H. R. 4907

One Hundred Sixth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,

the twenty-fourth day of January, two thousand

An Act

To establish the Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission, and for other

purposes.

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 ‘‘Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission Act of 2000’’.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—

(1) the founding of the colony at Jamestown, Virginia in

1607, the first permanent English colony in the New World,

and the capital of Virginia for 92 years, has major significance

in the history of the United States;

(2) the settlement brought people from throughout the

Atlantic Basin together to form a multicultural society,

including English, other Europeans, Native Americans, and

Africans;

(3) the economic, political, religious, and social institutions

that developed during the first 9 decades of the existence of

Jamestown continue to have profound effects on the United

States, particularly in English common law and language, cross

cultural relationships, and economic structure and status;

(4) the National Park Service, the Association for the

Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation of the Commonwealth of Virginia collectively

own and operate significant resources related to the early history of Jamestown; and

(5) in 1996—

(A) the Commonwealth of Virginia designated the

Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation as the State agency

responsible for planning and implementing the Commonwealth’s portion of the commemoration of the 400th

anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown settlement;

(B) the Foundation created the Celebration 2007

Steering Committee, known as the Jamestown 2007

Steering Committee; and

(C) planning for the commemoration began.

(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to establish the Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission to—

(1) ensure a suitable national observance of the Jamestown

2007 anniversary by complementing the programs and activities

of the State of Virginia;
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(2) cooperate with and assist the programs and activities

of the State in observance of the Jamestown 2007 anniversary;

(3) assist in ensuring that Jamestown 2007 observances

provide an excellent visitor experience and beneficial interaction

between visitors and the natural and cultural resources of

the Jamestown sites;

(4) assist in ensuring that the Jamestown 2007 observances

are inclusive and appropriately recognize the experiences of

all people present in 17th century Jamestown;

(5) provide assistance to the development of Jamestownrelated programs and activities;

(6) facilitate international involvement in the Jamestown

2007 observances;

(7) support and facilitate marketing efforts for a commemorative coin, stamp, and related activities for the Jamestown

2007 observances; and

(8) assist in the appropriate development of heritage

tourism and economic benefits to the United States.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) COMMEMORATION.—The term ‘‘commemoration’’ means

the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the founding

of the Jamestown settlement.

(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ means the

Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission established by

section 4(a).

(3) GOVERNOR.—The term ‘‘Governor’’ means the Governor

of the State.

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

of the Interior.

(5) STATE.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State

of Virginia.

(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘State’’ includes agencies

and entities of the State.

SEC. 4. JAMESTOWN 400TH COMMEMORATION COMMISSION.

(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a commission to be

known as the ‘‘Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission’’.

(b) MEMBERSHIP.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be composed of

16 members, of whom—

(A) four members shall be appointed by the Secretary,

taking into consideration the recommendations of the

Chairperson of the Jamestown 2007 Steering Committee;

(B) four members shall be appointed by the Secretary,

taking into consideration the recommendations of the Governor;

(C) two members shall be employees of the National

Park Service, of which—

(i) one shall be the Director of the National Park

Service (or a designee); and

(ii) one shall be an employee of the National Park

Service having experience relevant to the commemoration, to be appointed by the Secretary; and
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(D) five members shall be individuals that have an

interest in, support for, and expertise appropriate to, the

commemoration, to be appointed by the Secretary.

(2) TERM; VACANCIES.—

(A) TERM.—A member of the Commission shall be

appointed for the life of the Commission.

(B) VACANCIES.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—A vacancy on the Commission

shall be filled in the same manner in which the original

appointment was made.

(ii) PARTIAL TERM.—A member appointed to fill

a vacancy on the Commission shall serve for the

remainder of the term for which the predecessor of

the member was appointed.

(3) MEETINGS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall meet—

(i) at least twice each year; or

(ii) at the call of the Chairperson or the majority

of the members of the Commission.

(B) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days after

the date on which all members of the Commission have

been appointed, the Commission shall hold the initial

meeting of the Commission.

(4) VOTING.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall act only on

an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the

Commission.

(B) QUORUM.—A majority of the Commission shall constitute a quorum.

(5) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary shall appoint a Chairperson of the Commission, taking into consideration any recommendations of the Governor.

(c) DUTIES.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall—

(A) plan, develop, and execute programs and activities

appropriate to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the

founding of Jamestown;

(B) generally facilitate Jamestown-related activities

throughout the United States;

(C) encourage civic, patriotic, historical, educational,

religious, economic, and other organizations throughout the

United States to organize and participate in anniversary

activities to expand the understanding and appreciation

of the significance of the founding and early history of

Jamestown;

(D) coordinate and facilitate for the public scholarly

research on, publication about, and interpretation of,

Jamestown; and

(E) ensure that the 400th anniversary of Jamestown

provides a lasting legacy and long-term public benefit by

assisting in the development of appropriate programs and

facilities.

(2) PLANS; REPORTS.—

(A) STRATEGIC PLAN; ANNUAL PERFORMANCE PLANS.—

In accordance with the Government Performance and

Results Act of 1993 (Public Law 103–62; 107 Stat. 285),

the Commission shall prepare a strategic plan and annual
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performance plans for the activities of the Commission

carried out under this Act.

(B) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than September 30, 2008,

the Commission shall complete a final report that

contains—

(i) a summary of the activities of the Commission;

(ii) a final accounting of funds received and

expended by the Commission; and

(iii) the findings and recommendations of the

Commission.

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

(1) accept donations and make dispersions of money, personal services, and real and personal property related to Jamestown and of the significance of Jamestown in the history of

the United States;

(2) appoint such advisory committees as the Commission

determines to be necessary to carry out this Act;

(3) authorize any member or employee of the Commission

to take any action that the Commission is authorized to take

by this Act;

(4) procure supplies, services, and property, and make or

enter into contracts, leases or other legal agreements, to carry

out this Act (except that any contracts, leases or other legal

agreements made or entered into by the Commission shall

not extend beyond the date of termination of the Commission);

(5) use the United States mails in the same manner and

under the same conditions as other Federal agencies;

(6) subject to approval by the Commission, make grants in amounts not to exceed $10,000 to communities and nonprofit

organizations to develop programs to assist in the commemoration;

(7) make grants to research and scholarly organizations

to research, publish, or distribute information relating to the

early history of Jamestown; and

(8) provide technical assistance to States, localities, and

nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration.

(e) COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.— (1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph

(B), a member of the Commission shall serve without compensation.

(B) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A member of the Commission who is an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall serve without compensation in addition to the

compensation received for the services of the member as

an officer or employee of the Federal Government.

(C) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the Commission

shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in

lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee

of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title

5, United States Code, while away from the home or regular

place of business of the member in the performance of

the duties of the Commission.

(2) STAFF.—

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

may, without regard to the civil service laws (including

regulations), appoint and terminate an executive director
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and such other additional personnel as are necessary to

enable the Commission to perform the duties of the

Commission.

(B) CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The

employment of an executive director shall be subject to

confirmation by the Commission.

(3) COMPENSATION.—

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

(B), the Chairperson of the Commission 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.

(B) MAXIMUM RATE OF PAY.—The rate of pay for the

executive director and other personnel shall not exceed

the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule

under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.

(4) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—

(A) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—

(i) IN GENERAL.—On the request of the Commission, the head of any Federal agency may detail, on

a reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis, any of the

personnel of the agency to the Commission to assist

the Commission in carrying out the duties of the

Commission under this Act.

(ii) CIVIL SERVICE STATUS.—The detail of an

employee under clause (i) shall be without interruption

or loss of civil service status or privilege.

(B) STATE EMPLOYEES.—The Commission may—

(i) accept the services of personnel detailed from

States (including subdivisions of States); and

(ii) reimburse States for services of detailed personnel.

(5) 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.

(6) SUPPORT SERVICES.—The Director of the National Park

Service shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable

basis, such administrative support services as the Commission

may request.

(f ) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMITTENT SERVICES.—The Chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary

and intermittent services in accordance with section 3109(b) of

title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals that 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 that title.

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

Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the

Commission.

(h) NO EFFECT ON AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this section supersedes the authority of the State, the National Park Service, or

the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, concerning the commemoration.
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(i) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate on

December 31, 2008.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are

necessary to carry out this Act.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.