[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 142 (Monday, August 10, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5382-S5383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   ROUTE 66 CENTENNIAL COMMISSION ACT

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 117, S. 1014.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1014) to establish the Route 66 Centennial 
     Commission, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the Duckworth amendment 
at the desk be agreed to, that the bill, as amended, be considered read 
a third time and passed, and that the motion to reconsider be 
considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2647) in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  (The amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of 
Amendments.'')
  The bill (S. 1014), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed, as follows

                                S. 1014

       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 ``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.

[[Page S5383]]

  


     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.
       (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.

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