I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2528

To establish the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 400th Commemoration 

Commission, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 19, 2003

Mr. HINCHEY (for himself, Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. 

WALSH, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. NADLER, and Mr. OWENS) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform 

A BILL

To establish the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 400th 

Commemoration Commission, 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. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Hudson-Fulton-Cham5 plain 400th Commemoration Commission Act of 2003’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 

7 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) The first European exploration of the Hud9 son River and Lake Champlain and the introduction 
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1 of steam navigation to maritime commerce were 

2 events of major historical importance, both in the 

3 United States and internationally. 

4 (2) In 1609, Englishman Henry Hudson, acting 

5 in service of the Dutch East India Company, was 

6 the first European to sail up the river later named 

7 for him in the vessel HALF MOON, and French ex8 plorer Samuel de Champlain was the first European 

9 to see the lake later named for him.

10 (3) These voyages were 2 of the most signifi11 cant passages in the European exploration and dis12 covery of America, and began 2 of the earliest con13 tacts in the New World between Native Americans 

14 and Europeans. 

15 (4) These explorations led to the establishment 

16 of Fort Orange, Dutch and later English settlement 

17 of what is now the capital city of the State of New 

18 York, and settlement of French Quebec settlements 

19 as far south as Lake George. From these early set20 tlements came an influence on our history, culture, 

21 law, commerce, and traditions of liberty which ex22 tends to the present day, and which is constantly re23 flected in the position of the United States as the 

24 leader of the nations of the free world. 
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1 (5) In 1807, Robert Fulton navigated the Hud2 son River from the city of New York to Albany in 

3 the steamboat CLERMONT, successfully inau4 gurating steam navigation on a commercial basis. 

5 This event is one of the most important events in 

6 the history of navigation. It revolutionized water7 borne commerce on the great rivers of the United 

8 States, transformed naval warfare, and fostered 

9 international relations through transoceanic travel 

10 and trade. 

11 (6) The National Park Service owns and oper12 ates significant resources in New York related to the 

13 early history of the nation and the Hudson River 

14 Valley.

15 (7) In 2002 the State of New York enacted leg16 islation establishing a State Hudson-Fulton-Cham17 plain Commission. 

18 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to estab19 lish the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 400th Commemora20 tion Commission to—

21 (1) ensure a suitable national observance of the 

22 Henry Hudson, Robert Fulton, and Samuel de 

23 Champlain 2009 anniversaries through cooperation 

24 with and assistance to the programs and activities of 

25 New York, New Jersey, and Vermont; 
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1 (2) assist in ensuring that Hudson-Fulton2 Champlain 2009 observances provide an excellent 

3 visitor experience and beneficial interaction between 

4 visitors and the natural and cultural resources of the 

5 New York, New Jersey, and Vermont sites; 

6 (3) assist in ensuring that Hudson-Fulton7 Champlain 2009 observances are inclusive and ap8 propriately recognize the diverse Hudson River and 

9 Lake Champlain communities that developed over 4 

10 centuries; 

11 (4) facilitate international involvement in the 

12 Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 2009 observances; 

13 (5) support and facilitate marketing efforts for 

14 a commemorative coin, a commemorative stamp, and 

15 related activities for the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 

16 2009 observances; and 

17 (6) assist in the appropriate development of 

18 heritage tourism and economic benefits to the 

19 United States. 

20 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

21 In this Act: 

22 (1) COMMEMORATION.—The term ‘‘commemo23 ration’’ means the commemoration of—

24 (A) the 200th anniversary of Robert Ful25 ton’s voyage in the CLERMONT; 
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1 (B) the 400th anniversary of Henry Hud2 son’s voyage in the HALF MOON; and 

3 (C) the 400th anniversary of Samuel de 

4 Champlain’s voyage. 

5 (2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 

6 means the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 400th Com7 memoration Commission established by section 4(a). 

8 (3) GOVERNORS.—The term ‘‘Governors’’ 

9 means the Governors of the States of New York, 

10 New Jersey, and Vermont. 

11 (4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

12 the Secretary of the Interior. 

13 (5) STATES.—The term ‘‘States’’— 

14 (A) means the States of New York, New 

15 Jersey, and Vermont; and 

16 (B) includes agencies and entities of each 

17 such State. 

18 SEC. 4. HUDSON-FULTON-CHAMPLAIN 400TH COMMEMORA19 TION COMMISSION. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a commission 

21 to be known as the ‘‘Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 400th 

22 Commemoration Commission’’. 

23 (b) MEMBERSHIP.—

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be 

25 composed of 31 members, of whom—
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1 (A) 3 members shall be appointed by the 

2 Secretary, after consideration of the rec3 ommendations of the Governors; 

4 (B) 13 members shall be appointed by the 

5 Secretary, after consideration of the rec6 ommendations from the Members of the House 

7 of Representatives whose districts encompass 

8 the Hudson River Valley and Champlain Valley; 

9 (C) 6 members shall be appointed by the 

10 Secretary, after consideration of the rec11 ommendations from the Members of the Senate 

12 from New York, New Jersey, and Vermont; 

13 (D) 2 members shall be employees of the 

14 National Park Service, of whom—

15 (i) one shall be the Director of the 

16 National Park Service (or a designee); and 

17 (ii) one shall be an employee of the 

18 National Park Service having experience 

19 relevant to the commemoration, who shall 

20 be appointed by the Secretary; 

21 (E) one member shall be appointed by the 

22 Secretary, and shall be an individual knowledge23 able of the Hudson River Valley National Herit24 age Area; and 
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1 (F) 6 members shall be appointed by the 

2 Secretary, and shall be individuals that have an 

3 interest in, support for, and expertise appro4 priate to, the commemoration. 

5 (2) TERM; VACANCIES.—

6 (A) TERM.—Each member of the Commis7 sion shall be appointed for the life of the Com8 mission. 

9 (B) VACANCIES.—

10 (i) IN GENERAL.—A vacancy on the 

11 Commission shall be filled in the same 

12 manner in which the original appointment 

13 was made. 

14 (ii) PARTIAL TERM.—A member ap15 pointed to fill a vacancy on the Commis16 sion shall serve for the remainder of the 

17 term for which the predecessor of the 

18 member was appointed. 

19 (3) MEETINGS.—

20 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 

21 meet—

22 (i) at least twice each year; or 

23 (ii) at the call of the Chairperson or 

24 the majority of the members of the Com25 mission. 
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1 (B) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 

2 days after the date on which all members of the 

3 Commission have been appointed, the Commis4 sion shall hold the initial meeting of the Com5 mission. 

6 (4) VOTING.—

7 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 

8 act only on an affirmative vote of a majority of 

9 the members of the Commission. 

10 (B) QUORUM.—A majority of the Commis11 sion shall constitute a quorum. 

12 (5) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—

13 (A) The Commission shall elect the chairperson and 

14 the vice chairperson of the Commission on an annual 

15 basis. 

16 (B) The vice chairperson shall serve as the 

17 chairperson in the absence of the chairperson. 

18 (c) DUTIES.—

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall—

20 (A) plan, develop, and execute programs 

21 and activities appropriate to commemorate the 

22 400th anniversary of the voyage of Henry Hud23 son, the first European to sail up the Hudson 

24 River, the 200th anniversary of the voyage of 

25 Robert Fulton, the first person to use steam 
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1 navigation on a commercial basis, the 400th an2 niversary of the voyage of Samuel de Cham3 plain, the first European to discover and ex4 plore Lake Champlain; 

5 (B) facilitate Hudson-Fulton-Champlain6 related activities throughout the United States;

7 (C) coordinate its activities with State 

8 commemoration commissions and appropriate 

9 Federal Government agencies, including the De10 partments of Agriculture, Defense, State, and 

11 Transportation, the National Park Service with 

12 respect to the Hudson River Valley National 

13 Heritage Area, and the American Heritage Riv14 ers Initiative Interagency Committee estab15 lished by Executive Order 13061, dated Sep16 tember 11, 1997; 

17 (D) encourage civic, patriotic, historical, 

18 educational, religious, economic, and other or19 ganizations throughout the United States to or20 ganize and participate in anniversary activities 

21 to expand the understanding and appreciation 

22 of the significance of the voyages of Henry

23 Hudson, Robert Fulton, and Samuel de Cham24 plain; 
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1 (E) provide technical assistance to States, 

2 localities, and nonprofit organizations to further 

3 the commemoration; 

4 (F) coordinate and facilitate for the public 

5 scholarly research on, publication about, and in6 terpretation of, the voyages of Henry Hudson, 

7 Robert Fulton, and Samuel de Champlain; and 

8 (G) ensure that the Hudson-Fulton-Cham9 plain 2009 anniversaries provide a lasting leg10 acy and long-term public benefit by assisting in 

11 the development of appropriate programs and 

12 facilities. 

13 (2) PLANS; REPORTS.—

14 (A) STRATEGIC PLAN; ANNUAL PERFORM15 ANCE PLANS.—The Commission shall prepare a 

16 strategic plan in accordance with section 306 of 

17 title 5, United States Code, and annual per18 formance plans in accordance with section 1115 

19 of title 31, United States Code, for the activi20 ties of the Commission carried out under this 

21 Act.

22 (B) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than Sep23 tember 30, 2010, the Commission shall submit 

24 to the Secretary a final report that contains—
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1 (i) a summary of the activities of the 

2 Commission; 

3 (ii) a final accounting of funds re4 ceived and expended by the Commission; 

5 and 

6 (iii) the findings and recommenda7 tions of the Commission. 

8 (d) POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.—The Commission 

9 may—

10 (1) disperse funds, and accept donations of per11 sonal services and real and personal property related 

12 to Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 2009 and of the sig13 nificance of Hudson, Fulton, and Champlain in the 

14 history of the United States; 

15 (2) appoint such advisory committees as the 

16 Commission determines to be necessary to carry out 

17 this Act; 

18 (3) authorize any member or employee of the 

19 Commission to take any action that the Commission 

20 is authorized to take by this Act; 

21 (4) procure supplies, services, and property, and 

22 make or enter into contracts, leases, or other legal 

23 agreements, to carry out this Act (except that any 

24 contracts, leases, or other legal agreements made or 
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1 entered into by the Commission shall not extend be2 yond the date of termination of the Commission); 

3 (5) use the United States mails in the same 

4 manner and under the same conditions as other 

5 Federal agencies; 

6 (6) subject to approval by the Commission, 

7 make grants in amounts not to exceed $20,000 to 

8 communities and nonprofit organizations to develop 

9 programs to assist in the commemoration; and 

10 (7) make grants to research and scholarly orga11 nizations to research, publish, or distribute informa12 tion relating to the early history of the voyages of 

13 Hudson, Fulton, and Champlain. 

14 (e) COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.—

15 (1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE COM16 MISSION.—

17 (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 

18 subparagraph (B), a member of the Commis19 sion shall serve without compensation. 

20 (B) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A member of 

21 the Commission who is an officer or employee 

22 of the Federal Government shall serve without 

23 compensation in addition to the compensation

24 received for the services of the member as an 

25 officer or employee of the Federal Government. 
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1 (C) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the 

2 Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, in3 cluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates 

4 authorized for an employee of an agency under 

5 subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 

6 States Code, while away from the home or reg7 ular place of business of the member in the per8 formance of the duties of the Commission. 

9 (2) STAFF.—

10 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the 

11 Commission may, without regard to the civil 

12 service laws (including regulations), appoint 

13 and terminate an executive director and such 

14 other additional personnel as are necessary to 

15 enable the Commission to perform the duties of 

16 the Commission. 

17 (B) CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE DIREC18 TOR.—The employment of an executive director 

19 shall be subject to confirmation by the Commis20 sion. 

21 (3) COMPENSATION.—

22 (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 

23 subparagraph (B), the Chairperson of the Com24 mission may fix the compensation of the execu25 tive director and other personnel without regard 
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1 to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter 

2 III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, 

3 relating to classification of positions and Gen4 eral Schedule pay rates. 

5 (B) MAXIMUM RATE OF PAY.—The rate of 

6 pay for the executive director and other per7 sonnel shall not exceed the rate payable for 

8 level V of the Executive Schedule under section 

9 5316 of title 5, United States Code. 

10 (4) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—

11 (A) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—

12 (i) IN GENERAL.—At the request of 

13 the Commission, the head of any Federal 

14 agency may detail, on a reimbursable or 

15 nonreimbursable basis, any of the per16 sonnel of the agency to the Commission to 

17 assist the Commission in carrying out the 

18 duties of the Commission under this Act. 

19 (ii) CIVIL SERVICE STATUS.—The de20 tail of an employee under clause (i) shall 

21 be without interruption or loss of civil serv22 ice status or privilege. 

23 (B) STATE EMPLOYEES.—The Commission 

24 may—
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1 (i) accept the services of personnel de2 tailed from States (including subdivisions 

3 of States); and 

4 (ii) reimburse States for services of 

5 detailed personnel. 

6 (5) VOLUNTEER AND UNCOMPENSATED SERV7 ICES.—Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, 

8 United States Code, the Commission may accept and 

9 use voluntary and uncompensated services as the 

10 Commission determines necessary. 

11 (6) SUPPORT SERVICES.—The Director of the 

12 National Park Service shall provide to the Commis13 sion, on a reimbursable basis, such administrative 

14 support services as the Commission may request. 

15 (f) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT16 TENT SERVICES.—The Chairperson of the Commission 

17 may procure temporary and intermittent services in ac18 cordance with section 3109(b) of title 5, United States 

19 Code, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily 

20 equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for 

21 level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 

22 that title. 

23 (g) FACA NONAPPLICABILITY.—Section 14(b) of the 

24 Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 

25 apply to the Commission. 
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1 (h) NO EFFECT ON AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this 

2 section supersedes the authority of the States or the Na3 tional Park Service concerning the commemoration. 

4 (i) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 

5 on December 31, 2010.

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