SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States 
Semiquincentennial Commission Act of 2016’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that July 4, 2026, 
the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United 
States, as marked by the Declaration of Independence in 
1776, and the historic events preceding that anniver-
sary— 
(1) are of major significance in the development 
of the national heritage of the United States of indi-
vidual liberty, representative government, and the 
attainment of equal and inalienable rights; and 
(2) have had a profound influence throughout 
the world. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to estab-
lish a Commission to provide for the observance and com-
memoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of 
the United States and related events through local, State, 
national, and international activities planned, encouraged, 
developed, and coordinated by a national commission rep-
resentative of appropriate public and private authorities 
and organizations. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act:
(1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the United States Semiquincentennial Com-
mission established by section 4(a). 
(2) PRIVATE CITIZEN.—The term ‘‘private cit-
izen’’ means an individual who is not an officer or 
employee of— 
(A) the Federal Government; or 
(B) a State or local government. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a commis-
sion, 
to 
be 
known 
as 
the 
‘‘United 
States 
Semiquincentennial Commission’’, to plan, encourage, de-
velop, and coordinate the commemoration of the history 
of the United States leading up to the 250th anniversary 
of the founding of the United States. 
(b) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of the following members: 
(1) Four members of the Senate, of whom— 
(A) two shall be appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate; and 
(B) two shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the Senate.
(2) Four members of the House of Representa-
tives, of whom— 
(A) two shall be appointed by the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives; and 
(B) two shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives. 
(3) Sixteen members who are private citizens, 
of whom— 
(A) four shall be appointed by the majority 
leader of the Senate; 
(B) four shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the Senate; 
(C) four shall be appointed by the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives; 
(D) four shall be appointed by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives; and 
(E) one of whom shall be designated by 
the President as the Chairperson. 
(4) The following nonvoting ex officio members: 
(A) The Secretary. 
(B) The Secretary of State. 
(C) The Attorney General. 
(D) The Secretary of Defense. 
(E) The Secretary of Education. 
(F) The Librarian of Congress.
(G) The Secretary of the Smithsonian In-
stitution. 
(H) The Archivist of the United States. 
(I) The presiding officer of the Federal 
Council on the Arts and the Humanities. 
(c) TERM; VACANCIES.— 
(1) TERM.—A member shall be appointed for 
the life of the Commission. 
(2) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Commis-
sion— 
(A) shall not affect the powers of the Com-
mission; and 
(B) shall be filled in the same manner as 
the original appointment was made. 
(d) MEETINGS.—All meetings of the Commission 
shall be convened at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, to honor the historical significance of the 
building as the site of deliberations and adoption of both 
the United States Declaration of Independence and Con-
stitution. 
(e) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the 
Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num-
ber of members may hold hearings. 
SEC. 5. DUTIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall—
(1) prepare an overall program for commemo-
rating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the 
United States and the historic events preceding that 
anniversary; and 
(2) plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate ob-
servances and activities commemorating the historic 
events that preceded, and are associated with, the 
United States Semiquincentennial. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In preparing plans and an 
overall program, the Commission— 
(A) shall give due consideration to any re-
lated plans and programs developed by State, 
local, and private groups; and 
(B) may designate special committees with 
representatives from groups described in sub-
paragraph (A) to plan, develop, and coordinate 
specific activities. 
(2) EMPHASIS.—The Commission shall— 
(A) emphasize the planning of events in lo-
cations of historical significance to the United 
States, especially in those locations that wit-
nessed the assertion of American liberty, such 
as— 
(i) the 13 colonies; and