II 

Calendar No. 117 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1014 

To establish the Route 66 Centennial Commission, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 3, 2019 

Ms. DUCKWORTH (for herself and Mr. INHOFE) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and 

Public Works 

JUNE 19, 2019 

Reported by Mr. BARRASSO, without amendment 

A BILL 

To establish the Route 66 Centennial 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 ‘‘Route 66 Centennial 

5 Commission Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds that— 


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1 (1) Route 66 was the first all-paved highway in 

2 the United States under the United States Highway 

3 System connecting the Midwest to California, and 

4 has played a major role in the history of the United 

5 States; 

6 (2) Route 66 was the symbol of opportunity for 

7 hundreds of thousands of people seeking escape from 

8 the Dust Bowl in the 1930s, serving as a ‘‘road to 

9 opportunity’’ in the West, and providing employment 

10 during the Great Depression, as thousands were put 

11 to work on road crews to pave the road; 

12 (3) Route 66 was invaluable in transporting 

13 troops, equipment, and supplies across the country 

14 to the West, where the Federal Government estab15 lished multiple industries and military bases during 

16 World War II, and on the conclusion of the war in 

17 1945, Route 66 was a key route taken by thousands 

18 of troops as they returned home; 

19 (4) Route 66 symbolized the positive outlook of 

20 the United States during the postwar economic re21 covery in the 1950s and 1960s, serving as an icon 

22 of free-spirited independence and linking people 

23 across the United States; 

24 (5) during the 1950s and 1960s, the tourist in25 dustry along Route 66 grew tremendously, giving 


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1 rise to countless tourist courts, motels, service sta2 tions, garages, and diners; 

3 (6) since June 27, 1985, when Route 66 was 

4 decommissioned as a Federal highway, the popu5 larity and mythical stature of Route 66 has grown 

6 domestically and internationally, as the road has ex7 perienced a rebirth of interest and support; and 

8 (7) the year 2026 will be the centennial anni9 versary of Route 66, and a commission should be es10 tablished to study and recommend in a report to 

11 Congress activities that are fitting and proper to cel12 ebrate that anniversary in a manner that appro13 priately honors the Mother Road of the United 

14 States. 

15 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT. 

16 There is established a commission to be known as the 

17 ‘‘Route 66 Centennial Commission’’ (referred to in this 

18 Act as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

19 SEC. 4. DUTIES. 

20 The Commission shall— 

21 (1) plan, develop a list of, and carry out such 

22 activities as the Commission determines to be appro23 priate to honor Route 66 on the occasion of its cen24 tennial anniversary; 


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1 (2) provide advice and assistance to Federal, 

2 State, and local governmental agencies and civic 

3 groups in carrying out activities to honor Route 66 

4 on the occasion of its centennial anniversary; 

5 (3) recommend activities that may be carried 

6 out by the Federal Government to honor Route 66 

7 on the occasion of its centennial anniversary; and 

8 (4) submit to Congress reports pursuant to sec9 tion 8. 

10 SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP. 

11 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 

12 shall be composed of 15 members appointed as follows: 

13 (1) 3 members, each of whom shall be an eligi14 ble individual described in subsection (b), appointed 

15 by the President on the recommendation of the Sec16 retary of Transportation. 

17 (2) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi18 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

19 President on the recommendation of the Governor of 

20 Illinois. 

21 (3) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi22 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

23 President on the recommendation of the Governor of 

24 Missouri. 


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1 (4) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi2 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

3 President on the recommendation of the Governor of 

4 Kansas. 

5 (5) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi6 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

7 President on the recommendation of the Governor of 

8 Oklahoma. 

9 (6) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi10 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

11 President on the recommendation of the Governor of 

12 Texas. 

13 (7) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi14 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

15 President on the recommendation of the Governor of 

16 New Mexico. 

17 (8) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi18 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

19 President on the recommendation of the Governor of 

20 Arizona. 

21 (9) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi22 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

23 President on the recommendation of the Governor of 

24 California. 


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1 (10) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi2 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

3 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

4 (11) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi5 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

6 Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. 

7 (12) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi8 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

9 Majority Leader of the Senate. 

10 (13) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi11 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

12 Minority Leader of the Senate. 

13 (b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL.—An eligible individual 

14 referred to in subsection (a) is an individual with— 

15 (1) a demonstrated dedication to educating oth16 ers about the importance of historical figures and 

17 events; and 

18 (2) substantial knowledge and appreciation of 

19 Route 66. 

20 (c) TIME OF APPOINTMENT.—Each initial appoint21 ment of a member of the Commission shall be made before 

22 the expiration of the 120-day period beginning on the date 

23 of enactment of this Act. 

24 (d) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed for the 

25 life of the Commission. 


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1 (e) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall 

2 not affect the powers of the Commission but shall be filled 

3 in the manner in which the original appointment was 

4 made. 

5 (f) BASIC PAY.—Members shall serve on the Commis6 sion without pay. 

7 (g) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall receive 

8 travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 

9 in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, 

10 United States Code. 

11 (h) QUORUM.—7 members of the Commission shall 

12 constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hear13 ings. 

14 (i) CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.—The Commission shall 

15 select a Chair and Vice Chair from among the members 

16 of the Commission. 

17 (j) MEETINGS.— 

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

19 at the call of the Chair. 

20 (2) LOCATION.— 

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

22 subparagraph (B), each meeting and hearing of 

23 the Commission shall be held in a location 

24 along the Route 66 corridor. 


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1 (B) EXCEPTION.—The Commission may 

2 hold a meeting or hearing in a location that is 

3 not along the Route 66 corridor if, in the deter4 mination of the Commission, holding the meet5 ing or hearing in that location is necessary to 

6 accomplish the duties of the Commission. 

7 SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF. 

8 (a) DIRECTOR.—The Commission may appoint and 

9 fix the pay of a Director and such additional personnel 

10 as the Commission considers to be appropriate. 

11 (b) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE

12 LAWS.— 

13 (1) DIRECTOR.—The Director of the Commis14 sion shall— 

15 (A) be appointed subject to the provisions 

16 of title 5, United States Code, governing ap17 pointments in the competitive service; and 

18 (B) be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate 

19 payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule 

20 under section 5315 of title 5, United States 

21 Code. 

22 (2) STAFF.—The staff of the Commission 

23 shall— 


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1 (A) be appointed subject to the provisions 

2 of title 5, United States Code, governing ap3 pointments in the competitive service; and 

4 (B) be paid in accordance with the provi5 sions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chap6 ter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating 

7 to classification and General Schedule pay 

8 rates. 

9 SEC. 7. POWERS. 

10 (a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commission 

11 may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and 

12 places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as 

13 the Commission considers to be appropriate to carry out 

14 this Act. 

15 (b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any mem16 ber or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the 

17 Commission, take any action that the Commission is au18 thorized to take under this Act. 

19 (c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may secure 

21 directly from any Federal department or agency in22 formation necessary to enable the Commission to 

23 carry out this Act. 

24 (2) REQUIREMENT.—Subject to paragraph (3), 

25 on request of the Chair of the Commission, the head 


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1 of a Federal department or agency shall provide to 

2 the Commission the requested information. 

3 (3) EXCEPTION.—Nothing in this subsection 

4 shall require any Federal department or agency to 

5 produce records that are subject to a common law 

6 evidentiary privilege. 

7 (d) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United 

8 States mails in the same manner and under the same con9 ditions as other Federal departments and agencies. 

10 (e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—On the request of the Com12 mission, the Administrator of General Services shall 

13 provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, 

14 the administrative support services necessary for the 

15 Commission to carry out this Act. 

16 (2) DETAILEES.— 

17 (A) IN GENERAL.—At the request of the 

18 Commission, the head of any Federal agency or 

19 department may detail to the Commission, on a 

20 reimbursable basis, any employee of the agency 

21 or department. 

22 (B) CIVIL SERVICE STATUS.—The detail of 

23 an employee under subparagraph (A) shall be 

24 without interruption or loss of civil service sta25 tus or privilege. 


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1 (f) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use, and 

2 dispose of gifts, grants, bequests, or devises of money, 

3 services, or property from any public or private source for 

4 the purpose of covering the costs incurred by the Commis5 sion in carrying out this Act. 

6 SEC. 8. REPORTS. 

7 (a) INTERIM REPORTS.—The Commission may sub8 mit to Congress such interim reports as the Commission 

9 considers to be appropriate. 

10 (b) COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years after 

12 the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission 

13 shall submit to the President and Congress a report 

14 that includes specific recommendations for the com15 memoration of the centennial of Route 66 and re16 lated events. 

17 (2) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—The report under 

18 paragraph (1)— 

19 (A) shall include recommendations for the 

20 allocation of financial and administrative re21 sponsibility among the public and private au22 thorities and organizations recommended for 

23 participation by the Commission; and 

24 (B) may recommend activities such as— 


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1 (i) the production, publication, and 

2 distribution of books, pamphlets, films, 

3 electronic publications, and other edu4 cational materials focusing on the history 

5 and impact of Route 66 on the United 

6 States and the world; 

7 (ii) bibliographical and documentary 

8 projects, publications, and electronic re9 sources; 

10 (iii) conferences, convocations, lec11 tures, seminars, and other programs; 

12 (iv) the development of programs by 

13 and for libraries, museums, parks, and his14 toric sites, including national traveling ex15 hibitions; 

16 (v) ceremonies and celebrations com17 memorating specific events; 

18 (vi) the production, distribution, and 

19 performance of artistic works, and of pro20 grams and activities, focusing on the na21 tional and international significance of 

22 Route 66; and 

23 (vii) the issuance of commemorative 

24 coins, medals, certificates of recognition, 

25 and postage stamps. 


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1 (c) FINAL REPORT.—The Commission shall submit 

2 to the President and Congress a final report by not later 

3 than 90 days before the termination of the Commission 

4 under section 9. 

5 SEC. 9. TERMINATION. 

6 The Commission shall terminate not later than June 

7 30, 2027. 

8 SEC. 10. CLARIFICATION REGARDING FUNDING. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—No additional funds are author10 ized to carry out the requirements of this Act. 

11 (b) USE OF EXISTING FUNDS.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—The requirements of this Act 

13 may be carried out using amounts made available to 

14 the Secretary of Transportation and not otherwise 

15 obligated, from accounts identified pursuant to para16 graph (2). 

17 (2) IDENTIFICATION OF EXISTING FUNDS.— 

18 The Secretary of Transportation shall identify any 

19 accounts of the Secretary from which the Secretary 

20 could use funds available in that account and not 

21 otherwise obligated to carry out this Act. 


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Calendar No. 117 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1014 

A BILL 

To establish the Route 66 Centennial Commission, 

and for other purposes. 

JUNE 19, 2019 

Reported without amendment 


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