II 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 847 

To establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial 

of the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing for women’s suffrage, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 5 (legislative day, APRIL 4), 2017 

Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Ms. COLLINS, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, 

Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Ms. HARRIS, Ms. HASSAN, Ms. HEITKAMP, Ms. 

HIRONO, Mrs. MCCASKILL, Mrs. MURRAY, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Ms. WARREN, 

Ms. CANTWELL, Ms. STABENOW, and Ms. KLOBUCHAR) introduced the 

following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the 

Judiciary 

A BILL 

To establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance 

of the centennial of the passage and ratification of the 

19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United 

States providing for women’s suffrage, 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 ‘‘Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission Act’’. 


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

2 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Findings. 

Sec. 3. Establishment of Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission. 

Sec. 4. Duties of Centennial Commission. 

Sec. 5. Powers of Centennial Commission. 

Sec. 6. Centennial Commission personnel matters. 

Sec. 7. Termination of Centennial Commission. 

Sec. 8. Authorization of appropriations. 

3 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

4 Congress finds the following: 

5 (1) From 1919 to 1920, the Sixty-Sixth United 

6 States Congress debated, and State legislatures con7 sidered, an amendment to the Constitution of the 

8 United States to provide suffrage for women. 

9 (2) A proposed women’s suffrage amendment 

10 was first introduced in the United States Senate in 

11 1878 and was brought to a vote, unsuccessfully, in 

12 1887, 1914, 1918, and 1919. Finally, on May 21, 

13 1919, the House of Representatives approved a pro14 posed amendment, followed by the Senate a few 

15 weeks later on June 4. Within days, the legislatures 

16 of Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan had voted to 

17 ratify the amendment. 

18 (3) On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 

19 36th State to ratify the amendment, providing the 

20 support of three-fourths of States necessary under 

21 article V of the Constitution of the United States. 


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1 (4) The introduction, passage, and ultimate 

2 ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitu3 tion of the United States were the culmination of 

4 decades of work and struggle by advocates for the 

5 rights of women across the United States and world6 wide. 

7 (5) Ratification of the 19th Amendment en8 sured women could more fully participate in their 

9 democracy and fundamentally changed the role of 

10 women in the civic life of our Nation. 

11 (6) The centennial offers an opportunity for 

12 people in the United States to learn about and com13 memorate the efforts of the women’s suffrage move14 ment and the role of women in our democracy. 

15 (7) Commemorative programs, activities, and 

16 sites allow people in the United States to learn 

17 about the women’s suffrage movement and to com18 memorate and honor the role of the ratification of 

19 the 19th Amendment in further fulfilling the prom20 ise of the Constitution of the United States and pro21 moting the core values of our democracy. 

22 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE CENTEN23 NIAL COMMISSION. 

24 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com25 mission to be known as the ‘‘Women’s Suffrage Centennial 


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1 Commission’’ (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Centennial 

2 Commission’’). 

3 (b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

4 (1) The Centennial Commission shall be com5 posed of 14 members, of whom— 

6 (A) 2 shall be appointed by the President; 

7 (B) 2 shall be appointed by the Speaker of 

8 the House of Representatives; 

9 (C) 2 shall be appointed by the minority 

10 leader of the House of Representatives; 

11 (D) 2 shall be appointed by the majority 

12 leader of the Senate; 

13 (E) 2 shall be appointed by the minority 

14 leader of the Senate; 

15 (F) 1 shall be the Librarian of Congress, 

16 or the designee of the Librarian; 

17 (G) 1 shall be the Archivist of the United 

18 States, or the designee of the Archivist; 

19 (H) 1 shall be the Secretary of the Smith20 sonian Institution, or the designee of the Sec21 retary; and 

22 (I) 1 shall be the Director of the National 

23 Park Service, or the designee of the Director. 

24 (2) PERSONS ELIGIBLE.— 


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1 (A) IN GENERAL.—The members of the 

2 Commission shall be individuals who have 

3 knowledge or expertise, whether by experience 

4 or training, in matters to be studied by the 

5 Commission. The members may be from the 

6 public or private sector, and may include Fed7 eral, State, or local employees, former Members 

8 of Congress, members of academia, nonprofit 

9 organizations, or industry, or other interested 

10 individuals. 

11 (B) DIVERSITY.—It is the intent of Con12 gress that persons appointed to the Commission 

13 under paragraph (1) be persons who represent 

14 diverse economic, professional, and cultural 

15 backgrounds. 

16 (3) CONSULTATION AND APPOINTMENT.— 

17 (A) IN GENERAL.—The President, Speaker 

18 of the House of Representatives, minority lead19 er of the House of Representatives, majority 

20 leader of the Senate, and minority leader of the 

21 Senate shall consult among themselves before 

22 appointing the members of the Commission in 

23 order to achieve, to the maximum extent prac24 ticable, fair and equitable representation of varVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:28 Apr 11, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S847.IS S847

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1 ious points of view with respect to the matters 

2 to be studied by the Commission. 

3 (B) COMPLETION OF APPOINTMENTS; VA4 CANCIES.—The President, Speaker of the 

5 House of Representatives, minority leader of 

6 the House of Representatives, majority leader 

7 of the Senate, and minority leader of the Sen8 ate shall conduct the consultation under sub9 paragraph (A) and make their respective ap10 pointments not later than 60 days after the 

11 date of enactment of this Act. 

12 (4) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the membership 

13 of the Commission shall not affect the powers of the 

14 Commission and shall be filled in the same manner 

15 as the original appointment not later than 30 days 

16 after the vacancy occurs. 

17 (c) MEETINGS.— 

18 (1) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days 

19 after the date on which all members of the Centen20 nial Commission have been appointed, the Centen21 nial Commission shall hold its first meeting. 

22 (2) SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS.— 

23 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Centennial Com24 mission shall meet at the call of the Chair. 


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1 (B) FREQUENCY.—The Chair shall call a 

2 meeting of the members of the Centennial Com3 mission not less frequently than once every 6 

4 months. 

5 (3) QUORUM.—Seven members of the Centen6 nial Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a 

7 lesser number may hold hearings. 

8 (4) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.—The Centennial 

9 Commission shall select a Chair and Vice Chair from 

10 among its members. 

11 SEC. 4. DUTIES OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—The duties of the Centennial 

13 Commission are as follows: 

14 (1) To encourage, plan, develop, and execute 

15 programs, projects, and activities to commemorate 

16 the centennial of the passage and ratification of the 

17 19th Amendment. 

18 (2) To encourage private organizations and 

19 State and local governments to organize and partici20 pate in activities commemorating the centennial of 

21 the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment. 

22 (3) To facilitate and coordinate activities 

23 throughout the United States relating to the centen24 nial of the passage and ratification of the 19th 

25 Amendment. 


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1 (4) To serve as a clearinghouse for the collec2 tion and dissemination of information about events 

3 and plans for the centennial of the passage and rati4 fication of the 19th Amendment. 

5 (5) To develop recommendations for Congress 

6 and the President for commemorating the centennial 

7 of the passage and ratification of the 19th Amend8 ment. 

9 (b) CONSULTATION.—In conducting its work, the 

10 Centennial Commission shall consult the Historian of the 

11 Senate and the Historian of the House of Representatives 

12 when appropriate. 

13 (c) REPORTS.— 

14 (1) PERIODIC REPORT.—Not later than the last 

15 day of the 6-month period beginning on the date of 

16 the enactment of this Act, and not later than the 

17 last day of each 3-month period thereafter, the Cen18 tennial Commission shall submit to Congress and 

19 the President a report on the activities and plans of 

20 the Centennial Commission. 

21 (2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 2 

22 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

23 Centennial Commission shall submit to Congress 

24 and the President a report containing specific rec25 ommendations for commemorating the centennial of 


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1 the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment 

2 and coordinating related activities. 

3 SEC. 5. POWERS OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. 

4 (a) HEARINGS.—The Centennial Commission may 

5 hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, 

6 take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Cen7 tennial Commission considers appropriate to carry out its 

8 duties under this Act. 

9 (b) POWERS OF MEMBER AND AGENTS.—If author10 ized by the Centennial Commission, any member or agent 

11 of the Centennial Commission may take any action which 

12 the Centennial Commission is authorized to take under 

13 this Act. 

14 (c) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The 

15 Centennial Commission shall secure directly from any 

16 Federal department or agency such information as the 

17 Centennial Commission considers necessary to carry out 

18 the provisions of this Act. Upon the request of the Chair 

19 of the Centennial Commission, the head of such depart20 ment or agency shall furnish such information to the Cen21 tennial Commission. 

22 (d) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon 

23 the request of the Centennial Commission, the Adminis24 trator of the General Services Administration shall provide 

25 to the Centennial Commission, on a reimbursable basis, 


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1 the administrative support services necessary for the Cen2 tennial Commission to carry out its responsibilities under 

3 this Act. 

4 (e) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para6 graph (2), the Centennial Commission is author7 ized— 

8 (A) to procure supplies, services, and prop9 erty; and 

10 (B) to make or enter into contracts, leases, 

11 or other legal agreements. 

12 (2) LIMITATION.—The Centennial Commission 

13 may not enter into any contract, lease, or other legal 

14 agreement that extends beyond the date of the ter15 mination of the Centennial Commission under sec16 tion 7(a). 

17 (f) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Centennial Commission 

18 may use the United States mails in the same manner and 

19 under the same conditions as other departments and agen20 cies of the Federal Government. 

21 (g) GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND DEVISES.—The Centen22 nial Commission is authorized to solicit, accept, use, and 

23 dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of money, services, 

24 or property, both real and personal, for the purpose of 


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1 covering the costs incurred by the Centennial Commission 

2 to carry out its duties under this Act. 

3 (h) GRANTS.—The Centennial Commission is author4 ized to award grants to States and the District of Colum5 bia to support programs and activities related to com6 memorating the centennial of the passage and ratification 

7 of the 19th Amendment. 

8 SEC. 6. CENTENNIAL COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 

9 (a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Members of the 

10 Centennial Commission shall serve without compensation 

11 for such service. 

12 (b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the Cen13 tennial Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, in14 cluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with 

15 the applicable provisions of title 5, United States Code. 

16 (c) STAFF.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Chair of the Centennial 

18 Commission shall, in consultation with the members 

19 of the Centennial Commission, appoint an executive 

20 director and such other additional personnel as may 

21 be necessary to enable the Centennial Commission to 

22 perform its duties. 

23 (2) COMPENSATION.— 

24 (A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subpara25 graph (B), the Chair of the Centennial CommisVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:28 Apr 11, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S847.IS S847

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1 sion may fix the compensation of the executive 

2 director and any other personnel appointed 

3 under paragraph (1). 

4 (B) LIMITATION.—The Chair of the Cen5 tennial Commission may not fix the compensa6 tion of the executive director or other personnel 

7 appointed under paragraph (1) at a rate that 

8 exceeds the rate payable for level IV of the Ex9 ecutive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, 

10 United States Code. 

11 (d) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Upon 

12 request of the Centennial Commission, the head of any 

13 Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimburs14 able basis, any employee of that department or agency to 

15 the Centennial Commission to assist it in carrying out its 

16 duties under this Act. 

17 (e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT18 TENT SERVICES.—The Chair of the Centennial Commis19 sion may procure temporary and intermittent services 

20 under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code. 

21 (f) ACCEPTANCE OF VOLUNTARY SERVICES.—Not22 withstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, 

23 the Centennial Commission may accept and use voluntary 

24 and uncompensated services as the Centennial Commis25 sion deems necessary. 


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1 SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Centennial Commission shall 

3 terminate on the earlier of— 

4 (1) the date that is 30 days after the date the 

5 completion of the activities under this Act honoring 

6 the centennial observation of the passage and ratifi7 cation of the 19th Amendment; or 

8 (2) April 15, 2021. 

9 (b) APPLICATION OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COM10 MITTEE ACT.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para12 graph (2), the provisions of the Federal Advisory 

13 Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the 

14 activities of the Centennial Commission under this 

15 Act. 

16 (2) EXCEPTION.—Section 14(a)(2) of such Act 

17 (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Centennial 

18 Commission. 

19 SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro21 priated to carry out this Act such sums as may be nec22 essary for the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2021. 

23 (b) AMOUNTS AVAILABLE.—Amounts appropriated 

24 in accordance with this section for any fiscal year shall 


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1 remain available until the termination of the Centennial 

2 Commission. 

Æ 


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