plymouth 
400th Commemoration Commission--
            (1) to ensure a suitable national and international 
        observances of the 400th anniversary of the Plymouth Colony 
        during calendar year 2020 (referred to in this subsection as 
        the ``Plymouth 2020 observances'') by complementing the 
        programs and activities of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts;
            (2) to cooperate with and assist the programs and 
        activities of the State in the Plymouth 2020 observances;
            (3) to assist in ensuring that the Plymouth 2020 
        observances provide an excellent visitor experience and 
        beneficial interaction among--
                    (A) visitors; and
                    (B) the natural and cultural resources of--
                            (i) the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts; 
                        and
                            (ii) all other municipalities that make up 
                        the original colony;
            (4) to assist in ensuring that the Plymouth 2020 
        observances--
                    (A) are inclusive; and
                    (B) appropriately recognize the experiences of all 
                people present in 17th Century Plymouth Colony;
            (5) to provide assistance in the development of Plymouth-
        related programs and activities;
            (6) to facilitate international involvement in the Plymouth 
        2020 observances;
            (7) to support and facilitate marketing efforts for a 
        commemorative coin, stamp, and related activities for the 
        Plymouth 2020 observances; and
            (8) to 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 the 400th anniversary of--
                    (A) the voyage of Mayflower; and
                    (B) the founding of Plymouth Colony.
            (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Plymouth 
        400th Commemoration Commission established by section 4(a).
            (3) Governor.--The term ``Governor'' means the Governor of 
        Massachusetts.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (5) State.--The term ``State'' means the Commonwealth of 
        Massachusetts (including the governmental agencies and entities 
        of the Commonwealth).

SEC. 4. PLYMOUTH 400TH COMMEMORATION COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known 
as the ``Plymouth 400th Commemoration Commission''.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 15 
        members, of whom--
                    (A) 1 shall be the Director of the Brand USA (or a 
                designee);
                    (B) 1 shall be appointed by the Secretary from 
                among employees of the National Park Service;
                    (C) 4 shall be appointed by the Secretary, taking 
                into consideration the recommendations of the executive 
                committee of Plymouth 400, Incorporated;
                    (D) 4 shall be appointed by the Secretary, taking 
                into consideration recommendations of the Governor; and
                    (E) 5 shall be appointed by the Secretary from 
                among individuals that have an interest in, support 
                for, and expertise relating to, the commemoration.
            (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 
                        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) not less frequently than twice each 
                        year; or
                            (ii) at the call of--
                                    (I) the chairperson of the 
                                Commission; or
                                    (II) the majority of the members of 
                                the Commission.
                    (B) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after 
                the date on which all initial members of the Commission 
                have been appointed under paragraph (1), 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.--The Secretary shall appoint 1 member of 
        the Commission to serve as chairperson of the Commission, 
        taking into consideration any recommendations of the Governor.
    (c) Duties of Commission.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall--
                    (A) assist in the planning, development, and 
                implementation of programs and activities appropriate 
                to the commemoration;
                    (B) generally facilitate commemoration activities 
                throughout the United States;
                    (C) encourage civic, military, historical, 
                educational, religious, economic, and other 
                organizations throughout the United States to organize 
                and participate in commemoration activities to expand 
                the understanding and appreciation of the significance 
                of the founding and early history of Plymouth Colony;
                    (D) coordinate and facilitate for the public 
                scholarly research and publications regarding, and 
                interpretation of, the cultures present in 17th Century 
                Plymouth Colony including the English colonists and the 
                indigenous Wampanoag tribes; and
                    (E) ensure that the 400th anniversary of Plymouth 
                provides a lasting legacy and long-term public benefit 
                by assisting in the development of appropriate programs 
                and facilities.
            (2) Plans; reports.--
                    (A) In general.--The Commission shall prepare, with 
                respect to each activity carried out by the Commission 
                under this section--
                            (i) a strategic plan in accordance with 
                        section 306 of title 5, United States Code; and
                            (ii) an annual performance plan in 
                        accordance with section 1115 of title 31, 
                        United States Code.
                    (B) Final report.--Not later than December 31, 
                2021, the Commission shall submit to Congress a final 
                report that includes--
                            (i) a summary of the activities of the 
                        Commission;
                            (ii) a final accounting of funds received 
                        and expended by the Commission; and
                            (iii) any findings or recommendations of 
                        the Commission.
    (d) Powers of Commission.--The Commission may--
            (1) accept donations and make dispersions of money, 
        personal services, and real and personal property relating to--
                    (A) Plymouth Colony; and
                    (B) the significance of Plymouth Colony in the 
                history of the United States;
            (2) appoint such advisory committees as the Commission 
        determines to be necessary to carry out this section;
            (3) authorize any member or employee of the Commission to 
        take any action that the Commission is authorized to take 
        pursuant to this section;
            (4) procure supplies, services, and property, and make or 
        enter into contracts, leases or other legal agreements, to 
        carry out this section (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 $10,000 to communities and nonprofit 
        organizations to develop programs to assist in the 
        commemoration;
            (7) make grants to research and scholarly organizations to 
        research, publish, or distribute information relating to 
        Plymouth Colony; and
            (8) provide technical assistance to States, localities, and 
        nonprofit organizations to advance the purposes of the 
        commemoration.
    (e) Commission Personnel Matters.--
            (1) Compensation of members.--
                    (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.--On 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 section.
                            (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 the State (including subdivisions 
                        of the State); and
                            (ii) reimburse the State 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) Nonapplicability of FACA.--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 State, the National Park Service, or the Association 
for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, with respect to the 
commemoration.
    (i) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on December 31, 
2021.
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