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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4771 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4771

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 4, 2010

   Mr. Jackson of Illinois 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 Theatre, 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.
    (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) collaborate with and assist States and national 
        organizations with programs and activities for the observance 
        of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War;
            (3) 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
            (4) provide assistance for the development of programs, 
        projects, and activities on the Civil War that have lasting 
        educational value and are both national and international.

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 29 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;
                    (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 Chairman of the National Endowment for the 
                Humanities, or the designee of the Chairman;
                    (G) the Chairman of the National Endowment of the 
                Arts, or the designee of the Chairman;
                    (H) the Archivist of the United States, or the 
                designee of the Archivist;
                    (I) the Librarian of Congress, or the designee of 
                the Librarian; and
                    (J) the Director of the National Park Service, or 
                the designee of the Director.
            (2) Private members.--The Commission shall include--
                    (A) 7 members appointed by the President from among 
                individuals who are representative of the corporate and 
                foundation community, including 1 individual with 
                specific expertise in communication and event planning; 
                and
                    (B) 10 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, including--
                            (i) 6 individuals with expertise in 
                        history;
                            (ii) 1 individual with specific expertise 
                        in art history, historic preservation, or a 
                        related field;
                            (iii) 1 individual with specific expertise 
                        in the performing arts;
                            (iv) 1 individual with expertise in 
                        anthropology, cultural geography, sociology, or 
                        a related field; and
                            (v) 1 individual with expertise in 
                        political science, law, economics, or a related 
                        field.
    (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 60 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 caused the 
        American Civil War and influenced its course and outcomes;
            (2) encourage interdisciplinary examination of the Civil 
        War;
            (3) facilitate Civil War-related activities throughout the 
        United States;
            (4) encourage civic, historical, educational, economic, 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) provide assistance to States, localities, and nonprofit 
        organizations to further the commemoration of the 
        sesquicentennial of the Civil War;
            (7) develop programs and facilities to ensure that the 
        sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War results in a 
        positive legacy and long-term public benefit; and
            (8) 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 December 30, 
                2015, 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 National Endowment for the Humanities, 
in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, 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 activities that are determined by the National Endowment for the 
Humanities, in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, 
to be appropriately related to the sesquicentennial of the Civil War 
and to further the purposes of this Act.
    (c) Consideration.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
National Endowment of the Humanities shall consider established 
university, museum, or academic programs with national scope that 
sponsor multidisciplinary projects that represent the totality of the 
Civil War.

SEC. 8. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying 
out this Act--
            (1) accept and use gifts of money, property, and services, 
        and, notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States 
        Code, may accept and use voluntary services;
            (2) appoint any advisory committee as the Commission 
        considers appropriate;
            (3) authorize any voting member or employee of the 
        Commission to take any action that the Commission is authorized 
        to take under 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 entered into by the Commission shall not 
        extend beyond the date of the termination of the Commission);
            (5) use the United States mails in the same manner and 
        under the same conditions as other Federal agencies;
            (6) secure directly from any department or agency of the 
        United States such information as the Commission deems 
        necessary to enable the Commission to carry out this Act, which 
        shall be furnished by the head of such department or agency at 
        the request of the Commission; and
            (7) establish an independent but affiliated Foundation to 
        support, as the Commission deems necessary, the efforts of the 
        Commission.

SEC. 9. PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Compensation of Members.--Members of the Commission, and 
members of any advisory committee appointed under section 8(a)(2), 
shall serve without compensation.
    (b) Travel Expenses.--Members of the Commission, and members of any 
advisory committee appointed under section 8(a)(2), 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 Commission may appoint, terminate, and 
        fix the pay of an executive director and such other additional 
        personnel as are necessary and appropriate to enable the 
        Commission to perform its duties.
            (2) Nonapplicability of civil service laws.--Consistent 
        with all other applicable Federal laws governing appointments 
        and compensation, an executive director and additional 
        personnel may be appointed, terminated, and paid without regard 
        to civil service laws (including regulations), including--
                    (A) the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 
                governing appointment in the competitive service; and
                    (B) chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of 
                title 5, United States Code, relating to classification 
                of positions and General Schedule pay rates.
            (3) 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.
    (d) Detail of Government Employees.--
            (1) In general.--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.
            (2) Civil service status.--The detail of an employee under 
        paragraph (1) shall be without interruption or loss of civil 
        service status or privilege.
    (e) Support Services.--Upon request of the Commission, the 
Department of the Interior shall provide to the Commission, on a 
reimbursable basis, administrative support services necessary for the 
Commission to carry out its responsibilities under this Act, including 
the disbursement of funds available to the Commission, and the 
computation and disbursement of the basic pay for Commission personnel.
    (f) 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.
    (g) FACA Nonapplicability.--Section 14(b) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Commission.
    (h) 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)--
            (1) $750,000 for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 
        2012;
            (2) $500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2013 through 
        2015; and
            (3) $250,000 for each of the fiscal years 2016 through 
        2017.
    (b) Grants.--There is authorized to be appropriated $3,500,000 to 
the National Endowment for the Humanities to provide grants under 
section 7.
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