107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 2133

AN ACT

To establish a commission for the purpose of encouraging

and providing for the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Brown v.

Board of Education.

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. FINDINGS.

2 The Congress finds that as the Nation approaches

3 May 17, 2004, marking the 50th anniversary of the Su4 preme Court decision in Oliver L. Brown et al. v. Board

5 of Education of Topeka, Kansas et al., it is appropriate

6 to establish a national commission to plan and coordinate

7 the commemoration of that anniversary.

8 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

9 There is established a commission to be known as the

10 ‘‘Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Commis11 sion’’ (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Commission’’).

12 SEC. 3. DUTIES.

13 In order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the

14 Brown decision, the Commission shall—

15 (1) in conjunction with the Department of Edu16 cation, plan and coordinate public education activi17 ties and initiatives, including public lectures, writing

18 contests, and public awareness campaigns, through

19 the Department of Education’s ten regional offices;

20 and

21 (2) in cooperation with the Brown Foundation

22 for Educational Equity, Excellence, and Research in

23 Topeka, Kansas (referred to in this Act as the

24 ‘‘Brown Foundation’’), and such other public or pri25 vate entities as the Commission considers appro-
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1 priate, encourage, plan, develop, and coordinate ob2 servances of the anniversary of the Brown decision.

3 SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.

4 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission

5 shall be composed as follows:

6 (1) Two representatives of the Department of

7 Education appointed by the Secretary of Education,

8 one of whom shall serve as Chair of the Commission.

9 (2) Eleven individuals appointed by the Presi10 dent after receiving recommendations as follows:

11 (A) Members of the Senate from each of

12 the States in which the lawsuits decided by the

13 Brown decision were originally filed, Delaware,

14 Kansas, South Carolina, and Virginia, and from

15 the State of the first legal challenge, Massachu16 setts, shall jointly recommend to the President

17 one individual from their respective States.

18 (B) Members of the House of Representa19 tives from each of the States referred to in sub20 paragraph (A) shall jointly recommend to the

21 President one individual from their respective

22 States.

23 (C) The Delegate to the House of Rep24 resentatives from the District of Columbia shall
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1 recommend to the President one individual

2 from the District of Columbia.

3 (3) Two representatives of the judicial branch

4 of the Federal Government appointed by the Chief

5 Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

6 (4) Two representatives of the Brown Founda7 tion.

8 (5) Two representatives of the NAACP Legal

9 Defense and Education Fund.

10 (6) One representative of the Brown v. Board

11 of Education National Historic Site.

12 (b) TERMS.—Members of the Commission shall be

13 appointed for the life of the Commission.

14 (c) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall

15 be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

16 (d) COMPENSATION.—

17 (1) IN GENERAL.— Members of the Commis18 sion shall serve without pay.

19 (2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall

20 receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of

21 subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions

22 under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United

23 States Code.

24 (e) QUORUM.—A majority of members of the Com25 mission shall constitute a quorum.
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1 (f) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall hold its first

2 meeting not later than 6 months after the date of enact3 ment of this Act. The Commission shall subsequently meet

4 at the call of the Chair or a majority of its members.

5 (g) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF.— The Com6 mission may secure the services of an executive director

7 and staff personnel as it considers appropriate.

8 SEC. 5. POWERS.

9 (a) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any mem10 ber or agent of the Commission may, if so authorized by

11 the Commission, take any action which the Commission

12 is authorized to take under this Act.

13 (b) GIFTS AND DONATIONS.—

14 (1) AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT.—The Commission

15 may accept and use gifts or donations of money,

16 property, or personal services.

17 (2) DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY.—Any books,

18 manuscripts, miscellaneous printed matter, memora19 bilia, relics, or other materials donated to the Com20 mission which relate to the Brown decision, shall,

21 upon termination of the Commission—

22 (A) be deposited for preservation in the

23 Brown Foundation Collection at the Spencer

24 Research Library at the University of Kansas

25 in Lawrence, Kansas; or
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1 (B) be disposed of by the Commission in

2 consultation with the Librarian of Congress,

3 and with the express consent of the Brown

4 Foundation and the Brown v. Board of Edu5 cation National Historic Site.

6 (c) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United

7 States mails in the same manner and under the same con8 ditions as other departments and agencies of the United

9 States.

10 SEC. 6. REPORTS.

11 (a) INTERIM REPORTS.—The Commission shall

12 transmit interim reports to the President and the Con13 gress not later than December 31 of each year. Each such

14 report shall include a description of the activities of the

15 Commission during the year covered by the report, an ac16 counting of any funds received or expended by the Com17 mission during such year, and recommendations for any

18 legislation or administrative action which the Commission

19 considers appropriate.

20 (b) FINAL REPORT.—The Commission shall transmit

21 a final report to the President and the Congress not later

22 than December 31, 2004. Such report shall include an ac23 counting of any funds received or expended, and the dis24 position of any other properties, not previously reported.
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1 SEC. 7. TERMINATION.

2 (a) DATE.—The Commission shall terminate on such

3 date as the Commission may determine, but not later than

4 February 1, 2005.

5 (b) DISPOSITION OF FUNDS.—Any funds held by the

6 Commission on the date the Commission terminates shall

7 be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.

8 SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

9 There are authorized to be appropriated $250,000 for

10 the period encompassing fiscal years 2003 and 2004 to

11 carry out this Act, to remain available until expended.

Passed the House of Representatives June 27, 2001.

Attest:

Clerk.

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 2133

AN ACT

To establish a commission for the purpose of encouraging and providing for the commemoration

of the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Courtdecision in Brown v. Board of Education.