I
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4398
To establish a commission, in honor of the 150th Anniversary of the Seneca
Falls Convention, to further protect sites of importance in the historic
efforts to secure equal rights for women.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AUGUST 4, 1998
Ms. SLAUGHTER (for herself, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, and Ms. WOOL-
SEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Resources
A BILL
To establish a commission, in honor of the 150th Anniversary
of the Seneca Falls Convention, to further protect sites
of importance in the historic efforts to secure equal
rights for women.
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 ‘‘Women’s Progress
Commemoration Act’’.
SEC. 2. DECLARATION.
Congress declares that—
(1) the original Seneca Falls Convention, held
in upstate New York in July 1848, convened to con-
sider the social conditions and civil rights of women
at that time;
(2) the convention marked the beginning of an
admirable and courageous struggle for equal rights
for women;
(3) the 150th Anniversary of the convention
provides an excellent opportunity to examine the his-
tory of the women’s movement; and
(4) a Federal Commission should be established
for the important task of ensuring the historic pres-
ervation of sites that have been instrumental in
American women’s history, creating a living legacy
for generations to come.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com-
mission to be known as the ‘‘Women’s Progress Com-
memoration Commission’’ (referred to in this Act as the
‘‘Commission’’).
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission shall be
composed of 15 members, of whom—
(A) 3 shall be appointed by the President;
(B) 3 shall be appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives;
(C) 3 shall be appointed by the minority
leader of the House of Representatives;
(D) 3 shall be appointed by the majority
leader of the Senate; and
(E) 3 shall be appointed by the minority
leader of the Senate.
(2) PERSONS ELIGIBLE.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The members of the
Commission shall be individuals who have
knowledge or expertise, whether by experience
or training, in matters to be studied by the
Commission. The members may be from the
public or private sector, and may include Fed-
eral, State, local, or employees, members of aca-
demia, nonprofit organizations, or industry, or
other interested individuals.
(B) DIVERSITY.—It is the intent of Con-
gress that persons appointed to the Commission
under paragraph (1) be persons who represent
diverse economic, professional, and cultural
backgrounds.
(3) CONSULTATION AND APPOINTMENT.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The President, Speaker
of the House of Representatives, minority lead-
er of the House of Representatives, majority
leader of the Senate, and minority leader of the
Senate shall consult among themselves before
appointing the members of the Commission in
order to achieve, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, fair and equitable representation of var-
ious points of view with respect to the matters
to be studied by the Commission.
(B) COMPLETION OF APPOINTMENTS; VA-
CANCIES.—The President, Speaker of the
House of Representatives, minority leader of
the House of Representatives, majority leader
of the Senate, and minority leader of the Sen-
ate shall conduct the consultation under sub-
paragraph (3) and make their respective ap-
pointments not later than 60 days after the
date of enactment of this Act.
(4) VACANCIES.— A vacancy in the membership
of the Commission shall not affect the powers of the
Commission and shall be filled in the same manner
as the original appointment not later than 30 days
after the vacancy occurs.
(c) MEETINGS.—
(1) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days
after the date on which all members of the Commis-
sion have been appointed, the Commission shall hold
its first meeting.
(2) SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS.—After the initial
meeting, the Commission shall meet at the call of
the Chairperson.
(d) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the
Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business, but a lesser number of members may hold
hearings.
(e) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The
Commission shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chair-
person from among its members.
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
Not later than 1 year after the initial meeting of the
Commission, the Commission, in cooperation with the Sec-
retary of the Interior and other appropriate Federal,
State, and local public and private entities, shall prepare
and submit to the Secretary of the Interior a report that—
(1) identifies sites of historical significance to
the women’s movement; and
(2) recommends actions, under the National
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.)
and other law, to rehabilitate and preserve the sites
and provide to the public interpretive and edu-
cational materials and activities at the sites.
SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such
hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission
considers advisable to carry out its duties of this Act.
(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The
Commission may secure directly from any Federal depart-
ment or agency such information as the Commission con-
siders necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
At the request of the Chairperson of the Committee, the
head of such department or agency shall furnish such in-
formation to the Commission.
SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—A member of the
Commission who is not otherwise an officer or employee
of the Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate
equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic
pay prescribed for a position at level IV of the Executive
Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States
Code, for each day (including travel time) during which
the member is engaged in the performance of the duties
of the Commission. A member of the Commission who is
otherwise an officer or employee of the United States shall
serve without compensation in addition to that received
for services as an officer or employee of the United States.
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the Commis-
sion shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem
in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees
of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5,
United States Code, while away from the home or regular
place of business of the member in the performance of
service for the Commission.
(c) STAFF.—
(1) 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 per-
sonnel as may be necessary to enable the Commis-
sion to perform its duties. The employment and ter-
mination of an executive director shall be subject to
confirmation by a majority of the members of the
Commission.
(2) COMPENSATION.—The executive director
shall be compensated at a rate not to exceed the rate
payable for a position at level V of the Executive
Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United
States Code. The Chairperson may fix the com-
pensation of other personnel without regard to the
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chap-
ter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to
classification of positions and General Schedule pay
rates, except that the rate of pay for such personnel
may not exceed the rate payable for a position at
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316
of that title.
(3) DETAIL
OF
GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.—
Any Federal Government employee, with the ap-
proval of the head of the appropriate Federal agen-
cy, may be detailed to the Commission without reim-
bursement, and the detail shall be without interrup-
tion or loss of civil service status, benefits, or privi-
lege.
(d) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT-
TENT SERVICES.—The Chairperson of the Commission
may procure temporary and intermittent services under
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates
for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the
annual rate of basic pay prescribed for a position at level
V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of that
title.
SEC. 7. FUNDING.
(a) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to the Commission such
sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.
(b) DONATIONS.—The Commission may accept dona-
tions from non-Federal sources to defray the costs of the
operations of the Commission.
SEC. 8. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate on the date that is
30 days after the date on which the Commission submits
to the Secretary of the Interior the report under section
4.
SEC. 9. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
Not later 2 years and not later than 5 years after
the date on which the Commission submits to the Sec-
retary of the Interior the report under section 4, the Sec-
retary of the Interior shall submit to Congress a report
describing the actions that have been taken to preserve
the sites identified in the Commission report as being of
historical significance.
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