Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission Act
PL 107-202 (H.R.2362), enacted 07/24/2002

PUBLIC LAW 107-202—JULY 24, 2002 
116 STAT. 739 
Public Law 107-202 
107th Congress 
An Act 
To establish the Benjamin FrankUn Tercentenary Commission. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be referred to as the "Benjamin Frankhn Ter-
centenary Commission Act". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds as follows: 
(1) Benjamin Franklin was one of the most extraordinary 
men of the generation that founded the United States. Around 
the world, he remains one of the best-known Americans who 
has ever lived. 
(2) Benjamin Franklin's achievements include his literary 
work, his creation of philanthropic and educational institutions, 
his significant scientific explorations, and his service to the 
Nation as a statesman and diplomat. 
(3) Benjamin Franklin was the only American to sign all 
5 enabling documents of the United States. 
(4) All people in the United States could benefit from 
stud3dng the life of Benjamin Franklin and gaining a deeper 
appreciation of his legacy to the Nation. 
(5) January 17, 2006, is the 300th anniversary of the birth 
of Benjamin Franklin, and a commission should be established 
to study and recommend to the Congress activities that are 
fitting and proper to celebrate that anniversary in a manner 
that appropriately honors Benjamin Franklin. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established a commission to be known as the Benjamin 
Franklin Tercentenary Commission (referred to in this Act as the 
"Commission"). 
SEC. 4. DUTIES. 
(a) STUDY.—The Commission shall have the following duties: 
(1) To study activities by the Government that would be 
fitting and proper to honor Benjamin Franklin on the occasion 
of the tercentenary of his birth, including but not limited to 
the following: 
(A) The minting of a Benjamin Franklin tercentenary 
coin. 
July 24, 2002 
[H.R. 2362] 
Benjamin 
Franklin 
Tercentenary 
Commission Act. 
36 u s e note 
prec. 101. 
36 u s e note 
prec. 101. 
36 u s e note 
prec. 101. 
36 u s e note 
prec. 101. 
116 STAT. 740 
PUBLIC LAW 107-202—JULY 24, 2002 
(B) The rededication of the Benjamin 
Franklin 
National Memorial at the Franklin Institute in Philadel-
phia, Pennsylvania, or other activities with respect to that 
memorial. 
(C) The acquisition and preservation of artifacts associ-
ated with Benjamin Franklin. 
(D) The sponsorship of publications, including catalogs 
and scholarly work, concerning Benjamin Franklin. 
(E) The sponsorship of conferences, exhibitions, or 
other public meetings concerning Benjamin Franklin. 
(F) Tlie sponsorship of high school and collegiate essay 
contests concerning tiie life and legacy of Benjamin 
Franklin. 
(2) To recommend to the Congress in one or more of the 
interim reports submitted under section 9(a)— 
(A) the activities that the Commission considers most 
fitting and proper to honor Benjamin Franklin on the occa-
sion of the tercentenary of his birth; gmd 
(B) the entity or entities in the Federal Government 
that the Commission considers most appropriate to carry 
out such activities. 
(b) POINT OF CONTACT.—^The Commission, acting through its 
secretariat, shall serve as the point of contact of the Government 
for all State, local, international, and private sector initiatives 
regarding the tercentenary of Benjamin Franklin's birth, with the 
purpose of coordinating and facilitating all fitting and proper activi-
ties honoring Benjamin Franklin. 
36 u s e note 
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP. 
Dl^C 1 0 1 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—^The Commission shall be com-
posed of 15 members as follows: 
(1) The Librarian of Congress. 
President. 
(2) Fourteen qualified citizens, appointed as follows: 
Congress. 
(A) Two members appointed by the President. 
(B) Two members appointed by the President on the 
recommendation of the Governor of the Commonwealth 
of Pennsylvania. 
(C) Two members appointed by the President on the 
recommendation of the Governor of the Commonwealth 
of Massachusetts. 
(D) Two members, at least one of whom shall be a 
Senator, appointed by the majority leader of the Senate. 
(E) Two members, at least one of whom shall be a 
Senator, appointed by the minority leader of the Senate. 
(F) Two members, at least one of whom shall be a 
Member of the House of Representatives, appointed by 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
(G) 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. 
(b) QUALIFIED CITIZEN.—^For purposes of this section, a qualified 
citizen is a citizen of the United States with— 
(1) a substantial knowledge and appreciation of the work 
and legacy of Benjamin Franklin; and 
(2) a commitment to educating people in the United States 
about the historical importance of Benjamin Franklin. 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 7 - 2 0 2 - J U L Y 24, 2002 
116 STAT. 741 
(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 
the Congress, and ceases to be a Member of the Congress, that 
member may continue to serve on the Commission for not longer 
than the 30-day period beginning on the date on which that member 
ceases to be a Member of the 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 and 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 applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 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. 
SEC. 6. ORGANIZATION. 
(a) HONORARY MEMBERS.—The President— 
(1) shall serve as an honorary, nonvoting member of the 
Commission; and 
(2) may invite the President of France and the Prime 
Minister of the United Kingdom to serve as honorary, nonvoting 
members of the Commission. 
(b) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—^The Commission shall form an Establishment. 
advisory committee, to be composed of representatives of the major 
extant institutions founded by or dedicated to Benjamin Franklin, 
including the following: 
(1) The Executive Director of the American Philosophical 
Society. 
(2) The President of the Franklin Institute. 
(3) The Librarian of the Library Company. 
(4) The Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Philadel-
phia Museum of Art. 
(5) The President of the University of Pennsylvania. 
(c) ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARIAT.—^The Commission shall seek Contracts, 
to enter into an arrangement with the Franklin Institute of 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under which the Institute shall do the 
following: 
(1) Serve as the secretariat of the Commission, including 
by serving as the point of contact under section 4(b). 
(2) House the administrative offices of the Commission. 
36 u s e note 
prec. 101. 
President. 
SEC. 7. POWERS. 
(a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—^The Commission may, for the 
purpose of canying out this Act, hold such hearings, sit and act 
36 u s e note 
prec. 101. 
116 STAT. 742 
PUBLIC LAW 107-202-JULY 24, 2002 
at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such 
evidence as the Commission considers appropriate. 
(b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—^Any member or agent 
of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take 
any action that the Commission is authorized to take by this Act. 
(c) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Commission may secure 
directly from 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. 
(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. 
(f) PROCUREMENT.—The Commission may enter into contracts 
for supplies, services, and facilities to carry out the Commission's 
duties under this Act. 
(g) DONATIONS.—^The Commission may accept and use dona-
tions of— 
(1) money; 
(2) personal services; and 
(3) real or personal property related to Benjamin Franklin 
or the occasion of the tercentenary of his birth. 
36 u s e note 
SEC. 8. DIRECTOR AND STAFF. 
D1*6C 
1 0 1 
(a) APPOINTMENT.—^The Commission may appoint a Director 
and such additional personnel as the Commission considers to be 
appropriate. 
(b) 
APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.—The 
Director and staff 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. 
36 u s e note 
SEC. 9. REPORTS. 
^^^' 
(a) INTERIM REPORTS.—^The Commission shall submit to the 
Congress such interim reports as the Commission considers to 
be appropriate. 
Deadline. 
(b) FiNAL REPORT.—The Commission shall submit a final report 
to the Congress not later than January 16, 2007. The final report 
shall contain— 
(1) a detailed statement of the activities of the Commission; 
and 
(2) any other information that the Commission considers 
to be appropriate. 
36 u s e note 
SEC. 10. TERMINATION. 
The Commission shall terminate 120 days after submitting 
its final report pursuant to section 9(b). 
PUBLIC LAW 107-202—JULY 24, 2002 
116 STAT. 743 
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
36 USC note 
There are authorized to be appropriated $500,000 for the period ^^^' 
of fiscal years 2002 through 2007 to carry out this Act, to remain 
available until expended. 
Approved July 24, 2002. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2362: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 147 (2001): Oct. 30, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 148 (2002): July 9, considered and passed Senate. 
99-194 O - 03 - 25 :QL 3 Parti