One Hundred Fourteenth Congress of the United States of America
At the Second Session
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, the fourth day of January, two thousand and sixteen
H. R. 2615
AN ACT
To establish the Virgin Islands of the United States Centennial Commission.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Virgin Islands of the United States Centennial Commission Act
.
Establishment
There is established a commission to be known as the Virgin Islands of the United States Centennial Commission
(in this Act referred to as the Commission
).
Duties of Commission
The Commission shall—
plan, develop, and carry out such activities as the Commission determines to be appropriate to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Virgin Islands of the United States becoming an unincorporated territory of the United States;
provide advice and assistance to Federal, State, and local governmental agencies, as well as civic groups to carry out activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Virgin Islands of the United States becoming an unincorporated territory of the United States; and
submit to the President and Congress the reports required pursuant to section 7.
Membership
Number and Appointment
The Commission shall be composed of 8 members as follows:
The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs or a designee of the Assistant Secretary.
One member appointed by the Governor of the Virgin Islands of the United States or a designee of the Governor.
Two Members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
One Member of the House of Representatives appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.
Two Members of the Senate appointed by the majority leader of the Senate.
One Member of the Senate appointed by the minority leader of the Senate.
Terms
Each member of the Commission shall be appointed for the life of the Commission.
Deadline for Appointment
All members of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Vacancies
A vacancy on the Commission shall—
not affect the powers of the Commission; and
be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
Rates of Pay
Members shall not receive compensation for the performance of duties on behalf of the Commission.
Travel Expenses
Each member of the Commission shall be reimbursed for travel and per diem in lieu of subsistence expenses during the performance of duties of the Commission while away from home or regular place of business of the member, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
Quorum
A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum to conduct business, but two or more members may hold hearings.
Chairperson
The chairperson of the Commission shall be selected by a majority vote of the members of the Commission.
Director And Staff Of Commission
Director and staff
The Commission shall appoint an executive director and such other additional personnel as are necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission.
Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws
The executive director and staff 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 such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive director and other staff may not exceed the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of such title.
Detail of Federal Employees
Upon request of the Commission, the Secretary of the Interior or the Archivist of the United States may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of the Department of the Interior or the National Archives and Records Administration, respectively to the Commission to assist the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission.
Experts and Consultants
The Commission may procure such temporary and intermittent services from experts and consultants as are necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission.
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.
Powers Of Commission
Hearings
The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate.
Mails
The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other Federal agencies.
Obtaining Official Data
The Commission may secure directly from any Federal agency information necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission. Upon request of the chairperson of the Commission, the head of that Federal agency shall furnish that information to the Commission.
Gifts, Bequests, Devises
The Commission may solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of money, services, or property, both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Commission.
Available Space
Upon the request of the Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall make available to the Commission, at a normal rental rate for Federal agencies, such assistance and facilities as may be necessary for the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission.
Contract Authority
The Commission may enter into contracts with and compensate the Federal Government, State and local governments, private entities, or individuals to enable the Commission to perform the duties of the Commission.
Reports
Annual Reports
Not later than January 31 of each year, and annually thereafter until the final report is submitted pursuant to subsection (b), the Commission shall submit to the President and the Congress a report on—
the activities of the Commission; and
the revenue and expenditures of the Commission, including a list of each gift, bequest, or devise to the Commission with a value of more than $250, including the identity of the donor of each gift, bequest, or devise.
Final Report
Not later than January 31, 2018, the Commission shall submit a final report to the President and the Congress containing—
a summary of the activities of the Commission; and
a final accounting of funds received and expended by the Commission.
Annual audit
The Inspector General of the Department of the Interior—
may perform an audit of the Commission;
shall make the results of any such audit available to the public; and
shall transmit such results to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.
Definitions
In this Act:
Federal agency
The term Federal agency has the meaning given the term agency in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
State
The term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, each territory or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian tribe.
Termination
The Commission shall terminate on September 30, 2018, or may terminate at an earlier date determined by the Commission after the final report is submitted pursuant to section 7(b).
No additional funds authorized
No Federal funds are authorized or may be obligated to carry out this Act.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.