108TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 2449
AN ACT
To establish a commission to commemorate the
sesquicentennial of the American Civil War.
108TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 2449
AN ACT
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.
(8) The African American Civil War Museum
located in Washington, D.C., 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;
(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;
(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—
(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; 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.—
(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.
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;
(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
(including regulations), appoint and terminate an ex-
ecutive director and such other additional personnel
as are necessary to enable the Commission to per-
form the duties of the Commission.
(2) CONFIRMATION
OF
EXECUTIVE
DIREC-
TOR.—The employment of an executive director shall
be subject to confirmation by the Commission.
(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.
(d) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—At the request of the Com-
mission, the head of any Federal agency may detail,
on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, any of
the personnel of the agency to the Commission to as-
sist the Commission in carrying out the duties of the
Commission under this Act.
(2) CIVIL SERVICE STATUS.—The detail of an
employee under paragraph (1) shall be without inter-
ruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
(e) VOLUNTEER AND UNCOMPENSATED SERVICES.—
Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States
Code, the Commission may accept and use voluntary and
uncompensated services as the Commission determines
necessary.
(f) SUPPORT SERVICES.—The Director of the Na-
tional Park Service shall provide to the Commission, on
a reimbursable basis, such administrative support services
as the Commission may request.
(g) 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