[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15132-S15133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              ABRAHAM LINCOLN BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION ACT

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                 HATCH (AND OTHERS) AMENDMENT NO. 2795

  Ms. COLLINS (for Mr. Hatch (for himself, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Fitzgerald, 
and Mr. Durbin)) proposed an amendment to the bill (H.R. 1451) to 
establish the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission; as follows:

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial 
     Commission Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President, was one of the 
     Nation's most prominent leaders, demonstrating true courage 
     during the Civil War, one of the greatest crises in the 
     Nation's history.
       (2) Born of humble roots in Hardin County, Kentucky, on 
     February 12, 1809, Abraham Lincoln rose to the Presidency 
     through a legacy of honesty, integrity, intelligence, and 
     commitment to the United States.
       (3) With the belief that all men were created equal, 
     Abraham Lincoln led the effort to free all slaves in the 
     United States.
       (4) Abraham Lincoln had a generous heart, with malice 
     toward none and with charity for all.
       (5) Abraham Lincoln gave the ultimate sacrifice for the 
     country Lincoln loved, dying from an assassin's bullet on 
     April 15, 1865.
       (6) All Americans could benefit from studying the life of 
     Abraham Lincoln, for Lincoln's life is a model for 
     accomplishing the ``American Dream'' through honesty, 
     integrity, loyalty, and a lifetime of education.
       (7) The year 2009 will be the bicentennial anniversary of 
     the birth of Abraham Lincoln, and a commission should be 
     established to study and recommend to Congress activities 
     that are fitting and proper to celebrate that anniversary in 
     a manner that appropriately honors Abraham Lincoln.

     SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

       There is established a commission to be known as the 
     Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (referred to in this 
     Act as the ``Commission'').

     SEC. 4. DUTIES.

       The Commission shall have the following duties:
       (1) To study activities that may be carried out by the 
     Federal Government to determine whether the activities are 
     fitting and proper to honor Abraham Lincoln on the occasion 
     of the bicentennial anniversary of Lincoln's birth, 
     including--
       (A) the minting of an Abraham Lincoln bicentennial penny;
       (B) the issuance of an Abraham Lincoln bicentennial postage 
     stamp;
       (C) the convening of a joint meeting or joint session of 
     Congress for ceremonies and activities relating to Abraham 
     Lincoln;
       (D) a redesignation of the Lincoln Memorial, or other 
     activity with respect to the Memorial; and
       (E) the acquisition and preservation of artifacts 
     associated with Abraham Lincoln.
       (2) To recommend to Congress the activities that the 
     Commission considers most fitting and proper to honor Abraham 
     Lincoln on such occasion, and the entity or entities in the 
     Federal Government that the Commission considers most 
     appropriate to carry out such activities.

     SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.

       (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be 
     composed of 15 members appointed as follows:
       (1) Two members, each of whom shall be a qualified citizen 
     described in subsection (b), appointed by the President.
       (2) One member, who shall be a qualified citizen described 
     in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the 
     recommendation of the Governor of Illinois.
       (3) One member, who shall be a qualified citizen described 
     in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the 
     recommendation of the Governor of Indiana.
       (4) One member, who shall be a qualified citizen described 
     in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the 
     recommendation of the Governor of Kentucky.
       (5) Three members, at least one of whom shall be a Member 
     of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of 
     the House of Representatives.
       (6) Three members, at least one of whom shall be a Senator, 
     appointed by the majority leader of the Senate.
       (7) Two members, at least one of whom shall be a Member of 
     the House of Representatives, appointed by the minority 
     leader of the House of Representatives.
       (8) Two members, at least one of whom shall be a Senator, 
     appointed by the minority leader of the Senate.
       (b) Qualified Citizen.--A qualified citizen described in 
     this subsection is a private citizen of the United States 
     with--
       (1) a demonstrated dedication to educating others about the 
     importance of historical figures and events; and
       (2) substantial knowledge and appreciation of Abraham 
     Lincoln.
       (c) Time of Appointment.--Each initial appointment of a 
     member of the Commission shall be made before the expiration 
     of the 120-day period beginning on the date of enactment of 
     this Act.
       (d) Continuation of Membership.--If a member of the 
     Commission was appointed to the Commission as a Member of 
     Congress, and ceases to be a Member of Congress, that member 
     may continue to serve on the Commission for not longer than 
     the 30-day period beginning on the date that member ceases to 
     be a Member of Congress.
       (e) Terms.--Each member shall be appointed for the life of 
     the Commission.
       (f) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall not 
     affect the powers of the Commission but shall be filled in 
     the manner in which the original appointment was made.
       (g) Basic Pay.--Members shall serve on the Commission 
     without pay.
       (h) Travel Expenses.--Each member shall receive travel 
     expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
     accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United 
     States Code.
       (i) Quorum.--Five members of the Commission shall 
     constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings.
       (j) Chair.--The Commission shall select a Chair from among 
     the members of the Commission.
       (k) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
     Chair. Periodically, the Commission shall hold a meeting in 
     Springfield, Illinois.

     SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF.

       (a) Director.--The Commission may appoint and fix the pay 
     of a Director and such additional personnel as the Commission 
     considers to be appropriate.
       (b) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--
       (1) Director.--The Director of the Commission may be 
     appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United 
     States Code, governing appointments in the competitive 
     service, and may be paid without regard to the provisions of 
     chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title 
     relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.
       (2) Staff.--The staff of the Commission shall be appointed 
     subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 
     governing appointments in the competitive service, and shall 
     be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and 
     subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to 
     classification and General Schedule pay rates.

     SEC. 7. POWERS.

       (a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may, for the 
     purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such hearings, sit and 
     act at such times and places, take such testimony, and 
     receive such evidence as the Commission considers to be 
     appropriate.
       (b) Powers of 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 Act.
       (c) Obtaining Official Data.--The Commission may secure 
     directly from any department or agency of the United States 
     information necessary to enable the Commission to carry out 
     this Act. Upon request of

[[Page S15133]]

     the Chair of the Commission, the head of that department or 
     agency shall furnish that information to the Commission.
       (d) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails 
     in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
     departments and agencies of the United States.
       (e) 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. 8. REPORTS.

       (a) Interim Reports.--The Commission may submit to Congress 
     such interim reports as the Commission considers to be 
     appropriate.
       (b) Final Report.--The Commission shall submit a final 
     report to Congress not later than the expiration of the 4-
     year period beginning on the date of the formation of the 
     Commission. The final report shall contain--
       (1) a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of 
     the Commission;
       (2) the recommendations of the Commission; and
       (3) any other information that the Commission considers to 
     be appropriate.

     SEC. 9. BUDGET ACT COMPLIANCE.

       Any spending authority provided under this Act shall be 
     effective only to such extent and in such amounts as are 
     provided in appropriation Acts.

     SEC. 10. TERMINATION.

       The Commission shall terminate 120 days after submitting 
     the final report of the Commission pursuant to section 8.

     SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

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

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