Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission Act

        [Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1064 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1064

To establish a commission to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the
American Civil War, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 14, 2003

Mr. Breaux introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Energy, and Natural ResourcesYYYYY

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish a commission to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the
American Civil War, and for other purposes.

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 ``Civil War Sesquicentennial
Commission Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The American Civil War was a defining experience in the
development of the United States.
(2) The people of the United States continue to struggle
with issues of race, civil rights, the politics of federalism,
and heritage which are legacies of the Civil War and
Reconstruction.
(3) There is a resurgence of interest in the Civil War,
that is evidenced by the multitude of publications, exhibits,
reenactments, research organizations, Internet and multimedia
resources, historic parks, and preservation associations
focused on the Civil War.
(4) The years 2011 through 2015 mark the sesquicentennial
of the Civil War.
(5) The sesquicentennial of the Civil War presents a
significant opportunity for Americans to recall and reflect
upon the Civil War and its legacy in a spirit of reconciliation
and reflection.
(6) The United States Civil War Center at Louisiana State
University, Louisiana, and the Civil War Institute at
Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania, have been designated by the
Federal government to plan and facilitate the commemoration of
the sesquicentennial of the Civil War.
(7) The State of Virginia--
(A) witnessed more Civil War military engagements
on its soil than any other State;
(B) hosts more historic sites related to the Civil
War than any other State; and
(C) is home to the Pamplin Historical Park and the
National Museum of the Civil War Soldier and the
Virginia Center for Civil War Studies at Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University, both of
which are nationally recognized centers of expertise in
the study of the Civil War.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish a Civil War
Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission to--
(1) ensure a suitable national observance of the
sesquicentennial of the Civil War;
(2) cooperate with and assist States and national
organizations with programs and activities for the observance
of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War;
(3) assist in ensuring that any observance of the
sesquicentennial of the Civil War is inclusive and
appropriately recognizes the experiences and points of view of
all people affected by the Civil War; and
(4) provide assistance for the development of programs,
projects, and activities on the Civil War that have lasting
educational value.

SEC. 3. CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION COMMISSION.

There is established a commission to be known as the Civil War
Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission (hereafter in this Act
referred to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 4. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION.

(a) In General.--The Commission shall be composed of 27 members as
follows:
(1) Government members.--The Commission shall include--
(A) 2 Members of the House of Representatives
appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives;
(B) 2 Members of the Senate appointed by the
President pro tempore of the Senate, in consultation
with the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the
Senate;
(C) the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution,
or the designee of the Secretary;
(D) the Secretary of the Department of Education,
or the designee of the Secretary;
(E) the Chairman of the National Endowment for the
Humanities, or the designee of the Chairman;
(F) the Archivist of the United States, or the
designee of the Archivist;
(G) the Librarian of Congress, or the designee of
the Librarian; and
(H) the Director of the National Park Service, or
the designee of the Director.
(2) Private members.--The Commission shall include--
(A) an individual appointed by the President after
consultation with the Director of the United States
Civil War Center at Louisiana State University,
Louisiana;
(B) an individual appointed by the President after
consultation with the Director of the Civil War
Institute at Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania;
(C) 5 members appointed by the President from among
individuals who are representative of the corporate
community;
(D) an individual appointed by the President after
consultation with--
(i) the Director of the Virginia Center for
Civil War Studies at Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, Virginia; and
(ii) the Director of Pamplin Historical
Park and the National Museum of the Civil War
Soldier, Virginia; and
(E) 9 individuals, appointed by the President, from
among persons who by reason of education, training, and
experience, are experts on the Antebellum, Civil War,
and Reconstruction eras, including--
(i) 6 individuals with expertise in
history;
(ii) 1 individual with specific expertise
in art history, historic preservation, or a
related field;
(iii) 1 individual with expertise in
anthropology, cultural geography, sociology, or
a related field; and
(iv) 1 individual with expertise in
political science, law, economics, or a related
field.
(b) Terms.--Members shall be appointed for the life of the
Commission.
(c) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its
powers, and shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment.
(d) Initial Appointments.--The appointment of the members of the
Commission shall be made not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

(a) Meetings.--
(1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 60 days after the date
on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the
members appointed under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section
4(a)(2) shall call the first meeting of the Commission.
(2) Subsequent meetings.--The Commission shall hold
subsequent meetings at the call of the chairperson.
(b) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--At the initial meeting, the
Commission shall elect a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among
its voting members.
(c) Quorum.--A majority of voting members shall constitute a
quorum, but a lesser number may hold meetings.
(d) Voting.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall act only on an
affirmative vote of a majority of the voting members of the
Commission.
(2) Nonvoting members.--The individuals appointed under
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 4(a)(1) shall be nonvoting
members, and shall serve only in an advisory capacity.

SEC. 6. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

(a) Activities Related to the Sesquicentennial.--The Commission
shall--
(1) plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities
appropriate to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil
War;
(2) encourage interdisciplinary examination of the Civil
War;
(3) facilitate Civil War-related activities throughout the
United States;
(4) encourage civic, historical, educational, economic, and
other organizations throughout the United States to organize
and participate in activities to expand the understanding and
appreciation of the significance of the Civil War;
(5) coordinate and facilitate the public distribution of
scholarly research, publications, and interpretations of the
Civil War;
(6) provide technical assistance to States, localities, and
nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration of the
sesquicentennial of the Civil War;
(7) develop programs and facilities to ensure that the
sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War results in a
positive legacy and long-term public benefit;
(8) administer the grant program under section 7; and
(9) encourage the development and conduct of programs
designed to involve the international community in activities
that commemorate the Civil War.
(b) Plans and Report.--
(1) Plans.--The Commission shall prepare a strategic plan
in accordance with section 306 of title 5, United States Code,
and the annual plan and report required by sections 1115 and
1116, respectively, of title 31, United States Code.
(2) Report.--Not later than December 30, 2015, the
Commission shall submit to Congress a final report that
contains--
(A) a summary of activities of the Commission;
(B) a final accounting of funds received and
expended by the Commission; and
(C) the findings and recommendations of the
Commission.

SEC. 7. GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) Grants Authorized.--The Commission shall award a grant in each
of the fiscal years 2004 through 2016 to each of the following:
(1) The United States Civil War Center at Louisiana State
University, Louisiana.
(2) The Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College,
Pennsylvania.
(3) The Virginia Center for Civil War Studies at Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia, and the
Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil
War Soldier, Virginia.
(b) Limitations.--The amount of any grant under subsection (a) in
any fiscal year may not exceed $100,000, nor may the amount of such
grant be less than $80,000.
(c) Use of Funds.--Amounts awarded under subsection (a) shall be
used for appropriate activities relating to the sesquicentennial of the
Civil War.

SEC. 8. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

(a) In General.--The Commission may--
(1) solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations
of services or property, and acknowledge publicly the sources
of such gifts and donations;
(2) appoint any advisory committee as the Commission
considers appropriate for the purposes of this Act;
(3) authorize any voting member or employee of the
Commission to take any action that the Commission is authorized
to take under this Act; and
(4) procure supplies and services to carry out this Act.
(b) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other
departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

SEC. 9. PERSONNEL MATTERS.

(a) Compensation of Members.--Members of the Commission, and
members of any advisory committee appointed under section 8(a)(2),
shall serve without compensation.
(b) Travel Expenses.--Members of the Commission, and members of any
advisory committees appointed under section 8(a)(2), shall be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates
authorized for an employee of an agency 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 the duties of the
Commission.
(c) Staff.--
(1) In general.--The Chairperson of the Commission may,
without regard to civil service laws and regulations, appoint
and terminate an executive director and other additional
personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to
perform its duties.
(2) Confirmation of the executive director.--The employment
of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by
the Commission.
(d) Detail of Government Employees.--Any Federal Government
employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and
any detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service
status or privilege.
(e) 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 States Code, at daily
rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the
annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive
Schedule under section 5316 of such title.

SEC. 10. TERMINATION.

The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 90 days after
the date on which the Commission submits its report under section
6(b)(2).

SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this Act $500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2016.
(b) Availability.--Amounts authorized to be appropriated by
subsection (a) shall remain available until expended. Any unexpended
balance of appropriations available pursuant to the authorization of
appropriations in subsection (a) as of December 30, 2016 are canceled
effective December 30, 2021.
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