I 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4649 

To support the International Decade for People of African Descent, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 29, 2016 

Ms. JACKSON LEE (for herself, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. BASS, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. 

LEWIS, Ms. LEE, Ms. MOORE, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. MEEKS, 

and Ms. SEWELL of Alabama) introduced the following bill; which was 

referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

A BILL 

To support the International Decade for People of African 

Descent, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Decade for the People of African Descent Act’’. 

6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

7 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Findings. 

Sec. 3. Definitions. 

TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF STATE ACTIVITIES 


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Sec. 101. Office on the International Decade for People of African Descent; 

Ambassador at Large for the International Decade for People 

of African Descent. 

Sec. 102. Annual Report on the International Decade for People of African Descent. 

Sec. 103. Establishment of an International Decade for People of African Descent Internet site. 

Sec. 104. Programs and allocations of funds by United States Missions abroad. 

Sec. 105. Equal access to United States missions abroad for conducting activities relating to the International Decade for People of African 

Descent. 

TITLE II—COMMISSION ON THE INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR 

PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT 

Sec. 201. Establishment and composition. 

Sec. 202. Duties of the Commission. 

Sec. 203. Powers of the Commission. 

Sec. 204. Commission personnel matters. 

Sec. 205. Report of the Commission. 

Sec. 206. Applicability of other laws. 

Sec. 207. Authorization of appropriations. 

Sec. 208. Standards of conduct and disclosure. 

Sec. 209. Termination. 

TITLE III—SPECIAL ADVISER ON THE INTERNATIONAL DECADE 

FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT 

Sec. 301. Special Adviser on the International Decade for People of African 

Descent. 

1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 Congress makes the following findings: 

3 (1) For over 400 years, more than 15,000,000 

4 men, women, and children were the victims of the 

5 tragic transatlantic slave trade, one of the darkest 

6 chapters in human history. 

7 (2) Pursuant to United Nations General Assem8 bly Resolution 68/237 (2013), the United Nations 

9 General Assembly proclaimed 2015–2024 as the 

10 International Decade for People of African Descent, 

11 citing the need to strengthen national, regional and 

12 international cooperation in relation to the full enVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:13 Mar 01, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4649.IH H4649

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1 joyment of economic, social, cultural, civil and polit2 ical rights by people of African descent, and their 

3 full and equal participation in all aspects of society. 

4 (3) As proclaimed by the United Nations Gen5 eral Assembly, the theme for the International Dec6 ade for People of African Descent is ‘‘People of Afri7 can descent: Recognition, Justice and Development’’. 

8 (4) A main objective for the International Dec9 ade for People of African Descent is to promote re10 spect, protection and fulfilment of all human rights 

11 and fundamental freedoms by people of African de12 scent, as recognized in the Universal Declaration of 

13 Human Rights. 

14 (5) A delineated objective for the International 

15 Decade for People of African Descent is to promote 

16 a greater knowledge of and respect for the diverse 

17 heritage, culture and contribution of people of Afri18 can descent to the development of societies. 

19 (6) A delineated objective for the International 

20 Decade for People of African Descent is the adop21 tion and strengthening of national, regional and 

22 international legal frameworks according to the 

23 International Convention on the Elimination of All 

24 Forms of Racial Discrimination and to ensure their 

25 full and effective implementation. 


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1 (7) Nation states are encouraged to create and 

2 implement National Action Plans that put into place 

3 offices and initiatives that drive implementation of 

4 the International Decade for People of African De5 scent. 

6 (8) At the national level, nation states should 

7 take concrete and practical steps through the adop8 tion and effective implementation of national and 

9 international legal action plans, initiatives, frame10 works, policies and programs to combat racism, ra11 cial discrimination, xenophobia and related intoler12 ance faced by people of African descent, taking into 

13 account the particular situation of women, girls and 

14 young males through— 

15 (A) recognition; 

16 (B) justice; 

17 (C) development; and 

18 (D) addressing multiple or aggravated dis19 crimination. 

20 (9) On the regional and international levels, en21 tities are among others called to raise awareness, 

22 disseminate the International Convention on the 

23 Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 

24 assist states in the full and effective implementation 

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1 porate human rights into development programs, 

2 and honor and preserve historical memory of people 

3 of African descent. 

4 (10) Among others, some of the steps and 

5 measures being undertaken by the United Nations 

6 General Assembly include the appointment of the 

7 United Nations High Commissioner for Human 

8 Rights to act as coordinator of the International 

9 Decade for People of African Descent, the establish10 ment of a forum to serve as a consultation mecha11 nism, convening of a final assessment of the Inter12 national Decade for People of African Descent, and 

13 a permanent memorial at the United Nations head14 quarters to honor the memory of the victims of slav15 ery and the transatlantic slave trade. 

16 (11) The Secretary-General of the United Na17 tions is also required to report to the General As18 sembly at its sixty-third session on the establishment 

19 and implementation of the above delineated meas20 ures. 

21 (12) Upon the launch of the International Dec22 ade for People of African Descent in 2015, Members 

23 of the United States Congress introduced House 

24 Resolution 120 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 

25 in support of the International Decade for People of 


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1 African Descent, and H.R. 1039 to establish an Of2 fice of Global African Descent Affairs in the Depart3 ment of State to monitor implementation of the 

4 commitments of the International Decade for People 

5 of African Descent around the world. 

6 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) AMBASSADOR AT LARGE.—The term ‘‘Am9 bassador at Large’’ means the Ambassador at Large 

10 for the International Decade for People of African 

11 Descent appointed under section 101(b). 

12 (2) ANNUAL REPORT.—The term ‘‘Annual Re13 port’’ means the Annual Report on the International 

14 Decade for People of African Descent described in 

15 section 102. 

16 (3) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT17 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com18 mittees’’ means the Committee on Foreign Relations 

19 of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

20 of the House of Representatives. 

21 (4) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 

22 means the United States Commission on the Inter23 national Decade for People of African Descent es24 tablished in section 201(a). 


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1 (5) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.—The term ‘‘Execu2 tive Summary’’ means the Executive Summary to 

3 the Annual Report, as described in section 102(3). 

4 (6) GOVERNMENT OR FOREIGN GOVERN5 MENT.—The term ‘‘government’’ or ‘‘foreign govern6 ment’’ includes any agency or instrumentality of the 

7 government. 

8 (7) OFFICE.—The term ‘‘Office’’ means the Of9 fice on the International Decade for People of Afri10 can Descent established in section 101(a). 

11 (8) SPECIAL ADVISER.—The term ‘‘Special Ad12 viser’’ means the Special Adviser to the President on 

13 the International Decade for People of African De14 scent described in section 301 of this Act. 

15 TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF 

16 STATE ACTIVITIES 

17 SEC. 101. OFFICE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR 

18 PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT; AMBAS19 SADOR AT LARGE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL 

20 DECADE FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT. 

21 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE.—There is estab22 lished within the Department of State an Office on the 

23 International Decade for People of African Descent that 

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1 national Decade for People of African Descent appointed 

2 under subsection (b). 

3 (b) APPOINTMENT.—The Ambassador at Large shall 

4 be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and 

5 consent of the Senate. 

6 (c) DUTIES.—The Ambassador at Large shall have 

7 the following responsibilities: 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The primary responsibility 

9 of the Ambassador at Large shall be to advance the 

10 full enjoyment of rights and equal participation of 

11 people of African descent. 

12 (2) ADVISORY ROLE.—The Ambassador at 

13 Large shall be a principal adviser to the President 

14 and the Secretary of State regarding matters affect15 ing implementation of the International Decade for 

16 People of African Descent and, with advice from the 

17 Commission on the International Decade for People 

18 of African Descent, shall make recommendations re19 garding adopting and implementing policies to 

20 strengthen United States advocacy on behalf of indi21 viduals of African descent. 

22 (3) DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION.—Subject to 

23 the direction of the President and the Secretary of 

24 State, the Ambassador at Large is authorized to 

25 represent the United States in matters and cases 


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1 relevant to the International Decade for People of 

2 African Descent abroad in— 

3 (A) contacts with foreign governments, 

4 intergovernmental organizations, and special5 ized global and regional agencies of the United 

6 Nations, the Organization on Security and Co7 operation in Europe, and other international or8 ganizations of which the United States is a 

9 member; and 

10 (B) multilateral conferences and meetings 

11 relevant to the International Decade for People 

12 of African Descent abroad. 

13 (4) REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Am14 bassador at Large shall have the reporting respon15 sibilities described in section 102. 

16 (d) FUNDING.—The Secretary of State shall provide 

17 the Ambassador at Large with such funds as may be nec18 essary for the hiring of staff for the Office, for the conduct 

19 of initiatives by the Office, and for necessary travel to 

20 carry out the provisions of this section. 

21 SEC. 102. ANNUAL REPORT ON THE INTERNATIONAL DEC22 ADE FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT. 

23 On September 1 of each year or the first day there24 after on which the appropriate House of Congress is in 

25 session, the Secretary of State, with the assistance of the 


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1 Ambassador at Large, and taking into consideration the 

2 recommendations of the Commission, shall prepare and 

3 transmit to Congress an Annual Report on the Inter4 national Decade for People of African Descent by pro5 viding additional detailed information with respect to mat6 ters involving the International Decade for People of Afri7 can Descent. Each Annual Report shall contain the fol8 lowing: 

9 (1) A description of the status of efforts and 

10 initiatives to implement the International Decade for 

11 People of African Descent, including trends toward 

12 improvement in the respect for strengthening advo13 cacy on behalf of individuals of African descent. 

14 (2) A description of United States actions and 

15 policies in support of the International Decade for 

16 People of African Descent, including a description of 

17 the measures and policies implemented during the 

18 preceding 12 months by the United States under 

19 this Act. 

20 (3) An Executive Summary to the Annual Re21 port highlighting the status of the International 

22 Decade for People of African Descent. 


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1 SEC. 103. ESTABLISHMENT OF A INTERNATIONAL DECADE 

2 FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT INTER3 NET SITE. 

4 In order to facilitate access by nongovernmental orga5 nizations and by the public around the world to inter6 national documents relating to promotion of the Inter7 national Decade for People of African Descent, the Sec8 retary of State, with the assistance of the Ambassador at 

9 Large, shall establish and maintain an Internet site con10 taining major international documents relating to the 

11 International Decade for People of African Descent, the 

12 Annual Report, the Executive Summary, and any other 

13 documentation or references to other sites as deemed ap14 propriate or relevant by the Ambassador at Large. 

15 SEC. 104. PROGRAMS AND ALLOCATIONS OF FUNDS BY 

16 UNITED STATES MISSIONS ABROAD. 

17 It is the sense of the Congress that— 

18 (1) United States diplomatic missions in coun19 tries may promote the International Decade for Peo20 ple of African Descent; and 

21 (2) in allocating or recommending the allocation 

22 of funds or the recommendation of candidates for 

23 programs and grants funded by the United States 

24 Government, United States diplomatic missions 

25 should give particular consideration to those pro26 grams, initiatives, and candidates deemed to assist 


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1 in the promotion of the International Decade for 

2 People of African Descent. 

3 SEC. 105. EQUAL ACCESS TO UNITED STATES MISSIONS 

4 ABROAD FOR CONDUCTING ACTIVITIES RE5 LATING TO THE INTERNATIONAL DECADE 

6 FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT. 

7 The Secretary of State shall permit, on terms no less 

8 favorable than that accorded other nongovernmental ac9 tivities unrelated to the conduct of the diplomatic mission, 

10 access to the premises of any United States diplomatic 

11 mission or consular post by any United States citizen 

12 seeking to conduct an activity for the International Dec13 ade for People of African Descent. 

14 TITLE II—COMMISSION ON THE 

15 INTERNATIONAL DECADE 

16 FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DE17 SCENT 

18 SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the United 

20 States Commission on the International Decade for People 

21 of African Descent. 

22 (b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

23 (1) APPOINTMENT.—The Commission shall be 

24 composed of— 


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1 (A) the Ambassador at Large, who shall 

2 serve ex officio as a nonvoting member of the 

3 Commission; and 

4 (B) eighteen other members, who shall be 

5 United States citizens who are not being paid 

6 as officers or employees of the United States, 

7 and who shall be appointed as follows: 

8 (i) Six members of the Commission 

9 shall be appointed by the President. 

10 (ii) Six members of the Commission 

11 shall be appointed by the President pro 

12 tempore of the Senate, of which two of the 

13 members shall be appointed upon the rec14 ommendation of the leader in the Senate of 

15 the political party that is not the political 

16 party of the President, and of which one of 

17 the members shall be appointed upon the 

18 recommendation of the leader in the Sen19 ate of the other political party. 

20 (iii) Six members of the Commission 

21 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 

22 House of Representatives, of which two of 

23 the members shall be appointed upon the 

24 recommendation of the leader in the House 

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1 ical party of the President, and of which 

2 one of the members shall be appointed 

3 upon the recommendation of the leader in 

4 the House of the other political party. 

5 (2) SELECTION.— 

6 (A) IN GENERAL.—Members of the Com7 mission shall be selected among distinguished 

8 individuals noted for their knowledge and expe9 rience in fields relevant to the issue of the 

10 International Decade for People of African De11 scent, including foreign affairs, direct experi12 ence abroad, human rights, international law, 

13 education, labor, law enforcement, health, inter14 governmental engagement, and community or15 ganizations. 

16 (B) SECURITY CLEARANCES.—Each mem17 ber of the Commission shall be required to ob18 tain a security clearance. 

19 (3) TIME OF APPOINTMENT.—The appoint20 ments required by paragraph (1) shall be made not 

21 later than 120 days after the date of the enactment 

22 of this Act. 

23 (c) TERMS.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—The term of office of each 

25 member of the Commission shall be 2 years. 


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1 (2) INELIGIBILITY FOR REAPPOINTMENT.—If a 

2 member of the Commission attends, by being phys3 ically present or by conference call, less than 75 per4 cent of the meetings of the Commission during one 

5 of that member’s terms on the Commission, the 

6 member shall not be eligible for reappointment to 

7 the Commission. 

8 (d) ELECTION OF CHAIR.—At the first meeting of 

9 the Commission after May 30 of each year, a majority of 

10 the members of the Commission present and voting shall 

11 elect the Chair of the Commission. No member of the 

12 Commission is eligible to be elected as Chair of the Com13 mission for a second, consecutive term. 

14 (e) QUORUM.—Fifteen voting members of the Com15 mission shall constitute a quorum for purposes of 

16 transacting business. 

17 (f) MEETINGS.—Each year, within 15 days, or as 

18 soon as practicable, after the issuance of the International 

19 Decade for People of African Descent Report, the Com20 mission shall convene. The Commission shall otherwise 

21 meet at the call of the Chair or, if no Chair has been elect22 ed for that calendar year, at the call of fifteen voting mem23 bers of the Commission. 

24 (g) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy of the Commission 

25 shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the manner 


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1 in which the original appointment was made. A member 

2 may serve after the expiration of that member’s term until 

3 a successor has taken office. Any member appointed to 

4 fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term 

5 for which the member’s predecessor was appointed shall 

6 be appointed only for the remainder of that term. 

7 (h) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Administrator 

8 of General Services shall provide to the Commission on 

9 a reimbursable basis (or, in the discretion of the Adminis10 trator, on a nonreimbursable basis) such administrative 

11 support services as the Commission may request to carry 

12 out the provisions of this title. 

13 (i) FUNDING.—Members of the Commission shall be 

14 allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of sub15 sistence at rates authorized for employees of agencies 

16 under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 

17 Code, while away from their homes or regular places of 

18 business in the performance of services for the Commis19 sion. Members of the Commission are subject to the re20 quirements set forth in chapters 300 through 304 of title 

21 41, Code of Federal Regulations (commonly known as the 

22 ‘‘Federal Travel Regulation’’) and the Department of 

23 State Standardized Regulations governing authorized 

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1 tures, reimbursement payments, and expense reporting 

2 and documentation requirements. 

3 SEC. 202. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall have as its 

5 primary responsibility— 

6 (1) the annual and ongoing review of the facts 

7 and circumstances of promotion of the International 

8 Decade for People of African Descent, and the Exec9 utive Summary, as well as information from other 

10 sources as appropriate; and 

11 (2) the making of policy recommendations to 

12 the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress 

13 with respect to matters involving the International 

14 Decade for People of African Descent. 

15 (b) MONITORING.—The Commission shall, on an on16 going basis, monitor facts and circumstances of promotion 

17 of initiatives relating to the International Decade for Peo18 ple of African Descent, in consultation with independent 

19 human rights groups and nongovernmental organizations, 

20 including educational organizations, and make such rec21 ommendations as may be necessary to the appropriate of22 ficials and offices in the United States Government. 

23 SEC. 203. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 

24 (a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commission 

25 may, for the purpose of carrying out its duties under this 


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1 title, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places in the 

2 United States, take testimony and receive evidence as the 

3 Commission considers advisable to carry out the purposes 

4 of this Act. 

5 (b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The 

6 Commission may secure directly from any Federal depart7 ment or agency such information as the Commission con8 siders necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. 

9 Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the 

10 head of such department or agency shall furnish such in11 formation to the Commission, subject to applicable law. 

12 (c) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use 

13 the United States mails in the same manner and under 

14 the same conditions as other departments and agencies of 

15 the Federal Government. 

16 (d) ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.—The Commis17 sion may adopt such rules and regulations, relating to ad18 ministrative procedure, as may be reasonably necessary to 

19 enable it to carry out the provisions of this title. 

20 (e) VIEWS OF THE COMMISSION.—The Members of 

21 the Commission may speak in their capacity as private 

22 citizens. Statements on behalf of the Commission shall be 

23 issued in writing over the names of the Members. The 

24 Commission shall in its written statements clearly describe 

25 its statutory authority, distinguishing that authority from 


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1 that of appointed or elected officials of the United States 

2 Government. Oral statements, where practicable, shall in3 clude a similar description. 

4 (f) TRAVEL.—The Members of the Commission may, 

5 with the approval of the Commission, conduct such travel 

6 as is necessary to carry out the purpose of this title. Each 

7 trip must be approved by a majority of the Commission. 

8 This provision shall not apply to the Ambassador at 

9 Large, whose travel shall not require approval by the Com10 mission. 

11 SEC. 204. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may, without re13 gard to the civil service laws and regulations, appoint and 

14 terminate an Executive Director and such other additional 

15 personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission 

16 to perform its duties. The decision to employ or terminate 

17 an Executive Director shall be made by an affirmative vote 

18 of at least six of the nine members of the Commission. 

19 (b) COMPENSATION.—The Commission may fix the 

20 compensation of the Executive Director and other per21 sonnel without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and 

22 subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States 

23 Code, relating to classification of positions and General 

24 Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the 

25 Executive Director and other personnel may not exceed 


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1 the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule 

2 under section 5316 of such title. 

3 (c) PROFESSIONAL STAFF.—The Commission and 

4 the Executive Director shall hire Commission staff on the 

5 basis of professional and nonpartisan qualifications. Com6 missioners may not individually hire staff of the Commis7 sion. Staff shall serve the Commission as a whole and may 

8 not be assigned to the particular service of a single Com9 missioner or a specified group of Commissioners. This 

10 subsection does not prohibit staff personnel from assisting 

11 individual members of the Commission with particular 

12 needs related to their duties. 

13 (d) STAFF AND SERVICES OF OTHER FEDERAL

14 AGENCIES.— 

15 (1) DEPARTMENT OF STATE.—The Secretary of 

16 State shall assist the Commission by providing on a 

17 reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis to the Com18 mission such staff and administrative services as 

19 may be necessary and appropriate to perform its 

20 functions. 

21 (2) OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon the re22 quest of the Commission, the head of any Federal 

23 department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable 

24 or nonreimbursable basis, any of the personnel of 

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1 sist it in carrying out its functions under this title. 

2 The detail of any such personnel shall be without 

3 interruption or loss of civil service or Foreign Serv4 ice status or privilege. 

5 (e) SECURITY CLEARANCES.—The Executive Direc6 tor shall be required to obtain a security clearance. The 

7 Executive Director may request, on a needs-only basis and 

8 in order to perform the duties of the Commission, that 

9 other personnel of the Commission be required to obtain 

10 a security clearance. The level of clearance shall be the 

11 lowest necessary to appropriately perform the duties of the 

12 Commission. 

13 (f) COST.—The Commission shall reimburse all ap14 propriate Government agencies for the cost of obtaining 

15 clearances for members of the commission, for the execu16 tive director, and for any other personnel. 

17 (g) APPLICATION OF ANTIDISCRIMINATION LAWS.— 

18 For purposes of providing remedies and procedures to ad19 dress alleged violations of rights and protections that per20 tain to employment discrimination, family and medical 

21 leave, fair labor standards, employee polygraph protection, 

22 worker adjustment and retraining, veterans’ employment 

23 and reemployment, intimidation or reprisal, protections 

24 under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, occu25 pational safety and health, labor-management relations, 


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1 and rights and protections that apply to employees whose 

2 pay is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate or the 

3 Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representa4 tives, all employees of the Commission shall be treated as 

5 employees whose pay is disbursed by the Secretary of the 

6 Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House 

7 of Representatives and the Commission shall be treated 

8 as an employing office of the Senate or the House of Rep9 resentatives. 

10 SEC. 205. REPORT OF THE COMMISSION. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than May 1 of each 

12 year, the Commission shall submit a report to the Presi13 dent, the Secretary of State, and Congress setting forth 

14 its recommendations for United States policy options 

15 based on its evaluations under section 202. 

16 (b) CLASSIFIED FORM OF REPORT.—The report may 

17 be submitted in classified form, together with a public 

18 summary of recommendations, if the classification of in19 formation would further the purposes of this Act. 

20 (c) INDIVIDUAL OR DISSENTING VIEWS.—Each 

21 member of the Commission may include the individual or 

22 dissenting views of the member. 

23 SEC. 206. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAWS. 

24 The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) 

25 shall not apply to the Commission. 


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1 SEC. 207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro3 priated to the Commission $3,500,000 for each of the fis4 cal years 2017 to 2020 to carry out the provisions of this 

5 title. 

6 (b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Amounts authorized 

7 to be appropriated under subsection (a) shall remain avail8 able until the earlier of— 

9 (1) the date on which they have been expended; 

10 or 

11 (2) the date on which the Commission is termi12 nated under section 209. 

13 (c) LIMITATION.—In each fiscal year, the Commis14 sion shall only be authorized to expend amounts that have 

15 been appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) if the Com16 mission submits the annual financial report required 

17 under section 208(e) to the appropriate congressional 

18 committees. 

19 SEC. 208. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT AND DISCLOSURE. 

20 (a) COOPERATION WITH NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGA21 NIZATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, AND CON22 GRESS.—The Commission shall seek to effectively and 

23 freely cooperate with all entities engaged in the promotion 

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1 governmental, in the performance of the Commission’s du2 ties under this title. 

3 (b) CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND ANTINEPOTISM.— 

4 (1) MEMBER AFFILIATIONS.—Except as pro5 vided in paragraph (3), in order to ensure the inde6 pendence and integrity of the Commission, the Com7 mission may not compensate any nongovernmental 

8 agency, project, or person related to or affiliated 

9 with any member of the Commission, whether in 

10 that member’s direct employ or not. Staff employed 

11 by the Commission may not serve in the employ of 

12 any nongovernmental agency, project, or person re13 lated to or affiliated with any member of the Com14 mission while employed by the Commission. 

15 (2) STAFF COMPENSATION.—Staff of the Com16 mission may not receive compensation from any 

17 other source for work performed in carrying out the 

18 duties of the Commission while employed by the 

19 Commission. 

20 (3) EXCEPTION.— 

21 (A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subpara22 graph (B), paragraph (1) shall not apply to 

23 payments made for items such as conference 

24 fees or the purchase of periodicals or other 

25 similar expenses, if such payments would not 


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1 cause the aggregate value paid to any agency, 

2 project, or person for a fiscal year to exceed 

3 $250. 

4 (B) LIMITATION.—Notwithstanding sub5 paragraph (A), the Commission shall not give 

6 special preference to any agency, project, or 

7 person related to or affiliated with any member 

8 of the Commission. 

9 (4) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection, the term 

10 ‘‘affiliated’’ means the relationship between a mem11 ber of the Commission and— 

12 (A) an individual who holds the position of 

13 officer, trustee, partner, director, or employee 

14 of an agency, project, or person of which that 

15 member, or relative of that member of, the 

16 Commission is an officer, trustee, partner, di17 rector, or employee; or 

18 (B) a nongovernmental agency or project 

19 of which that member, or a relative of that 

20 member, of the Commission is an officer, trust21 ee, partner, director, or employee. 

22 (c) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—Subject to the avail23 ability of appropriations, the Commission may contract 

24 with and compensate Government agencies or persons for 

25 the conduct of activities necessary to the discharge of its 


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1 functions under this title. Any such person shall be hired 

2 without interruption or loss of civil service or Foreign 

3 Service status or privilege. The Commission may procure 

4 temporary and intermittent services under the authority 

5 of section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, except 

6 that the Commission may not expend more than $250,000 

7 in any fiscal year to procure such services. 

8 (d) GIFTS.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—In order to preserve its inde10 pendence, the Commission may not accept, use, or 

11 dispose of gifts or donations of services or property. 

12 An individual Commissioner or employee of the 

13 Commission may not, in his or her capacity as a 

14 Commissioner or employee, knowingly accept, use or 

15 dispose of gifts or donations of services or property, 

16 unless he or she in good faith believes such gifts or 

17 donations to have a value of less than $50 and a cu18 mulative value during a calendar year of less than 

19 $100. 

20 (2) EXCEPTIONS.—This subsection shall not 

21 apply to the following: 

22 (A) Gifts provided on the basis of a per23 sonal friendship with a Commissioner or em24 ployee, unless the Commissioner or employee 

25 has reason to believe that the gift was provided 


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1 because of the Commissioner’s position and not 

2 because of the personal friendship. 

3 (B) Gifts provided on the basis of a family 

4 relationship. 

5 (C) The acceptance of training, invitations 

6 to attend or participate in conferences or such 

7 other events as are related to the conduct of the 

8 duties of the Commission, or food or refresh9 ment associated with such activities. 

10 (D) Items of nominal value or gifts of esti11 mated value of $10 or less. 

12 (E) De minimis gifts provided by a foreign 

13 leader or state, not exceeding a value of $260. 

14 Gifts believed by Commissioners to be in excess 

15 of $260, but which would create offense or em16 barrassment to the United States Government 

17 if refused, shall be accepted and turned over to 

18 the United States Government in accordance 

19 with the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act of 

20 1966 and the rules and regulations governing 

21 such gifts provided to Members of Congress. 

22 (F) Informational materials such as docu23 ments, books, videotapes, periodicals, or other 

24 forms of communications. 


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1 (G) Goods or services provided by any 

2 agency or component of the Government of the 

3 United States, including any commission estab4 lished under the authority of such Government. 

5 (e) ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT.—In addition to 

6 providing the reports required under section 202, the 

7 Commission shall provide, each year no later than January 

8 1, to the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Appropria9 tions of the House of Representatives, and to the Commit10 tees on Foreign Relations and Appropriations of the Sen11 ate, a financial report detailing and identifying its expend12 itures for the preceding fiscal year. 

13 SEC. 209. TERMINATION. 

14 The Commission shall terminate on September 30, 

15 2026. 

16 TITLE III—SPECIAL ADVISER ON 

17 THE INTERNATIONAL DEC18 ADE FOR PEOPLE OF AFRI19 CAN DESCENT 

20 SEC. 301. SPECIAL ADVISER ON THE INTERNATIONAL DEC21 ADE FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT. 

22 It is the sense of the Congress that— 

23 (1) there should be within the Executive Office 

24 of the President a Special Adviser to the President 

25 on the International Decade for People of African 


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1 Descent, whose position should be comparable to 

2 that of a director within the Executive Office of the 

3 President; 

4 (2) the Special Adviser should serve as a re5 source for executive branch officials, particularly of6 ficials in the Department of Education, the Depart7 ment of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, 

8 and other relevant Federal departments and agen9 cies, in compiling and maintaining information on 

10 the facts and circumstances of promoting the Inter11 national Decade for People of African Descent, and 

12 making policy recommendations; and 

13 (3) the Special Adviser should serve as liaison 

14 with the Ambassador at Large for the International 

15 Decade for People of African Descent, the United 

16 States Commission on the International Decade for 

17 People of African Descent, Congress and, as advis18 able, nongovernmental organizations. 

Æ 


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