II 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2656 

To establish a National Commission on the Quincentennial of the discovery 

of Florida by Ponce de Leon. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 14, 2004 

Mr. GRAHAM of Florida (for himself and Mr. NELSON of Florida) introduced 

the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee 

on Energy and Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To establish a National Commission on the Quincentennial 

of the discovery of Florida by Ponce de Leon. 

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 ‘‘Ponce de Leon Dis5 covery of Florida Quincentennial Commission Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds that— 

8 (1) the Quincentennial of the founding of Flor9 ida by Ponce de Leon occurs in 2013, 500 years 
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1 after Ponce de Leon landed on its shores and ex2 plored the Keys and the west coast of Florida; 

3 (2) evidence supports the theory that Ponce de 

4 Leon was the first European to land on the shores 

5 of Florida; 

6 (3) Florida means ‘‘the land of flowers’’ and 

7 the State owes its name to Ponce de Leon; 

8 (4) Ponce de Leon’s quest for the ‘‘fountain of 

9 youth’’ has become an established legend which has 

10 drawn fame and recognition to Florida and the 

11 United States; 

12 (5) the discovery of Florida by Ponce de Leon, 

13 the myth of the ‘‘fountain of youth’’, and the subse14 quent colonization of Florida encouraged other Eu15 ropean countries to explore the New World and to 

16 establish settlements in the territory that is cur17 rently the United States; 

18 (6) Florida was colonized under 5 flags; and 

19 (7) commemoration of the arrival in Florida of 

20 Ponce de Leon and the beginning of the colonization 

21 of the Americas would— 

22 (A) enhance public understanding of the 

23 impact of the discovery of Florida on the his24 tory of the United States; and 
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1 (B) provide lessons about the importance 

2 of exploration and discovery. 

3 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

4 In this Act: 

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

6 means the National Commission on the Quincenten7 nial of the discovery of Florida by Ponce de Leon es8 tablished under section 4(a). 

9 (2) QUINCENTENNIAL.—The term ‘‘Quin10 centennial’’ means the 500th anniversary of the dis11 covery of Florida by Ponce de Leon. 

12 SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 

13 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com14 mission to be known as the ‘‘National Commission on the 

15 Quincentennial of the discovery of Florida by Ponce de 

16 Leon’’. 

17 (b) DUTIES.—The Commission shall plan, encourage, 

18 coordinate, and conduct the commemoration of the Quin19 centennial. 

20 (c) MEMBERSHIP.— 

21 (1) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be 

22 composed of 12 members— 

23 (A) of whom 5 members shall be Repub24 licans and 5 members shall be Democrats, in25 cluding— 
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1 (i) 6 members, of whom 3 members 

2 shall be Republicans and 3 members shall 

3 be Democrats, appointed by the President; 

4 (ii) 2 members, of whom 1 member 

5 shall be a Republican and 1 member shall 

6 be a Democrat, appointed by the Presi7 dent, on the recommendation of the Major8 ity Leader and the Minority Leader of the 

9 Senate; and 

10 (iii) 2 members, of whom 1 member 

11 shall be a Republican and 1 member shall 

12 be a Democrat, appointed by the Presi13 dent, on the recommendation of the Speak14 er of the House of Representatives, in con15 sultation with the Minority Leader of the 

16 House of Representatives; and 

17 (B) including the Director of the National 

18 Park Service and the Secretary of the Smithso19 nian Institution. 

20 (2) CRITERIA.—A member of the Commission 

21 shall be chosen from among individuals that have 

22 demonstrated a strong sense of public service, exper23 tise in the appropriate professions, scholarship, and 

24 abilities likely to contribute to the fulfillment of the 

25 duties of the Commission. 
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1 (3) INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION.—Not later 

2 than 60 days after the date of enactment of this 

3 Act, the President shall invite the Government of 

4 Spain to appoint 1 individual to serve as a nonvoting 

5 member of the Commission. 

6 (4) DATE OF APPOINTMENTS.—Not later than 

7 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 

8 members of the Commission described in paragraph 

9 (1) shall be appointed. 

10 (d) TERM; VACANCIES.— 

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

12 the life of the Commission. 

13 (2) VACANCY.—A vacancy on the Commis14 sion— 

15 (A) shall not affect the powers of the Com16 mission; and 

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

18 the original appointment was made. 

19 (e) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days after 

20 the date on which all members of the Commission have 

21 been appointed, the Commission shall hold the initial 

22 meeting of the Commission. 

23 (f) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the 

24 call of the co-chairpersons described under subsection (h). 
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1 (g) QUORUM.—A quorum of the Commission for deci2 sion making purposes shall be 7 members, except that a 

3 lesser number of members, as determined by the Commis4 sion, may conduct meetings. 

5 (h) CO-CHAIRPERSONS AND VICE CO-CHAIR6 PERSONS.— 

7 (1) CO-CHAIRPERSONS.—The President shall 

8 designate 2 of the members of the Commission, 1 of 

9 whom shall be a Republican and 1 of whom shall be 

10 a Democrat, to be co-chairpersons of the Commis11 sion. 

12 (2) CO-VICE-CHAIRPERSONS.—The Commission 

13 shall select 2 co-vice-chairpersons, 1 of whom shall 

14 be a Republican and 1 of whom shall be a Democrat, 

15 from among the members of the Commission. 

16 SEC. 5. DUTIES. 

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

18 (1) conduct a study regarding the feasibility of 

19 creating a National Heritage Area or National 

20 Monument to commemorate the discovery of Florida; 

21 (2) plan and develop activities appropriate to 

22 commemorate the Quincentennial including a limited 

23 number of proposed projects to be undertaken by the 

24 appropriate Federal departments and agencies that 

25 commemorate the Quincentennial by seeking to har-
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1 monize and balance the important goals of ceremony 

2 and celebration with the equally important goals of 

3 scholarship and education; 

4 (3) consult with and encourage appropriate 

5 Federal departments and agencies, State and local 

6 governments, elementary and secondary schools, col7 leges and universities, foreign governments, and pri8 vate organizations to organize and participate in 

9 Quincentennial activities commemorating or exam10 ining— 

11 (A) the history of Florida; 

12 (B) the discovery of Florida; 

13 (C) the life of Ponce de Leon; 

14 (D) the myths surrounding Ponce de 

15 Leon’s search for gold and for the ‘‘fountain of 

16 youth’’; 

17 (E) the exploration of Florida; and 

18 (F) the beginnings of the colonization of 

19 North America; and 

20 (4) coordinate activities throughout the United 

21 States and internationally that relate to the history 

22 and influence of the discovery of Florida. 

23 (b) REPORTS.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 

25 the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission 
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1 shall submit to the President and the Committee on 

2 Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and 

3 the Committee on Resources of the House of Rep4 resentatives a comprehensive report that includes 

5 specific recommendations for— 

6 (A) the allocation of financial and adminis7 trative responsibility among participating enti8 ties and persons with respect to commemoration 

9 of the Quincentennial; and 

10 (B) the commemoration of the Quincenten11 nial and related events through programs and 

12 activities, including— 

13 (i) the production, publication, and 

14 distribution of books, pamphlets, films, 

15 electronic publications, and other edu16 cational materials focusing on the history 

17 and impact of the discovery of Florida on 

18 the United States and the world; 

19 (ii) bibliographical and documentary 

20 projects, publications, and electronic re21 sources; 

22 (iii) conferences, convocations, lec23 tures, seminars, and other programs; 

24 (iv) the development of programs by 

25 and for libraries, museums, parks and his-
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1 toric sites, including international and na2 tional traveling exhibitions; 

3 (v) ceremonies and celebrations com4 memorating specific events; 

5 (vi) the production, distribution, and 

6 performance of artistic works, and of pro7 grams and activities, focusing on the na8 tional and international significance of the 

9 discovery of Florida; and 

10 (vii) the issuance of commemorative 

11 coins, medals, certificates of recognition, 

12 and stamps. 

13 (2) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Commission shall 

14 submit an annual report that describes the activities, 

15 programs, expenditures, and donations of or received 

16 by the Commission to— 

17 (A) the President; and 

18 (B) the Committee on Energy and Natural 

19 Resources of the Senate and the Committee on 

20 Resources of the House of Representatives. 

21 (3) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than December 

22 31, 2013, the Commission shall submit a final re23 port that describes the activities, programs, expendi24 tures, and donations of or received by the Commis25 sion to— 
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1 (A) the President; and 

2 (B) the Committee on Energy and Natural 

3 Resources of the Senate and the Committee on 

4 Resources of the House of Representatives. 

5 (c) ASSISTANCE.—In carrying out this Act, the Com6 mission shall consult, cooperate with, and seek advice and 

7 assistance from appropriate Federal departments and 

8 agencies, including the Department of the Interior. 

9 SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may provide 

11 for— 

12 (1) the preparation, distribution, dissemination, 

13 exhibition, and sale of historical, commemorative, 

14 and informational materials and objects that will 

15 contribute to public awareness of, and interest in, 

16 the Quincentennial, except that any commemorative 

17 coin, medal, or postage stamp recommended to be 

18 issued by the United States shall be sold only by a 

19 Federal department or agency; 

20 (2) competitions and awards for historical, 

21 scholarly, artistic, literary, musical, and other works, 

22 programs, and projects relating to the Quincenten23 nial; 

24 (3) a Quincentennial calendar or register of 

25 programs and projects; 
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1 (4) a central clearinghouse for information and 

2 coordination regarding dates, events, places, docu3 ments, artifacts, and personalities of Quincentennial 

4 historical and commemorative significance; and 

5 (5) the design and designation of logos, sym6 bols, or marks for use in connection with the com7 memoration of the Quincentennial and shall estab8 lish procedures regarding their use. 

9 (b) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The Commission may 

10 appoint such advisory committees as the Commission de11 termines necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. 

12 SEC. 7. ADMINISTRATION. 

13 (a) LOCATION OF OFFICE.— 

14 (1) PRINCIPAL OFFICE.—The principal office of 

15 the Commission shall be in St. Augustine, Florida. 

16 (2) SATELLITE OFFICE.—The Commission may 

17 establish a satellite office in Washington, D.C. 

18 (b) STAFF.— 

19 (1) APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY

20 DIRECTOR.— 

21 (A) IN GENERAL.—The co-chairpersons, 

22 with the advice of the Commission, may appoint 

23 and terminate a director and deputy director 

24 without regard to the civil service laws (includ25 ing regulations). 
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1 (B) DELEGATION TO DIRECTOR.—The 

2 Commission may delegate such powers and du3 ties to the director as may be necessary for the 

4 efficient operation and management of the 

5 Commission. 

6 (2) STAFF PAID FROM FEDERAL FUNDS.—The 

7 Commission may use any available Federal funds to 

8 appoint and fix the compensation of not more than 

9 4 additional personnel staff members, as the Com10 mission determines necessary. 

11 (3) STAFF PAID FROM NON-FEDERAL FUNDS.— 

12 The Commission may use any available non-Federal 

13 funds to appoint and fix the compensation of addi14 tional personnel. 

15 (4) COMPENSATION.— 

16 (A) MEMBERS.— 

17 (i) IN GENERAL.—A member of the 

18 Commission shall serve without compensa19 tion. 

20 (ii) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member 

21 of the Commission shall be allowed travel 

22 expenses, including per diem in lieu of sub23 sistence, at rates authorized for an em24 ployee of an agency under subchapter I of 

25 chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, 
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1 while away from the home or regular place 

2 of business of the member in the perform3 ance of the duties of the Commission. 

4 (B) STAFF.— 

5 (i) IN GENERAL.—The co-chair6 persons of the Commission may fix the 

7 compensation of the director, deputy direc8 tor, and other personnel without regard to 

9 the provisions of chapter 51 and sub10 chapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United 

11 States Code, relating to classification of 

12 positions and General Schedule pay rates. 

13 (ii) MAXIMUM RATE OF PAY.— 

14 (I) DIRECTOR.—The rate of pay 

15 for the director shall not exceed the 

16 rate payable for level IV of the Execu17 tive Schedule under section 5315 of 

18 title 5, United States Code. 

19 (II) DEPUTY DIRECTOR.—The 

20 rate of pay for the deputy director 

21 shall not exceed the rate payable for 

22 level V of the Executive Schedule 

23 under section 5316 of title 5, United 

24 States Code. 
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1 (III) STAFF MEMBERS.—The 

2 rate of pay for staff members ap3 pointed under paragraph (2) shall not 

4 exceed the rate payable for grade GS– 

5 15 of the General Schedule under sec6 tion 5332 of title 5, United States 

7 Code. 

8 (c) DETAIL OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOY9 EES.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—On request of the Commis11 sion, the head of any Federal agency or department 

12 may detail any of the personnel of the agency or de13 partment to the Commission to assist the Commis14 sion in carrying out this Act. 

15 (2) REIMBURSEMENT.—A detail of personnel 

16 under this subsection shall be without reimburse17 ment by the Commission to the agency from which 

18 the employee was detailed. 

19 (3) CIVIL SERVICE STATUS.—The detail of the 

20 employee shall be without interruption or loss of civil 

21 service status or privilege. 

22 (d) OTHER REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.— 

23 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may pro24 cure supplies, services, and property, enter into con-
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1 tracts, and expend funds appropriated, donated, or 

2 received to carry out contracts. 

3 (2) DONATIONS.— 

4 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may 

5 solicit, accept, use, and dispose of donations of 

6 money, property, or personal services. 

7 (B) LIMITATIONS.—Subject to subpara8 graph (C), the Commission shall not accept do9 nations— 

10 (i) the value of which exceeds $50,000 

11 annually, in the case of donations from an 

12 individual; or 

13 (ii) the value of which exceeds 

14 $250,000 annually, in the case of dona15 tions from a person other than an indi16 vidual. 

17 (C) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.—The lim18 itations in subparagraph (B) shall not apply in 

19 the case of an organization that is— 

20 (i) described in section 501(c)(3) of 

21 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and 

22 (ii) exempt from taxation under sec23 tion 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code 

24 of 1986. 
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1 (3) ACQUIRED ITEMS.—Any book, manuscript, 

2 miscellaneous printed matter, memorabilia, relic, and 

3 other material or property relating to the time pe4 riod of the discovery of Florida acquired by the 

5 Commission may be deposited for preservation in na6 tional, State, or local libraries, museums, archives, 

7 or other agencies with the consent of the depositary 

8 institution. 

9 (e) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use 

10 the United States mail to carry out this Act in the same 

11 manner and under the same conditions as other agencies 

12 of the Federal Government. 

13 SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), there 

15 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the pur16 poses of this Act such sums as may be necessary for each 

17 of fiscal years 2005 through 2013. 

18 (b) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Amounts appro19 priated under this section for any fiscal year shall remain 

20 available until December 31, 2013. 

21 SEC. 9. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY. 

22 The authority provided by this Act terminates effec23 tive December 31, 2013. 

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