PUBLIC LAW 115–77—NOV. 2, 2017 131 STAT. 1251 

Public Law 115–77 

115th Congress 

An Act 

To establish the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission 

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 ‘‘Frederick Douglass Bicentennial 

Commission Act’’. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

Congress makes the following findings: 

(1) Born into slavery on the Eastern Shore of Maryland 

in 1818 and given the name Frederick Augustus Washington 

Bailey after his mother Harriet Bailey, Frederick Douglass 

has been called the father of the civil rights movement. 

(2) Douglass rose through determination, brilliance, and 

eloquence to shape the American Nation. He was an abolitionist, human rights and women’s rights activist, orator, 

author, journalist, publisher, and social reformer. 

(3) Taught basic reading skills by his mistress until she 

was forced to stop, Douglass continued to teach himself to 

read and write and taught other slaves to read despite risks 

including death. 

(4) During the course of his remarkable life Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery, became internationally renowned 

for his eloquence in the cause of liberty, and went on to serve 

the national government in several official capacities. 

(5) Forced to leave the country to avoid arrest as an escaped 

slave, he returned to become a staunch advocate of the Union 

cause and helped recruit African-American troops for the Union 

Army, including two of his sons, Charles and Lewis Douglass. 

His personal relationship with Abraham Lincoln helped persuade the President to make emancipation a cause of the Civil 

War. 

(6) With the abolition of slavery at the close of the Civil 

War, Douglass then turned his attention to the full integration 

of African-Americans into the political and economic life of 

the United States. Committed to freedom, Douglass dedicated 

his life to achieving justice for all Americans, in particular 

African-Americans, women, and minority groups. He envisioned 

America as an inclusive Nation strengthened by diversity and 

free of discrimination. 

(7) Douglass served as an advisor to Presidents. Abraham 

Lincoln referred to him as the most meritorious man of the 

nineteenth century. Douglass was appointed to several offices. 

Frederick 

Douglass 

Bicentennial 

Commission Act. 

36 USC prec. 101 

note. 

Nov. 2, 2017 

[H.R. 2989] 


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131 STAT. 1252 PUBLIC LAW 115–77—NOV. 2, 2017 

He served as the United States Marshal of the District of 

Columbia under Rutherford B. Hayes’ administration; President 

James Garfield appointed Douglass the District of Columbia 

Recorder of Deeds. In 1889, President Benjamin Harrison 

appointed Frederick Douglass to be the United States minister 

to Haiti. He was also appointed by President Grant to serve 

as Assistant Secretary of the Commission of Inquiry to Santo 

Domingo. 

(8) Douglass lived in the District of Columbia for 23 of 

his 57 years as a free man, and in recognition of his leadership 

and continuous fight for justice and freedom, his home, Cedar 

Hill, was established as a National Historic Site in Anacostia, 

in Southeast Washington, DC. 

(9) The statue of Frederick Douglass in the United States 

Capitol is a gift from the almost 700,000 residents of the 

District of Columbia. 

(10) All Americans could benefit from studying the life 

of Frederick Douglass, for Douglass dedicated his own life to 

ensuring freedom and equality for future generations of Americans. This Nation should ensure that his tireless struggle, 

transformative words, and inclusive vision of humanity continue 

to inspire and sustain us. 

(11) The year 2018 marks the bicentennial anniversary 

of the birth of Frederick Douglass, and a commission should 

be established to plan, develop, and carry out, and to recommend to Congress, programs and activities that are fitting 

and proper to celebrate that anniversary in a manner that 

appropriately honors Frederick Douglass. 

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT. 

There is established a commission to be known as the Frederick 

Douglass Bicentennial Commission (referred to in this Act as the 

‘‘Commission’’). 

SEC. 4. DUTIES. 

The Commission shall have the following duties: 

(1) To plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities 

that are fitting and proper to honor Frederick Douglass on 

the occasion of the bicentennial anniversary of Douglass’ birth. 

(2) To recommend to Congress programs and activities 

that the Commission considers fitting and proper to honor 

Frederick Douglass on such occasion, and the entity or entities 

in the Federal Government that the Commission considers most 

appropriate to carry out such programs and activities. 

SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP. 

(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission shall be composed of 16 members appointed as follows: 

(1) Two members, each of whom shall be a qualified citizen 

described in subsection (b), appointed by the President. 

(2) One member, who shall be a qualified citizen described 

in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Governor of Maryland. 

(3) One member, who shall be a qualified citizen described 

in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Governor of Massachusetts. 

President. 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–77—NOV. 2, 2017 131 STAT. 1253 

(4) One member, who shall be a qualified citizen described 

in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Governor of New York. 

(5) One member, who shall be a qualified citizen described 

in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Mayor of the District of Columbia. 

(6) Three members, at least one of whom shall be a Member 

of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker 

of the House of Representatives. 

(7) Three members, at least one of whom shall be a Senator, 

appointed by the majority leader of the Senate. 

(8) Two members, at least one of whom shall be a Member 

of the House of Representatives, appointed by the minority 

leader of the House of Representatives. 

(9) Two members, at least one of whom shall be a Senator, 

appointed by the minority leader of the Senate. 

(b) QUALIFIED CITIZEN.—A qualified citizen described in this 

subsection is a private citizen of the United States with— 

(1) a demonstrated dedication to educating others about 

the importance of historical figures and events; and 

(2) substantial knowledge and appreciation of Frederick 

Douglass. 

(c) TIME OF APPOINTMENT.—Each initial appointment of a 

member of the Commission shall be made before the expiration 

of the 60-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of 

this Act. 

(d) CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP.—If a member of the 

Commission was appointed to the Commission as a Member of 

Congress, and ceases to be a Member of Congress, that member 

may continue to serve on the Commission for not longer than 

the 30-day period beginning on the date that member ceases to 

be a Member of Congress. 

(e) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed for the life of 

the Commission. 

(f) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall not affect 

the powers of the Commission but shall be filled in the manner 

in which the original appointment was made. 

(g) BASIC PAY.—Members shall serve on the Commission without pay. 

(h) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall receive travel 

expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance 

with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code. 

(i) QUORUM.—Six members of the Commission shall constitute 

a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings. 

(j) CHAIR.—The Commission shall select a Chair from among 

the members of the Commission. 

(k) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the call of the 

Chair. Periodically, the Commission shall hold a meeting in Rochester, New York. 

SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF. 

(a) DIRECTOR.—The Commission may appoint and fix the pay 

of a Director and such additional personnel as the Commission 

considers to be appropriate. 

(b) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.— (1) DIRECTOR.—The Director of the Commission may be 

appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United 

New York. 

Time period. 


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131 STAT. 1254 PUBLIC LAW 115–77—NOV. 2, 2017 

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 that title relating to 

classification and General Schedule pay rates. 

(2) STAFF.—The staff of the Commission shall be appointed 

subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and shall be 

paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification 

and General Schedule pay rates. 

SEC. 7. POWERS. 

(a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commission may, for the 

purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such hearings, sit and act 

at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such 

evidence as the Commission considers to be appropriate. 

(b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any member or agent 

of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take 

any action that the Commission is authorized to take by this Act. 

(c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission may secure 

directly from any department or agency of the United States 

information necessary to enable the Commission to carry out this 

Act. Upon request of the Chair of the Commission, the head of 

that department or agency shall furnish that information to the 

Commission. 

(d) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United States mails 

in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the United States. 

(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon the request of 

the Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative 

support services necessary for the Commission to carry out its 

responsibilities under this Act. 

(f) GIFTS.—The Commission may solicit, accept, use, and dispose 

of gifts, bequests, or devises of money or other property for the 

purpose of carrying out its duties. 

(g) 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. 

SEC. 8. REPORTS. 

(a) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than August 1, 2018, the 

Commission shall submit to Congress an initial report containing 

its recommendations under section 4(2). 

(b) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than June 1, 2019, the Commission shall submit a final report to Congress, and shall include 

in the final report— 

(1) a summary of its activities and programs; 

(2) a final accounting of the funds the Commission received 

and expended; and 

(3) any other information that the Commission considers 

to be appropriate. 

SEC. 9. TERMINATION. 

The Commission shall terminate 30 days after submitting the 

final report pursuant to section 8(b). 

Reimbursement. 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–77—NOV. 2, 2017 131 STAT. 1255 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2989: 

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115–340 (Comm. on Oversight and Government Reform). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017): 

Oct. 11, considered and passed House. 

Oct. 18, considered and passed Senate. 

DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2017): 

Nov. 2, Presidential statement. 

Æ 

SEC. 10. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED. 

No Federal funds are authorized or may be obligated to carry 

out this Act. 

Approved November 2, 2017. 


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