II 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4875 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 6, 2016 

Received 

AN ACT 

To establish the United States Semiquincentennial 

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, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States 

3 Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016’’. 

4 SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 

5 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that July 4, 2026, 

6 the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United 

7 States, as marked by the Declaration of Independence in 

8 1776, and the historic events preceding that anniver9 sary— 

10 (1) are of major significance in the development 

11 of the national heritage of the United States of indi12 vidual liberty, representative government, and the 

13 attainment of equal and inalienable rights; and 

14 (2) have had a profound influence throughout 

15 the world. 

16 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to estab17 lish a Commission to provide for the observance and com18 memoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of 

19 the United States and related events through local, State, 

20 national, and international activities planned, encouraged, 

21 developed, and coordinated by a national commission rep22 resentative of appropriate public and private authorities 

23 and organizations. 

24 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

25 In this Act: 


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1 (1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 

2 means the United States Semiquincentennial Com3 mission established by section 4(a). 

4 (2) PRIVATE CITIZEN.—The term ‘‘private cit5 izen’’ means an individual who is not an officer or 

6 employee of— 

7 (A) the Federal Government; or 

8 (B) a State or local government. 

9 (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

10 the Secretary of the Interior. 

11 SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a commis13 sion, to be known as the ‘‘United States 

14 Semiquincentennial Commission’’, to plan, encourage, de15 velop, and coordinate the commemoration of the history 

16 of the United States leading up to the 250th anniversary 

17 of the founding of the United States. 

18 (b) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be com19 posed of the following members: 

20 (1) Four members of the Senate, of whom— 

21 (A) two shall be appointed by the majority 

22 leader of the Senate; and 

23 (B) two shall be appointed by the minority 

24 leader of the Senate. 


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1 (2) Four members of the House of Representa2 tives, of whom— 

3 (A) two shall be appointed by the Speaker 

4 of the House of Representatives; and 

5 (B) two shall be appointed by the minority 

6 leader of the House of Representatives. 

7 (3) Sixteen members who are private citizens, 

8 of whom— 

9 (A) four shall be appointed by the majority 

10 leader of the Senate; 

11 (B) four shall be appointed by the minority 

12 leader of the Senate; 

13 (C) four shall be appointed by the Speaker 

14 of the House of Representatives; 

15 (D) four shall be appointed by the minority 

16 leader of the House of Representatives; and 

17 (E) one of whom shall be designated by 

18 the President as the Chairperson. 

19 (4) The following nonvoting ex officio members: 

20 (A) The Secretary. 

21 (B) The Secretary of State. 

22 (C) The Attorney General. 

23 (D) The Secretary of Defense. 

24 (E) The Secretary of Education. 

25 (F) The Librarian of Congress. 


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1 (G) The Secretary of the Smithsonian In2 stitution. 

3 (H) The Archivist of the United States. 

4 (I) The presiding officer of the Federal 

5 Council on the Arts and the Humanities. 

6 (c) TERM; VACANCIES.— 

7 (1) TERM.—A member shall be appointed for 

8 the life of the Commission. 

9 (2) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Commis10 sion— 

11 (A) shall not affect the powers of the Com12 mission; and 

13 (B) shall be filled in the same manner as 

14 the original appointment was made. 

15 (d) MEETINGS.—All meetings of the Commission 

16 shall be convened at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, 

17 Pennsylvania, to honor the historical significance of the 

18 building as the site of deliberations and adoption of both 

19 the United States Declaration of Independence and Con20 stitution. 

21 (e) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the 

22 Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num23 ber of members may hold hearings. 

24 SEC. 5. DUTIES. 

25 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall— 


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1 (1) prepare an overall program for commemo2 rating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the 

3 United States and the historic events preceding that 

4 anniversary; and 

5 (2) plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate ob6 servances and activities commemorating the historic 

7 events that preceded, and are associated with, the 

8 United States Semiquincentennial. 

9 (b) REQUIREMENTS.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—In preparing plans and an 

11 overall program, the Commission— 

12 (A) shall give due consideration to any re13 lated plans and programs developed by State, 

14 local, and private groups; and 

15 (B) may designate special committees with 

16 representatives from groups described in sub17 paragraph (A) to plan, develop, and coordinate 

18 specific activities. 

19 (2) EMPHASIS.—The Commission shall— 

20 (A) emphasize the planning of events in lo21 cations of historical significance to the United 

22 States, especially in those locations that wit23 nessed the assertion of American liberty, such 

24 as— 

25 (i) the 13 colonies; and 


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1 (ii) leading cities, including Boston, 

2 Charleston, New York City, and Philadel3 phia; and 

4 (B) give special emphasis to— 

5 (i) the role of persons and locations 

6 with significant impact on the history of 

7 the United States during the 250-year pe8 riod beginning on the date of execution of 

9 the Declaration of Independence; and 

10 (ii) the ideas associated with that his11 tory, which have been so important in the 

12 development of the United States, in world 

13 affairs, and in the quest for freedom of all 

14 mankind. 

15 (3) INFRASTRUCTURE.—The Commission 

16 shall— 

17 (A) evaluate existing infrastructure; 

18 (B) include in the report required under 

19 subsection (c) recommendations for what infra20 structure should be in place for the successful 

21 undertaking of an appropriate celebration in ac22 cordance with this Act; and 

23 (C) coordinate with State and local bodies 

24 to make necessary infrastructure improvements. 

25 (c) REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 

2 the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission 

3 shall submit to the President a comprehensive report 

4 that includes the specific recommendations of the 

5 Commission for the commemoration of the 250th 

6 anniversary and related events. 

7 (2) RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES.—The report 

8 may include recommended activities such as— 

9 (A) the production, publication, and dis10 tribution of books, pamphlets, films, and other 

11 educational materials focusing on the history, 

12 culture, and political thought of the period of 

13 the American Revolution; 

14 (B) bibliographical and documentary 

15 projects and publications; 

16 (C) conferences, convocations, lectures, 

17 seminars, and other programs, especially those 

18 located in the 13 colonies, including the major 

19 cities and buildings of national historical signifi20 cance of the 13 colonies; 

21 (D) the development of libraries, museums, 

22 historic sites, and exhibits, including mobile ex23 hibits; 

24 (E) ceremonies and celebrations commemo25 rating specific events, such as— 


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1 (i) the signing of the Declaration of 

2 Independence; 

3 (ii) programs and activities focusing 

4 on the national and international signifi5 cance of the United States Semiquincen6 tennial; and 

7 (iii) the implications of the Semiquin8 centennial for present and future genera9 tions; and 

10 (F) encouraging Federal agencies to inte11 grate the celebration of the Semiquincentennial 

12 into the regular activities and execution of the 

13 purpose of the agencies through such activities 

14 as the issuance of coins, medals, certificates of 

15 recognition, stamps, and the naming of vessels. 

16 (3) REQUIREMENTS.—The report shall in17 clude— 

18 (A) the recommendations of the Commis19 sion for the allocation of financial and adminis20 trative responsibility among the public and pri21 vate authorities and organizations recommended 

22 for participation by the Commission; and 

23 (B) proposals for such legislative enact24 ments and administrative actions as the ComVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:41 Jul 08, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4875.RDS H4875

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1 mission considers necessary to carry out the 

2 recommendations. 

3 (d) REPORT SUBMITTED TO CONGRESS.—The Presi4 dent shall submit to Congress a report that contains— 

5 (1) the complete report of the Commission; and 

6 (2) such comments and recommendations for 

7 legislation and such a description of administrative 

8 actions taken by the President as the President con9 siders appropriate. 

10 (e) POINT OF CONTACT.—The Commission, acting 

11 through the secretariat of the Commission described in 

12 section 9(b), shall serve as the point of contact of the Fed13 eral Government for all State, local, international, and pri14 vate sector initiatives regarding the Semiquincentennial of 

15 the founding of the United States, with the purpose of 

16 coordinating and facilitating all fitting and proper activi17 ties honoring the 250th anniversary of the founding of the 

18 United States. 

19 SEC. 6. COORDINATION. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this Act, the Com21 mission shall consult and cooperate with, and seek advice 

22 and assistance from, appropriate Federal agencies, State 

23 and local public bodies, learned societies, and historical, 

24 patriotic, philanthropic, civic, professional, and related or25 ganizations. 


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1 (b) RESPONSIBILITY OF OTHER FEDERAL AGEN2 CIES.— 

3 (1) IN GENERAL.—Federal agencies shall co4 operate with the Commission in planning, encour5 aging, developing, and coordinating appropriate com6 memorative activities. 

7 (2) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.— 

8 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall un9 dertake a study of appropriate actions that 

10 might be taken to further preserve and develop 

11 historic sites and battlefields, at such time and 

12 in such manner as will ensure that fitting ob13 servances and exhibits may be held at appro14 priate sites and battlefields during the 250th 

15 anniversary celebration. 

16 (B) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit 

17 to the Commission a report that contains the 

18 results of the study and the recommendations 

19 of the Secretary, in time to afford the Commis20 sion an opportunity— 

21 (i) to review the study; and 

22 (ii) to incorporate in the report de23 scribed in section 5(c) such findings and 

24 recommendations as the Commission con25 siders appropriate. 


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1 (3) ARTS AND HUMANITIES.— 

2 (A) IN GENERAL.—The presiding officer of 

3 the Federal Council on the Arts and the Hu4 manities, the Chairperson of the National En5 dowment for the Arts, and the Chairperson of 

6 the National Endowment for the Humanities 

7 shall cooperate with the Commission, especially 

8 in the encouragement and coordination of schol9 arly works and artistic expressions focusing on 

10 the history, culture, and political thought of the 

11 period predating the United States Semiquin12 centennial. 

13 (B) LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, SMITHSONIAN

14 INSTITUTION, AND ARCHIVES.— 

15 (i) IN GENERAL.—The Librarian of 

16 Congress, the Secretary of the Smithsonian 

17 Institution, and the Archivist of the United 

18 States shall cooperate with the Commis19 sion, especially in the development and dis20 play of exhibits and collections and in the 

21 development of bibliographies, catalogs, 

22 and other materials relevant to the period 

23 predating the United States Semiquincen24 tennial. 


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1 (ii) LOCATION.—To the maximum ex2 tent practicable, displays described in sub3 paragraph (A) shall be located in, or in fa4 cilities near to, buildings of historical sig5 nificance to the American Revolution, so as 

6 to promote greater public awareness of the 

7 heritage of the United States. 

8 (C) SUBMISSION OF RECOMMENDA9 TIONS.—Each of the officers described in this 

10 paragraph shall submit to the Commission a re11 port containing recommendations in time to af12 ford the Commission an opportunity— 

13 (i) to review the reports; and 

14 (ii) to incorporate in the report de15 scribed in section 5(c) such findings and 

16 recommendations as the Commission con17 siders appropriate. 

18 (4) DEPARTMENT OF STATE.—The Secretary of 

19 State shall coordinate the participation of foreign 

20 nations in the celebration of the United States 

21 Semiquincentennial, including by soliciting the erec22 tion of monuments and other cultural cooperations 

23 in founding cities of the United States so as— 


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1 (A) to celebrate the shared heritage of the 

2 United States with the many peoples and na3 tions of the world; and 

4 (B) to provide liaison and encouragement 

5 for the erection of international pavilions to 

6 showcase the spread of democratic institutions 

7 abroad in the period following the American 

8 Revolution. 

9 SEC. 7. POWERS. 

10 (a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such 

11 hearings, meet and act at such times and places, take such 

12 testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission 

13 considers advisable to carry out this Act. 

14 (b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may secure 

16 directly from a Federal agency such information as 

17 the Commission considers necessary to carry out this 

18 Act. 

19 (2) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—On request 

20 of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of 

21 the agency shall provide the information to the Com22 mission. 

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

24 the United States mails in the same manner and under 


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1 the same conditions as other agencies of the Federal Gov2 ernment. 

3 (d) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use, and 

4 dispose of gifts or donations of money, property, or per5 sonal services. 

6 (e) ADDITIONAL POWERS.—As determined necessary 

7 by the Commission, the Commission may— 

8 (1) procure supplies, services, and property; 

9 (2) make contracts; 

10 (3) expend in furtherance of this Act funds do11 nated or received in pursuance of contracts entered 

12 into under this Act; and 

13 (4) take such actions as are necessary to enable 

14 the Commission to carry out efficiently and in the 

15 public interest the purposes of this Act. 

16 (f) USE OF MATERIALS.— 

17 (1) TIME CAPSULE.—A representative portion 

18 of all books, manuscripts, miscellaneous printed 

19 matter, memorabilia, relics, and other materials re20 lating to the United States Semiquincentennial shall 

21 be deposited in a time capsule— 

22 (A) to be buried in Independence Mall, 

23 Philadelphia, on July 4, 2026; and 


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1 (B) to be unearthed on the occasion of the 

2 500th anniversary of the United States of 

3 America on July 4, 2276. 

4 (2) OTHER MATERIALS.—All other books, 

5 manuscripts, miscellaneous printed matter, memora6 bilia, relics, and other materials relating to the 

7 United States Semiquincentennial, whether donated 

8 to the Commission or collected by the Commission, 

9 may be deposited for preservation in national, State, 

10 or local libraries or museums or be otherwise dis11 posed of by the Commission, in consultation with the 

12 Librarian of Congress, the Secretary of the Smithso13 nian Institution, the Archivist of the United States, 

14 and the Administrator of General Services. 

15 (g) PROPERTY.—Any property acquired by the Com16 mission remaining on termination of the Commission may 

17 be— 

18 (1) used by the Secretary for purposes of the 

19 National Park Service; or 

20 (2) disposed of as excess or surplus property. 

21 SEC. 8. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 

22 (a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—The members of 

23 the Commission shall receive no compensation for service 

24 on the Commission. 


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1 (b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the Commis2 sion shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem 

3 in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee 

4 of an agency under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 

5 5, United States Code, while away from the home or reg6 ular place of business of the member in the performance 

7 of the duties of the Commission. 

8 (c) STAFF.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the 

10 Commission may, without regard to the civil service 

11 laws (including regulations), appoint and terminate 

12 an executive director and such other additional per13 sonnel as are necessary to enable the Commission to 

14 perform the duties of the Commission. 

15 (2) CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE DIREC16 TOR.—The employment of an executive director shall 

17 be subject to confirmation by the Commission. 

18 (3) COMPENSATION.— 

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

20 subparagraph (B), the Chairperson of the Com21 mission may fix the compensation of the execu22 tive director and other personnel without regard 

23 to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter 

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


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1 relating to classification of positions and Gen2 eral Schedule pay rates. 

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

4 pay for the executive director and other per5 sonnel shall not exceed the rate payable for 

6 level V of the Executive Schedule under section 

7 5316 of title 5, United States Code. 

8 (d) DETAIL OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOY9 EES.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—An employee of the Federal 

11 Government may be detailed to the Commission 

12 without reimbursement. 

13 (2) CIVIL SERVICE STATUS.—The detail of the 

14 employee shall be without interruption or loss of civil 

15 service status or privilege. 

16 (e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT17 TENT SERVICES.—The Chairperson of the Commission 

18 may procure temporary and intermittent services in ac19 cordance with section 3109(b) of title 5, United States 

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

21 equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for 

22 level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 

23 that title. 


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1 (f) ADVISORY COMMITTEES.—The Commission may 

2 appoint such advisory committees as the Commission de3 termines necessary. 

4 SEC. 9. EXPENDITURES OF COMMISSION. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—All expenditures of the Commis6 sion shall be made solely from donated funds. 

7 (b) ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARIAT.—The Secretary 

8 of the Interior shall, through a competitive process, seek 

9 to enter into an arrangement with a nonprofit organiza10 tion, the mission of which is consistent with the purpose 

11 of this Act. Under such arrangement, such nonprofit orga12 nization shall— 

13 (1) serve as the secretariat of the Commission, 

14 including by serving as the point of contact under 

15 section 5(e); 

16 (2) house the administrative offices of the Com17 mission; 

18 (3) assume responsibility for funds of the Com19 mission; and 

20 (4) provide to the Commission financial and ad21 ministrative services, including services related to 

22 budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, per23 sonnel, and procurement. 

24 (c) PAYMENT FOR FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

25 SERVICES.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 

2 payment for services provided under subsection 

3 (b)(4) shall be made in advance, or by reimburse4 ment, from funds of the Commission in such 

5 amounts as may be agreed on by the Chairperson of 

6 the Commission and the secretariat of the Commis7 sion. 

8 (2) RELATIONSHIP TO REGULATIONS.— 

9 (A) ERRONEOUS PAYMENTS.—The regula10 tions under section 5514 of title 5, United 

11 States Code, relating to the collection of indebt12 edness of personnel resulting from erroneous 

13 payments shall apply to the collection of erro14 neous payments made to, or on behalf of, a 

15 Commission employee. 

16 (B) NO PROMULGATION BY COMMISSION.— 

17 The Commission shall not be required to pre18 scribe any regulations relating to the matters 

19 described in subparagraph (A). 

20 (d) ANNUAL REPORT.—Once each year during the 

21 period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and 

22 ending on December 31, 2027, the Commission shall sub23 mit to Congress a report of the activities of the Commis24 sion, including an accounting of funds received and ex25 pended during the year covered by the report. 


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1 SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION. 

2 The Commission shall terminate on December 31, 

3 2027. 

Passed the House of Representatives July 5, 2016. 

Attest: KAREN L. HAAS, 

Clerk. 


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