H. R. 1451
One Hundred Sixth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
the twenty-fourth day of January, two thousand
An Act
To establish the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Commission Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President, was one of the
Nation’s most prominent leaders, demonstrating true courage
during the Civil War, one of the greatest crises in the Nation’s
history.
(2) Born of humble roots in Hardin County, Kentucky,
on February 12, 1809, Abraham Lincoln rose to the Presidency
through a legacy of honesty, integrity, intelligence, and commit-
ment to the United States.
(3) With the belief that all men were created equal,
Abraham Lincoln led the effort to free all slaves in the United
States.
(4) Abraham Lincoln had a generous heart, with malice
toward none and with charity for all.
(5) Abraham Lincoln gave the ultimate sacrifice for the
country Lincoln loved, dying from an assassin’s bullet on April
15, 1865.
(6) All Americans could benefit from studying the life of
Abraham Lincoln, for Lincoln’s life is a model for accomplishing
the ‘‘American Dream’’ through honesty, integrity, loyalty, and
a lifetime of education.
(7) The year 2009 will be the bicentennial anniversary
of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, and a commission should
be established to study and recommend to Congress activities
that are fitting and proper to celebrate that anniversary in
a manner that appropriately honors Abraham Lincoln.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission to be known as the Abraham
Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (referred to in this Act as the
‘‘Commission’’).
SEC. 4. DUTIES.
The Commission shall have the following duties:
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(1) To study activities that may be carried out by the
Federal Government to determine whether the activities are
fitting and proper to honor Abraham Lincoln on the occasion
of the bicentennial anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, including—
(A) the minting of an Abraham Lincoln bicentennial
penny;
(B) the issuance of an Abraham Lincoln bicentennial
postage stamp;
(C) the convening of a joint meeting or joint session
of Congress for ceremonies and activities relating to
Abraham Lincoln;
(D) a redesignation of the Lincoln Memorial, or other
activity with respect to the Memorial; and
(E) the acquisition and preservation of artifacts associ-
ated with Abraham Lincoln.
(2) To recommend to Congress the activities that the
Commission considers most fitting and proper to honor
Abraham Lincoln on such occasion, and the entity or entities
in the Federal Government that the Commission considers most
appropriate to carry out such activities.
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 15 members appointed as follows:
(1) Two members, each of whom shall be a qualified citizen
described in subsection (b), appointed by the President.
(2) One member, who shall be a qualified citizen described
in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the rec-
ommendation of the Governor of Illinois.
(3) One member, who shall be a qualified citizen described
in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the rec-
ommendation of the Governor of Indiana.
(4) One member, who shall be a qualified citizen described
in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the rec-
ommendation of the Governor of Kentucky.
(5) Three members, at least one of whom shall be a Member
of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker
of the House of Representatives.
(6) Three members, at least one of whom shall be a Senator,
appointed by the majority leader of the Senate.
(7) Two members, at least one of whom shall be a Member
of the House of Representatives, appointed by the minority
leader of the House of Representatives.
(8) Two members, at least one of whom shall be a Senator,
appointed by the minority leader of the Senate.
(b) QUALIFIED CITIZEN.—A qualified citizen described in this
subsection is a private citizen of the United States with—
(1) a demonstrated dedication to educating others about
the importance of historical figures and events; and
(2) substantial knowledge and appreciation of Abraham
Lincoln.
(c) TIME
OF APPOINTMENT.—Each initial appointment of a
member of the Commission shall be made before the expiration
of the 120-day period beginning on the date of the enactment
of this Act.
(d) CONTINUATION
OF
MEMBERSHIP.—If a member of the
Commission was appointed to the Commission as a Member of
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Congress, and ceases to be a Member of Congress, that member
may continue to serve on the Commission for not longer than
the 30-day period beginning on the date that member ceases to
be a Member of Congress.
(e) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed for the life of
the Commission.
(f ) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall not affect
the powers of the Commission but shall be filled in the manner
in which the original appointment was made.
(g) BASIC PAY.—Members shall serve on the Commission with-
out pay.
(h) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall receive travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance
with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
(i) QUORUM.—Five members of the Commission shall constitute
a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings.
( j) CHAIR.—The Commission shall select a Chair from among
the members of the Commission.
(k) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the call of the
Chair. Periodically, the Commission shall hold a meeting in Spring-
field, Illinois.
SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF.
(a) DIRECTOR.—The Commission may appoint and fix the pay
of a Director and such additional personnel as the Commission
considers to be appropriate.
(b) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.—
(1) DIRECTOR.—The Director of the Commission may be
appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United
States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service,
and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter
51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to
classification and General Schedule pay rates.
(2) STAFF.—The staff of the Commission shall be appointed
subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, gov-
erning appointments in the competitive service, and shall be
paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and sub-
chapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification
and General Schedule pay rates.
SEC. 7. POWERS.
(a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commission may, for the
purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such hearings, sit and act
at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such
evidence as the Commission considers to be appropriate.
(b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any member or agent
of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take
any action that the Commission is authorized to take by this Act.
(c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission may secure
directly from any department or agency of the United States
information necessary to enable the Commission to carry out this
Act. Upon request of the Chair of the Commission, the head of
that department or agency shall furnish that information to the
Commission.
(d) MAILS.—The Commission may use the United States mails
in the same manner and under the same conditions as other depart-
ments and agencies of the United States.
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(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon the request of
the Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall pro-
vide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative
support services necessary for the Commission to carry out its
responsibilities under this Act.
SEC. 8. REPORTS.
(a) INTERIM REPORTS.—The Commission may submit to Con-
gress such interim reports as the Commission considers to be appro-
priate.
(b) FINAL REPORT.—The Commission shall submit a final report
to Congress not later than the expiration of the 4-year period
beginning on the date of the formation of the Commission. The
final report shall contain—
(1) a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions
of the Commission;
(2) the recommendations of the Commission; and
(3) any other information that the Commission considers
to be appropriate.
SEC. 9. BUDGET ACT COMPLIANCE.
Any spending authority provided under this Act shall be effec-
tive only to such extent and in such amounts as are provided
in appropriation Acts.
SEC. 10. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate 120 days after submitting
the final report of the Commission pursuant to section 8.
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may
be necessary to carry out this Act.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.