[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 142 (Monday, August 10, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5381-S5382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2647. Mr. McCONNELL (for Ms. Duckworth) proposed an amendment to
the bill S. 1014, to establish the Route 66 Centennial Commission, and
for other purposes; as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Route 66 Centennial
Commission Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) Route 66 was the first all-weather highway in the
United States connecting the Midwest to California, and has
played a major role in the history of the United States;
(2) Route 66 has become a symbol of the heritage of travel
and the legacy of seeking a better life shared by the people
of the United States, and has been enshrined in the popular
culture of the United States; and
(3) the year 2026 will be the centennial anniversary of
Route 66, and a commission should be established to study and
recommend in a report to Congress activities that are fitting
and proper to celebrate that anniversary in a manner that
appropriately honors the Mother Road of the United States.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission to be known as the
``Route 66 Centennial Commission'' (referred to in this Act
as the ``Commission'').
SEC. 4. DUTIES.
The Commission shall--
(1) study activities that may be carried out by the Federal
Government to determine whether the activities are fitting
and proper to honor Route 66 on the occasion of the
centennial anniversary of Route 66, including activities such
as--
(A) the issuance of commemorative coins, medals,
certificates of recognition, and postage stamps;
(B) ceremonies and celebrations commemorating specific
events; and
(C) the production, publication, and distribution of books,
pamphlets, films, electronic publications, and other
educational materials; and
(2) recommend to Congress--
(A) the activities that the Commission considers most
fitting and proper to honor Route 66 on the occasion
described in paragraph (1); and
(B) 1 or more entities in the Federal Government that the
Commission considers most appropriate to carry out those
activities.
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be
composed of 15 members appointed as follows:
(1) 3 members, each of whom shall be an eligible individual
described in subsection (b), appointed by the President based
on the recommendation of the Secretary of Transportation.
(2) 1 member, who shall be an eligible individual described
in subsection (b), appointed by the President based on the
recommendation of the Governor of Illinois.
(3) 1 member, who shall be an eligible individual described
in subsection (b), appointed by the President based on the
recommendation of the Governor of Missouri.
(4) 1 member, who shall be an eligible individual described
in subsection (b), appointed by the President based on the
recommendation of the Governor of Kansas.
(5) 1 member, who shall be an eligible individual described
in subsection (b), appointed by the President based on the
recommendation of the Governor of Oklahoma.
(6) 1 member, who shall be an eligible individual described
in subsection (b), appointed by the President based on the
recommendation of the Governor of Texas.
(7) 1 member, who shall be an eligible individual described
in subsection (b), appointed by the President based on the
recommendation of the Governor of New Mexico.
[[Page S5382]]
(8) 1 member, who shall be an eligible individual described
in subsection (b), appointed by the President based on the
recommendation of the Governor of Arizona.
(9) 1 member, who shall be an eligible individual described
in subsection (b), appointed by the President based on the
recommendation of the Governor of California.
(10) 1 member, who shall be an eligible individual
described in subsection (b), appointed by the President based
on the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
(11) 1 member, who shall be an eligible individual
described in subsection (b), appointed by the President based
on the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives.
(12) 1 member, who shall be an eligible individual
described in subsection (b), appointed by the President based
on the recommendation of the Majority Leader of the Senate.
(13) 1 member, who shall be an eligible individual
described in subsection (b), appointed by the President based
on the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Senate.
(b) Eligible Individual.--An eligible individual referred
to in subsection (a) is an individual with--
(1) a demonstrated dedication to educating others about the
importance of historical figures and events; and
(2) substantial knowledge and appreciation of Route 66.
(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) Terms.--Each member shall be appointed for the life of
the Commission.
(e) 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.
(f) Basic Pay.--Members shall serve on the Commission
without pay.
(g) 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.
(h) Quorum.--7 members of the Commission shall constitute a
quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
(i) Chair and Vice Chair.--The Commission shall select a
Chair and Vice Chair from among the members of the
Commission.
(j) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the
Chair.
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 shall--
(A) be appointed without regard to the provisions of title
5, United States Code, governing appointments in the
competitive service; and
(B) be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51
and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States
Code, relating to classification and General Schedule pay
rates, except that the rate of pay for the Director may not
exceed the rate payable for level IV of the Executive
Schedule under section 5315 of that title.
(2) Staff.--The staff of the Commission shall--
(A) be appointed without regard to the provisions of title
5, United States Code, governing appointments in the
competitive service; and
(B) be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51
and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States
Code, relating to classification and General Schedule pay
rates.
(c) Source of Compensation.--In accordance with section
10--
(1) no Federal funds may be expended to compensate a
Director or staff member of the Commission under this
section; and
(2) any compensation paid to a Director or any staff of the
Commission appointed under this section shall be derived
solely from donated funds.
SEC. 7. POWERS.
(a) Hearings and Sessions.--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 to be appropriate to carry out this Act.
(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 under this
Act.
(c) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails
in the same manner and under the same conditions as other
Federal departments and agencies.
(d) Administrative Support Services.--
(1) In general.--On 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
this Act.
(2) Detailees.--
(A) Federal employees.--
(i) In general.--At the request of the Commission, the head
of any Federal agency or department may detail to the
Commission, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, any
employee of the agency or department.
(ii) Civil service status.--The detail of an employee under
clause (i) shall be without interruption or loss of civil
service status or privilege.
(iii) No additional compensation.--A Federal employee who
is detailed to the Commission under this subparagraph may not
receive any additional pay, allowances, benefits, or other
compensation by reason of the detail of the employee to the
Commission or any services performed by the employee for the
Commission.
(B) State employees.--The Commission may--
(i) accept the services of personnel detailed from a State;
and
(ii) reimburse the State for the services of the detailed
personnel.
(e) Volunteer and Uncompensated Services.--Notwithstanding
section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Commission
may accept and use such voluntary and uncompensated services
as the Commission determines to be necessary.
(f) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of
gifts, grants, bequests, or devises of money, services, or
property from any public or private source for the purpose of
covering the costs incurred by the Commission in carrying out
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.--Not later than 2 years after the date on
which all members of the Commission are appointed, the
Commission shall submit to Congress a final report
containing--
(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. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate on December 31, 2026.
SEC. 10. EXPENDITURES OF COMMISSION.
(a) In General.--All expenditures of the Commission,
including any reimbursement required under this Act, shall be
made solely from donated funds.
(b) No Additional Funds Authorized.--No additional funds
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
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