I 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1131 

To establish a commission to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the 

American Civil War. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 16, 2007 

Mr. BAKER (for himself, Mr. MCCRERY, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. MELANCON, 

Mr. JINDAL, Mr. BOUSTANY, Mr. WOLF, and Mr. PLATTS) 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. 

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 ‘‘Civil War Sesqui5 centennial Commission Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 

7 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find8 ings: 


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1 (1) The American Civil War was a defining ex2 perience in the development of the United States. 

3 (2) The people of the United States continue to 

4 struggle with issues of race, civil rights, the politics 

5 of federalism, and heritage which are legacies of the 

6 Civil War and Reconstruction. 

7 (3) There is a resurgence of interest in the Civil 

8 War that is evidenced by the multitude of publica9 tions, exhibits, reenactments, research organizations, 

10 Internet and multimedia resources, historic parks, 

11 and preservation associations focused on the Civil 

12 War. 

13 (4) The years 2011 through 2015 mark the ses14 quicentennial of the Civil War. 

15 (5) The sesquicentennial of the Civil War pre16 sents a significant opportunity for Americans to re17 call and reflect upon the Civil War and its legacy in 

18 a spirit of reconciliation and reflection. 

19 (6) The United States Civil War Center at Lou20 isiana State University, Louisiana, and the Civil 

21 War Institute at Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania, 

22 have been designated by the Federal Government to 

23 plan and facilitate the commemoration of the sesqui24 centennial of the Civil War. 

25 (7) The State of Virginia— 


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1 (A) witnessed more Civil War military en2 gagements on its soil than any other State; 

3 (B) hosts more historic sites related to the 

4 Civil War than any other State; and 

5 (C) is home to the Pamplin Historical 

6 Park and the National Museum of the Civil 

7 War Soldier and the Virginia Center for Civil 

8 War Studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute 

9 and State University, both of which are nation10 ally recognized centers of expertise in the study 

11 of the Civil War. 

12 (8) The African American Civil War Museum 

13 located in Washington, DC, is the only museum in 

14 the Nation dedicated to the study and understanding 

15 of the role of African Americans in the Civil War. 

16 (b) PURPOSE-.— The purpose of this Act is to estab17 lish a Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Com18 mission to— 

19 (1) ensure a suitable national observance of the 

20 sesquicentennial of the Civil War; 

21 (2) cooperate with and assist States and na22 tional organizations with programs and activities for 

23 the observance of the sesquicentennial of the Civil 

24 War; 


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1 (3) assist in ensuring that any observance of 

2 the sesquicentennial of the Civil War is inclusive and 

3 appropriately recognizes the experiences and points 

4 of view of all people affected by the Civil War; and 

5 (4) provide assistance for the development of 

6 programs, projects, and activities on the Civil War 

7 that have lasting educational value. 

8 SEC. 3. CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION 

9 COMMISSION. 

10 The Secretary of the Interior shall establish a com11 mission to be known as the Civil War Sesquicentennial 

12 Commemoration Commission (hereafter in this Act re13 ferred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

14 SEC. 4. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be com16 posed of 25 members as follows: 

17 (1) GOVERNMENT MEMBERS.—The Commission 

18 shall include— 

19 (A) 2 Members of the House of Represent20 atives appointed by the Speaker of the House of 

21 Representatives; 

22 (B) 2 Members of the Senate appointed by 

23 the President pro tempore of the Senate, in 

24 consultation with the majority leader and the 

25 minority leader of the Senate; 


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1 (C) the Secretary of the Interior or the 

2 designee of the Secretary; 

3 (D) the Secretary of the Smithsonian In4 stitution, or the designee of the Secretary; 

5 (E) the Secretary of the Department of 

6 Education, or the designee of the Secretary; 

7 (F) the Chairman of the National Endow8 ment for the Humanities, or the designee of the 

9 Chairman; 

10 (G) the Archivist of the United States, or 

11 the designee of the Archivist; 

12 (H) the Librarian of Congress, or the des13 ignee of the Librarian; and 

14 (I) the Director of the National Park Serv15 ice, or the designee of the Director. 

16 (2) PRIVATE MEMBERS.—The Commission shall 

17 include— 

18 (A) 5 members appointed by the President 

19 from among individuals who are representative 

20 of the corporate community; and 

21 (B) 9 individuals, appointed by the Presi22 dent, from among persons who by reason of 

23 education, training, and experience, are experts 

24 on the Antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruc25 tion eras, including— 


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1 (i) 6 individuals with expertise in his2 tory; 

3 (ii) 1 individual with specific expertise 

4 in art history, historic preservation, or a 

5 related field; 

6 (iii) 1 individual with expertise in an7 thropology, cultural geography, sociology, 

8 or a related field; and 

9 (iv) 1 individual with expertise in po10 litical science, law, economics, or a related 

11 field. 

12 (b) TERMS.—Members shall be appointed for the life 

13 of the Commission. 

14 (c) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Commission 

15 shall not affect its powers, and shall be filled in the same 

16 manner as the original appointment. 

17 (d) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.—The appointment of 

18 the members of the Commission shall be made not later 

19 than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

20 SEC. 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS. 

21 (a) MEETINGS.— 

22 (1) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 60 days 

23 after the date on which all members of the Commis24 sion have been appointed, the members appointed 


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1 under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 4(a)(2) 

2 shall call the first meeting of the Commission. 

3 (2) SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS.—The Commission 

4 shall hold subsequent meetings at the call of the 

5 chairperson. 

6 (b) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—At the 

7 initial meeting, the Commission shall elect a Chairperson 

8 and Vice Chairperson from among its voting members. 

9 (c) QUORUM.—A majority of voting members shall 

10 constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold meet11 ings. 

12 (d) VOTING.— 

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

14 only on an affirmative vote of a majority of the vot15 ing members of the Commission. 

16 (2) NONVOTING MEMBERS.—The individuals 

17 appointed under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of sec18 tion 4(a)(1) shall be nonvoting members, and shall 

19 serve only in an advisory capacity. 

20 SEC. 6. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 

21 (a) ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE SESQUICENTEN22 NIAL.—The Commission shall— 

23 (1) plan, develop, and carry out programs and 

24 activities appropriate to commemorate the sesqui25 centennial of the Civil War; 


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1 (2) encourage interdisciplinary examination of 

2 the Civil War; 

3 (3) facilitate Civil War-related activities 

4 throughout the United States; 

5 (4) encourage civic, historical, educational, eco6 nomic, and other organizations throughout the 

7 United States to organize and participate in activi8 ties to expand the understanding and appreciation of 

9 the significance of the Civil War; 

10 (5) coordinate and facilitate the public distribu11 tion of scholarly research, publications, and interpre12 tations of the Civil War; 

13 (6) provide technical assistance to States, local14 ities, and nonprofit organizations to further the com15 memoration of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War; 

16 (7) develop programs and facilities to ensure 

17 that the sesquicentennial commemoration of the 

18 Civil War results in a positive legacy and long-term 

19 public benefit; and 

20 (8) encourage the development and conduct of 

21 programs designed to involve the international com22 munity in activities that commemorate the Civil 

23 War. 

24 (b) PLANS AND REPORT.— 


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1 (1) STRATEGIC PLAN AND ANNUAL PERFORM2 ANCE PLANS.—The Commission shall prepare a 

3 strategic plan in accordance with section 306 of title 

4 5, United States Code, and annual performance 

5 plans in accordance with section 1115 of title 31, 

6 United States Code, for the activities of the Com7 mission carried out under this Act. 

8 (2) REPORTS.— 

9 (A) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Commission 

10 shall submit to Congress an annual report that 

11 contains a list of each gift, bequest, or devise 

12 with a value of more than $250, together with 

13 the identity of the donor of each such gift, be14 quest, or devise. 

15 (B) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than De16 cember 30, 2015, the Commission shall submit 

17 to Congress a final report that contains— 

18 (i) a summary of activities of the 

19 Commission; 

20 (ii) a final accounting of funds re21 ceived and expended by the Commission; 

22 and 

23 (iii) the findings and recommenda24 tions of the Commission. 


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1 SEC. 7. GRANT PROGRAM. 

2 (a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The National Endow3 ment for the Humanities shall award grants under this 

4 section for the uses described in subsection (b). 

5 (b) USE OF GRANTS.—Grants awarded under this 

6 section shall be used for appropriate activities relating to 

7 the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. 

8 (c) CONSIDERATION.—In awarding grants under this 

9 section, the National Endowment of the Humanities shall 

10 consider established university, museum, or academic pro11 grams with national scope that sponsor multidisciplinary 

12 projects, including those that concentrate on the role of 

13 African Americans in the Civil War. 

14 SEC. 8. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may— 

16 (1) solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, be17 quests, or devises of money or other real or personal 

18 property for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the 

19 work of the Commission; 

20 (2) appoint any advisory committee as the 

21 Commission considers appropriate for the purposes 

22 of this Act; 

23 (3) authorize any voting member or employee of 

24 the Commission to take any action that the Commis25 sion is authorized to take under this Act; 


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

2 make or enter into contracts, leases, or other legal 

3 agreements to carry out this Act (except that any 

4 contracts, leases, or other legal agreements entered 

5 into by the Commission shall not extend beyond the 

6 date of the termination of the Commission); and 

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

8 manner and under the same conditions as other 

9 Federal agencies. 

10 SEC. 9. PERSONNEL MATTERS. 

11 (a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Members of the 

12 Commission, and members of any advisory committee ap13 pointed under section 8(a)(2), shall serve without com14 pensation. 

15 (b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members of the Commis16 sion, and members of any advisory committees appointed 

17 under section 8(a)(2), shall be allowed travel expenses, in18 cluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized 

19 for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chap20 ter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from 

21 the home or regular place of business of the member in 

22 the performance of the duties of the Commission. 

23 (c) STAFF.— 

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

25 Commission may, without regard to civil service laws 


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1 (including regulations), appoint and terminate an ex2 ecutive director and such other additional personnel 

3 as are necessary to enable the Commission to per4 form the duties of the Commission. 

5 (2) CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE DIREC6 TOR.—The employment of an executive director shall 

7 be subject to confirmation by the Commission. 

8 (3) COMPENSATION.— 

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

10 subparagraph (B), the Chairperson of the Com11 mission may fix the compensation of the execu12 tive director and other personnel without regard 

13 to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter 

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

15 relating to classification of positions and Gen16 eral Schedule pay rates. 

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

18 pay for the executive director and other per19 sonnel shall not exceed the rate payable for 

20 level V of the Executive Schedule under section 

21 5316 of title 5, United States Code. 

22 (d) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—At the request of the Com24 mission, the head of any Federal agency may detail, 

25 on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, any of 


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1 the personnel of the agency to the Commission to as2 sist the Commission in carrying out the duties of the 

3 Commission under this Act. 

4 (2) CIVIL SERVICE STATUS.—The detail of an 

5 employee under paragraph (1) shall be without inter6 ruption or loss of civil service status or privilege. 

7 (e) VOLUNTEER AND UNCOMPENSATED SERVICES.— 

8 Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States 

9 Code, the Commission may accept and use voluntary and 

10 uncompensated services as the Commission determines 

11 necessary. 

12 (f) SUPPORT SERVICES.—The Director of the Na13 tional Park Service shall provide to the Commission, on 

14 a reimbursable basis, such administrative support services 

15 as the Commission may request. 

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

18 may procure temporary and intermittent services under 

19 section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at daily 

20 rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily equiva21 lent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level 

22 V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such 

23 title. 


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1 (h) FACA NONAPPLICABILITY.—Section 14(b) of the 

2 Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 

3 apply to the Commission. 

4 (i) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate 

5 on the date that is 90 days after the date on which the 

6 Commission submits its report under section 6(b)(2). 

7 SEC. 10. AUDIT OF COMMISSION. 

8 The Inspector General of the Department of the Inte9 rior shall perform an annual audit of the Commission and 

10 shall make the results of the audit available to the public. 

11 SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro13 priated to carry out this Act (other than section 7) 

14 $200,000 for each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2016. 

15 (b) GRANTS.—There is authorized to be appropriated 

16 $3,500,000 to the National Endowment for the Human17 ities to provide grants under section 7, to remain available 

18 until expended. 

Æ 


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