National Commemorative Events Advisory Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Commemorative Events 
Advisory Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) the preparation and consideration of the multitude of 
        bills proposing particular days, weeks, months, or years for 
        recognition through Presidential proclamation unduly burdens 
        the Congress and consumes an inordinate amount of time;
            (2) such proposals could be more efficiently considered by 
        a commission whose sole function would be to review proposals 
        for national commemorative events and to make positive or 
        negative recommendations thereon to the President;
            (3) such a commission would streamline the process by which 
        such proposals are currently considered and save the Congress 
        considerable time and resources which could be devoted to 
        matters of more pressing national concern; and
            (4) such a commission would better ensure the impartial 
        review of proposals for national commemorative events generated 
        by a wide variety of constituent groups.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND MEMBERSHIP.

    (a) In General.--There shall be established a commission to be 
known as the ``President's Advisory Commission on National 
Commemorative Events'' (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 
``Commission'').
    (b) Members.--The Commission shall be composed of 11 members of 
whom--
            (1) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
        House of Representatives, after consultation with the majority 
        and minority leaders of the House of Representatives;
            (2) 2 members shall be appointed by the President pro 
        tempore of the Senate, after consultation with the majority and 
        minority leaders of the Senate; and
            (3) 7 members shall be appointed by the President.
    (c) Qualifications.--(1) All members of the Commission shall be 
citizens of the United States.
    (2) Members appointed under subsection (b)(3)--
            (A) to the greatest extent possible, shall represent a wide 
        range of educational, geographical, and professional 
        backgrounds; and
            (B) may not be Members of Congress.
    (d) Terms.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), each member 
shall be appointed for a term of 2 years.
    (2) Of the members first appointed under subsection (b)(3) the 
President shall designate--
            (A) 3 who shall be appointed for 1 year; and
            (B) 4 who shall be appointed for 2 years.
    (3) If a member was appointed to the Commission as a Member of 
Congress and the member ceases to be a Member of Congress, that member 
may continue as a member for not longer than the 30-day period 
beginning
 on the date that member ceases to be a Member of Congress.
    (e) Vacancies.--A vacancy shall be filled in the manner in which 
the original appointment was made. A vacancy in the Commission shall 
not affect its powers. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring 
before the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor 
was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term.
    (f) Chairman.--The Chairman of the Commission shall be designated 
by the President from among the members under subsection (b)(3). The 
term of office of the Chairman shall be 2 years.
    (g) Quorum.--6 members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. 
Action by a quorum shall be necessary for the Commission to issue a 
recommendation under section 6(d).
    (h) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet on at least a quarterly 
basis. Meetings shall be held in the District of Columbia.
    (i) Pay.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), each member of 
the Commission shall be paid the daily equivalent of the maximum rate 
of basic pay payable for grade GS-15 of the General Schedule for each 
day, including traveltime, during which such member is performing 
duties of the Commission.
    (2) Members of the Commission who are full-time officers or 
employees of the United States or Members of Congress may not receive 
additional pay for service on the Commission.
    (j) Travel Expenses.--While away from their homes or regular places 
of business in the performance of services for the Commission, members 
of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including a per 
diem allowance in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons 
employed intermittently in the Government service are allowed travel 
expenses under section 5703 of title 5 of the United States Code.

SEC. 4. STAFF.

    (a) Limitation on Staff.--The Commission may not employ staff 
personnel.
    (b) Detail of Staff from Federal Agencies.--Any Federal employee 
may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and such 
detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or 
privilege.

SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings.--The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out 
this Act, hold such hearings, take such testimony, and receive such 
evidence, as it considers appropriate.
    (b) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or 
donations of services or property, but not from a source having a 
direct interest in any matter before the Commission.
    (c) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the 
same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and 
agencies of the United States.
    (d) Administrative Support Services.--The Administrator of General 
Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, such 
administrative support services as the Commission may request.

SEC. 6. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Criteria.--The Commission shall establish criteria for 
recommending to the President that a proposed commemorative event be 
approved or disapproved.
    (b) Submission of Proposals.--The Commission shall establish and 
publish in the Federal Register procedures for submitting proposals for 
national commemorative events to the Commission.
    (c) Review of Proposals.--The Commission shall review all proposals 
submitted to it in accordance with subsection (b).
    (d) Recommendation to the President.--The Commission shall issue a 
recommendation to the President for approval or disapproval of each 
proposal submitted to it in accordance with subsection (b). Each 
recommendation shall be accompanied by a brief explanation of such 
recommendation.
    (e) Limitation on Designation of Events.--The Commission shall not 
issue a recommendation to the President for approval of an event which 
commemorates--
            (1) a commercial enterprise, industry, specific product, or 
        fraternal, political, business, labor, or sectarian 
        organization;
            (2) a particular State or any political subdivision 
        thereof, city, town, county, school, or institution of higher 
        learning; or
            (3) a living person.
    (f) Nonpermanent Designations.--(1) Any day, week, month, year, or 
other specified period of time designated by the Commission for 
commemoration of an event may not be designated for a date or time 
period which begins more than 1 year after the date such designation is 
made.
    (2) No event which is commemorated by a day, week, month, year, or 
other specified period of time designated by the Commission may be 
commemorated by another designation within a single calendar year.

SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE; COMMENCEMENT AND TERMINATION PROVISIONS.

    (a) Effective Date.--This Act shall take effect on January 1, 1996.
    (b) Commencement; Termination.--(1) Members of the Commission shall 
be appointed, and the Commission shall first meet, within 90 days after 
the effective date of this Act.
    (2) The Commission shall terminate 5 years after the date on which 
it first meets.

Summary: National Commemorative Events Advisory Act - Establishes the President's Advisory Commission on National Commemorative Events to: (1) establish criteria for recommending to the President that a proposed commemorative event be approved or disapproved; (2) review proposals for national commemorative events submitted in accordance with procedures published by the Commission; and (3) issue recommendations to the President concerning each proposal reviewed. 
Prohibits the Commission from issuing a recommendation to the President for approval of an event which commemorates:  (1) a commercial enterprise, industry, specific product, or fraternal, political, business, labor, or sectarian organization; (2) a particular State or any political subdivision, city, town, county, school, or institution of higher learning; or (3) a living person. 
Bars:  (1) the Commission from designating for commemoration of an event of any date or time period which begins more than one year after its designation date; or (2) an event which is commemorated by a specified period of time designated by the Commission from being commemorated by another designation within a single calendar year.