I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 480 
To establish the St. Augustine 450th Commemoration Commission, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 13, 2009 
Mr. MICA (for himself, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. BOYD, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of 
Florida, Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida, Mr. BUCHANAN, Ms. CAS-
TOR of Florida, Mr. CRENSHAW, Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida, 
Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. GRAYSON, Mr. HASTINGS of 
Florida, Mr. KLEIN of Florida, Ms. KOSMAS, Mr. MACK, Mr. MEEK of 
Florida, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. POSEY, Mr. PUTNAM, Mr. ROONEY, 
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. STEARNS, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. 
WEXLER, and Mr. YOUNG of Florida) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
A BILL 
To establish the St. Augustine 450th Commemoration 
Commission, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘St. Augustine 450th 
Commemoration Commission Act of 2009’’. 
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SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to establish the St. Augus-
tine 450th Commemoration Commission to— 
(1) ensure a suitable national observance of the 
450th anniversary of the city of St. Augustine by 
complementing the programs and activities of the 
State of Florida and the city of St. Augustine; 
(2) cooperate with and assist in the programs 
and activities of the State of Florida in observance 
of the 450th anniversary of St. Augustine; 
(3) assist in ensuring that the St. Augustine 
450th anniversary observances provide an excellent 
visitor experience and beneficial interaction between 
visitors and the natural and cultural resources of the 
St. Augustine sites; 
(4) assist in ensuring that the St. Augustine 
450th anniversary observances are inclusive and ap-
propriately recognize the experiences of all peoples in 
St. Augustine’s history; 
(5) provide assistance in the development of St. 
Augustine-related programs and activities; 
(6) facilitate international involvement in the 
St. Augustine 450th anniversary observances; 
(7) support and facilitate marketing efforts for 
a commemorative coin, stamp, and related activities 
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for the St. Augustine 450th anniversary observ-
ances; and 
(8) assist in the appropriate development of 
heritage tourism and economic benefits to the 
United States through the commemoration of the 
450th anniversary of the city of St. Augustine. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) COMMEMORATION.—The term ‘‘commemo-
ration’’ means the commemoration of the 450th an-
niversary of the founding of the settlement of St. 
Augustine, Florida. 
(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the St. Augustine 450th Commemoration 
Commission established by section 3(a). 
(3) GOVERNOR.—The term ‘‘Governor’’ means 
the Governor of the State. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(5) STATE.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘‘State’’ 
means the State of Florida. 
(B) INCLUSION.—The term ‘‘State’’ in-
cludes agencies and entities of the State of 
Florida. 
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SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a commis-
sion, to be known as the ‘‘St. Augustine 450th Commemo-
ration Commission’’. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be 
composed of 14 members, of whom— 
(A) 3 members shall be appointed by the 
Secretary, after considering the recommenda-
tions of the St. Augustine City Commission; 
(B) 3 members shall be appointed by the 
Secretary, after considering the recommenda-
tions of the Governor; 
(C) 1 member shall be an employee of the 
National Park Service having experience rel-
evant to the historical resources relating to the 
city of St. Augustine and the commemoration, 
to be appointed by the Secretary; 
(D) 1 member shall be appointed by the 
Secretary, taking into consideration the rec-
ommendations of the Mayor of the city of St. 
Augustine; 
(E) 1 member shall be appointed by the 
Secretary, after considering the recommenda-
tions of the Chancellor of the University System 
of Florida; and 
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(F) 5 members shall be individuals who are 
residents of the State who have an interest in, 
support for, and expertise appropriate to the 
commemoration, to be appointed by the Sec-
retary, taking into consideration the rec-
ommendations of Members of Congress. 
(2) TIME
OF
APPOINTMENT.—Each appoint-
ment of an initial member of the Commission shall 
be made before the expiration of the 120-day period 
beginning on the date of enactment of this Act. 
(3) TERM; VACANCIES.— 
(A) TERM.—A member of the Commission 
shall be appointed for the life of the Commis-
sion. 
(B) VACANCIES.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—A vacancy on the 
Commission shall be filled in the same 
manner in which the original appointment 
was made. 
(ii) PARTIAL TERM.—A member ap-
pointed to fill a vacancy on the Commis-
sion shall serve for the remainder of the 
term for which the predecessor of the 
member was appointed. 
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(C) CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP.—If 
a member of the Commission was appointed to 
the Commission as Mayor of the city of St. Au-
gustine or as an employee of the National Park 
Service or the State University System of Flor-
ida, and ceases to hold such position, that mem-
ber may continue to serve on the Commission 
for not longer than the 30-day period beginning 
on the date on which that member ceases to 
hold the position. 
(c) DUTIES.—The Commission shall— 
(1) plan, develop, and carry out programs and 
activities appropriate for the commemoration; 
(2) facilitate activities relating to the com-
memoration throughout the United States; 
(3) encourage civic, patriotic, historical, edu-
cational, artistic, religious, economic, and other or-
ganizations throughout the United States to orga-
nize and participate in anniversary activities to ex-
pand understanding and appreciation of the signifi-
cance of the founding and continuing history of St. 
Augustine; 
(4) provide technical assistance to States, local-
ities, and nonprofit organizations to further the com-
memoration; 
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(5) coordinate and facilitate for the public 
scholarly research on, publication about, and inter-
pretation of, St. Augustine; 
(6) ensure that the commemoration provides a 
lasting legacy and long-term public benefit by assist-
ing in the development of appropriate programs; and 
(7) help ensure that the observances of the 
foundation of St. Augustine are inclusive and appro-
priately recognize the experiences and heritage of all 
individuals present when St. Augustine was founded. 
SEC. 5. COMMISSION MEETINGS. 
(a) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date on which all members of the Commission have 
been appointed, the Commission shall hold the initial 
meeting of the Commission. 
(b) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet— 
(1) at least 3 times each year; or 
(2) at the call of the Chairperson or the major-
ity of the members of the Commission. 
(c) QUORUM.—A majority of the voting members 
shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold 
meetings. 
(d) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.— 
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(1) ELECTION.—The Commission shall elect the 
Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson of the Com-
mission on an annual basis. 
(2) ABSENCE OF THE CHAIRPERSON.—The Vice 
Chairperson shall serve as the Chairperson in the 
absence of the Chairperson. 
(e) VOTING.—The Commission shall act only on an 
affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Com-
mission. 
SEC. 6. COMMISSION POWERS. 
(a) GIFTS.—The Commission may solicit, accept, use, 
and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of money or other 
property for aiding or facilitating the work of the Commis-
sion. 
(b) APPOINTMENT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES.—The 
Commission may appoint such advisory committees as the 
Commission determines to be necessary to carry out this 
Act. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF ACTION.—The Commission 
may authorize any member or employee of the Commission 
to take any action that the Commission is authorized to 
take under this Act. 
(d) PROCUREMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may pro-
cure supplies, services, and property, and make or 
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enter into contracts, leases, or other legal agree-
ments, to carry out this Act (except that a contract, 
lease, or other legal agreement made or entered into 
by the Commission shall not extend beyond the date 
of termination of the Commission). 
(2) LIMITATION.—The Commission may not 
purchase real property. 
(e) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use 
the United States mails in the same manner and under 
the same conditions as other agencies of the Federal Gov-
ernment. 
(f) GRANTS
AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The 
Commission may— 
(1) provide grants in amounts not to exceed 
$20,000 per grant to communities and nonprofit or-
ganizations for use in developing programs to assist 
in the commemoration; 
(2) provide grants to research and scholarly or-
ganizations to research, publish, or distribute infor-
mation relating to the early history of St. Augustine; 
and 
(3) provide technical assistance to States, local-
ities, and nonprofit organizations to further the com-
memoration. 
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SEC. 7. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 
(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), a member of the Commission shall serve 
without compensation. 
(2) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A member of the 
Commission who is an officer or employee of the 
Federal Government shall serve without compensa-
tion other than the compensation received for the 
services of the member as an officer or employee of 
the Federal Government. 
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the Commis-
sion shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem 
in lieu of subsistence, 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 reg-
ular place of business of the member in the performance 
of the duties of the Commission. 
(c) DIRECTOR AND STAFF.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the 
Commission may, without regard to the civil service 
laws (including regulations), nominate an executive 
director to enable the Commission to perform the 
duties of the Commission. 
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