I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4907
To establish the Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission, and for
other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 20, 2000
Mr. BATEMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Government Reform
A BILL
To establish the Jamestown 400th Commemoration
Commission, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Jamestown 400th
Commemoration Commission Act of 2000’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(1) the founding of the colony at Jamestown,
Virginia in 1607, the first permanent English colony
in the New World, and the capital of Virginia for 92
years, has major significance in the history of the
United States;
(2) 
the 
settlement 
brought 
people 
from
throughout the Atlantic Basin together to form a
multicultural society, including English, other Euro-
peans, Native Americans, and Africans;
(3) the economic, political, religious, and social
institutions that developed during the first 9 decades
of the existence of Jamestown continue to have pro-
found effects on the United States, particularly in
English common law and language, cross cultural re-
lationships, and economic structure and status;
(4) the National Park Service, the Association
for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, and the
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation of the Common-
wealth of Virginia collectively own and operate sig-
nificant resources related to the early history of
Jamestown; and
(5) in 1996—
(A) the Commonwealth of Virginia des-
ignated the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
as the State agency responsible for planning
and implementing the Commonwealth’s portion
of the commemoration of the 400th anniversary
of the founding of the Jamestown settlement;
(B) the Foundation created the Celebra-
tion 2007 Steering Committee, known as the
Jamestown 2007 Steering Committee; and
(C) planning for the commemoration
began.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to estab-
lish the Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission
to—
(1) ensure a suitable national observance of the
Jamestown 2007 anniversary by complementing the
programs and activities of the State of Virginia;
(2) cooperate with and assist the programs and
activities of the State in observance of the James-
town 2007 anniversary;
(3) assist in ensuring that Jamestown 2007 ob-
servances provide an excellent visitor experience and
beneficial interaction between visitors and the nat-
ural and cultural resources of the Jamestown sites;
(4) assist in ensuring that the Jamestown 2007
observances are inclusive and appropriately recognize
the experiences of all people present in 17th century
Jamestown;
(5) provide assistance to the development of
Jamestown-related programs and activities;
(6) facilitate international involvement in the
Jamestown 2007 observances;
(7) support and facilitate marketing efforts for
a commemorative coin, stamp, and related activities
for the Jamestown 2007 observances; and
(8) assist in the appropriate development of
heritage tourism and economic benefits to the
United States.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) COMMEMORATION.—The term ‘‘commemo-
ration’’ means the commemoration of the 400th an-
niversary of the founding of the Jamestown settle-
ment.
(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’
means the Jamestown 400th Commemoration Com-
mission established by section 4(a).
(3) GOVERNOR.—The term ‘‘Governor’’ means
the Governor of the State.
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of the Interior.
(5) STATE.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘‘State’’
means the State of Virginia.
(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘State’’ in-
cludes agencies and entities of the State.
SEC. 4. JAMESTOWN 400TH COMMEMORATION COMMIS-
SION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a commission
to be known as the ‘‘Jamestown 400th Commemoration
Commission’’.
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission shall be
composed of 16 members, of whom—
(A) 4 members shall be appointed by the
Secretary, taking into consideration the rec-
ommendations of the Chairperson of the James-
town 2007 Steering Committee;
(B) 4 members shall be appointed by the
Secretary, taking into consideration the rec-
ommendations of the Governor;
(C) 2 members shall be employees of the
National Park Service, of which—
(i) 1 shall be the Director of the Na-
tional Park Service (or a designee); and
(ii) 1 shall be an employee of the Na-
tional Park Service having experience rel-
evant to the commemoration, to be ap-
pointed by the Secretary; and
(D) 5 members shall be individuals that
have an interest in, support for, and expertise
appropriate to, the commemoration, to be ap-
pointed by the Secretary.
(2) TERM; VACANCIES.—
(A) TERM.—A member of the Commission
shall be appointed for the life of the Commis-
sion.
(B) VACANCIES.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—A vacancy on the
Commission shall be filled in the same
manner in which the original appointment
was made.
(ii) PARTIAL TERM.—A member ap-
pointed to fill a vacancy on the Commis-
sion shall serve for the remainder of the
term for which the predecessor of the
member was appointed.
(3) MEETINGS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall
meet—
(i) at least twice each year; or
(ii) at the call of the Chairperson or
the majority of the members of the Com-
mission.
(B) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30
days after the date on which all members of the
Commission have been appointed, the Commis-
sion shall hold the initial meeting of the Com-
mission.
(4) VOTING.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall
act only on an affirmative vote of a majority of
the members of the Commission.
(B) QUORUM.—A majority of the Commis-
sion shall constitute a quorum.
(5) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary shall ap-
point a Chairperson of the Commission, taking into
consideration any recommendations of the Governor.
(c) DUTIES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall—
(A) plan, develop, and execute programs
and activities appropriate to commemorate the
400th anniversary of the founding of James-
town;
(B) generally facilitate Jamestown-related
activities throughout the United States;
(C) encourage civic, patriotic, historical,
educational, religious, economic, and other or-
ganizations throughout the United States to or-
ganize and participate in anniversary activities
to expand the understanding and appreciation
of the significance of the founding and early
history of Jamestown;
(D) coordinate and facilitate for the public
scholarly research on, publication about, and in-
terpretation of, Jamestown; and
(E) ensure that the 400th anniversary of
Jamestown provides a lasting legacy and long-
term public benefit by assisting in the develop-
ment of appropriate programs and facilities.
(2) PLANS; REPORTS.—
(A) STRATEGIC PLAN; ANNUAL PERFORM-
ANCE PLANS.—In accordance with the Govern-
ment Performance and Results Act of 1993
(Public Law 103–62; 107 Stat. 285), the Com-
mission shall prepare a strategic plan and an-
nual performance plans for the activities of the
Commission carried out under this Act.
(B) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than Sep-
tember 30, 2008, the Commission shall com-
plete a final report that contains—
(i) a summary of the activities of the
Commission;
(ii) a final accounting of funds re-
ceived and expended by the Commission;
and
(iii) the findings and recommenda-
tions of the Commission.
(d) POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.—The Commission
may—
(1) accept donations and make dispersions of
money, personal services, and real and personal
property related to Jamestown and of the signifi-
cance of Jamestown in the history of the United
States;
(2) appoint such advisory committees as the
Commission determines to be necessary to carry out
this Act;
(3) authorize any member or employee of the
Commission to take any action that the Commission
is authorized to take by this Act;
(4) procure supplies, services, and property, and
make or enter into contracts, leases or other legal
agreements, to carry out this Act (except that any
contracts, leases or other legal agreements made or
entered into by the Commission shall not extend be-
yond the date of termination of the Commission);
(5) use the United States mails in the same
manner and under the same conditions as other
Federal agencies;
(6) subject to approval by the Commission,
make grants in amounts not to exceed $10,000 to
communities and nonprofit organizations to develop
programs to assist in the commemoration;
(7) make grants to research and scholarly orga-
nizations to research, publish, or distribute informa-
tion relating to the early history of Jamestown; and
(8) provide technical assistance to States, local-
ities, and nonprofit organizations to further the com-
memoration.
(e) COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.—
(1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE COM-
MISSION.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), a member of the Commis-
sion shall serve without compensation.
(B) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A member of
the Commission who is an officer or employee
of the Federal Government shall serve without
compensation in addition to the compensation
received for the services of the member as an
officer or employee of the Federal Government.
(C) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the
Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, in-
cluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates
authorized for an employee of an agency under
subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United
States Code, while away from the home or reg-
ular place of business of the member in the per-
formance of the duties of the Commission.
(2) STAFF.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the
Commission may, without regard to the civil
service laws (including regulations), appoint
and terminate an executive director and such
other additional personnel as are necessary to
enable the Commission to perform the duties of
the Commission.
(B) CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE DIREC-
TOR.—The employment of an executive director
shall be subject to confirmation by the Commis-
sion.
(3) COMPENSATION.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), the Chairperson of the Com-
mission may fix the compensation of the execu-
tive director and other personnel without regard
to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter
III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code,
relating to classification of positions and Gen-
eral Schedule pay rates.
(B) MAXIMUM RATE OF PAY.—The rate of
pay for the executive director and other per-
sonnel shall not exceed the rate payable for
level V of the Executive Schedule under section
5316 of title 5, United States Code.
(4) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—
(A) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—On the request of
the Commission, the head of any Federal
agency may detail, on a reimbursable or
non-reimbursable basis, any of the per-
sonnel of the agency to the Commission to
assist the Commission in carrying out the
duties of the Commission under this Act.
(ii) CIVIL SERVICE STATUS.—The de-
tail of an employee under clause (i) shall
be without interruption or loss of civil serv-
ice status or privilege.
(B) STATE EMPLOYEES.—The Commission
may—
(i) accept the services of personnel de-
tailed from States (including subdivisions
of States); and
(ii) reimburse States for services of
detailed personnel.
(5) VOLUNTEER AND UNCOMPENSATED SERV-
ICES.—Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31,
United States Code, the Commission may accept and
use voluntary and uncompensated services as the
Commission determines necessary.
(6) SUPPORT SERVICES.—The Director of the
National Park Service shall provide to the Commis-
sion, on a reimbursable basis, such administrative
support services as the Commission may request.
(f) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT-
TENT SERVICES.—The Chairperson of the Commission
may procure temporary and intermittent services in ac-
cordance with section 3109(b) of title 5, United States
Code, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily
equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of
that title.
(g) FACA NONAPPLICABILITY.—Section 14(b) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not
apply to the Commission.
(h) NO EFFECT ON AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this
section supersedes the authority of the State, the National
Park Service, or the Association for the Preservation of
Virginia Antiquities, concerning the commemoration.
(i) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall terminate
on December 31, 2008.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as are necessary to carry out this Act.
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