East Saint Louis Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Architectural Design Competition Act

Summary: East Saint Louis Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Architectural Design Competition Act - Establishes a commission to: (1) conduct an architectural competition to solicit design proposals for a museum to be built on the East Saint Louis portion of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial; and (2) study and report to the President and the Congress on possible funding mechanisms for the development, construction, and maintenance of the museum. 
Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``East Saint Louis Jefferson National 
Expansion Memorial Architectural Design Competition Act''.

SEC. 2. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN COMPETITION.

    (a) Commission.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be 
        composed of 7 members appointed by the Secretary of the 
        Interior, of whom--
                    (A) two shall be selected from among persons who 
                represent the Saint Louis, Missouri, community;
                    (B) two shall be selected from among persons who 
                represent the East Saint Louis, Illinois, community;
                    (C) two shall be selected from among persons who 
                represent the Department of the Interior; and
                    (D) one shall be selected from among disinterested 
                persons who are experts in the area of architectural 
                design, and who shall serve as the professional advisor 
                to the Commission.
            (2) Appointment of members.--The Secretary shall appoint 
        the members of the commission not later than 90 days after the 
        date of enactment of this Act.
            (3) Terms.--Members shall be appointed for the life of the 
        commission.
            (4) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the commission shall not 
        affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as 
        the original appointment.
            (5) Chairperson and vice chairperson.--The commission shall 
        select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among the 
        members of the commission.
            (6) Meetings.--
                    (A) Initial meeting.--The Secretary shall schedule 
                and call the first meeting not later than 30 days after 
                the date on which all members of the commission have 
                been appointed.
                    (B) Subsequent meetings.--The commission shall meet 
                at the call of the Chairperson.
            (7) Compensation of members.--Members of the commission 
        shall serve without compensation, except that members 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 their homes or regular places of business 
        in the performance of services for the commission.
            (8) Staff.--
                    (A) In general.--The Chairperson of the commission 
                may, without regard to the civil service laws and 
                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 of an executive director shall 
                be subject to confirmation by the commission.
                    (B) Compensation.--The Chairperson may fix the 
                compensation of the executive director and 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 the executive director and other personnel may 
                not exceed the rate payable for level V of the 
                Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
            (9) Detail of government employees.--Any Federal Government 
        employee may be detailed to the commission without 
        reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or 
        loss of civil service status or privilege.
            (10) Procurement of temporary and intermittent services.--
        The Chairperson may procure temporary and intermittent services 
        under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at 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.
            (11) Powers of the commission.--
                    (A) 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 this Act. Upon request 
                of the Chairperson, the head of such department or 
                agency shall furnish such information to the 
                commission.
                    (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.
                    (C)  Gifts.--The commission may accept, use, and 
                dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.
    (b) Architectural Competition.--The commission shall conduct an 
architectural competition to solicit design proposals for a museum to 
be built on the East Saint Louis portion of the Jefferson National 
Expansion Memorial. The member of the Commission appointed pursuant to 
subsection (a)(1)(D) shall organize, manage, and direct the 
competition, identify potential jurors, and appoint jurors, with the 
approval of the commission.
    (c) Study.--The commission shall conduct a study into possible 
funding mechanisms for the development, construction, and maintenance 
of the museum identified in subsection (b).
    (d) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the commission shall submit a report, with 
recommendations, to the President and Congress. The report shall 
contain a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the 
commission with respect to the museum and possible funding mechanisms.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $300,000 to carry out this 
Act.