,i  #aadth ,,congress  #b;d ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #dhge  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,march #bc1 #bjaf    
,mr4 ,meehan 7for himself and ,mr4      
,brady of ,pennsylvania7 introduced the 
following bill2 which was referred to   
the ,committee on ,oversight and        
,government ,reform  ,a ,,bill  ,to     
establish the ,united ,states           
,semiquincentennial ,commission1 and for
 other purposes4  #a4 ,short title ,this
 ,act may be cited as the ,united       
,states ,semiquincentennial ,commission 
,act of #bjaf4  #b4 ,findings2 purpose  
7a7 ,findings ,congress finds that ,july
 #d1 #bjbf1 the #bejth anniversary of   
the founding of the ,united ,states1 as 
marked by the ,declaration of           
,independence in #aggf1 and the historic
 events preceding that anniversary--    
7#a7 are of major significance in the   
development of the national heritage of 
the ,united ,states of individual       
liberty1 representative government1 and 
the attainment of equal and inalienable 

rights2 and  7#b7 have had a profound   
influence throughout the world4  7b7    
,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to
 establish a ,commission to provide for 
the observance and commemoration of the 
#bejth anniversary of the founding of   
the ,united ,states and related events  
through local1 ,state1 national1 and    
international activities planned1       
encouraged1 developed1 and coordinated  
by a national commission representative 
of appropriate public and private       
authorities and organizations4  #c4     
,definitions ,in this ,act3  7#a7       
,commission ,the term ,commission means 
the ,united ,states ,semiquincentennial 
,commission established by section      
#d7;a74  7#b7 ,private citizen ,the term
 private citizen means an individual who
 is not an officer or employee of--     
7,a7 the ,federal ,government2 or  7,b7 
a ,state or local government4  7#c7     
,secretary ,the term ,secretary means   
the ,secretary of the ,interior4  #d4   
,establishment of ,commission  7a7 ,in  

general ,there is established a         
commission1 to be known as the ,united  
,states ,semiquincentennial ,commission1
 to plan1 encourage1 develop1 and       
coordinate the commemoration of the     
history of the ,united ,states leading  
up to the #bejth anniversary of the     
founding of the ,united ,states4  7b7   
,composition ,the ,commission shall be  
composed of the following members3 7#a7 
#d members of the ,senate1 of whom--    
7,a7 #b shall be appointed by the       
majority leader of the ,senate2 and     
7,b7 #b shall be appointed by the       
minority leader of the ,senate4  7#b7 #d
 members of the ,house of               
,representatives1 of whom-- 7,a7 #b     
shall be appointed by the ,speaker of   
the ,house of ,representatives2 and     
7,b7 #b shall be appointed by the       
minority leader of the ,house of        
,representatives4  7#c7 #af members who 
are private citizens1 of whom--  7,a7 #d
 shall be appointed by the majority     
leader of the ,senate2  7,b7 #d shall be

 appointed by the minority leader of the
 ,senate2  7,c7 #d shall be appointed by
 the ,speaker of the ,house of          
,representatives2  7,d7 #d shall be     
appointed by the minority leader of the 
,house of ,representatives2 and  7,e7 #a
 of whom shall be designated by the     
,president as the ,chairperson4  7#d7   
,the following nonvoting ex officio     
members3  7,a7 ,the ,secretary4  7,b7   
,the ,secretary of ,state4  7,c7 ,the   
,attorney ,general4  7,d7 ,the          
,secretary of ,defense4  7,e7 ,the      
,secretary of ,education4  7,f7 ,the    
,librarian of ,congress4  7,g7 ,the     
,secretary of the ,smithsonian          
,institution4  7,h7 ,the ,archivist of  
the ,united ,states4  7,i7 ,the         
presiding officer of the ,federal       
,council on the ,arts and the           
,humanities4  7c7 ,term2 vacancies  7#a7
 ,term ,a member shall be appointed for 
the life of the ,commission4  7#b7      
,vacancies ,a vacancy on the            
,commission-- 7,a7 shall not affect the 

powers of the ,commission2 and  7,b7    
shall be filled in the same manner as   
the original appointment was made4  7d7 
,meetings ,all meetings of the          
,commission shall be convened at        
,independence ,hall in ,philadelphia1   
,pennsylvania1 to honor the historical  
significance of the building as the site
 of deliberations and adoption of both  
the ,united ,states ,declaration of     
,independence and ,constitution4  7e7   
,quorum ,a majority of the members of   
the ,commission shall constitute a      
quorum1 but a lesser number of members  
may hold hearings4  #e4 ,duties  7a7 ,in
 general ,the ,commission shall--  7#a7 
prepare an overall program for          
commemorating the #bejth anniversary of 
the founding of the ,united ,states and 
the historic events preceding that      
anniversary2 and  7#b7 plan1 encourage1 
develop1 and coordinate observances and 
activities commemorating the historic   
events that preceded1 and are associated
 with1 the ,united ,states              

,semiquincentennial4  7b7 ,requirements 
7#a7 ,in general ,in preparing plans and
 an overall program1 the ,commission--  
7,a7 shall give due consideration to any
 related plans and programs developed by
 ,state1 local1 and private groups2 and 
7,b7 may designate special committees   
with representatives from groups        
described in subparagraph 7,a7 to plan1 
develop1 and coordinate specific        
activities4  7#b7 ,emphasis ,the        
,commission shall--  7,a7 emphasize the 
planning of events in locations of      
historical significance to the ,united  
,states1 especially in those locations  
that witnessed the assertion of         
,american liberty1 such as-- 7i7 the #ac
 colonies2 and  7ii7 leading cities1    
including ,boston1 ,charleston1 ,new    
,york ,city1 and ,philadelphia2 and     
7,b7 give special emphasis to--  7i7 the
 role of persons and locations with     
significant impact on the history of the
 ,united ,states during the #bej-year   
period beginning on the date of         

execution of the ,declaration of        
,independence2 and  7ii7 the ideas      
associated with that history1 which have
 been so important in the development of
 the ,united ,states1 in world affairs1 
and in the quest for freedom of all     
mankind4  7#c7 ,infrastructure ,the     
,commission shall-- 7,a7 evaluate       
existing infrastructure2  7,b7 include  
in the report required under subsection 
7c7 recommendations for what            
infrastructure should be in place for   
the successful undertaking of an        
appropriate celebration in accordance   
with this ,act2 and  7,c7 coordinate    
with ,state and local bodies to make    
necessary infrastructure improvements4  
7c7 ,report submitted to the ,president 
7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #b     
years after the date of enactment of    
this ,act1 the ,commission shall submit 
to the ,president a comprehensive report
 that includes the specific             
recommendations of the ,commission for  
the commemoration of the #bejth         

anniversary and related events4  7#b7   
,recommended activities ,the report may 
include recommend activities such as--  
7,a7 the production1 publication1 and   
distribution of books1 pamphlets1 films1
 and other educational materials        
focusing on the history1 culture1 and   
political thought of the period of the  
,american ,revolution2  7,b7            
bibliographical and documentary projects
 and publications2  7,c7 conferences1   
convocations1 lectures1 seminars1 and   
other programs1 especially those located
 in the #ac colonies1 including the     
major cities and buildings of national  
historical significance of the #ac      
colonies2  7,d7 the development of      
libraries1 museums1 historic sites1 and 
exhibits1 including mobile exhibits2    
7,e7 ceremonies and celebrations        
commemorating specific events1 such as--
 7i7 the signing of the ,declaration of 
,independence2  7ii7 programs and       
activities focusing on the national and 
international significance of the       

,united ,states ,semiquincentennial2 and
  7iii7 the implications of the         
,semiquincentennial for present and     
future generations2 and  7,f7           
encouraging ,federal agencies to        
integrate the celebration of the        
,semiquincentennial into the regular    
activities and execution of the purpose 
of the agencies through such activities 
as the issuance of coins1 medals1       
certificates of recognition1 stamps1 and
 the naming of vessels4  7#c7           
,requirements ,the report shall         
include--  7,a7 the recommendations of  
the ,commission for the allocation of   
financial and administrative            
responsibility among the public and     
private authorities and organizations   
recommended for participation by the    
,commission2 and  7,b7 proposals for    
such legislative enactments and         
administrative actions as the           
,commission considers necessary to carry
 out the recommendations4  7d7 ,report  
submitted to ,congress ,the ,president  

shall submit to ,congress a report that 
contains-- 7#a7 the complete report of  
the ,commission2 and  7#b7 such comments
 and recommendations for legislation and
 such a description of administrative   
actions taken by the ,president as the  
,president considers appropriate4  7e7  
,point of contact ,the ,commission1     
acting through the secretariat of the   
,commission described in section #i7;b71
 shall serve as the point of contact of 
the ,federal ,government for all ,state1
 local1 international1 and private      
sector initiatives regarding the        
,semiquincentennial of the founding of  
the ,united ,states1 with the purpose of
 coordinating and facilitating all      
fitting and proper activities honoring  
the #bejth anniversary of the founding  
of the ,united ,states4  #f4            
,coordination  7a7 ,in general ,in      
carrying out this ,act1 the ,commission 
shall consult and cooperate with1 and   
seek advice and assistance from1        
appropriate ,federal agencies1 ,state   

and local public bodies1 learned        
societies1 and historical1 patriotic1   
philanthropic1 civic1 professional1 and 
related organizations4  7b7             
,responsibility of other ,federal       
agencies  7#a7 ,in general ,federal     
agencies shall cooperate with the       
,commission in planning1 encouraging1   
developing1 and coordinating appropriate
 commemorative activities4  7#b7        
,department of the ,interior  7,a7 ,in  
general ,the ,secretary shall undertake 
a study of appropriate actions that     
might be taken to further preserve and  
develop historic sites and battlefields1
 at such time and in such manner as will
 ensure that fitting observances and    
exhibits may be held at appropriate     
sites and battlefields during the #bejth
 anniversary celebration4  7,b7 ,report 
,the ,secretary shall submit to the     
,commission a report that contains the  
results of the study and the            
recommendations of the ,secretary1 in   
time to afford the ,commission an       

opportunity--  7i7 to review the study2 
and  7ii7 to incorporate in the report  
described in section #e7;c7 such        
findings and recommendations as the     
,commission considers appropriate4  7#c7
 ,arts and ,humanities  7,a7 ,in general
 ,the presiding officer of the ,federal 
,council on the ,arts and the           
,humanities1 the ,chairperson of the    
,national ,endowment for the ,arts1 and 
the ,chairperson of the ,national       
,endowment for the ,humanities shall    
cooperate with the ,commission1         
especially in the encouragement and     
coordination of scholarly works and     
artistic expressions focusing on the    
history1 culture1 and political thought 
of the period predating the ,united     
,states ,semiquincentennial4  7,b7      
,library of ,congress1 ,smithsonian     
,institution1 and ,archives  7i7 ,in    
general ,the ,librarian of ,congress1   
the ,secretary of the ,smithsonian      
,institution1 and the ,archivist of the 
,united ,states shall cooperate with the

 ,commission1 especially in the         
development and display of exhibits and 
collections and in the development of   
bibliographies1 catalogs1 and other     
materials relevant to the period        
predating the ,united ,states           
,semiquincentennial4  7ii7 ,location ,to
 the maximum extent practicable1        
displays described in subparagraph 7,a7 
shall be located in1 or in facilities   
near to1 buildings of historical        
significance to the ,american           
,revolution1 so as to promote greater   
public awareness of the heritage of the 
,united ,states4  7,c7 ,submission of   
recommendations ,each of the officers   
described in this paragraph shall submit
 to the ,commission a report containing 
recommendations in time to afford the   
,commission an opportunity--  7i7 to    
review the reports2 and  7ii7 to        
incorporate in the report described in  
section #e7;c7 such findings and        
recommendations as the ,commission      
considers appropriate4  7#d7 ,department

 of ,state ,the ,secretary of ,state    
shall coordinate the participation of   
foreign nations in the celebration of   
the ,united ,states ,semiquincentennial1
 including by soliciting the erection of
 monuments and other cultural           
cooperations in founding cities of the  
,united ,states so as-- 7,a7 to         
celebrate the shared heritage of the    
,united ,states with the many peoples   
and nations of the world2 and  7,b7 to  
provide liaison and encouragement for   
the erection of international pavilions 
to showcase the spread of democratic    
institutions abroad in the period       
following the ,american ,revolution4    
#g4 ,powers  7a7 ,hearings ,the         
,commission may hold such hearings1 meet
 and act at such times and places1 take 
such testimony1 and receive such        
evidence as the ,commission considers   
advisable to carry out this ,act4  7b7  
,information from ,federal agencies     
7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commission may   
secure directly from a ,federal agency  

such information as the ,commission     
considers necessary to carry out this   
,act4  7#b7 ,provision of information   
,on request of the ,chairperson of the  
,commission1 the head of the agency     
shall provide the information to the    
,commission4  7c7 ,postal services ,the 
,commission may use the ,united ,states 
mails in the same manner and under the  
same conditions as other agencies of the
 ,federal ,government4  7d7 ,gifts ,the 
,commission may accept1 use1 and dispose
 of gifts or donations of money1        
property1 or personal services4  7e7    
,additional powers ,as determined       
necessary by the ,commission1 the       
,commission may-- 7#a7 procure supplies1
 services1 and property2  7#b7 make     
contracts2  7#c7 expend in furtherance  
of this ,act funds appropriated1        
donated1 or received in pursuance of    
contracts entered into under this ,act2 
and  7#d7 take such actions as are      
necessary to enable the ,commission to  
carry out efficiently and in the public 

interest the purposes of this ,act4  7f7
 ,use of materials  7#a7 ,time capsule  
,a representative portion of all books1 
manuscripts1 miscellaneous printed      
matter1 memorabilia1 relics1 and other  
materials relating to the ,united       
,states ,semiquincentennial shall be    
deposited in a time capsule--  7,a7 to  
be buried in ,independence ,mall1       
,philadelphia1 on ,july #d1 #bjbf2 and  
7,b7 to be unearthed on the occasion of 
the #ejjth anniversary of the ,united   
,states of ,america on ,july #d1 #bbgf4 
7#b7 ,other materials ,all other books1 
manuscripts1 miscellaneous printed      
matter1 memorabilia1 relics1 and other  
materials relating to the ,united       
,states ,semiquincentennial1 whether    
donated to the ,commission or collected 
by the ,commission1 may be deposited for
 preservation in national1 ,state1 or   
local libraries or museums or be        
otherwise disposed of by the            
,commission1 in consultation with the   
,librarian of ,congress1 the ,secretary 

of the ,smithsonian ,institution1 the   
,archivist of the ,united ,states1 and  
the ,administrator of ,general          
,services4  7g7 ,property ,any property 
acquired by the ,commission remaining on
 termination of the ,commission may be--
  7#a7 used by the ,secretary for       
purposes of the ,national ,park         
,service2 or  7#b7 disposed of as excess
 or surplus property4  #h4 ,commission  
personnel matters  7a7 ,compensation of 
members ,the members of the ,commission 
shall receive no compensation for       
service on the ,commission4  7b7 ,travel
 expenses ,a member of the ,commission  
shall be allowed travel expenses1       
including per diem in lieu of           
subsistence1 at rates authorized for an 
employee of an agency under subchapter  
,i of chapter #eg of title #e1 ,united  
,states ,code1 while away from the home 
or regular place of business of the     
member in the performance of the duties 
of the ,commission4  7c7 ,staff  7#a7   
,in general ,the ,chairperson of the    

,commission may1 without regard to the  
civil service laws 7including           
regulations71 appoint and terminate an  
executive director and such other       
additional personnel as are necessary to
 enable the ,commission to perform the  
duties of the ,commission4  7#b7        
,confirmation of executive director ,the
 employment of an executive director    
shall be subject to confirmation by the 
,commission4  7#c7 ,compensation  7,a7  
,in general ,except as provided in      
subparagraph 7,b71 the ,chairperson of  
the ,commission may fix the compensation
 of the executive director and other    
personnel without regard to the         
provisions of chapter #ea and subchapter
 ,,iii of chapter #ec of title #e1      
,united ,states ,code1 relating to      
classification of positions and ,general
 ,schedule pay rates4  7,b7 ,maximum    
rate of pay ,the rate of pay for the    
executive director and other personnel  
shall not exceed the rate payable for   
level ,v of the ,executive ,schedule    

under section #ecaf of title #e1 ,united
 ,states ,code4  7d7 ,detail of ,federal
 ,government employees  7#a7 ,in general
 ,an employee of the ,federal           
,government may be detailed to the      
,commission without reimbursement4  7#b7
 ,civil service status ,the detail of   
the employee shall be without           
interruption or loss of civil service   
status or privilege4  7e7 ,procurement  
of temporary and intermittent services  
,the ,chairperson of the ,commission may
 procure temporary and intermittent     
services in accordance with section     
#caji7;b7 of title #e1 ,united ,states  
,code1 at rates for individuals that do 
not exceed the daily equivalent of the  
annual rate of basic pay prescribed for 
level ,v of the ,executive ,schedule    
under section #ecaf of that title4  7f7 
,advisory ,committees ,the ,commission  
may appoint such advisory committees as 
the ,commission determines necessary4   
#i4 ,expenditures of ,commission  7a7   
,in general ,all expenditures of the    

,commission shall be made solely from-- 
7#a7 donated funds2 and  7#b7 funds     
specifically appropriated for the       
,commission4  7b7 ,administrative       
secretariat ,the ,commission shall seek 
to enter into an arrangement with ,,usa 
#bej1 ,incorporated1 under which ,,usa  
#bej1 ,incorporated1 shall--  7#a7 serve
 as the secretariat of the ,commission1 
including by serving as the point of    
contact under section #e7;e72  7#b7     
house the administrative offices of the 
,commission2  7#c7 assume responsibility
 for funds of the ,commission2 and  7#d7
 provide to the ,commission financial   
and administrative services1 including  
services related to budgeting1          
accounting1 financial reporting1        
personnel1 and procurement4  7c7        
,payment for financial and              
administrative services  7#a7 ,in       
general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71     
payment for services provided under     
subsection 7b77#d7 shall be made in     
advance1 or by reimbursement1 from funds

 of the ,commission in such amounts as  
may be agreed on by the ,chairperson of 
the ,commission and the secretariat of  
the ,commission4  7#b7 ,relationship to 
regulations  7,a7 ,erroneous payments   
,the regulations under section #eead of 
title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1        
relating to the collection of           
indebtedness of personnel resulting from
 erroneous payments shall apply to the  
collection of erroneous payments made   
to1 or on behalf of1 a ,commission      
employee4  7,b7 ,appropriations ,the    
regulations under sections #aeac7;d7 and
 #aead of title #ca1 ,united ,states    
,code1 relating to the administrative   
control of funds1 shall apply to        
appropriations of the ,commission4  7,c7
 ,no promulgation by ,commission ,the   
,commission shall not be required to    
prescribe any regulations relating to   
the matters described in subparagraphs  
7,a7 and 7,b74  7d7 ,annual report ,once
 each year during the period beginning  
on the date of enactment of this ,act   

and ending on ,december #ca1 #bjbg1 the 
,commission shall submit to ,congress a 
report of the activities of the         
,commission1 including an accounting of 
funds received and expended during the  
year covered by the report4  #aj4       
,termination of ,commission ,the        
,commission shall terminate on ,december
 #ca1 #bjbg4