I
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4841
To establish the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 400th Commemoration
Commission, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 23, 2002
Mr. HINCHEY (for himself, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. WALSH, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. GIL-
MAN, and Mr. SANDERS) introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Government Reform
A BILL
To establish the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 400th
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 ‘‘Hudson-Fulton-Cham-
plain 400th Commemoration Commission Act of 2002’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
(1) The first European exploration of the Hud-
son River and Lake Champlain and the introduction
of steam navigation to maritime commerce were
events of major historical importance, both in the
United States and internationally.
(2) In 1609, Englishman Henry Hudson, acting
in service of the Dutch East India Company, was
the first European to sail up the river later named
for him in the vessel HALF MOON, and French ex-
plorer Samuel de Champlain was the first European
to see the lake later named for him.
(3) These voyages were 2 of the most signifi-
cant passages in the European exploration and dis-
covery of America, and began 2 of the earliest con-
tacts in the New World between Native Americans
and Europeans.
(4) These explorations led to the establishment
of Fort Orange, Dutch and later English settlement
of what is now the capital city of the State of New
York, and settlement of French Quebec settlements
as far south as Lake George. From these early set-
tlements came an influence on our history, culture,
law, commerce, and traditions of liberty which ex-
tends to the present day, and which is constantly re-
flected in the position of the United States as the
leader of the nations of the free world.
(5) In 1807, Robert Fulton navigated the Hud-
son River from the city of New York to Albany in
the steamboat CLERMONT, successfully inau-
gurating steam navigation on a commercial basis.
This event is one of the most important events in
the history of navigation. It revolutionized water-
borne commerce on the great rivers of the United
States, transformed naval warfare, and fostered
international relations through transoceanic travel
and trade.
(6) The National Park Service owns and oper-
ates significant resources in New York related to the
early history of the nation and the Hudson River
Valley.
(7) In 2002 the State of New York enacted leg-
islation establishing a State Hudson-Fulton-Cham-
plain Commission.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to estab-
lish the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 400th Commemora-
tion Commission to—
(1) ensure a suitable national observance of the
Henry Hudson, Robert Fulton, and Samuel de
Champlain 2009 anniversaries through cooperation
with and assistance to the programs and activities of
New York, New Jersey, and Vermont;
(2) assist in ensuring that Hudson-Fulton-
Champlain 2009 observances provide an excellent
visitor experience and beneficial interaction between
visitors and the natural and cultural resources of the
New York, New Jersey, and Vermont sites;
(3) assist in ensuring that Hudson-Fulton-
Champlain 2009 observances are inclusive and ap-
propriately recognize the diverse Hudson River and
Lake Champlain communities that developed over 4
centuries;
(4) facilitate international involvement in the
Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 2009 observances;
(5) support and facilitate marketing efforts for
a commemorative coin, a commemorative stamp, and
related activities for the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain
2009 observances; and
(6) assist in the appropriate development of
heritage tourism and economic benefits to the
United States.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) COMMEMORATION.—The term ‘‘commemo-
ration’’ means the commemoration of—
(A) the 200th anniversary of Robert Ful-
ton’s voyage in the CLERMONT;
(B) the 400th anniversary of Henry Hud-
son’s voyage in the HALF MOON; and
(C) the 400th anniversary of Samuel de
Champlain’s voyage.
(2) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’
means the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 400th Com-
memoration Commission established by section 4(a).
(3) 
GOVERNORS.—The 
term 
‘‘Governors’’
means the Governors of the States of New York,
New Jersey, and Vermont.
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of the Interior.
(5) STATES.—The term ‘‘States’’—
(A) means the States of New York, New
Jersey, and Vermont; and
(B) includes agencies and entities of each
such State.
SEC. 4. HUDSON-FULTON-CHAMPLAIN 400TH COMMEMORA-
TION COMMISSION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a commission
to be known as the ‘‘Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 400th
Commemoration Commission’’.
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission shall be
composed of 31 members, of whom—
(A) 3 members shall be appointed by the
Secretary, after consideration of the rec-
ommendations of the Governors;
(B) 14 members shall be appointed by the
Secretary, after consideration of the rec-
ommendations from the Members of the House
of Representatives whose districts encompass
the Hudson River Valley and Champlain Valley;
(C) 6 members shall be appointed by the
Secretary, after consideration of the rec-
ommendations from the Members of the Senate
from New York, New Jersey, and Vermont;
(D) 2 members shall be employees of the
National Park Service, of whom—
(i) one shall be the Director of the
National Park Service (or a designee); and
(ii) one shall be an employee of the
National Park Service having experience
relevant to the commemoration, who shall
be appointed by the Secretary;
(E) one member shall be appointed by the
Secretary, and shall be an individual knowledge-
able of the Hudson River Valley National Herit-
age Area; and
(F) 5 members shall be appointed by the
Secretary, and shall be individuals that have an
interest in, support for, and expertise appro-
priate to, the commemoration.
(2) TERM; VACANCIES.—
(A) TERM.—Each member of the Commis-
sion shall be appointed for the life of the Com-
mission.
(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.
(3) MEETINGS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall
meet—
(i) at least twice each year; or
(ii) at the call of the Chairperson or
the majority of the members of the Com-
mission.
(B) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30
days after the date on which all members of the
Commission have been appointed, the Commis-
sion shall hold the initial meeting of the Com-
mission.
(4) VOTING.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall
act only on an affirmative vote of a majority of
the members of the Commission.
(B) QUORUM.—A majority of the Commis-
sion shall constitute a quorum.
(5) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—
(A) The Commission shall elect the chairperson and
the vice chairperson of the Commission on an annual
basis.
(B) The vice chairperson shall serve as the
chairperson in the absence of the chairperson.
(c) DUTIES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall—
(A) plan, develop, and execute programs
and activities appropriate to commemorate the
400th anniversary of the voyage of Henry Hud-
son, the first European to sail up the Hudson
River, the 200th anniversary of the voyage of
Robert Fulton, the first person to use steam
navigation on a commercial basis, the 400th an-
niversary of the voyage of Samuel de Cham-
plain, the first European to discover and ex-
plore Lake Champlain;
(B) facilitate Hudson-Fulton-Champlain-
related activities throughout the United States;
(C) coordinate its activities with State
commemoration commissions and appropriate
Federal Government agencies, including the De-
partments of Agriculture, Defense, State, and
Transportation, the National Park Service with
respect to the Hudson River Valley National
Heritage Area, and the American Heritage Riv-
ers Initiative Interagency Committee estab-
lished by Executive Order 13061, dated Sep-
tember 11, 1997;
(D) encourage civic, patriotic, historical,
educational, religious, economic, and other or-
ganizations throughout the United States to or-
ganize and participate in anniversary activities
to expand the understanding and appreciation
of the significance of the voyages of Henry
Hudson, Robert Fulton, and Samuel de Cham-
plain;
(E) provide technical assistance to States,
localities, and nonprofit organizations to further
the commemoration;
(F) coordinate and facilitate for the public
scholarly research on, publication about, and in-
terpretation of, the voyages of Henry Hudson,
Robert Fulton, and Samuel de Champlain; and
(G) ensure that the Hudson-Fulton-Cham-
plain 2009 anniversaries provide a lasting leg-
acy and long-term public benefit by assisting in
the development of appropriate programs and
facilities.
(2) PLANS; REPORTS.—
(A) STRATEGIC PLAN; ANNUAL PERFORM-
ANCE PLANS.—The Commission shall prepare a
strategic plan in accordance with section 306 of
title 5, United States Code, and annual per-
formance plans in accordance with section 1115
of title 31, United States Code, for the activi-
ties of the Commission carried out under this
Act.
(B) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than Sep-
tember 30, 2010, the Commission shall submit
to the Secretary a final report that contains—
(i) a summary of the 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.
(d) POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.—The Commission
may—
(1) disperse funds, and accept donations of per-
sonal services and real and personal property related
to Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 2009 and of the sig-
nificance of Hudson, Fulton, and Champlain in the
history of the United States;
(2) appoint such advisory committees as the
Commission determines to be necessary to carry out
this Act;
(3) authorize any member or employee of the
Commission to take any action that the Commission
is authorized to take by 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 made or
entered into by the Commission shall not extend be-
yond the date of termination of the Commission);
(5) use the United States mails in the same
manner and under the same conditions as other
Federal agencies;
(6) subject to approval by the Commission,
make grants in amounts not to exceed $20,000 to
communities and nonprofit organizations to develop
programs to assist in the commemoration; and
(7) make grants to research and scholarly orga-
nizations to research, publish, or distribute informa-
tion relating to the early history of the voyages of
Hudson, Fulton, and Champlain.
(e) COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.—
(1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE COM-
MISSION.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), a member of the Commis-
sion shall serve without compensation.
(B) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—A member of
the Commission who is an officer or employee
of the Federal Government shall serve without
compensation in addition to the compensation
received for the services of the member as an
officer or employee of the Federal Government.
(C) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the
Commission 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 chapter 57 of title 5, United
States Code, while away from the home or reg-
ular place of business of the member in the per-
formance of the duties of the Commission.
(2) STAFF.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the
Commission may, without regard to the civil
service laws (including regulations), appoint
and terminate an executive director and such
other additional personnel as are necessary to
enable the Commission to perform the duties of
the Commission.
(B) CONFIRMATION OF EXECUTIVE DIREC-
TOR.—The employment of an executive director
shall be subject to confirmation by the Commis-
sion.
(3) COMPENSATION.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), the Chairperson of the Com-
mission may fix the compensation of the execu-
tive director and other personnel without regard
to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter
III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code,
relating to classification of positions and Gen-
eral Schedule pay rates.
(B) MAXIMUM RATE OF PAY.—The rate of
pay for the executive director and other per-
sonnel shall not exceed the rate payable for
level V of the Executive Schedule under section
5316 of title 5, United States Code.
(4) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—
(A) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—At the request of
the Commission, the head of any Federal
agency may detail, on a reimbursable or
nonreimbursable basis, any of the per-
sonnel of the agency to the Commission to
assist the Commission in carrying out the
duties of the Commission under this Act.
(ii) CIVIL SERVICE STATUS.—The de-
tail of an employee under clause (i) shall
be without interruption or loss of civil serv-
ice status or privilege.
(B) STATE EMPLOYEES.—The Commission
may—