I 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4875 

To establish the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 23, 2016 

Mr. MEEHAN (for himself and Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

A BILL 

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, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States Semi5 quincentennial Commission Act of 2016’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 

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

8 the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United 

9 States, as marked by the Declaration of Independence in 


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1 1776, and the historic events preceding that anniver2 sary— 

3 (1) are of major significance in the development 

4 of the national heritage of the United States of indi5 vidual liberty, representative government, and the 

6 attainment of equal and inalienable rights; and 

7 (2) have had a profound influence throughout 

8 the world. 

9 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to estab10 lish a Commission to provide for the observance and com11 memoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of 

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

13 national, and international activities planned, encouraged, 

14 developed, and coordinated by a national commission rep15 resentative of appropriate public and private authorities 

16 and organizations. 

17 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

18 In this Act: 

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

20 means the United States Semiquincentennial Com21 mission established by section 4(a). 

22 (2) PRIVATE CITIZEN.—The term ‘‘private cit23 izen’’ means an individual who is not an officer or 

24 employee of— 

25 (A) the Federal Government; or 


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1 (B) a State or local government. 

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

3 the Secretary of the Interior. 

4 SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a commis6 sion, to be known as the ‘‘United States Semiquincenten7 nial Commission’’, to plan, encourage, develop, and coordi8 nate the commemoration of the history of the United 

9 States leading up to the 250th anniversary of the founding 

10 of the United States. 

11 (b) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be com12 posed of the following members: 

13 (1) 4 members of the Senate, of whom— 

14 (A) 2 shall be appointed by the majority 

15 leader of the Senate; and 

16 (B) 2 shall be appointed by the minority 

17 leader of the Senate. 

18 (2) 4 members of the House of Representatives, 

19 of whom— 

20 (A) 2 shall be appointed by the Speaker of 

21 the House of Representatives; and 

22 (B) 2 shall be appointed by the minority 

23 leader of the House of Representatives. 

24 (3) 16 members who are private citizens, of 

25 whom— 


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1 (A) 4 shall be appointed by the majority 

2 leader of the Senate; 

3 (B) 4 shall be appointed by the minority 

4 leader of the Senate; 

5 (C) 4 shall be appointed by the Speaker of 

6 the House of Representatives; 

7 (D) 4 shall be appointed by the minority 

8 leader of the House of Representatives; and 

9 (E) 1 of whom shall be designated by the 

10 President as the Chairperson. 

11 (4) The following nonvoting ex officio members: 

12 (A) The Secretary. 

13 (B) The Secretary of State. 

14 (C) The Attorney General. 

15 (D) The Secretary of Defense. 

16 (E) The Secretary of Education. 

17 (F) The Librarian of Congress. 

18 (G) The Secretary of the Smithsonian In19 stitution. 

20 (H) The Archivist of the United States. 

21 (I) The presiding officer of the Federal 

22 Council on the Arts and the Humanities. 

23 (c) TERM; VACANCIES.— 

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

25 the life of the Commission. 


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1 (2) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Commis2 sion— 

3 (A) shall not affect the powers of the Com4 mission; and 

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

6 the original appointment was made. 

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

8 shall be convened at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, 

9 Pennsylvania, to honor the historical significance of the 

10 building as the site of deliberations and adoption of both 

11 the United States Declaration of Independence and Con12 stitution. 

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

14 Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num15 ber of members may hold hearings. 

16 SEC. 5. DUTIES. 

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

18 (1) prepare an overall program for commemo19 rating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the 

20 United States and the historic events preceding that 

21 anniversary; and 

22 (2) plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate ob23 servances and activities commemorating the historic 

24 events that preceded, and are associated with, the 

25 United States Semiquincentennial. 


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1 (b) REQUIREMENTS.— 

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

3 overall program, the Commission— 

4 (A) shall give due consideration to any re5 lated plans and programs developed by State, 

6 local, and private groups; and 

7 (B) may designate special committees with 

8 representatives from groups described in sub9 paragraph (A) to plan, develop, and coordinate 

10 specific activities. 

11 (2) EMPHASIS.—The Commission shall— 

12 (A) emphasize the planning of events in lo13 cations of historical significance to the United 

14 States, especially in those locations that wit15 nessed the assertion of American liberty, such 

16 as— 

17 (i) the 13 colonies; and 

18 (ii) leading cities, including Boston, 

19 Charleston, New York City, and Philadel20 phia; and 

21 (B) give special emphasis to— 

22 (i) the role of persons and locations 

23 with significant impact on the history of 

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1 riod beginning on the date of execution of 

2 the Declaration of Independence; and 

3 (ii) the ideas associated with that his4 tory, which have been so important in the 

5 development of the United States, in world 

6 affairs, and in the quest for freedom of all 

7 mankind. 

8 (3) INFRASTRUCTURE.—The Commission 

9 shall— 

10 (A) evaluate existing infrastructure; 

11 (B) include in the report required under 

12 subsection (c) recommendations for what infra13 structure should be in place for the successful 

14 undertaking of an appropriate celebration in ac15 cordance with this Act; and 

16 (C) coordinate with State and local bodies 

17 to make necessary infrastructure improvements. 

18 (c) REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT.— 

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

20 the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission 

21 shall submit to the President a comprehensive report 

22 that includes the specific recommendations of the 

23 Commission for the commemoration of the 250th 

24 anniversary and related events. 


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1 (2) RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES.—The report 

2 may include recommend activities such as— 

3 (A) the production, publication, and dis4 tribution of books, pamphlets, films, and other 

5 educational materials focusing on the history, 

6 culture, and political thought of the period of 

7 the American Revolution; 

8 (B) bibliographical and documentary 

9 projects and publications; 

10 (C) conferences, convocations, lectures, 

11 seminars, and other programs, especially those 

12 located in the 13 colonies, including the major 

13 cities and buildings of national historical signifi14 cance of the 13 colonies; 

15 (D) the development of libraries, museums, 

16 historic sites, and exhibits, including mobile ex17 hibits; 

18 (E) ceremonies and celebrations commemo19 rating specific events, such as— 

20 (i) the signing of the Declaration of 

21 Independence; 

22 (ii) programs and activities focusing 

23 on the national and international signifi24 cance of the United States Semiquincen25 tennial; and 


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1 (iii) the implications of the Semiquin2 centennial for present and future genera3 tions; and 

4 (F) encouraging Federal agencies to inte5 grate the celebration of the Semiquincentennial 

6 into the regular activities and execution of the 

7 purpose of the agencies through such activities 

8 as the issuance of coins, medals, certificates of 

9 recognition, stamps, and the naming of vessels. 

10 (3) REQUIREMENTS.—The report shall in11 clude— 

12 (A) the recommendations of the Commis13 sion for the allocation of financial and adminis14 trative responsibility among the public and pri15 vate authorities and organizations recommended 

16 for participation by the Commission; and 

17 (B) proposals for such legislative enact18 ments and administrative actions as the Com19 mission considers necessary to carry out the 

20 recommendations. 

21 (d) REPORT SUBMITTED TO CONGRESS.—The Presi22 dent shall submit to Congress a report that contains— 

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

24 (2) such comments and recommendations for 

25 legislation and such a description of administrative 


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1 actions taken by the President as the President con2 siders appropriate. 

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

4 through the secretariat of the Commission described in 

5 section 9(b), shall serve as the point of contact of the Fed6 eral Government for all State, local, international, and pri7 vate sector initiatives regarding the Semiquincentennial of 

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

9 coordinating and facilitating all fitting and proper activi10 ties honoring the 250th anniversary of the founding of the 

11 United States. 

12 SEC. 6. COORDINATION. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this Act, the Com14 mission shall consult and cooperate with, and seek advice 

15 and assistance from, appropriate Federal agencies, State 

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

17 patriotic, philanthropic, civic, professional, and related or18 ganizations. 

19 (b) RESPONSIBILITY OF OTHER FEDERAL AGEN20 CIES.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—Federal agencies shall co22 operate with the Commission in planning, encour23 aging, developing, and coordinating appropriate com24 memorative activities. 

25 (2) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.— 


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1 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall un2 dertake a study of appropriate actions that 

3 might be taken to further preserve and develop 

4 historic sites and battlefields, at such time and 

5 in such manner as will ensure that fitting ob6 servances and exhibits may be held at appro7 priate sites and battlefields during the 250th 

8 anniversary celebration. 

9 (B) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit 

10 to the Commission a report that contains the 

11 results of the study and the recommendations 

12 of the Secretary, in time to afford the Commis13 sion an opportunity— 

14 (i) to review the study; and 

15 (ii) to incorporate in the report de16 scribed in section 5(c) such findings and 

17 recommendations as the Commission con18 siders appropriate. 

19 (3) ARTS AND HUMANITIES.— 

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

21 the Federal Council on the Arts and the Hu22 manities, the Chairperson of the National En23 dowment for the Arts, and the Chairperson of 

24 the National Endowment for the Humanities 

25 shall cooperate with the Commission, especially 


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1 in the encouragement and coordination of schol2 arly works and artistic expressions focusing on 

3 the history, culture, and political thought of the 

4 period predating the United States Semiquin5 centennial. 

6 (B) LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, SMITHSONIAN

7 INSTITUTION, AND ARCHIVES.— 

8 (i) IN GENERAL.—The Librarian of 

9 Congress, the Secretary of the Smithsonian 

10 Institution, and the Archivist of the United 

11 States shall cooperate with the Commis12 sion, especially in the development and dis13 play of exhibits and collections and in the 

14 development of bibliographies, catalogs, 

15 and other materials relevant to the period 

16 predating the United States Semiquincen17 tennial. 

18 (ii) LOCATION.—To the maximum ex19 tent practicable, displays described in sub20 paragraph (A) shall be located in, or in fa21 cilities near to, buildings of historical sig22 nificance to the American Revolution, so as 

23 to promote greater public awareness of the 

24 heritage of the United States. 


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1 (C) SUBMISSION OF RECOMMENDA2 TIONS.—Each of the officers described in this 

3 paragraph shall submit to the Commission a re4 port containing recommendations in time to af5 ford the Commission an opportunity— 

6 (i) to review the reports; and 

7 (ii) to incorporate in the report de8 scribed in section 5(c) such findings and 

9 recommendations as the Commission con10 siders appropriate. 

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

12 State shall coordinate the participation of foreign 

13 nations in the celebration of the United States 

14 Semiquincentennial, including by soliciting the erec15 tion of monuments and other cultural cooperations 

16 in founding cities of the United States so as— 

17 (A) to celebrate the shared heritage of the 

18 United States with the many peoples and na19 tions of the world; and 

20 (B) to provide liaison and encouragement 

21 for the erection of international pavilions to 

22 showcase the spread of democratic institutions 

23 abroad in the period following the American 

24 Revolution. 


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1 SEC. 7. POWERS. 

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

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

4 testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission 

5 considers advisable to carry out this Act. 

6 (b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 

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

8 directly from a Federal agency such information as 

9 the Commission considers necessary to carry out this 

10 Act. 

11 (2) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—On request 

12 of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of 

13 the agency shall provide the information to the Com14 mission. 

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

16 the United States mails in the same manner and under 

17 the same conditions as other agencies of the Federal Gov18 ernment. 

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

20 dispose of gifts or donations of money, property, or per21 sonal services. 

22 (e) ADDITIONAL POWERS.—As determined necessary 

23 by the Commission, the Commission may— 

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

25 (2) make contracts; 


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1 (3) expend in furtherance of this Act funds ap2 propriated, donated, or received in pursuance of con3 tracts entered into under this Act; and 

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

5 the Commission to carry out efficiently and in the 

6 public interest the purposes of this Act. 

7 (f) USE OF MATERIALS.— 

8 (1) TIME CAPSULE.—A representative portion 

9 of all books, manuscripts, miscellaneous printed 

10 matter, memorabilia, relics, and other materials re11 lating to the United States Semiquincentennial shall 

12 be deposited in a time capsule— 

13 (A) to be buried in Independence Mall, 

14 Philadelphia, on July 4, 2026; and 

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

16 500th anniversary of the United States of 

17 America on July 4, 2276. 

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

19 manuscripts, miscellaneous printed matter, memora20 bilia, relics, and other materials relating to the 

21 United States Semiquincentennial, whether donated 

22 to the Commission or collected by the Commission, 

23 may be deposited for preservation in national, State, 

24 or local libraries or museums or be otherwise dis25 posed of by the Commission, in consultation with the 


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1 Librarian of Congress, the Secretary of the Smithso2 nian Institution, the Archivist of the United States, 

3 and the Administrator of General Services. 

4 (g) PROPERTY.—Any property acquired by the Com5 mission remaining on termination of the Commission may 

6 be— 

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

8 National Park Service; or 

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

10 SEC. 8. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 

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

12 the Commission shall receive no compensation for service 

13 on the Commission. 

14 (b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the Commis15 sion shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem 

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

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

18 5, United States Code, while away from the home or reg19 ular place of business of the member in the performance 

20 of the duties of the Commission. 

21 (c) STAFF.— 

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

23 Commission may, without regard to the civil service 

24 laws (including regulations), appoint and terminate 

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1 sonnel as are necessary to enable the Commission to 

2 perform the duties of the Commission. 

3 (2) CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE DIREC4 TOR.—The employment of an executive director shall 

5 be subject to confirmation by the Commission. 

6 (3) COMPENSATION.— 

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

8 subparagraph (B), the Chairperson of the Com9 mission may fix the compensation of the execu10 tive director and other personnel without regard 

11 to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter 

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

13 relating to classification of positions and Gen14 eral Schedule pay rates. 

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

16 pay for the executive director and other per17 sonnel shall not exceed the rate payable for 

18 level V of the Executive Schedule under section 

19 5316 of title 5, United States Code. 

20 (d) DETAIL OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOY21 EES.— 

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

23 Government may be detailed to the Commission 

24 without reimbursement. 


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

2 employee shall be without interruption or loss of civil 

3 service status or privilege. 

4 (e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT5 TENT SERVICES.—The Chairperson of the Commission 

6 may procure temporary and intermittent services in ac7 cordance with section 3109(b) of title 5, United States 

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

9 equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for 

10 level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 

11 that title. 

12 (f) ADVISORY COMMITTEES.—The Commission may 

13 appoint such advisory committees as the Commission de14 termines necessary. 

15 SEC. 9. EXPENDITURES OF COMMISSION. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—All expenditures of the Commis17 sion shall be made solely from— 

18 (1) donated funds; and 

19 (2) funds specifically appropriated for the Com20 mission. 

21 (b) ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARIAT.—The Commis22 sion shall seek to enter into an arrangement with USA 

23 250, Incorporated, under which USA 250, Incorporated, 

24 shall— 


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

2 including by serving as the point of contact under 

3 section 5(e); 

4 (2) house the administrative offices of the Com5 mission; 

6 (3) assume responsibility for funds of the Com7 mission; and 

8 (4) provide to the Commission financial and ad9 ministrative services, including services related to 

10 budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, per11 sonnel, and procurement. 

12 (c) PAYMENT FOR FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

13 SERVICES.— 

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

15 payment for services provided under subsection 

16 (b)(4) shall be made in advance, or by reimburse17 ment, from funds of the Commission in such 

18 amounts as may be agreed on by the Chairperson of 

19 the Commission and the secretariat of the Commis20 sion. 

21 (2) RELATIONSHIP TO REGULATIONS.— 

22 (A) ERRONEOUS PAYMENTS.—The regula23 tions under section 5514 of title 5, United 

24 States Code, relating to the collection of indebt25 edness of personnel resulting from erroneous 


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1 payments shall apply to the collection of erro2 neous payments made to, or on behalf of, a 

3 Commission employee. 

4 (B) APPROPRIATIONS.—The regulations 

5 under sections 1513(d) and 1514 of title 31, 

6 United States Code, relating to the administra7 tive control of funds, shall apply to appropria8 tions of the Commission. 

9 (C) NO PROMULGATION BY COMMISSION.— 

10 The Commission shall not be required to pre11 scribe any regulations relating to the matters 

12 described in subparagraphs (A) and (B). 

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

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

15 ending on December 31, 2027, the Commission shall sub16 mit to Congress a report of the activities of the Commis17 sion, including an accounting of funds received and ex18 pended during the year covered by the report. 

19 SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION. 

20 The Commission shall terminate on December 31, 

21 2027. 

Æ 


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