II 

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 

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— 

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

9 the United States under the United States Highway 

10 System connecting the Midwest to California, and 


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

2 States; 

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

4 hundreds of thousands of people seeking escape from 

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

6 opportunity’’ in the West, and providing employment 

7 during the Great Depression, as thousands were put 

8 to work on road crews to pave the road; 

9 (3) Route 66 was invaluable in transporting 

10 troops, equipment, and supplies across the country 

11 to the West, where the Federal Government estab12 lished multiple industries and military bases during 

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

14 1945, Route 66 was a key route taken by thousands 

15 of troops as they returned home; 

16 (4) Route 66 symbolized the positive outlook of 

17 the United States during the postwar economic re18 covery in the 1950s and 1960s, serving as an icon 

19 of free-spirited independence and linking people 

20 across the United States; 

21 (5) during the 1950s and 1960s, the tourist in22 dustry along Route 66 grew tremendously, giving 

23 rise to countless tourist courts, motels, service sta24 tions, garages, and diners; 


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

2 decommissioned as a Federal highway, the popu3 larity and mythical stature of Route 66 has grown 

4 domestically and internationally, as the road has ex5 perienced a rebirth of interest and support; and 

6 (7) the year 2026 will be the centennial anni7 versary of Route 66, and a commission should be es8 tablished to study and recommend in a report to 

9 Congress activities that are fitting and proper to cel10 ebrate that anniversary in a manner that appro11 priately honors the Mother Road of the United 

12 States. 

13 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT. 

14 There is established a commission to be known as the 

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

16 Act as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

17 SEC. 4. DUTIES. 

18 The Commission shall— 

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

20 activities as the Commission determines to be appro21 priate to honor Route 66 on the occasion of its cen22 tennial anniversary; 

23 (2) provide advice and assistance to Federal, 

24 State, and local governmental agencies and civic 


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1 groups in carrying out activities to honor Route 66 

2 on the occasion of its centennial anniversary; 

3 (3) recommend activities that may be carried 

4 out by the Federal Government to honor Route 66 

5 on the occasion of its centennial anniversary; and 

6 (4) submit to Congress reports pursuant to sec7 tion 8. 

8 SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP. 

9 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 

10 shall be composed of 15 members appointed as follows: 

11 (1) 3 members, each of whom shall be an eligi12 ble individual described in subsection (b), appointed 

13 by the President on the recommendation of the Sec14 retary of Transportation. 

15 (2) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi16 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

17 President on the recommendation of the Governor of 

18 Illinois. 

19 (3) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi20 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

21 President on the recommendation of the Governor of 

22 Missouri. 

23 (4) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi24 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 


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1 President on the recommendation of the Governor of 

2 Kansas. 

3 (5) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi4 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

5 President on the recommendation of the Governor of 

6 Oklahoma. 

7 (6) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi8 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

9 President on the recommendation of the Governor of 

10 Texas. 

11 (7) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi12 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

13 President on the recommendation of the Governor of 

14 New Mexico. 

15 (8) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi16 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

17 President on the recommendation of the Governor of 

18 Arizona. 

19 (9) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi20 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

21 President on the recommendation of the Governor of 

22 California. 

23 (10) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi24 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

25 Speaker of the House of Representatives. 


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1 (11) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi2 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

3 Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. 

4 (12) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi5 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

6 Majority Leader of the Senate. 

7 (13) 1 member, who shall be an eligible indi8 vidual described in subsection (b), appointed by the 

9 Minority Leader of the Senate. 

10 (b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL.—An eligible individual 

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

12 (1) a demonstrated dedication to educating oth13 ers about the importance of historical figures and 

14 events; and 

15 (2) substantial knowledge and appreciation of 

16 Route 66. 

17 (c) TIME OF APPOINTMENT.—Each initial appoint18 ment of a member of the Commission shall be made before 

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

20 of enactment of this Act. 

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

22 life of the Commission. 

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

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


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1 in the manner in which the original appointment was 

2 made. 

3 (f) BASIC PAY.—Members shall serve on the Commis4 sion without pay. 

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

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

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

8 United States Code. 

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

10 constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hear11 ings. 

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

13 select a Chair and Vice Chair from among the members 

14 of the Commission. 

15 (j) MEETINGS.— 

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

17 at the call of the Chair. 

18 (2) LOCATION.— 

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

20 subparagraph (B), each meeting and hearing of 

21 the Commission shall be held in a location 

22 along the Route 66 corridor. 

23 (B) EXCEPTION.—The Commission may 

24 hold a meeting or hearing in a location that is 

25 not along the Route 66 corridor if, in the deterVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Apr 09, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1014.IS S1014

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1 mination of the Commission, holding the meet2 ing or hearing in that location is necessary to 

3 accomplish the duties of the Commission. 

4 SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF. 

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

6 fix the pay of a Director and such additional personnel 

7 as the Commission considers to be appropriate. 

8 (b) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE

9 LAWS.— 

10 (1) DIRECTOR.—The Director of the Commis11 sion shall— 

12 (A) be appointed subject to the provisions 

13 of title 5, United States Code, governing ap14 pointments in the competitive service; and 

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

16 payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule 

17 under section 5315 of title 5, United States 

18 Code. 

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

20 shall— 

21 (A) be appointed subject to the provisions 

22 of title 5, United States Code, governing ap23 pointments in the competitive service; and 

24 (B) be paid in accordance with the provi25 sions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Apr 09, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1014.IS S1014

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1 ter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating 

2 to classification and General Schedule pay 

3 rates. 

4 SEC. 7. POWERS. 

5 (a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commission 

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

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

8 the Commission considers to be appropriate to carry out 

9 this Act. 

10 (b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any mem11 ber or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the 

12 Commission, take any action that the Commission is au13 thorized to take under this Act. 

14 (c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.— 

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

16 directly from any Federal department or agency in17 formation necessary to enable the Commission to 

18 carry out this Act. 

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

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

21 of a Federal department or agency shall provide to 

22 the Commission the requested information. 

23 (3) EXCEPTION.—Nothing in this subsection 

24 shall require any Federal department or agency to 


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1 produce records that are subject to a common law 

2 evidentiary privilege. 

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

4 States mails in the same manner and under the same con5 ditions as other Federal departments and agencies. 

6 (e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—On the request of the Com8 mission, the Administrator of General Services shall 

9 provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, 

10 the administrative support services necessary for the 

11 Commission to carry out this Act. 

12 (2) DETAILEES.— 

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

14 Commission, the head of any Federal agency or 

15 department may detail to the Commission, on a 

16 reimbursable basis, any employee of the agency 

17 or department. 

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

19 an employee under subparagraph (A) shall be 

20 without interruption or loss of civil service sta21 tus or privilege. 

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

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

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


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1 the purpose of covering the costs incurred by the Commis2 sion in carrying out this Act. 

3 SEC. 8. REPORTS. 

4 (a) INTERIM REPORTS.—The Commission may sub5 mit to Congress such interim reports as the Commission 

6 considers to be appropriate. 

7 (b) COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.— 

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

9 the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission 

10 shall submit to the President and Congress a report 

11 that includes specific recommendations for the com12 memoration of the centennial of Route 66 and re13 lated events. 

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

15 paragraph (1)— 

16 (A) shall include recommendations for the 

17 allocation of financial and administrative re18 sponsibility among the public and private au19 thorities and organizations recommended for 

20 participation by the Commission; and 

21 (B) may recommend activities such as— 

22 (i) the production, publication, and 

23 distribution of books, pamphlets, films, 

24 electronic publications, and other edu25 cational materials focusing on the history 


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1 and impact of Route 66 on the United 

2 States and the world; 

3 (ii) bibliographical and documentary 

4 projects, publications, and electronic re5 sources; 

6 (iii) conferences, convocations, lec7 tures, seminars, and other programs; 

8 (iv) the development of programs by 

9 and for libraries, museums, parks, and his10 toric sites, including national traveling ex11 hibitions; 

12 (v) ceremonies and celebrations com13 memorating specific events; 

14 (vi) the production, distribution, and 

15 performance of artistic works, and of pro16 grams and activities, focusing on the na17 tional and international significance of 

18 Route 66; and 

19 (vii) the issuance of commemorative 

20 coins, medals, certificates of recognition, 

21 and postage stamps. 

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

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

24 than 90 days before the termination of the Commission 

25 under section 9. 


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1 SEC. 9. TERMINATION. 

2 The Commission shall terminate not later than June 

3 30, 2027. 

4 SEC. 10. CLARIFICATION REGARDING FUNDING. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—No additional funds are author6 ized to carry out the requirements of this Act. 

7 (b) USE OF EXISTING FUNDS.— 

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

9 may be carried out using amounts made available to 

10 the Secretary of Transportation and not otherwise 

11 obligated, from accounts identified pursuant to para12 graph (2). 

13 (2) IDENTIFICATION OF EXISTING FUNDS.— 

14 The Secretary of Transportation shall identify any 

15 accounts of the Secretary from which the Secretary 

16 could use funds available in that account and not 

17 otherwise obligated to carry out this Act. 

Æ 


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