I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2449
To establish a commission to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the 
American Civil War. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 12, 2003
Mr. BAKER (for himself, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. JOHN, Mr. VITTER, Mr. 
MCCRERY, Mr. GOODE, and Mr. PLATTS) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on 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: 
(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—
(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. 
(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; 
(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. 
There is established a commission to be known as the 
Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Commission 
(hereafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
SEC. 4. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 27 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; 
(C) the Secretary of the Smithsonian Insti-
tution, or the designee of the Secretary; 
(D) the Secretary of the Department of 
Education, or the designee of the Secretary; 
(E) the Chairman of the National Endow-
ment for the Humanities, or the designee of the 
Chairman; 
(F) the Archivist of the United States, or 
the designee of the Archivist;
(G) the Librarian of Congress, or the des-
ignee of the Librarian; and 
(H) the Director of the National Park 
Service, or the designee of the Director. 
(2) PRIVATE MEMBERS.—The Commission shall 
include—
(A) an individual appointed by the Presi-
dent after consultation with the Director of the 
United States Civil War Center at Louisiana 
State University, Louisiana; 
(B) an individual appointed by the Presi-
dent after consultation with the Director of the 
Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College, 
Pennsylvania; 
(C) 5 members appointed by the President 
from among individuals who are representative 
of the corporate community; 
(D) an individual appointed by the Presi-
dent after consultation with—
(i) the Director of the Virginia Center 
for Civil War Studies at Virginia Poly-
technic Institute and State University, Vir-
ginia; and
(ii) the Director of Pamplin Historical 
Park and the National Museum of the 
Civil War Soldier, Virginia; and 
(E) 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—
(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 
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; 
(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; 
(8) administer the grant program under section 
7; and 
(9) 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) PLANS.—The Commission shall prepare a 
strategic plan in accordance with section 306 of title 
5, United States Code, and the annual plan and re-
port required by sections 1115 and 1116, respec-
tively, of title 31, United States Code. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than December 30, 
2015, the Commission shall submit to Congress a 
final report that contains—
(A) a summary of activities of the Com-
mission; 
(B) a final accounting of funds received 
and expended by the Commission; and 
(C) the findings and recommendations of 
the Commission.
SEC. 7. GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.—The Commission shall 
award a grant in each of the fiscal years 2004 through 
2016 to each of the following: 
(1) The United States Civil War Center at Lou-
isiana State University, Louisiana. 
(2) The Civil War Institute at Gettysburg Col-
lege, Pennsylvania. 
(3) The Virginia Center for Civil War Studies 
at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univer-
sity, Virginia, and the Pamplin Historical Park and 
the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, Vir-
ginia. 
(b) LIMITATIONS.—The amount of any grant under 
subsection (a) in any fiscal year may not exceed $100,000, 
nor may the amount of such grant be less than $80,000. 
(c) USE OF FUNDS.—Amounts awarded under sub-
section (a) shall be used for appropriate activities relating 
to the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. 
SEC. 8. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.——The Commission may—
(1) solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts or 
donations of services or property, and acknowledge 
publicly the sources of such gifts and donations;
(c) STAFF.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the 
Commission may, without regard to civil service laws 
and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive 
director and other additional personnel as may be 
necessary to enable the Commission to perform its 
duties. 
(2) CONFIRMATION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIREC-
TOR.—The employment of an executive director shall 
be subject to confirmation by the Commission. 
(d) DETAIL
OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Any 
Federal Government employee may be detailed to the 
Commission without reimbursement, and any detail shall 
be without interruption or loss of civil service status or 
privilege. 
(e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT-
TENT SERVICES.—The Chairperson of the Commission 
may procure temporary and intermittent services under 
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at daily 
rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily equiva-
lent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level 
V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such 
title.
SEC. 10. TERMINATION. 
The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 
90 days after the date on which the Commission submits 
its report under section 6(b)(2). 
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this Act $500,000 for each of the fis-
cal years 2004 through 2016. 
(b) AVAILABILITY.—Amounts authorized to be appro-
priated by subsection (a) shall remain available until ex-
pended. Any unexpended balance of appropriations avail-
able pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in 
subsection (a) as of December 30, 2016 are canceled effec-
tive December 30, 2021.
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