I 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5599 

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

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 28, 2016 

Mr. KEATING (for himself, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. CASTRO of Texas, Mr. 

CICILLINE, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. 

MCDERMOTT, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. NEAL, Mr. POCAN, 

Ms. TSONGAS, Mr. WELCH, Mr. LYNCH, Ms. DELAURO, and Ms. MCCOLLUM) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Oversight and Government Reform 

A BILL 

To establish the Plymouth 400th Commemoration 

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 ‘‘Plymouth 400th Com5 memoration Commission Act of 2016’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 

7 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 


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1 (1) the voyage of the Mayflower and the found2 ing of the colony at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 

3 1620, the first permanent and sustaining English 

4 colony in the New World, and the treaty of mutual 

5 protection between the Wampanoag indigenous tribe 

6 and the English colonists, has major significance in 

7 the history of the United States; 

8 (2) the colonists that traveled with their fami9 lies were the first true immigrants to the New 

10 World; relocating their families in search of the right 

11 to self-governance and religious freedom; 

12 (3) Plymouth Colony brought people together to 

13 form a multicultural society, including English and 

14 other European settlers and indigenous tribes; 

15 (4) the economic, political, religious, and social 

16 institutions that developed during the early years of 

17 Plymouth Colony including the signing of the 

18 Mayflower Compact and the treaty that ensured 50 

19 years of peaceful relations between the indigenous 

20 Wampanoags and the English colonists at Plymouth 

21 continue to have profound effects on the United 

22 States; influencing the content of United States 

23 Constitution, English common law and language, 

24 cross-cultural relationships, and economic structure 

25 and status; and 


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1 (5) in 2016, the Commonwealth of Massachu2 setts designated Plymouth 400, Incorporated as the 

3 official agency responsible for planning and imple4 menting the commemoration of the 400th anniver5 sary of the Mayflower voyage and the founding of 

6 Plymouth Colony. 

7 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to estab8 lish the Plymouth 400th Commemoration Commission— 

9 (1) to ensure a suitable national and inter10 national observances of the 400th anniversary of the 

11 Plymouth Colony during calendar year 2020 (re12 ferred to in this subsection as the ‘‘Plymouth 2020 

13 observances’’) by complementing the programs and 

14 activities of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; 

15 (2) to cooperate with and assist the programs 

16 and activities of the State in the Plymouth 2020 ob17 servances; 

18 (3) to assist in ensuring that the Plymouth 

19 2020 observances provide an excellent visitor experi20 ence and beneficial interaction among— 

21 (A) visitors; and 

22 (B) the natural and cultural resources of— 

23 (i) the town of Plymouth, Massachu24 setts; and 


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1 (ii) all other municipalities that make 

2 up the original colony; 

3 (4) to assist in ensuring that the Plymouth 

4 2020 observances— 

5 (A) are inclusive; and 

6 (B) appropriately recognize the experiences 

7 of all people present in 17th Century Plymouth 

8 Colony; 

9 (5) to provide assistance in the development of 

10 Plymouth-related programs and activities; 

11 (6) to facilitate international involvement in the 

12 Plymouth 2020 observances; 

13 (7) to support and facilitate marketing efforts 

14 for a commemorative coin, stamp, and related activi15 ties for the Plymouth 2020 observances; and 

16 (8) to assist in the appropriate development of 

17 heritage tourism and economic benefits to the 

18 United States. 

19 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

20 In this Act: 

21 (1) COMMEMORATION.—The term ‘‘commemo22 ration’’ means the commemoration of the 400th an23 niversary of— 

24 (A) the voyage of Mayflower; and 

25 (B) the founding of Plymouth Colony. 


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

2 means the Plymouth 400th Commemoration Com3 mission established by section 4(a). 

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

5 the Governor of Massachusetts. 

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

7 the Secretary of the Interior. 

8 (5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the Com9 monwealth of Massachusetts (including the govern10 mental agencies and entities of the Commonwealth). 

11 SEC. 4. PLYMOUTH 400TH COMMEMORATION COMMISSION. 

12 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com13 mission to be known as the ‘‘Plymouth 400th Commemo14 ration Commission’’. 

15 (b) MEMBERSHIP.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be 

17 composed of 15 members, of whom— 

18 (A) 1 shall be the Director of the Brand 

19 USA (or a designee); 

20 (B) 1 shall be appointed by the Secretary 

21 from among employees of the National Park 

22 Service; 

23 (C) 4 shall be appointed by the Secretary, 

24 taking into consideration the recommendations 


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1 of the executive committee of Plymouth 400, 

2 Incorporated; 

3 (D) 4 shall be appointed by the Secretary, 

4 taking into consideration recommendations of 

5 the Governor; and 

6 (E) 5 shall be appointed by the Secretary 

7 from among individuals that have an interest 

8 in, support for, and expertise relating to, the 

9 commemoration. 

10 (2) TERM; VACANCIES.— 

11 (A) TERM.—A member of the Commission 

12 shall be appointed for the life of the Commis13 sion. 

14 (B) VACANCIES.— 

15 (i) IN GENERAL.—A vacancy on the 

16 Commission shall be filled in the same 

17 manner in which the original appointment 

18 was made. 

19 (ii) PARTIAL TERM.—A member ap20 pointed to fill a vacancy on the Commis21 sion shall serve for the remainder of the 

22 term for which the predecessor of the 

23 member was appointed. 

24 (3) MEETINGS.— 


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1 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 

2 meet— 

3 (i) not less frequently than twice each 

4 year; or 

5 (ii) at the call of— 

6 (I) the chairperson of the Com7 mission; or 

8 (II) the majority of the members 

9 of the Commission. 

10 (B) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 

11 days after the date on which all initial members 

12 of the Commission have been appointed under 

13 paragraph (1), the Commission shall hold the 

14 initial meeting of the Commission. 

15 (4) VOTING.— 

16 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 

17 act only on an affirmative vote of a majority of 

18 the members of the Commission. 

19 (B) QUORUM.—A majority of the members 

20 of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. 

21 (5) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary shall ap22 point 1 member of the Commission to serve as chair23 person of the Commission, taking into consideration 

24 any recommendations of the Governor. 

25 (c) DUTIES OF COMMISSION.— 


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

2 (A) assist in the planning, development, 

3 and implementation of programs and activities 

4 appropriate to the commemoration; 

5 (B) generally facilitate commemoration ac6 tivities throughout the United States; 

7 (C) encourage civic, military, historical, 

8 educational, religious, economic, and other or9 ganizations throughout the United States to or10 ganize and participate in commemoration activi11 ties to expand the understanding and apprecia12 tion of the significance of the founding and 

13 early history of Plymouth Colony; 

14 (D) coordinate and facilitate for the public 

15 scholarly research and publications regarding, 

16 and interpretation of, the cultures present in 

17 17th Century Plymouth Colony including the 

18 English colonists and the indigenous 

19 Wampanoag tribes; and 

20 (E) ensure that the 400th anniversary of 

21 Plymouth provides a lasting legacy and long22 term public benefit by assisting in the develop23 ment of appropriate programs and facilities. 

24 (2) PLANS; REPORTS.— 


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1 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall 

2 prepare, with respect to each activity carried 

3 out by the Commission under this section— 

4 (i) a strategic plan in accordance with 

5 section 306 of title 5, United States Code; 

6 and 

7 (ii) an annual performance plan in ac8 cordance with section 1115 of title 31, 

9 United States Code. 

10 (B) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than De11 cember 31, 2021, the Commission shall submit 

12 to Congress a final report that includes— 

13 (i) a summary of the activities of the 

14 Commission; 

15 (ii) a final accounting of funds re16 ceived and expended by the Commission; 

17 and 

18 (iii) any findings or recommendations 

19 of the Commission. 

20 (d) POWERS OF COMMISSION.—The Commission 

21 may— 

22 (1) accept donations and make dispersions of 

23 money, personal services, and real and personal 

24 property relating to— 

25 (A) Plymouth Colony; and 


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1 (B) the significance of Plymouth Colony in 

2 the history of the United States; 

3 (2) appoint such advisory committees as the 

4 Commission determines to be necessary to carry out 

5 this section; 

6 (3) authorize any member or employee of the 

7 Commission to take any action that the Commission 

8 is authorized to take pursuant to this section; 

9 (4) procure supplies, services, and property, and 

10 make or enter into contracts, leases or other legal 

11 agreements, to carry out this section (except that 

12 any contracts, leases or other legal agreements made 

13 or entered into by the Commission shall not extend 

14 beyond the date of termination of the Commission); 

15 (5) use the United States mails in the same 

16 manner and under the same conditions as other 

17 Federal agencies; 

18 (6) subject to approval by the Commission, 

19 make grants in amounts not to exceed $10,000 to 

20 communities and nonprofit organizations to develop 

21 programs to assist in the commemoration; 

22 (7) make grants to research and scholarly orga23 nizations to research, publish, or distribute informa24 tion relating to Plymouth Colony; and 


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1 (8) provide technical assistance to States, local2 ities, and nonprofit organizations to advance the 

3 purposes of the commemoration. 

4 (e) COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.— 

5 (1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.— 

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

7 subparagraph (B), a member of the Commis8 sion shall serve without compensation. 

9 (B) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A member of 

10 the Commission who is an officer or employee 

11 of the Federal Government shall serve without 

12 compensation in addition to the compensation 

13 received for the services of the member as an 

14 officer or employee of the Federal Government. 

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

16 Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, in17 cluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates 

18 authorized for an employee of an agency under 

19 subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 

20 States Code, while away from the home or reg21 ular place of business of the member in the per22 formance of the duties of the Commission. 

23 (2) STAFF.— 

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

25 Commission may, without regard to the civil 


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1 service laws (including regulations), appoint 

2 and terminate an executive director and such 

3 other additional personnel as are necessary to 

4 enable the Commission to perform the duties of 

5 the Commission. 

6 (B) CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE DIREC7 TOR.—The employment of an executive director 

8 shall be subject to confirmation by the Commis9 sion. 

10 (3) COMPENSATION.— 

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

12 subparagraph (B), the Chairperson of the Com13 mission may fix the compensation of the execu14 tive director and other personnel without regard 

15 to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter 

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

17 relating to classification of positions and Gen18 eral Schedule pay rates. 

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

20 pay for the executive director and other per21 sonnel shall not exceed the rate payable for 

22 level V of the Executive Schedule under section 

23 5316 of title 5, United States Code. 

24 (4) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.— 

25 (A) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.— 


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1 (i) IN GENERAL.—On the request of 

2 the Commission, the head of any Federal 

3 agency may detail, on a reimbursable or 

4 nonreimbursable basis, any of the per5 sonnel of the agency to the Commission to 

6 assist the Commission in carrying out the 

7 duties of the Commission under this sec8 tion. 

9 (ii) CIVIL SERVICE STATUS.—The de10 tail of an employee under clause (i) shall 

11 be without interruption or loss of civil serv12 ice status or privilege. 

13 (B) STATE EMPLOYEES.—The Commission 

14 may— 

15 (i) accept the services of personnel de16 tailed from the State (including subdivi17 sions of the State); and 

18 (ii) reimburse the State for services of 

19 detailed personnel. 

20 (5) VOLUNTEER AND UNCOMPENSATED SERV21 ICES.—Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, 

22 United States Code, the Commission may accept and 

23 use voluntary and uncompensated services as the 

24 Commission determines necessary. 


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1 (6) SUPPORT SERVICES.—The Director of the 

2 National Park Service shall provide to the Commis3 sion, on a reimbursable basis, such administrative 

4 support services as the Commission may request. 

5 (f) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT6 TENT SERVICES.—The chairperson of the Commission 

7 may procure temporary and intermittent services in ac8 cordance with section 3109(b) of title 5, United States 

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

10 equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for 

11 level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 

12 that title. 

13 (g) NONAPPLICABILITY OF FACA.—Section 14(b) of 

14 the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall 

15 not apply to the Commission. 

16 (h) NO EFFECT ON AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this 

17 section supersedes the authority of the State, the National 

18 Park Service, or the Association for the Preservation of 

19 Virginia Antiquities, with respect to the commemoration. 

20 (i) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 

21 on December 31, 2021. 

Æ 


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