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[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1420 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1420

 To establish a commission to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the 
                          American Civil War.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 7, 2011

  Mr. Jackson of Illinois (for himself and Ms. Moore) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
                           Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To establish a commission to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the 
                          American Civil War.

    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 ``Civil War Sesquicentennial 
Commission Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The American Civil War was a defining experience in the 
        development of the United States.
            (2) The people of the United States continue to struggle 
        with issues of race, civil rights, heritage, and the politics 
        of federalism, which are legacies of the Civil War and 
        Reconstruction.
            (3) There is a resurgence of interest in the Civil War that 
        is evidenced by the multitude of publications, exhibits, 
        reenactments, research organizations, Internet and multimedia 
        resources, historic parks, and preservation associations 
        focused on the Civil War.
            (4) The years 2010 through 2015 mark the sesquicentennial 
        of the period beginning with the election of Abraham Lincoln 
        and concluding with the end of the Civil War. Notable 
        milestones during this period include the following:
                    (A) On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was 
                elected President of the United States.
                    (B) On December 20, 1860, in a special convention, 
                the South Carolina Legislature voted to secede from the 
                Union following the election of Lincoln. In the early 
                months of the following year, Mississippi, Florida, 
                Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas seceded and 
                formed the Confederate States of America.
                    (C) In April 1861, Confederate forces fired on Fort 
                Sumter, the first shots fired in the Civil War. In 
                response, President Lincoln ordered the blockade of all 
                Confederate ports and called for 75,000 volunteers to 
                enlist in the Union Army. Four more Southern States--
                Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina--
                seceded in the months following the attack on Fort 
                Sumter.
                    (D) The Civil War spawned numerous campaigns, 
                battles, and engagements, including Bull Run, the 
                Monitor versus the Merrimac, the Peninsula Campaign, 
                Shiloh, the Capture of New Orleans, the Shenandoah 
                Valley Campaign, Seven Pines, Seven Days, Antietam, 
                Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Siege 
                of Vicksburg, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Wilderness, the 
                Siege at Petersburg, the Capture of Atlanta, the March 
                to the Sea, Nashville, and Appomattox.
                    (E) In January 1863, President Lincoln issued the 
                Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves in States 
                considered to be in rebellion against the Federal 
                Government.
                    (F) On June 28, 1864, President Lincoln repealed 
                all fugitive slave laws.
                    (G) On January 31, 1865, the United States Congress 
                passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, 
                abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude.
                    (H) On April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. 
                Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse.
                    (I) On April 14, 1865, President Lincoln was shot 
                by Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth while 
                attending a play at Ford's Theater, and died the next 
                day.
                    (J) In April and May 1865, Confederate Generals 
                Joseph Johnson and E. Kirby Smith, leaders of the 
                remaining organized Confederate Forces, surrendered, 
                formally ending the Southern Resistance.
                    (K) By the end of the Civil War, an estimated 
                600,000 Union and Confederate soldiers had been killed 
                and over 471,000 wounded, making the Civil War the 
                bloodiest war in the history of our Nation.
            (5) The sesquicentennial of the Civil War presents a 
        significant opportunity for Americans to recall and reflect 
        upon all aspects of that conflict and its legacy in a spirit of 
        reconciliation and honest reflection, through exploration, 
        interpretation, and discussion.
            (6) The sesquicentennial of the Civil War presents a 
        significant opportunity to preserve and promote the remaining 
        battlefields and historic sites relating to the Civil War 
        before the battlefields and sites are lost to future 
        generations.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish a Civil War 
Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission to--
            (1) ensure a suitable national observance of the 
        sesquicentennial of the Civil War that includes recognition of 
        the historic, social, legal, cultural, and political forces 
        that caused the American Civil War and influenced its course 
        and outcomes;
            (2) explore the causes of the Civil War to gain a better 
        understanding of the reasons that the democratic framework of 
        the United States failed to resolve the sectional issues 
        without resorting to war;
            (3) fully examine and reflect upon the consequences of the 
        Civil War, subjects which Congress directed the National Park 
        Service to address in National Park Service programs and 
        materials beginning in 1999, including the Reconstruction era 
        and the aftermath, the subsequent constriction of equal rights 
        for African-American citizens, and the ultimate achievement of 
        civil rights for the descendants of enslaved peoples almost a 
        century later;
            (4) collaborate with and assist States and national 
        organizations with programs and activities for the observance 
        of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War;
            (5) assist in ensuring that any observance of the 
        sesquicentennial of the Civil War is inclusive and 
        appropriately recognizes the experiences and points of view of 
        all people affected by the Civil War; and
            (6) provide assistance for the development of programs, 
        projects, and activities on the Civil War that have lasting 
        educational value.

SEC. 3. CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION COMMISSION.

    The Secretary of the Interior shall establish a commission to be 
known as the Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission 
(hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 4. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--The Commission shall be composed of 25 members as 
follows:
            (1) Government members.--The Commission shall include--
                    (A) 2 Members of the Senate appointed by the 
                President pro tempore of the Senate, in consultation 
                with the majority leader and the minority leader of the 
                Senate;
                    (B) 2 Members of the House of Representatives 
                appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
                Representatives, in consultation with the minority 
                leader of the House;
                    (C) the Secretary of the Interior or the designee 
                of the Secretary;
                    (D) the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 
                or the designee of the Secretary;
                    (E) the Secretary of Education, or the designee of 
                the Secretary;
                    (F) the Secretary of Defense, or the designee of 
                the Secretary;
                    (G) the Chairman of the National Endowment for the 
                Humanities, or the designee of the Chairman;
                    (H) the Chairman of the National Endowment of the 
                Arts, or the designee of the Chairman;
                    (I) the Archivist of the United States, or the 
                designee of the Archivist;
                    (J) the Librarian of Congress, or the designee of 
                the Librarian; and
                    (K) the Director of the National Park Service, or 
                the designee of the Director.
            (2) Private members.--The Commission shall include--
                    (A) 5 members appointed by the President from among 
                individuals who are representative of the corporate and 
                nonprofit communities; and
                    (B) 7 individuals appointed by the President from 
                among persons who by reason of education, training, and 
                experience, are experts on the Antebellum, Civil War, 
                and Reconstruction eras and the preservation, 
                interpretation, and presentation of those eras to the 
                public, including--
                            (i) 5 individuals with expertise in history 
                        or related academic disciplines germane to the 
                        Civil War, including--
                                    (I) individuals representing the 
                                museum community, in particular history 
                                museums and historical societies, such 
                                as the National Civil War Museum;
                                    (II) individuals with expertise in 
                                art history, historic preservation, or 
                                a related field;
                                    (III) individuals with expertise in 
                                anthropology, cultural geography, 
                                sociology, or a related field; and
                                    (IV) individuals with expertise in 
                                political science, law, economics, or a 
                                related field;
                            (ii) 1 individual with expertise in the 
                        preservation of Civil War historic sites and 
                        battlefields; and
                            (iii) 1 individual representing State Civil 
                        War sesquicentennial efforts.
    (b) Terms.--
            (1) Government members.--If any member of the Commission 
        who was appointed as an officer designated under subsection 
        (a)(1) leaves such office, the member may continue as a member 
        of the Commission for not longer than the 30-day period 
        beginning on the date the member leaves such office.
            (2) Private members.--Private members under subsection 
        (a)(2) shall be appointed for the life of the Commission.
    (c) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its 
powers, and shall be filled in the same manner as the original 
appointment.
    (d) Initial Appointments.--The appointment of the members of the 
Commission shall be made not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

    (a) Meetings.--
            (1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 60 days after the date 
        on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the 
        members appointed under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 
        4(a)(2) shall call the first meeting of the Commission.
            (2) Subsequent meetings.--The Commission shall hold 
        subsequent meetings at the call of the Chairperson.
    (b) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--At the initial meeting, the 
Commission shall elect a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson from among 
its voting members.
    (c) Quorum.--A majority of voting members shall constitute a 
quorum, but a lesser number may hold meetings.
    (d) Voting.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall act only on an 
        affirmative vote of a majority of the voting members of the 
        Commission.
            (2) Nonvoting members.--The individuals appointed under 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 4(a)(1) shall be nonvoting 
        members, and shall serve only in an advisory capacity.

SEC. 6. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Activities Related to the Sesquicentennial.--The Commission 
shall--
            (1) plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities 
        appropriate to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil 
        War, including activities in recognition of the historic, 
        social, legal, cultural, and political forces that--
                    (A) caused the Civil War; and
                    (B) influenced the course and outcomes of the Civil 
                War;
            (2) encourage interdisciplinary examination of the Civil 
        War;
            (3) facilitate Civil War-related activities throughout the 
        United States;
            (4) encourage civic, historical, educational, economic, 
        preservation, and other organizations throughout the United 
        States to organize and participate in activities to expand the 
        understanding and appreciation of the significance of the Civil 
        War;
            (5) coordinate and facilitate the public distribution of 
        scholarly research, publications, and interpretations of the 
        Civil War;
            (6) coordinate with and provide technical assistance to 
        States, units of local government, and nonprofit organizations 
        (including State and local sesquicentennial commemoration 
        entities) to further the commemoration of the sesquicentennial 
        of the Civil War;
            (7) coordinate and facilitate commemoration activities of 
        Federal agencies relating to the sesquicentennial of the Civil 
        War;
            (8) develop programs and facilities to ensure that the 
        sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War results in a 
        positive legacy and long-term public benefit;
            (9) encourage and facilitate the preservation of Civil War 
        historic sites and battlefields as a lasting legacy of the 
        sesquicentennial commemoration;
            (10) plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities 
        to use funds raised from individuals, foundations, and 
        corporations for sesquicentennial activities at the national 
        level;
            (11) at its discretion, provide funds to State and local 
        programs to carry out activities that advance the goals of the 
        Commission; and
            (12) encourage the development and conduct of programs 
        designed to involve the international community in activities 
        that commemorate the Civil War.
    (b) Plans and Report.--
            (1) Strategic plan and annual performance plans.--The 
        Commission shall prepare a strategic plan in accordance with 
        section 306 of title 5, United States Code, and annual 
        performance plans in accordance with section 1115 of title 31, 
        United States Code, for the activities of the Commission 
        carried out under this Act.
            (2) Reports.--
                    (A) Annual report.--The Commission shall submit to 
                Congress an annual report that contains a list of each 
                gift, bequest, or devise with a value of more than 
                $250, together with the identity of the donor of each 
                such gift, bequest, or devise.
                    (B) Final report.--Not later than September 30, 
                2016, the Commission shall submit to Congress a final 
                report that contains--
                            (i) a summary of 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.

SEC. 7. GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--The Chairman of the National Endowment for 
the Humanities shall award grants under this section for the uses 
described in subsection (b).
    (b) Use of Grants.--Grants awarded under this section shall be used 
for appropriate activities relating to the sesquicentennial of the 
Civil War.
    (c) Consideration.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Chairman of the National Endowment of the Humanities shall consider and 
give priority to programs carried out by institutions of higher 
education, museums, nonprofit organizations, professional associations, 
and State sesquicentennial commissions with a national scope, that 
support the duties of the Commission described in section 6, including 
programs that concentrate on the role of African-Americans in the Civil 
War.

SEC. 8. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act--
            (1) solicit, accept, use and dispose of gifts, bequests, or 
        devises of money or property, both real and personal, for the 
        purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of the Commission;
            (2) authorize any voting member or employee of the 
        Commission to take any action that the Commission is authorized 
        to take under this Act;
            (3) 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 entered into by the Commission shall not 
        extend beyond the date of the termination of the Commission); 
        and
            (4) use the United States mails in the same manner and 
        under the same conditions as other Federal agencies.

SEC. 9. PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Compensation of Members.--Members of the Commission shall serve 
without compensation.
    (b) Travel Expenses.--Members of the Commission shall be allowed, 
as the Secretary of the Interior determines appropriate to carry out 
this Act, 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.
    (c) Staff.--
            (1) In general.--The Chairperson may appoint a Director and 
        such additional staff as are necessary to enable the Commission 
        to perform its duties.
            (2) Confirmation of director.--The appointment of the 
        Director shall be subject to the approval of the Commission.
            (3) Compensation.--
                    (A) Nonapplicability of civil service laws.--Except 
                as provided in subparagraph (B), the Director and staff 
                may be appointed without regard to the provisions of 
                title 5, United 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.
                    (B) Maximum rate of pay.--The rate of pay for the 
                Director and other staff shall not exceed the rate 
                payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under 
                section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
    (d) Detail of Government Employees.--At the request of the 
Commission, the head of any Federal agency may detail, on a 
reimbursable or nonreimbursable 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.
    (e) Support Services.--Upon the request of the Commission, the 
Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
Park Service, 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) 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.
    (g) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The 
Chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent 
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at daily 
rates for individuals which 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 such title.
    (h) Nonapplicability of Charter Requirement.--Section 14(b) of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the 
Commission.
    (i) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on the date that 
is 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits its final 
report under section 6(b)(2).

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this Act (other than section 7) $500,000 for each of fiscal years 
2012 through 2016.
    (b) Grants.--There is authorized to be appropriated $3,500,000 to 
the National Endowment for the Humanities to provide grants under 
section 7, to remain available until expended.
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