I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1131 
To establish a commission to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the 
American Civil War. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 16, 2007 
Mr. BAKER (for himself, Mr. MCCRERY, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. MELANCON, 
Mr. JINDAL, Mr. BOUSTANY, Mr. WOLF, and Mr. PLATTS) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform 
A BILL 
To establish a commission to commemorate the 
sesquicentennial of the American Civil War. 
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 ‘‘Civil War Sesqui-
centennial Commission Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
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(1) The American Civil War was a defining ex-
perience in the development of the United States. 
(2) The people of the United States continue to 
struggle with issues of race, civil rights, the politics 
of federalism, and heritage which are legacies of the 
Civil War and Reconstruction. 
(3) There is a resurgence of interest in the Civil 
War that is evidenced by the multitude of publica-
tions, exhibits, reenactments, research organizations, 
Internet and multimedia resources, historic parks, 
and preservation associations focused on the Civil 
War. 
(4) The years 2011 through 2015 mark the ses-
quicentennial of the Civil War. 
(5) The sesquicentennial of the Civil War pre-
sents a significant opportunity for Americans to re-
call and reflect upon the Civil War and its legacy in 
a spirit of reconciliation and reflection. 
(6) The United States Civil War Center at Lou-
isiana State University, Louisiana, and the Civil 
War Institute at Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania, 
have been designated by the Federal Government to 
plan and facilitate the commemoration of the sesqui-
centennial of the Civil War. 
(7) The State of Virginia— 
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(A) witnessed more Civil War military en-
gagements on its soil than any other State; 
(B) hosts more historic sites related to the 
Civil War than any other State; and 
(C) is home to the Pamplin Historical 
Park and the National Museum of the Civil 
War Soldier and the Virginia Center for Civil 
War Studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute 
and State University, both of which are nation-
ally recognized centers of expertise in the study 
of the Civil War. 
(8) The African American Civil War Museum 
located in Washington, DC, is the only museum in 
the Nation dedicated to the study and understanding 
of the role of African Americans in the Civil War. 
(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; 
(2) cooperate with and assist States and na-
tional organizations with programs and activities for 
the observance of the sesquicentennial of the Civil 
War; 
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(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. 
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 25 members as follows: 
(1) GOVERNMENT MEMBERS.—The Commission 
shall include— 
(A) 2 Members of the House of Represent-
atives appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives; 
(B) 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; 
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(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 the Department of 
Education, or the designee of the Secretary; 
(F) the Chairman of the National Endow-
ment for the Humanities, or the designee of the 
Chairman; 
(G) the Archivist of the United States, or 
the designee of the Archivist; 
(H) the Librarian of Congress, or the des-
ignee of the Librarian; and 
(I) the Director of the National Park Serv-
ice, or the designee of the Director. 
(2) PRIVATE MEMBERS.—The Commission shall 
include— 
(A) 5 members appointed by the President 
from among individuals who are representative 
of the corporate community; and 
(B) 9 individuals, appointed by the Presi-
dent, from among persons who by reason of 
education, training, and experience, are experts 
on the Antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruc-
tion 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 expertise in an-
thropology, cultural geography, sociology, 
or a related field; and 
(iv) 1 individual with expertise in po-
litical science, law, economics, or a related 
field. 
(b) TERMS.—Members shall be appointed for the life 
of the Commission. 
(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 
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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 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.— 
(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; 
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(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; 
(5) coordinate and facilitate the public distribu-
tion of scholarly research, publications, and interpre-
tations of the Civil War; 
(6) provide technical assistance to States, local-
ities, and nonprofit organizations to further the com-
memoration 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.— 
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(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 
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. 
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SEC. 7. GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The National Endow-
ment for the Humanities 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 appropriate activities relating to 
the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. 
(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, including those that concentrate on the role of 
African Americans in the Civil War. 
SEC. 8. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may— 
(1) solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, be-
quests, or devises of money or other real or personal 
property for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the 
work of the Commission; 
(2) appoint any advisory committee as the 
Commission considers appropriate for the purposes 
of this Act; 
(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; 
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(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); and 
(5) use the United States mails in the same 
manner and under the same conditions as other 
Federal agencies. 
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 committees appointed 
under section 8(a)(2), shall be allowed travel expenses, in-
cluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized 
for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of chap-
ter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from 
the home or regular place of business of the member in 
the performance of the duties of the Commission. 
(c) STAFF.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the 
Commission may, without regard to civil service laws 
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