(ii) LOCATION.—To the maximum ex-
tent practicable, displays described in sub-
paragraph (A) shall be located in, or in fa-
cilities near to, buildings of historical sig-
nificance to the American Revolution, so as 
to promote greater public awareness of the 
heritage of the United States. 
(C) 
SUBMISSION
OF
RECOMMENDA-
TIONS.—Each of the officers described in this 
paragraph shall submit to the Commission a re-
port containing recommendations in time to af-
ford the Commission an opportunity— 
(i) to review the reports; and 
(ii) to incorporate in the report de-
scribed in section 5(c) such findings and 
recommendations as the Commission con-
siders appropriate. 
(4) DEPARTMENT OF STATE.—The Secretary of 
State shall coordinate the participation of foreign 
nations in the celebration of the United States 
Semiquincentennial, including by soliciting the erec-
tion of monuments and other cultural cooperations 
in founding cities of the United States so as—
(A) to celebrate the shared heritage of the 
United States with the many peoples and na-
tions of the world; and 
(B) to provide liaison and encouragement 
for the erection of international pavilions to 
showcase the spread of democratic institutions 
abroad in the period following the American 
Revolution. 
SEC. 7. POWERS. 
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such 
hearings, meet and act at such times and places, take such 
testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission 
considers advisable to carry out this Act. 
(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may secure 
directly from a Federal agency such information as 
the Commission considers necessary to carry out this 
Act. 
(2) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—On request 
of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of 
the agency shall provide the information to the Com-
mission. 
(c) 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. 
(d) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use, and 
dispose of gifts or donations of money, property, or per-
sonal services. 
(e) ADDITIONAL POWERS.—As determined necessary 
by the Commission, the Commission may— 
(1) procure supplies, services, and property; 
(2) make contracts; 
(3) expend in furtherance of this Act funds do-
nated or received in pursuance of contracts entered 
into under this Act; and 
(4) take such actions as are necessary to enable 
the Commission to carry out efficiently and in the 
public interest the purposes of this Act. 
(f) USE OF MATERIALS.— 
(1) TIME CAPSULE.—A representative portion 
of all books, manuscripts, miscellaneous printed 
matter, memorabilia, relics, and other materials re-
lating to the United States Semiquincentennial shall 
be deposited in a time capsule— 
(A) to be buried in Independence Mall, 
Philadelphia, on July 4, 2026; and
(B) to be unearthed on the occasion of the 
500th anniversary of the United States of 
America on July 4, 2276. 
(2) OTHER
MATERIALS.—All other books, 
manuscripts, miscellaneous printed matter, memora-
bilia, relics, and other materials relating to the 
United States Semiquincentennial, whether donated 
to the Commission or collected by the Commission, 
may be deposited for preservation in national, State, 
or local libraries or museums or be otherwise dis-
posed of by the Commission, in consultation with the 
Librarian of Congress, the Secretary of the Smithso-
nian Institution, the Archivist of the United States, 
and the Administrator of General Services. 
(g) PROPERTY.—Any property acquired by the Com-
mission remaining on termination of the Commission may 
be— 
(1) used by the Secretary for purposes of the 
National Park Service; or 
(2) disposed of as excess or surplus property. 
SEC. 8. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 
(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—The members of 
the Commission shall receive no compensation for service 
on the Commission.
(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) STAFF.— 
(1) 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 per-
sonnel as are necessary to enable the Commission to 
perform 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 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOY-
EES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An employee of the Federal 
Government may be detailed to the Commission 
without reimbursement. 
(2) CIVIL SERVICE STATUS.—The detail of the 
employee 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 in ac-
cordance with section 3109(b) of title 5, United States 
Code, at rates for individuals that do not exceed the daily 
equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for 
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 
that title.
(f) ADVISORY COMMITTEES.—The Commission may 
appoint such advisory committees as the Commission de-
termines necessary. 
SEC. 9. EXPENDITURES OF COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—All expenditures of the Commis-
sion shall be made solely from donated funds. 
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARIAT.—The Secretary 
of the Interior shall, through a competitive process, seek 
to enter into an arrangement with a nonprofit organiza-
tion, the mission of which is consistent with the purpose 
of this Act. Under such arrangement, such nonprofit orga-
nization shall— 
(1) serve as the secretariat of the Commission, 
including by serving as the point of contact under 
section 5(e); 
(2) house the administrative offices of the Com-
mission; 
(3) assume responsibility for funds of the Com-
mission; and 
(4) provide to the Commission financial and ad-
ministrative services, including services related to 
budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, per-
sonnel, and procurement. 
(c) PAYMENT FOR FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE 
SERVICES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
payment for services provided under subsection 
(b)(4) shall be made in advance, or by reimburse-
ment, from funds of the Commission in such 
amounts as may be agreed on by the Chairperson of 
the Commission and the secretariat of the Commis-
sion. 
(2) RELATIONSHIP TO REGULATIONS.— 
(A) ERRONEOUS PAYMENTS.—The regula-
tions under section 5514 of title 5, United 
States Code, relating to the collection of indebt-
edness of personnel resulting from erroneous 
payments shall apply to the collection of erro-
neous payments made to, or on behalf of, a 
Commission employee. 
(B) NO PROMULGATION BY COMMISSION.— 
The Commission shall not be required to pre-
scribe any regulations relating to the matters 
described in subparagraph (A). 
(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—Once each year during the 
period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and 
ending on December 31, 2027, the Commission shall sub-
mit to Congress a report of the activities of the Commis-
sion, including an accounting of funds received and ex-
pended during the year covered by the report.
SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall terminate on December 31, 
2027. 
Passed the House of Representatives July 5, 2016. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4875 
AN ACT 
To establish the United States Semiquincentennial 
Commission, and for other purposes.