[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 163 (Wednesday, October 11, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H7952-H7954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FREDERICK DOUGLASS BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION ACT
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2989) to establish the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial
Commission, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2989
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 ``Frederick Douglass
Bicentennial Commission Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Born into slavery on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in
1818 and given the name Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey
after his mother Harriet Bailey, Frederick Douglass has been
called the father of the civil rights movement.
(2) Douglass rose through determination, brilliance, and
eloquence to shape the American Nation. He was an
abolitionist, human rights and women's rights activist,
orator, author, journalist, publisher, and social reformer.
(3) Taught basic reading skills by his mistress until she
was forced to stop, Douglass continued to teach himself to
read and write and taught other slaves to read despite risks
including death.
(4) During the course of his remarkable life Frederick
Douglass escaped from slavery, became internationally
renowned for his eloquence in the cause of liberty, and went
on to serve the national government in several official
capacities.
(5) Forced to leave the country to avoid arrest as an
escaped slave, he returned to become a staunch advocate of
the Union cause and helped recruit African-American troops
for the Union Army, including two of his sons, Charles and
Lewis Douglass. His personal relationship with Abraham
Lincoln helped persuade the President to make emancipation a
cause of the Civil War.
(6) With the abolition of slavery at the close of the Civil
War, Douglass then turned his attention to the full
integration of African-Americans into the political and
economic life of the United States. Committed to freedom,
Douglass dedicated his life to achieving justice for all
Americans, in particular African-Americans, women, and
minority groups. He envisioned America as an inclusive Nation
strengthened by diversity and free of discrimination.
(7) Douglass served as an advisor to Presidents. Abraham
Lincoln referred to him as the most meritorious man of the
nineteenth century. Douglass was appointed to several
offices. He served as the United States Marshal of the
District of Columbia under Rutherford B. Hayes'
administration; President James Garfield appointed Douglass
the District of Columbia Recorder of Deeds. In 1889,
President Benjamin Harrison appointed Frederick Douglass to
be the United States minister to Haiti. He was also appointed
by President Grant to serve as Assistant Secretary of the
Commission of Inquiry to Santo Domingo.
(8) Douglass lived in the District of Columbia for 23 of
his 57 years as a free man, and in recognition of his
leadership and continuous fight for justice and freedom, his
home, Cedar Hill, was established as a National Historic Site
in Anacostia, in Southeast Washington, DC.
(9) The statue of Frederick Douglass in the United States
Capitol is a gift from the almost 700,000 residents of the
District of Columbia.
(10) All Americans could benefit from studying the life of
Frederick Douglass, for Douglass dedicated his own life to
ensuring freedom and equality for future generations of
Americans. This Nation should ensure that his tireless
struggle, transformative words, and inclusive vision of
humanity continue to inspire and sustain us.
(11) The year 2018 marks the bicentennial anniversary of
the birth of Frederick Douglass, and a commission should be
established to plan, develop, and carry out, and to recommend
to Congress, programs and activities that are fitting and
proper to celebrate that anniversary in a manner that
appropriately honors Frederick Douglass.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission to be known as the
Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission (referred to in
this Act as the ``Commission'').
SEC. 4. DUTIES.
The Commission shall have the following duties:
(1) To plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities
that are fitting and
[[Page H7953]]
proper to honor Frederick Douglass on the occasion of the
bicentennial anniversary of Douglass' birth.
(2) To recommend to Congress programs and activities that
the Commission considers fitting and proper to honor
Frederick Douglass on such occasion, and the entity or
entities in the Federal Government that the Commission
considers most appropriate to carry out such programs and
activities.
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be
composed of 16 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 Maryland.
(3) One member, who shall be a qualified citizen described
in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the
recommendation of the Governor of Massachusetts.
(4) One member, who shall be a qualified citizen described
in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the
recommendation of the Governor of New York.
(5) One member, who shall be a qualified citizen described
in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the
recommendation of the Mayor of the District of Columbia.
(6) 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.
(7) Three members, at least one of whom shall be a Senator,
appointed by the majority leader of the Senate.
(8) 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.
(9) 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 Frederick
Douglass.
(c) Time of Appointment.--Each initial appointment of a
member of the Commission shall be made before the expiration
of the 60-day period beginning on the date of the 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.--Six 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
Rochester, New York.
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 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.
(f) Gifts.--The Commission may solicit, accept, use, and
dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of money or other
property for the purpose of carrying out its duties.
(g) 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.
SEC. 8. REPORTS.
(a) Initial Report.--Not later than August 1, 2018, the
Commission shall submit to Congress an initial report
containing its recommendations under section 4(2).
(b) Final Report.--Not later than June 1, 2019, the
Commission shall submit a final report to Congress, and shall
include in the final report--
(1) a summary of its activities and programs;
(2) a final accounting of the funds the Commission received
and expended; and
(3) any other information that the Commission considers to
be appropriate.
SEC. 9. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate 30 days after submitting the
final report pursuant to section 8(b).
SEC. 10. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.
No Federal funds are authorized or may be obligated to
carry out this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Oklahoma (Mr. Russell) and the gentlewoman from the District of
Columbia (Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.
General Leave
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Oklahoma?
There was no objection.
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I speak in support of H.R. 2989, the Frederick Douglass
Bicentennial Commission Act, introduced by Ms. Norton of the District
of Columbia and Mr. Harris earlier this year.
Next year will mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederick
Douglass, a man who has been called the father--and rightfully so--of
the civil rights movement.
Douglass was born into slavery in Maryland around 1817 but escaped by
the age of 21. Douglass went on to publish an autobiography documenting
his life as a slave, called, ``Narrative of the Life of Frederick
Douglass,'' while a fugitive slave.
Throughout his remarkable life, Douglass advocated for justice for
all Americans, encouraging President Lincoln to make emancipation a
cause of the Civil War, and advocating for the full integration of
African Americans into political and economic life in the United States
both during and following the war.
H.R. 2989 establishes the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission
to recommend the best ways to celebrate the legacy of a man who
dedicated his entire life to ensuring freedom and equality for all
Americans.
H.R. 2989 would do this by creating a 16-member commission to plan,
develop, and coordinate activities fitting and proper to honor Mr.
Douglass. The commission will submit two reports to Congress with
recommendations for activities, programs, and other important
information. The commission will end 30 days after the submission of
its final report.
The amended text considered today adds a new section clarifying that
the commission will not receive additional authorized funds and will,
instead, rely on private funds for its operations.
The commission presents an important opportunity to recognize and
support Frederick Douglass' leadership and body of work. He was a
phenomenal man, and I am proud to also be a cosponsor of this important
bill.
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I would like to thank Ms. Norton, Mr. Harris, and the 16 other
cosponsors for their hard work on this bill in honor of Frederick
Douglass.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the lead sponsor of this bill, Representative
Andy Harris, for working closely with me on the bill of which I am a
cosponsor, and I want to thank my good friend Representative Russell,
who is managing on the other side, for also being a cosponsor of this
bill.
My thanks also to Chairman Trey Gowdy, Ranking Member Elijah
Cummings, and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy for bringing this bill to
the floor in time to begin the commemoration, in 2018, of the
bicentennial of the birth of Frederick Douglass.
I am pleased that this bill has not only bipartisan, but bicameral
support. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin have introduced the
companion bill in the Senate.
{time} 1545
The bill would establish a commission to plan and carry out programs
and activities, as well as to recommend to Congress programs and
activities that the Federal Government could undertake to honor and
celebrate the life of Frederick Douglass during the bicentennial of his
birth in 2018.
Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in 1818 on the Eastern Shore
of Maryland. He learned basic reading skills from his mistress and
continued to teach himself and other slaves to read and write despite
the risks he faced, including death. After two attempts, Douglass
successfully escaped to New York and went on to become this country's
leading abolitionist and antislavery lecturer.
He served in several administrations, including as close adviser to
President Abraham Lincoln, U.S. Marshal of the District of Columbia
under President Rutherford B. Hayes, and District of Columbia Recorder
of Deeds under President James Garfield. In 1889, President Benjamin
Harris appointed Frederick Douglass to be the U.S. Minister to Haiti.
He was later appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant to serve as
secretary of the commission of Santo Domingo.
Douglass dedicated his life to achieving justice for all Americans.
He lived in the District of Columbia for 23 of his 57 years as a free
man, and his home at Cedar Hill is an official National Historic Site
in southeast Washington, D.C. Every year, thousands of Americans and
others visit Cedar Hill. The Frederick Douglass statue that stands in
his honor in the United States Capitol is a gift from the nearly
700,000 residents of the District of Columbia.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield such time as he
may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Harris), who is the
original cosponsor of this bill.
Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the committee for promptly
reporting H.R. 2989 to the floor for consideration.
I rise today in support of a bill I have cosponsored with Delegate
Norton, the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act. As we
approach the 200th anniversary of Frederick Douglass' birth, I urge my
colleagues in the House to support this legislation.
The purpose of this bill is more than just honoring the birth of one
great civil rights leader. Its purpose is to recognize his lasting
impact on American Government, culture, and values. Frederick Douglass'
work stretched far beyond the fight for legal freedom into the equally
important fight for social and cultural equality.
Born on Maryland's beautiful Eastern Shore, Douglass escaped slavery
to become an author, abolitionist, and true American hero. Frederick
Douglass is a model for the values that make our Nation great:
equality, liberty, and a commitment to working hard and helping others.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to honor Frederick Douglass and the
resounding impact his work has had on modern American culture by
passing this legislation.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. RUSSELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to echo all of the comments
that we heard. It is important that all of us take time and pause to
recognize the tremendous work that Frederick Douglass did not only in
his life, but how he impacted the United States of America.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Russell) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2989, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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