Title: Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission Act
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

Summary:
Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission Act
This bill establishes a Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission to develop and execute programs and activities to commemorate the centennial of the passage and ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, which prohibits the federal government and states from denying U.S. citizens the right to vote on account of sex.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 847 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 847

   To establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the 
centennial of the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment to the 
 Constitution of the United States providing for women's suffrage, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                April 5 (legislative day, April 4), 2017

 Ms. Baldwin (for herself, Ms. Collins, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Feinstein, 
Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Harris, Ms. Hassan, Ms. Heitkamp, Ms. Hirono, Mrs. 
  McCaskill, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Warren, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. 
 Stabenow, and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the following bill; which was 
       read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish a commission to ensure a suitable observance of the 
centennial of the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment to the 
 Constitution of the United States providing for women's suffrage, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Women's Suffrage 
Centennial Commission Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Establishment of Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission.
Sec. 4. Duties of Centennial Commission.
Sec. 5. Powers of Centennial Commission.
Sec. 6. Centennial Commission personnel matters.
Sec. 7. Termination of Centennial Commission.
Sec. 8. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) From 1919 to 1920, the Sixty-Sixth United States 
        Congress debated, and State legislatures considered, an 
        amendment to the Constitution of the United States to provide 
        suffrage for women.
            (2) A proposed women's suffrage amendment was first 
        introduced in the United States Senate in 1878 and was brought 
        to a vote, unsuccessfully, in 1887, 1914, 1918, and 1919. 
        Finally, on May 21, 1919, the House of Representatives approved 
        a proposed amendment, followed by the Senate a few weeks later 
        on June 4. Within days, the legislatures of Wisconsin, 
        Illinois, and Michigan had voted to ratify the amendment.
            (3) On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th State to 
        ratify the amendment, providing the support of three-fourths of 
        States necessary under article V of the Constitution of the 
        United States.
            (4) The introduction, passage, and ultimate ratification of 
        the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States 
        were the culmination of decades of work and struggle by 
        advocates for the rights of women across the United States and 
        worldwide.
            (5) Ratification of the 19th Amendment ensured women could 
        more fully participate in their democracy and fundamentally 
        changed the role of women in the civic life of our Nation.
            (6) The centennial offers an opportunity for people in the 
        United States to learn about and commemorate the efforts of the 
        women's suffrage movement and the role of women in our 
        democracy.
            (7) Commemorative programs, activities, and sites allow 
        people in the United States to learn about the women's suffrage 
        movement and to commemorate and honor the role of the 
        ratification of the 19th Amendment in further fulfilling the 
        promise of the Constitution of the United States and promoting 
        the core values of our democracy.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known 
as the ``Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission'' (referred to in this 
Act as the ``Centennial Commission'').
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) The Centennial Commission shall be composed of 14 
        members, of whom--
                    (A) 2 shall be appointed by the President;
                    (B) 2 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
                House of Representatives;
                    (C) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
                the House of Representatives;
                    (D) 2 shall be appointed by the majority leader of 
                the Senate;
                    (E) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
                the Senate;
                    (F) 1 shall be the Librarian of Congress, or the 
                designee of the Librarian;
                    (G) 1 shall be the Archivist of the United States, 
                or the designee of the Archivist;
                    (H) 1 shall be the Secretary of the Smithsonian 
                Institution, or the designee of the Secretary; and
                    (I) 1 shall be the Director of the National Park 
                Service, or the designee of the Director.
            (2) Persons eligible.--
                    (A) In general.--The members of the Commission 
                shall be individuals who have knowledge or expertise, 
                whether by experience or training, in matters to be 
                studied by the Commission. The members may be from the 
                public or private sector, and may include Federal, 
                State, or local employees, former Members of Congress, 
                members of academia, nonprofit organizations, or 
                industry, or other interested individuals.
                    (B) Diversity.--It is the intent of Congress that 
                persons appointed to the Commission under paragraph (1) 
                be persons who represent diverse economic, 
                professional, and cultural backgrounds.
            (3) Consultation and appointment.--
                    (A) In general.--The President, Speaker of the 
                House of Representatives, minority leader of the House 
                of Representatives, majority leader of the Senate, and 
                minority leader of the Senate shall consult among 
                themselves before appointing the members of the 
                Commission in order to achieve, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, fair and equitable representation of 
                various points of view with respect to the matters to 
                be studied by the Commission.
                    (B) Completion of appointments; vacancies.--The 
                President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
                minority leader of the House of Representatives, 
                majority leader of the Senate, and minority leader of 
                the Senate shall conduct the consultation under 
                subparagraph (A) and make their respective appointments 
                not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of 
                this Act.
            (4) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the membership of the 
        Commission shall not affect the powers of the Commission and 
        shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment 
        not later than 30 days after the vacancy occurs.
    (c) Meetings.--
            (1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
        on which all members of the Centennial Commission have been 
        appointed, the Centennial Commission shall hold its first 
        meeting.
            (2) Subsequent meetings.--
                    (A) In general.--The Centennial Commission shall 
                meet at the call of the Chair.
                    (B) Frequency.--The Chair shall call a meeting of 
                the members of the Centennial Commission not less 
                frequently than once every 6 months.
            (3) Quorum.--Seven members of the Centennial Commission 
        shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold 
        hearings.
            (4) Chair and vice chair.--The Centennial Commission shall 
        select a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members.

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--The duties of the Centennial Commission are as 
follows:
            (1) To encourage, plan, develop, and execute programs, 
        projects, and activities to commemorate the centennial of the 
        passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment.
            (2) To encourage private organizations and State and local 
        governments to organize and participate in activities 
        commemorating the centennial of the passage and ratification of 
        the 19th Amendment.
            (3) To facilitate and coordinate activities throughout the 
        United States relating to the centennial of the passage and 
        ratification of the 19th Amendment.
            (4) To serve as a clearinghouse for the collection and 
        dissemination of information about events and plans for the 
        centennial of the passage and ratification of the 19th 
        Amendment.
            (5) To develop recommendations for Congress and the 
        President for commemorating the centennial of the passage and 
        ratification of the 19th Amendment.
    (b) Consultation.--In conducting its work, the Centennial 
Commission shall consult the Historian of the Senate and the Historian 
of the House of Representatives when appropriate.
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) Periodic report.--Not later than the last day of the 6-
        month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
        Act, and not later than the last day of each 3-month period 
        thereafter, the Centennial Commission shall submit to Congress 
        and the President a report on the activities and plans of the 
        Centennial Commission.
            (2) Recommendations.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Centennial Commission shall 
        submit to Congress and the President a report containing 
        specific recommendations for commemorating the centennial of 
        the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment and 
        coordinating related activities.

SEC. 5. POWERS OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings.--The Centennial Commission may hold such hearings, 
sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive 
such evidence as the Centennial Commission considers appropriate to 
carry out its duties under this Act.
    (b) Powers of Member and Agents.--If authorized by the Centennial 
Commission, any member or agent of the Centennial Commission may take 
any action which the Centennial Commission is authorized to take under 
this Act.
    (c) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Centennial Commission 
shall secure directly from any Federal department or agency such 
information as the Centennial Commission considers necessary to carry 
out the provisions of this Act. Upon the request of the Chair of the 
Centennial Commission, the head of such department or agency shall 
furnish such information to the Centennial Commission.
    (d) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the 
Centennial Commission, the Administrator of the General Services 
Administration shall provide to the Centennial Commission, on a 
reimbursable basis, the administrative support services necessary for 
the Centennial Commission to carry out its responsibilities under this 
Act.
    (e) Contract Authority.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
        Centennial Commission is authorized--
                    (A) to procure supplies, services, and property; 
                and
                    (B) to make or enter into contracts, leases, or 
                other legal agreements.
            (2) Limitation.--The Centennial Commission may not enter 
        into any contract, lease, or other legal agreement that extends 
        beyond the date of the termination of the Centennial Commission 
        under section 7(a).
    (f) Postal Services.--The Centennial Commission may use the United 
States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
    (g) Gifts, Bequests, and Devises.--The Centennial Commission is 
authorized to solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or 
devises of money, services, or property, both real and personal, for 
the purpose of covering the costs incurred by the Centennial Commission 
to carry out its duties under this Act.
    (h) Grants.--The Centennial Commission is authorized to award 
grants to States and the District of Columbia to support programs and 
activities related to commemorating the centennial of the passage and 
ratification of the 19th Amendment.

SEC. 6. CENTENNIAL COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Compensation of Members.--Members of the Centennial Commission 
shall serve without compensation for such service.
    (b) Travel Expenses.--Each member of the Centennial Commission 
shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, in accordance with the applicable provisions of title 5, 
United States Code.
    (c) Staff.--
            (1) In general.--The Chair of the Centennial Commission 
        shall, in consultation with the members of the Centennial 
        Commission, appoint an executive director and such other 
        additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the 
        Centennial Commission to perform its duties.
            (2) Compensation.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                Chair of the Centennial Commission may fix the 
                compensation of the executive director and any other 
                personnel appointed under paragraph (1).
                    (B) Limitation.--The Chair of the Centennial 
                Commission may not fix the compensation of the 
                executive director or other personnel appointed under 
                paragraph (1) at a rate that exceeds the rate payable 
                for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 
                5315 of title 5, United States Code.
    (d) Detail of Government Employees.--Upon request of the Centennial 
Commission, the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on 
a reimbursable basis, any employee of that department or agency to the 
Centennial Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties under 
this Act.
    (e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The Chair 
of the Centennial Commission may procure temporary and intermittent 
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
    (f) Acceptance of Voluntary Services.--Notwithstanding section 1342 
of title 31, United States Code, the Centennial Commission may accept 
and use voluntary and uncompensated services as the Centennial 
Commission deems necessary.

SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--The Centennial Commission shall terminate on the 
earlier of--
            (1) the date that is 30 days after the date the completion 
        of the activities under this Act honoring the centennial 
        observation of the passage and ratification of the 19th 
        Amendment; or
            (2) April 15, 2021.
    (b) Application of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
        provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.) shall apply to the activities of the Centennial 
        Commission under this Act.
            (2) Exception.--Section 14(a)(2) of such Act (5 U.S.C. 
        App.) shall not apply to the Centennial Commission.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this Act such sums as may be necessary for the period of fiscal 
years 2017 through 2021.
    (b) Amounts Available.--Amounts appropriated in accordance with 
this section for any fiscal year shall remain available until the 
termination of the Centennial Commission.
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