[105th Congress Public Law 341]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
<DOC>
[DOCID: f:publ341.105]
[[Page 3195]]
WOMEN'S PROGRESS COMMEMORATION ACT
[[Page 112 STAT. 3196]]
Public Law 105-341
105th Congress
An Act
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. <<NOTE: Oct. 31,
1998 - [S. 2285]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Women's Progress
Commemoration Act.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. <<NOTE: 16 USC 470a note.>>
This Act may be cited as the ``Women's Progress Commemoration Act''.
SEC. 2. DECLARATION. <<NOTE: 16 USC 470a note.>>
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. <<NOTE: 16 USC 470a note.>>
(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.--
(1) In <<NOTE: President. Congress.>> 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,
[[Page 112 STAT. 3197]]
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, or local 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.--
<<NOTE: President. Congress.>>
(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. <<NOTE: Deadline. Reports. 16 USC 470a
note.>>
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.
[[Page 112 STAT. 3198]]
SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. <<NOTE: 16 USC 470a note.>>
(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. <<NOTE: 16 USC 470a note.>>
(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
[[Page 112 STAT. 3199]]
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. <<NOTE: 16 USC 470a note.>>
(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. <<NOTE: 16 USC 470a note.>>
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. <<NOTE: Deadline. 16 USC 470a note.>>
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.
Approved October 31, 1998.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2285:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SENATE REPORTS: No. 105-396 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 144 (1998):
Oct. 7, considered and passed Senate.
Oct. 10, considered and passed House.
<all>