(6) promote the protection of War of 1812 re-
sources and assist in the appropriate development of 
heritage tourism and economic benefits to the United 
States. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COMMEMORATION.—The term ‘‘commemora-
tion’’ means the commemoration of the War of 1812. 
(2) 
COMMISSION.—The 
term 
‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Star-Spangled Banner and War of 1812 
Bicentennial Commission established in subsection 
(d)(1). 
(3) QUALIFIED
CITIZEN.—The term ‘‘qualified 
citizen’’ means a citizen of the United States with an 
interest in, support for, and expertise appropriate to 
the commemoration. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(5) STATES.—The term ‘‘States’’— 
(A) means the States of Alabama, Kentucky, 
Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Vermont, Vir-
ginia, New York, Maine, Michigan, and Ohio; 
and 
(B) includes agencies and entities of each 
State. 
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(d) STAR-SPANGLED BANNER AND WAR OF 1812 COM-
MEMORATION COMMISSION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established a com-
mission to be known as the ‘‘Star-Spangled Banner 
and War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission’’. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be 
composed of 22 members, of whom— 
(i) 11 members shall be qualified citi-
zens appointed by the Secretary after con-
sideration of nominations submitted by the 
Governors of Alabama, Kentucky, Indiana, 
Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, 
New York, Ohio, Vermont, and Virginia; 
(ii) 3 members shall be qualified citi-
zens appointed by the Secretary after con-
sideration of nominations submitted by the 
Mayors of the District of Columbia, the City 
of Baltimore, and the City of New Orleans; 
(iii) 2 members shall be employees of 
the National Park Service, of whom— 
(I) 1 shall be the Director of the 
National Park Service (or a designee); 
and 
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(II) 1 shall be an employee of the 
National Park Service having experi-
ence relevant to the commemoration; 
(iv) 4 members shall be qualified citi-
zens appointed by the Secretary with con-
sideration of recommendations— 
(I) 1 of which are submitted by 
the majority leader of the Senate; 
(II) 1 of which are submitted by 
the minority leader of the Senate; 
(III) 1 of which are submitted by 
the majority leader of the House of 
Representatives; and 
(IV) 1 of which are submitted by 
the minority leader of the House of 
Representatives; 
(v) 2 members shall be appointed by 
the Secretary from among individuals with 
expertise in the history of the War of 1812; 
and 
(vi) of the 6 members described in 
clauses (iv) and (v), a majority of these 
members shall be from States not otherwise 
represented on the Commission under the 
Act and whose citizens played a significant 
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role in the War of 1812, including Rhode 
Island. 
(B) DATE
OF
APPOINTMENTS.—The ap-
pointment of a member of the Commission shall 
be made not later than 120 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
(3) TERM; VACANCIES.— 
(A) TERM.—A member shall be appointed 
for the life of the Commission. 
(B) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Com-
mission— 
(i) shall not affect the powers of the 
Commission; and 
(ii) shall be filled in the same manner 
as the original appointment was made. 
(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 members 
of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. 
(5) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.— 
(A) SELECTION.—The Commission shall se-
lect a chairperson and a vice chairperson from 
among the members of the Commission. 
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(B) ABSENCE OF CHAIRPERSON.—The vice 
chairperson shall act as chairperson in the ab-
sence of the chairperson. 
(6) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date on which all members of the Commis-
sion have been appointed and funds have been pro-
vided, the Commission shall hold the initial meeting 
of the Commission. 
(7) MEETINGS.—Not less than twice a year, the 
Commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson 
or a majority of the members of the Commission. 
(8) REMOVAL.—Any member who fails to attend 
3 successive meetings of the Commission or who other-
wise fails to participate substantively in the work of 
the Commission may be removed by the Secretary and 
the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the 
original appointment was made. Members serve at the 
discretion of the Secretary. 
(e) DUTIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall— 
(A) plan, encourage, develop, execute, and 
coordinate programs, observances, and activities 
commemorating the historic events that preceded 
and are associated with the War of 1812; 
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(B) facilitate the commemoration through-
out the United States and internationally; 
(C) coordinate the activities of the Commis-
sion with State commemoration commissions, the 
National Park Service, the Department of De-
fense, and other appropriate Federal agencies; 
(D) encourage civic, patriotic, historical, 
educational, religious, economic, tourism, and 
other organizations throughout the United States 
to organize and participate in the commemora-
tion to expand the understanding and apprecia-
tion of the significance of the War of 1812; 
(E) provide technical assistance to States, 
localities, units of the National Park System, 
and nonprofit organizations to further the com-
memoration and commemorative events; 
(F) coordinate and facilitate scholarly re-
search on, publication about, and interpretation 
of the people and events associated with the War 
of 1812; 
(G) design, develop, and provide for the 
maintenance of an exhibit that will travel 
throughout the United States during the com-
memoration period to interpret events of the War 
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