[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 139 (Wednesday, October 7, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11821-S11822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   WOMEN'S PROGRESS COMMEMORATION ACT

  The bill (S. 2285) to establish a commission in honor of the 150th 
Anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention, to further protect sites of 
importance in the historic efforts to secure equal rights for women, 
was considered, ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the 
third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 2285

       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 ``Women's Progress 
     Commemoration Act''.

     SEC. 2. DECLARATION.

       Congress declares that--
       (1) the original Seneca Falls Convention, held in upstate 
     New York in July 1848, convened to consider the social 
     conditions and civil rights of women at that time;
       (2) the convention marked the beginning of an admirable and 
     courageous struggle for equal rights for women;
       (3) the 150th Anniversary of the convention provides an 
     excellent opportunity to examine the history of the women's 
     movement; and
       (4) a Federal Commission should be established for the 
     important task of ensuring the historic preservation of sites 
     that have been instrumental in American women's history, 
     creating a living legacy for generations to come.

     SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be 
     known as the ``Women's Progress Commemoration Commission'' 
     (referred to in this Act as the ``Commission'').
       (b) Membership.--

[[Page S11822]]

       (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 15 
     members, of whom--
       (A) 3 shall be appointed by the President;
       (B) 3 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (C) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 
     House of Representatives;
       (D) 3 shall be appointed by the majority leader of the 
     Senate; and
       (E) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 
     Senate.
       (2) Persons eligible.--
       (A) In general.--The members of the Commission shall be 
     individuals who have knowledge or expertise, whether by 
     experience or training, in matters to be studied by the 
     Commission. The members may be from the public or private 
     sector, and may include Federal, State, local, or employees, 
     members of academia, nonprofit organizations, or industry, or 
     other interested individuals.
       (B) Diversity.--It is the intent of Congress that persons 
     appointed to the Commission under paragraph (1) be persons 
     who represent diverse economic, professional, and cultural 
     backgrounds.
       (3) Consultation and appointment.--
       (A) In general.--The President, Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, minority leader of the House of 
     Representatives, majority leader of the Senate, and minority 
     leader of the Senate shall consult among themselves before 
     appointing the members of the Commission in order to achieve, 
     to the maximum extent practicable, fair and equitable 
     representation of various points of view with respect to the 
     matters to be studied by the Commission.
       (B) Completion of appointments; vacancies.--The President, 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives, minority leader of 
     the House of Representatives, majority leader of the Senate, 
     and minority leader of the Senate shall conduct the 
     consultation under subparagraph (3) and make their respective 
     appointments not later than 60 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act.
       (4) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the membership of the 
     Commission shall not affect the powers of the Commission and 
     shall be filled in the same manner as the original 
     appointment not later than 30 days after the vacancy occurs.
       (c) Meetings.--
       (1) 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 first meeting.
       (2) Subsequent meetings.--After the initial meeting, the 
     Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.
       (d) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission 
     shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, 
     but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
       (e) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The Commission shall 
     select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among its 
     members.

     SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

       Not later than 1 year after the initial meeting of the 
     Commission, the Commission, in cooperation with the Secretary 
     of the Interior and other appropriate Federal, State, and 
     local public and private entities, shall prepare and submit 
     to the Secretary of the Interior a report that--
       (1) identifies sites of historical significance to the 
     women's movement; and
       (2) recommends actions, under the National Historic 
     Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.) and other law, to 
     rehabilitate and preserve the sites and provide to the public 
     interpretive and educational materials and activities at the 
     sites.

     SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

       (a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, sit 
     and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and 
     receive such evidence as the Commission considers advisable 
     to carry out its duties of this Act.
       (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Commission may 
     secure directly from any Federal department or agency such 
     information as the Commission considers necessary to carry 
     out the provisions of this Act. At the request of the 
     Chairperson of the Commission, the head of such department or 
     agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.

     SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

       (a) Compensation of Members.--A member of the Commission 
     who is not otherwise an officer or employee of the Federal 
     Government shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily 
     equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for a 
     position at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 
     5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including 
     travel time) during which the member is engaged in the 
     performance of the duties of the Commission. A member of the 
     Commission who is otherwise an officer or employee of the 
     United States shall serve without compensation in addition to 
     that received for services as an officer or employee of the 
     United States.
       (b) Travel Expenses.--A member of the Commission shall be 
     allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
     subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
     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 service for the 
     Commission.
       (c) Staff.--
       (1) 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 may be necessary to enable 
     the Commission to perform its duties. The employment and 
     termination of an executive director shall be subject to 
     confirmation by a majority of the members of the Commission.
       (2) Compensation.--The executive director shall be 
     compensated at a rate not to exceed the rate payable for a 
     position at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 
     5316 of title 5, United States Code. The Chairperson may fix 
     the compensation of 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, except that the 
     rate of pay for such personnel may not exceed the rate 
     payable for a position at level V of the Executive Schedule 
     under section 5316 of that title.
       (3) Detail of government employees.--Any Federal Government 
     employee, with the approval of the head of the appropriate 
     Federal agency, may be detailed to the Commission without 
     reimbursement, and the detail shall be without interruption 
     or loss of civil service status, benefits, or privilege.
       (d) 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 rates for individuals not to exceed 
     the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay 
     prescribed for a position at level V of the Executive 
     Schedule under section 5316 of that title.

     SEC. 7. FUNDING.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Commission such sums as are 
     necessary to carry out this Act.
       (b) Donations.--The Commission may accept donations from 
     non-Federal sources to defray the costs of the operations of 
     the Commission.

     SEC. 8. TERMINATION.

       The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 30 days 
     after the date on which the Commission submits to the 
     Secretary of the Interior the report under section 4(b).

     SEC. 9. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

       Not later than 2 years and not later than 5 years after the 
     date on which the Commission submits to the Secretary of the 
     Interior the report under section 4, the Secretary of the 
     Interior shall submit to Congress a report describing the 
     actions that have been taken to preserve the sites identified 
     in the Commission report as being of historical significance.

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