I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2235
To establish a Commission on the Bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase
and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 16, 1999
Mr. GEPHARDT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
A BILL
To establish a Commission on the Bicentennial of the
Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
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 ‘‘Louisiana Purchase
and Lewis and Clark Expedition Bicentennial Commission
Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase
occurs in 2003, two hundred years after the United
States, under the leadership of President Thomas
Jefferson and after due consideration and approval
by Congress, paid $15 million to France to acquire
the vast area in the western half of the Mississippi
River Basin;
(2) the Louisiana Purchase was the largest
peaceful land transaction in history and virtually
doubled the size of the United States;
(3) the Louisiana Purchase opened the heart of
the North American continent for exploration, settle-
ment, and achievement, as exemplified by the Lewis
and Clark Expedition of 1803 to 1806, which se-
cured through heroic efforts the first documentation
of the inhabitants, riches, and grandeur of this new
territory of the United States;
(4) in the wake of the Louisiana Purchase and
Lewis and Clark Expedition, immigrants from
around the world came to the American frontier,
which became emblematic of the search for political,
economic, and spiritual freedom; and
(5) commemoration of the Louisiana Purchase
and the opening of the West can enhance public un-
derstanding of the impact of Westward expansion on
American society and can provide lessons for demo-
cratic governance in our own time.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION OF COMMIS-
SION.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com-
mission to be known as the ‘‘Louisiana Purchase and
Lewis and Clark Expedition Bicentennial Commission’’
(hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’)
to plan, encourage, coordinate, and conduct the commemo-
ration of the two hundredth anniversary of the Louisiana
Purchase and its exploration by Lewis and Clark.
(b) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 24 members, who shall be appointed not later
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
as follows:
(1) Eight members appointed by the President
upon the recommendation of the majority leader of
the Senate in consultation with the minority leader
of the Senate.
(2) Eight members appointed by the President
upon recommendation of the Speaker of the House
of Representatives in consultation with the minority
leader of the House of Representatives.
(3) Eight members appointed by the President,
which members shall be broadly representative of the
people of the United States, and not otherwise offi-
cers or employees of the United States.
(c) QUALIFICATIONS.—The President and each of the
individuals making recommendations to the President re-
garding appointments shall seek to achieve a balanced
membership representing, to the extent practicable, the
Nation as a whole. The Commission members shall be cho-
sen from among individuals who have demonstrated schol-
arship, a strong sense of public service, expertise in the
learned professions, and abilities likely to contribute to the
fulfillment of the duties of the Commission.
(d) TERMS.—Members of the Commission shall be
appointed for the life of the Commission.
(e) INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION.—The President
is authorized and requested to invite the governments of
Canada, France, Great Britain, Mexico, and Spain each
to appoint, not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, one individual to serve as a non-
voting participant in the activities of the Commission.
(f) CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR.—The President shall
designate one of the members to be Chairperson, who shall
serve in that position at the pleasure of the President. The
Commission shall elect a Vice-Chairperson from among its
members.
(g) QUORUM.—Thirteen members of the Commission
shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may con-
duct meetings.
(h) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall
be filled in the same manner in which the original appoint-
ment was made.
(i) COMPENSATION.—The members of the Commis-
sion shall serve without compensation, but each member
shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other nec-
essary expenses incurred in the performance of Commis-
sion duties.
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall—
(1) plan and develop activities appropriate to
commemorate the bicentennial of the Louisiana Pur-
chase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition, including
a limited number of projects to be undertaken by the
Federal Government, seeking to harmonize and bal-
ance the important goals of ceremony and celebra-
tion with the equally important goals of scholarship
and education;
(2) consult with and encourage Indian tribes,
appropriate Federal departments and agencies, State
and local governments, foreign governments, and
private organizations to organize and participate in
bicentennial activities commemorating or examining
the history of the Louisiana Territory, the negotia-
tion of the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark
Expedition, the specific characteristics of the fron-
tier movement and the westward expansion of the
United States with their influences on the culture of
the world; and
(3) coordinate, generally, activities throughout
the United States and international activities related
to the history and influence of the Louisiana Pur-
chase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
(b) FEDERAL AGENCY COOPERATION.—Federal de-
partments and agencies are authorized and requested to
cooperate with the Commission in planning, encouraging,
coordinating, and conducting appropriate commemorative
activities.
SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission may provide
for—
(1) the preparation, distribution, dissemination,
exhibition, and sale of historical, commemorative,
and informational materials and objects which will
contribute to public awareness of, and interest in,
the bicentennial, except that any commemorative
coins, medals, or postage stamps recommended to be
issued by the United States shall be sold only by an
agency of the United States;
(2) competitions and awards for historical,
scholarly, artistic, literary, musical, and other works,
programs, and projects relating to the bicentennial;
(3) a bicentennial calendar or register of pro-
grams and projects, and in other ways provide a
central clearinghouse for information and coordina-
tion regarding dates, events, places, documents, arti-
facts, and personalities of bicentennial historical and
commemorative significance; and
(4) the design and designation of logos, sym-
bols, or marks for use in connection with the com-
memoration of the bicentennial of the Louisiana
Purchase and Lewis and Clark Expedition, and shall
prescribe rules and regulations regarding their use,
which shall provide that the Commission may not
sell, lease, or otherwise grant to any person the right
to use any such logo, symbol, or mark in connection
with the production or manufacture of any commer-
cial goods, or as part of an advertisement promoting
any commercial goods or services.
(b) DONATIONS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission may ac-
cept, use, solicit, and dispose of donations of money,
property, or personal services.
(2) LIMITATIONS.—The Commission may not
accept donations—
(A) the value of which exceeds $50,000 an-
nually, in the case of donations from an indi-
vidual; or
(B) the value of which exceeds $250,000
annually, in the case of donations from a cor-
poration, partnership, or other business organi-
zation.
(3) EXCEPTION.—The limitations in paragraph
(2) shall not apply in the case of an organization de-
scribed in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)) and exempt
from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.
(c) PRESERVATION.—All books, manuscripts, mis-
cellaneous printed matter, memorabilia, relics, and other
materials or property relating to the time period of the
Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition,
received by the Commission by donation may be deposited
for preservation in National, State, or local libraries, mu-
seums, or other agencies.
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS AND POWERS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—
(1) APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS.—The Chair-
person, with the advice of the whole Commission,
shall appoint, to serve at the pleasure of the Chair-
person, without regard to the provisions of title 5,
United States Code, governing appointments in the
competitive service—
(A) a Director who may be compensated at
a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay pay-
able for level IV of the Executive Schedule es-
tablished under section 5315 of such title; and
(B) a Deputy Director who may be com-
pensated at a rate not to exceed the rate of
basic pay payable for level V of the Executive
Schedule established under section 5316 of such
title.
(2) DELEGATION TO DIRECTOR.—The Commis-
sion may delegate such powers and duties to the Di-
rector as may be necessary for the efficient oper-
ation and management of the Commission.
(b) GENERAL POWERS.—Subject to such rules and
regulations as may be adopted by the Commission, the
Commission may—
(1) appoint and fix the compensation of such
additional personnel, not to exceed 20 staff mem-
bers, as it deems advisable, without regard to the
provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing
appointments in the competitive service, and without
regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter
53 of such title relating to classification and General
Schedule pay rates, but at rates not in excess of the
maximum rate for grade GS–15 of the General
Schedule under section 5332 of such title;
(2) appoint such advisory committees as it
deems necessary; and
(3) procure supplies, services, and property,
make contracts, expend funds appropriated, donated,
or received to carry out such contracts.
(c) STAFF DETAILED FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—
Upon request of the Commission, the head of any Federal
agency may detail any of the personnel of such agency
to the Commission to assist the Commission in carrying
out its duties under this Act.
(d) STAFF PAID FROM DONATED FUNDS.—The
Commission may appoint and fix the pay of additional per-
sonnel to be paid out of private donations.
(e) PRINCIPAL OFFICE.—The principal office of the
Commission shall be in St. Louis, Missouri.
SEC. 7. REPORTING AND TERMINATION.
(a) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Commission shall re-
port to the President and Congress annually on its activi-
ties, its expenditures, and all donations.
(b) COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.—Not later than three
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Com-
mission shall submit to the President and to Congress a
comprehensive report incorporating its specific rec-
ommendations for the commemoration of the bicentennial
of the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark Expedi-
tion and related events. The report of the Commission
shall include recommendations for the allocation of finan-
cial and administrative responsibility among the public
and private authorities and organizations recommended
for participation by the Commission. This report may rec-
ommend activities such as—
(1) the production, publication, and distribution
of books, pamphlets, films, electronic publications,
and other educational materials focusing on the his-
tory and impact of the Louisiana Purchase on the
United States and the world;
(2) bibliographical and documentary projects,
publications, and electronic resources;
(3) conferences, convocations, lectures, semi-
nars, and other programs;
(4) the development of programs by and for li-
braries, museums, parks, and historic sites, includ-
ing national and international traveling exhibitions;
(5) ceremonies and celebrations commemorating
specific events;
(6) the production, distribution, and perform-
ance of artistic works, and of programs and activi-
ties, focusing on the national and international sig-
nificance of the Louisiana Purchase and the west-
ward movement opening the frontier for present and
future generations; and
(7) the issuance of commemorative coins, med-
als, certificates of recognition, and postage stamps.
(c) FINAL REPORT AND TERMINATION.—The Com-
mission shall make a final report to the President and
Congress, and shall terminate, by March 1, 2007.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out the purposes of this Act $1,000,000
for fiscal year 2000 and such sums as may be necessary
for the subsequent fiscal years through fiscal year 2007.
(b) AVAILABILITY
OF
FUNDS.—Amounts appro-
priated under this section for any fiscal year shall remain
available until March 1, 2007.
(c) LIMITATION.—The total appropriations author-
ized under this Act shall not exceed $8,000,000.
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