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(E) The sponsorship of conferences, exhibi-
tions, or other public meetings concerning Ben-
jamin Franklin.
(F) The sponsorship of high school and
collegiate essay contests concerning the life and
legacy of Benjamin Franklin.
(2) To recommend to the Congress in one or
more of the interim reports submitted under section
9(a)—
(A) the activities that the Commission con-
siders most fitting and proper to honor Ben-
jamin Franklin on the occasion of the tercente-
nary of his birth; and
(B) the entity or entities in the Federal
Government that the Commission considers
most appropriate to carry out such activities.
(b) POINT OF CONTACT.—The Commission, acting
through its secretariat, shall serve as the point of contact
of the Government for all State, local, international, and
private sector initiatives regarding the tercentenary of
Benjamin Franklin’s birth, with the purpose of coordi-
nating and facilitating all fitting and proper activities hon-
oring Benjamin Franklin.
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SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission
shall be composed of 15 members as follows:
(1) The Librarian of Congress.
(2) Fourteen qualified citizens, appointed as
follows:
(A) Two members appointed by the Presi-
dent.
(B) Two members appointed by the Presi-
dent on the recommendation of the Governor of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(C) Two members appointed by the Presi-
dent on the recommendation of the Governor of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
(D) Two members, at least one of whom
shall be a Senator, appointed by the majority
leader of the Senate.
(E) Two members, at least one of whom
shall be a Senator, appointed by the minority
leader of the Senate.
(F) Two members, at least one of whom
shall be a Member of the House of Representa-
tives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
(G) Two members, at least one of whom
shall be a Member of the House of Representa-
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tives, appointed by the minority leader of the
House of Representatives.
(b) QUALIFIED CITIZEN.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, a qualified citizen is a citizen of the United States
with—
(1) a substantial knowledge and appreciation of
the work and legacy of Benjamin Franklin; and
(2) a commitment to educating people in the
United States about the historical importance of
Benjamin Franklin.
(c) TIME OF APPOINTMENT.—Each initial appoint-
ment 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 the Congress, and ceases to be a Member
of the Congress, that member may continue to serve on
the Commission for not longer than the 30-day period be-
ginning on the date on which that member ceases to be
a Member of the 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 and shall be filled
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in the manner in which the original appointment was
made.
(g) BASIC PAY.—Members shall serve on the Com-
mission without pay.
(h) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall receive
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence,
in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter
I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
(i) QUORUM.—Five members of the Commission shall
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hear-
ings.
(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.
SEC. 6. ORGANIZATION.
(a) HONORARY MEMBERS.—The President—
(1) shall serve as an honorary, nonvoting mem-
ber of the Commission; and
(2) may invite the President of France and the
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to serve as
honorary, nonvoting members of the Commission.
(b) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The Commission shall
form an advisory committee, to be composed of represent-
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atives of the major extant institutions founded by or dedi-
cated to Benjamin Franklin, including the following:
(1) The Executive Director of the American
Philosophical Society.
(2) The President of the Franklin Institute.
(3) The Librarian of the Library Company.
(4) The Director and Chief Executive Officer of
the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
(5) The President of the University of Pennsyl-
vania.
(c) ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARIAT.—The Commis-
sion shall seek to enter into an arrangement with the
Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under
which the Institute shall do the following:
(1) Serve as the secretariat of the Commission,
including by serving as the point of contact under
section 4(b).
(2) House the administrative offices of the
Commission.
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 appropriate.
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(b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any mem-
ber or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the
Commission, take any action that the Commission is au-
thorized 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 Com-
mission 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 con-
ditions as other departments and agencies of the United
States.
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon
the request of the Commission, the Administrator of Gen-
eral Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reim-
bursable basis, the administrative support services nec-
essary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities
under this Act.
(f) PROCUREMENT.—The Commission may enter into
contracts for supplies, services, and facilities to carry out
the Commission’s duties under this Act.
(g) DONATIONS.—The Commission may accept and
use donations of—