National Senior Citizen Hall of Fame Act of 1996

Summary: National Senior Citizen Hall of Fame Act of 1996 - Establishes the National Senior Citizen Hall of Fame to bestow honor and recognition upon deserving citizens for their outstanding accomplishments, service, and contributions to the lives of older Americans. 
Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Senior Citizen Hall of Fame 
Act of 1996''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the senior population (65 and older) of the United 
        States is projected to be 35,000,000 by the year 2000 (which 
        would equal 13 percent of the population);
            (2) the total population of the United States is projected 
        to exceed 300,000,000 by the year 2000;
            (3) the senior population is projected to be 40,000,000 by 
        the year 2010 (which would equal 13.3 percent of the 
        population);
            (4) the senior population will accelerate significantly 
        with the entry of baby-boomers into the senior population so 
        that by the year 2030, the senior population will increase to 
        70,000,000;
            (5) the minority population is projected to represent 25 
        percent of the elderly population by the year 2030 (including 
        Hispanic Americans, African Americans, Native Americans, Native 
        Alaskans, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders);
            (6) the older population is getting larger, in 1993 the 75-
        84 age group (10,800,000 individuals) was 14 times larger than 
        in 1900, and the 85 plus age group was 27 times larger;
            (7) 5,500 individuals per day in the United States 
        celebrate their 65th birthday;
            (8) the matured judgment, the keen insight, the historical 
        retrospect, the forth right vision, and the gifted leadership 
        of the aging, are invaluable to the national life of the United 
        States;
            (9) older Americans embrace the national patriotism, the 
        solidarity of the American heritage, and the allegiance in love 
        and devotion to the United States, and is transmitting these 
        noble virtues to future generations; and
            (10) the American dream is that all people are created 
        equal in a nation where righteousness, mercy, and justice are 
        the cornerstones of democracy.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to--
            (1) encourage and authorize the establishment of a National 
        Senior Citizen Hall of Fame Commission;
            (2) encourage the establishment of a Senior Citizen Hall of 
        Fame in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the 
        territorial possessions;
            (3) through the Commission and the State Senior Citizen 
        Halls of Fame, bestow the honor, recognition, and memorial upon 
        deserving citizens for outstanding achievements, services, and 
        contributions to the lives of older Americans; and
            (4) utilize the Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame, its 
        constitution, and bylaws with respect to such entity as a model 
        in establishing State Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a Commission to be known 
as the National Senior Citizen Hall of Fame Commission (in this Act 
referred to as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of not 
        more than 56 members of whom one shall be appointed by the 
        Citizen Hall of Fame of each State.
            (2) Date.--The initial appointments of the members of the 
        Commission shall be made not later than January 1, 1997.
            (3) Definition.--As used in paragraph (1), the term 
        ``State'' means each of the 50 States, the District of 
        Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States 
        Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana 
        Islands.
    (c) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--Members of the Commission 
shall be appointed for an annual 1-year term commencing on January 1 
and ending on December 31. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not 
affect its powers, and shall be filled in the same manner as the 
original appointment.
    (d) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
which a majority of the members of the Commission have been appointed, 
the Commission shall hold its first meeting.
    (e) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
Chairperson.
    (f) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold meetings.
    (g) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The Commission shall select 
a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among its members.

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall act to bestow honor and recognition upon 
deserving citizens for their outstanding accomplishments, service, and 
contributions to the lives of older Americans. The Commission may 
provide commendations, certificates of merit, or other forms of awards 
to bestow such an honor as the Commission determines appropriate.

SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Meetings.--The Commission may hold such meetings and sit and 
act at such times and places as the Commission considers advisable to 
carry out the purposes of this Act.
    (b) Task Forces.--The Commission may establish such committees and 
task forces as the Commission determines necessary to carry out its 
business and achieve the objectives of the Commission.
    (c) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or 
donations of services or property.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out the purposes 
of this Act.
    (b) Availability.--Any sums appropriated under the authorization 
contained in this section shall remain available, without fiscal year 
limitation, until expended.