Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission Act
PL 106-173 (H.R.1451), enacted 02/25/2000

114 STAT. 14 
PUBLIC LAW 106-173—FEB. 25, 2000 
Public Law 106-173 
106th Congress 
An Act 
Feb. 25, 2000 
To establish the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. 
[H.R. 1451] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
Abraham Lincoln the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
Bicentennial 
Commission Act. 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
36 u s e note 
prec. 101. 
This Act may be cited as the "Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial 
Commission Act". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President, was one of the 
Nation's most prominent leaders, demonstrating true courage 
during the Civil War, one of the greatest crises in the Nation's 
history. 
(2) Bom of humble roots in Hardin County, Kentucky, 
on February 12, 1809, Abraham Lincoln rose to the Presidency 
through a legacy of honesty, integrity, intelligence, and commit-
ment to the United States. 
(3) With the belief that all men were created equal, 
Abraham Lincoln led the effort to free all slaves in the United 
States. 
(4) Abraham Lincoln had a generous heart, with malice 
toward none and with charity for all. 
(5) Abraham Lincoln gave the ultimate sacrifice for the 
country Lincoln loved, d3dng fi-om an assassin's bullet on April 
15, 1865. 
(6) All Americans could benefit fi-om studying the life of 
Abraham Lincoln, for Lincoln's life is a model for accomplishing 
the "American Dream" through honesty, integrity, loyalty, and 
a lifetime of education. 
(7) The year 2009 will be the bicentennial anniversary 
of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, and a commission should 
be established to study and recommend to Congress activities 
that are fitting and proper to celebrate that anniversary in 
a manner that appropriately honors Abraham Lincoln. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established a commission to be known as the Abraham 
Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (referred to in this Act as the 
"Commission"). 
SEC. 4. DUTIES. 
The Commission shall have the following duties: 
PUBLIC LAW 106-173—FEB. 25, 2000 
114 STAT. 15 
(1) To study activities that may be carried out by the 
Federal Government to determine whether the activities are 
fitting and proper to honor Abraham Lincoln on the occasion 
of the bicentennial anniversary of Lincoln's birth, including— 
(A) the minting of an Abraham Lincoln bicentennial 
penny; 
(B) the issuance of an Abraham Lincoln bicentennial 
postage stamp; 
(C) the convening of a joint meeting or joint session 
of Congress for ceremonies and activities relating to 
AbrEiham Lincoln; 
(D) a redesignation of the Lincoln Memorial, or other 
activity with respect to the Memorial; and 
(E) the acquisition and preservation of artifacts associ-
ated with Abraham Lincoln. 
(2) To recommend to Congress the activities that the 
Commission considers most 
fitting 
£ind proper to honor 
Abraham Lincoln on such occasion, andi the entity or entities 
in the Federal Government that the Commission considers most 
appropriate to carry out such activities. 
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP. 
Congress. 
PrGsiciGiit 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission shall be com-
posed of 15 members appointed as follows: 
(1) Two members, each of whom shall be a qualified citizen 
described in subsection (b), appointed by the President. 
(2) One member, who shall be a queilified citizen described 
in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the rec-
ommendation of the Governor of Illinois. 
(3) One member, who shall be a quEilified citizen described 
in subsection (b), appointed by the President on the rec-
ommendation of the Governor of Indiana. 
(4) One member, who shall be a qualified citizen described 
in subsection (b), appointed by the I^resident on the rec-
ommendation of the Governor of Kentucky. 
(5) Three members, at least one of whom shall be a Member 
of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives. 
(6) Three members, at least one of whom shall be a Senator, 
appointed by the majority leader of the Senate. 
(7) Two members, at least one of whom shall be a Member 
of the House of Representatives, appointed by the minority 
leader of the House of Representatives. 
(8) Two members, at least one of whom shall be a Senator, 
appointed by the minority leader of the Senate. 
(b) QUALIFIED CITIZEN.—A qualified citizen described in this 
subsection is a private citizen of the United States with— 
(1) a demonstrated dedication to educating others about 
the importance of historical figures and events; and 
(2) substantial knowledge and appreciation of Abraham 
Lincoln. 
(c) TIME OF APPOINTMENT.—Each initial appointment of a 
member of the Commission shall be made before the expiration 
of the 120-day period beginning on the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(d) CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP.—If a member of the 
Commission was appointed to the Commission as a Member of 
114 STAT. 16 
PUBLIC LAW 106-173—FEB. 25, 2000 
Illinois. 
Congress, and ceases to be a Member of Congress, that member 
may continue to serve on the Commission for not longer than 
the 30-day period beginning on the date that member ceases to 
be a Member of Congress. 
(e) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed for the life of 
the Commission. 
(f) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission shall not affect 
the powers of the Commission but shall be filled in the manner 
in which the original appointment was made. 
(g) BASIC PAY.—Members shall serve on the Commission with-
out pay. 
(h) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member shall receive travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance 
with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code. 
(i) QUORUM.—Five members of the Commission shall constitute 
a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings. 
(j) CHAIR.—The Commission shall select a Chair from among 
the members of the Commission. 
(k) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
Chair. Periodically, the Commission shall hold a meeting in Spring-
field, Illinois. 
SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF. 
(a) DIRECTOR.—The Commission may appoint and fix the pay 
of a Director and such additional personnel as the Commission 
considers to be appropriate. 
(b) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.— 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The Director of the Commission may be 
appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United 
States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, 
and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 
51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to 
classification and General Schedule pay rates. 
(2) STAFF,—The staff of the Commission shall be appointed 
subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, gov-
erning appointments in the competitive service, and shall be 
paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and sub-
chapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification 
and General Schedule pay rates. 
SEC. 7. POWERS. 
(a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commission may, for the 
purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such hearings, sit and act 
at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such 
evidence as the Commission considers to be appropriate. 
(b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any member or agent 
of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take 
gmy action that the Commission is authorized to take by this Act. 
(c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission may secure 
directly fi-om any department or agency of the United States 
information necessary to enable the Commission to carry out this 
Act. Upon request of the Chair of the Commission, the head of 
that department or agency shall furnish that information to the 
Commission. 
(d) MAILS.—^The Commission may use the United States mails 
in the same manner and under the same conditions as other depart-
ments and agencies of the United States. 
PUBLIC LAW 106-173—FEB. 25, 2000 
114 STAT. 17 
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon the request of 
the Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall pro-
vide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative 
support services necessary for the Commission to carry out its 
responsibilities under this Act. 
SEC. 8. REPORTS. 
(a) INTERIM REPORTS.—The Commission may submit to Con-
gress such interim reports as the Commission considers to be appro-
priate. 
(b) FINAL REPORT.—^The Commission shall submit a final report Deadline, 
to Congress not later than the expiratioii of the 4-year period 
beginning on the date of the formation of the Commission. The 
final report shall contain— 
(1) a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions 
of the Commission; 
(2) the recommendations of the Commission; and 
(3) any other information that the Commission considers 
to be appropriate. 
SEC. 9. BUDGET ACT COMPLIANCE. 
Any spending authority provided under this Act shall be effec-
tive only to such extent and in such aniiounts as are provided 
in appropriation Acts. 
^ 
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SEC. 10. TERMINATION. 
The Commission shall terminate 120 days after submitting 
the final report of the Commission pursuant to section 8. 
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may 
be necessary to carry out this Act. 
Approved February 25, 2000. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1451: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 145 (1999): Oct. 4, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Vol. 146 (2000): Feb. 8, House concurred in Senate amendment.