call and reflect upon all aspects of that conflict and 
its legacy in a spirit of reconciliation and honest re-
flection, through exploration, interpretation, and dis-
cussion. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to estab-
lish a Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Com-
mission to— 
(1) ensure a suitable national observance of the 
sesquicentennial of the Civil War that includes rec-
ognition of the historic, social, legal, cultural, and 
political forces that caused the American Civil War 
and influenced its course and outcomes; 
(2) collaborate with and assist States and na-
tional organizations with programs and activities for 
the observance of the sesquicentennial of the Civil 
War; 
(3) assist in ensuring that any observance of 
the sesquicentennial of the Civil War is inclusive and 
appropriately recognizes the experiences and points 
of view of all people affected by the Civil War; and 
(4) provide assistance for the development of 
programs, projects, and activities on the Civil War 
that have lasting educational value and are both na-
tional and international. 
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SEC. 3. CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION 
COMMISSION. 
The Secretary of the Interior shall establish a com-
mission to be known as the Civil War Sesquicentennial 
Commemoration Commission (hereafter in this Act re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
SEC. 4. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 29 members as follows: 
(1) GOVERNMENT MEMBERS.—The Commission 
shall include— 
(A) 2 Members of the Senate appointed by 
the President pro tempore of the Senate, in 
consultation with the majority leader and the 
minority leader of the Senate; 
(B) 2 Members of the House of Represent-
atives appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives; 
(C) the Secretary of the Interior or the 
designee of the Secretary; 
(D) the Secretary of the Smithsonian In-
stitution, or the designee of the Secretary; 
(E) the Secretary of Education, or the des-
ignee of the Secretary; 
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(F) the Chairman of the National Endow-
ment for the Humanities, or the designee of the 
Chairman; 
(G) the Chairman of the National Endow-
ment of the Arts, or the designee of the Chair-
man; 
(H) the Archivist of the United States, or 
the designee of the Archivist; 
(I) the Librarian of Congress, or the des-
ignee of the Librarian; and 
(J) the Director of the National Park 
Service, or the designee of the Director. 
(2) PRIVATE MEMBERS.—The Commission shall 
include— 
(A) 7 members appointed by the President 
from among individuals who are representative 
of the corporate and foundation community, in-
cluding 1 individual with specific expertise in 
communication and event planning; and 
(B) 10 individuals appointed by the Presi-
dent from among persons who by reason of edu-
cation, training, and experience, are experts on 
the Antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruction 
eras, including— 
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(i) 6 individuals with expertise in his-
tory; 
(ii) 1 individual with specific expertise 
in art history, historic preservation, or a 
related field; 
(iii) 1 individual with specific exper-
tise in the performing arts; 
(iv) 1 individual with expertise in an-
thropology, cultural geography, sociology, 
or a related field; and 
(v) 1 individual with expertise in polit-
ical science, law, economics, or a related 
field. 
(b) TERMS.— 
(1) GOVERNMENT MEMBERS.—If any member 
of the Commission who was appointed as an officer 
designated under subsection (a)(1) leaves such of-
fice, the member may continue as a member of the 
Commission for not longer than the 30-day period 
beginning on the date the member leaves such office. 
(2) 
PRIVATE
MEMBERS.—Private 
members 
under subsection (a)(2) shall be appointed for the 
life of the Commission. 
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(c) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the Commission 
shall not affect its powers, and shall be filled in the same 
manner as the original appointment. 
(d) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.—The appointment of 
the members of the Commission shall be made not later 
than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 5. GENERAL PROVISIONS. 
(a) MEETINGS.— 
(1) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date on which all members of the Commis-
sion have been appointed, the members appointed 
under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 4(a)(2) 
shall call the first meeting of the Commission. 
(2) SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS.—The Commission 
shall hold subsequent meetings at the call of the 
Chairperson. 
(b) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—At the 
initial meeting, the Commission shall elect a Chairperson 
and a Vice Chairperson from among its voting members. 
(c) QUORUM.—A majority of voting members shall 
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold meet-
ings. 
(d) VOTING.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall act 
only on an affirmative vote of a majority of the vot-
ing members of the Commission. 
(2) NONVOTING
MEMBERS.—The individuals 
appointed under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of sec-
tion 4(a)(1) shall be nonvoting members, and shall 
serve only in an advisory capacity. 
SEC. 6. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE SESQUICENTEN-
NIAL.—The Commission shall— 
(1) plan, develop, and carry out programs and 
activities appropriate to commemorate the sesqui-
centennial of the Civil War, including activities in 
recognition of the historic, social, legal, cultural, and 
political forces that caused the American Civil War 
and influenced its course and outcomes; 
(2) encourage interdisciplinary examination of 
the Civil War; 
(3) 
facilitate 
Civil 
War-related 
activities 
throughout the United States; 
(4) encourage civic, historical, educational, eco-
nomic, and other organizations throughout the 
United States to organize and participate in activi-
ties to expand the understanding and appreciation of 
the significance of the Civil War; 
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(5) coordinate and facilitate the public distribu-
tion of scholarly research, publications, and interpre-
tations of the Civil War; 
(6) provide assistance to States, localities, and 
nonprofit organizations to further the commemora-
tion of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War; 
(7) develop programs and facilities to ensure 
that the sesquicentennial commemoration of the 
Civil War results in a positive legacy and long-term 
public benefit; and 
(8) encourage the development and conduct of 
programs designed to involve the international com-
munity in activities that commemorate the Civil 
War. 
(b) PLANS AND REPORT.— 
(1) STRATEGIC PLAN AND ANNUAL PERFORM-
ANCE
PLANS.—The Commission shall prepare a 
strategic plan in accordance with section 306 of title 
5, United States Code, and annual performance 
plans in accordance with section 1115 of title 31, 
United States Code, for the activities of the Com-
mission carried out under this Act. 
(2) REPORTS.— 
(A) ANNUAL
REPORT.—The Commission 
shall submit to Congress an annual report that 
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contains a list of each gift, bequest, or devise 
with a value of more than $250, together with 
the identity of the donor of each such gift, be-
quest, or devise. 
(B) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than De-
cember 30, 2015, the Commission shall submit 
to Congress a final report that contains— 
(i) a summary of activities of the 
Commission; 
(ii) a final accounting of funds re-
ceived and expended by the Commission; 
and 
(iii) the findings and recommenda-
tions of the Commission. 
SEC. 7. GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The National Endow-
ment for the Humanities, in collaboration with the Na-
tional Endowment for the Arts, shall award grants under 
this section for the uses described in subsection (b). 
(b) USE OF GRANTS.—Grants awarded under this 
section shall be used for activities that are determined by 
the National Endowment for the Humanities, in collabora-
tion with the National Endowment for the Arts, to be ap-
propriately related to the sesquicentennial of the Civil War 
and to further the purposes of this Act. 
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(c) CONSIDERATION.—In awarding grants under this 
section, the National Endowment of the Humanities shall 
consider established university, museum, or academic pro-
grams with national scope that sponsor multidisciplinary 
projects that represent the totality of the Civil War. 
SEC. 8. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may, for the 
purpose of carrying out this Act— 
(1) accept and use gifts of money, property, 
and services, and, notwithstanding section 1342 of 
title 31, United States Code, may accept and use 
voluntary services; 
(2) appoint any advisory committee as the 
Commission considers appropriate; 
(3) authorize any voting member or employee of 
the Commission to take any action that the Commis-
sion is authorized to take under this Act; 
(4) procure supplies, services, and property, and 
make or enter into contracts, leases, or other legal 
agreements to carry out this Act (except that any 
contracts, leases, or other legal agreements entered 
into by the Commission shall not extend beyond the 
date of the termination of the Commission); 
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(5) use the United States mails in the same 
manner and under the same conditions as other 
Federal agencies; 
(6) secure directly from any department or 
agency of the United States such information as the 
Commission deems necessary to enable the Commis-
sion to carry out this Act, which shall be furnished 
by the head of such department or agency at the re-
quest of the Commission; and 
(7) establish an independent but affiliated 
Foundation to support, as the Commission deems 
necessary, the efforts of the Commission. 
SEC. 9. PERSONNEL MATTERS. 
(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Members of the 
Commission, and members of any advisory committee ap-
pointed under section 8(a)(2), shall serve without com-
pensation. 
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members of the Commis-
sion, and members of any advisory committee appointed 
under section 8(a)(2), shall be allowed, as the Secretary 
of the Interior determines appropriate to carry out this 
Act, travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsist-
ence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency 
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
Code, while away from the home or regular place of busi-
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ness of the member in the performance of the duties of 
the Commission. 
(c) STAFF.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission may ap-
point, terminate, and fix the pay of an executive di-
rector and such other additional personnel as are 
necessary and appropriate to enable the Commission 
to perform its duties. 
(2) NONAPPLICABILITY
OF
CIVIL
SERVICE 
LAWS.—Consistent with all other applicable Federal 
laws governing appointments and compensation, an 
executive director and additional personnel may be 
appointed, terminated, and paid without regard to 
civil service laws (including regulations), including— 
(A) the provisions of title 5, United States 
Code, governing appointment in the competitive 
service; and 
(B) chapter 51 and subchapter III of chap-
ter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating 
to classification of positions and General Sched-
ule pay rates. 
(3) MAXIMUM RATE OF PAY.—The rate of pay 
for the executive director and other personnel shall 
not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Execu-
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