De Soto Expedition Trail Commission Act of 1990
PL 101-607 (S.555), enacted 11/16/1990

PUBLIC LAW 101-607—NOV. 16, 1990 
104 STAT. 3105 
Public Law 101-607 
101st Congress 
An Act 
Nov. 16, 1990 
[S. 555] 
DeSoto 
Expedition Trail 
Commission Act 
of 1990. 
Research. 
Historic 
preservation. 
16 u s e 1244 
note. 
16USC1244 
note. 
To establish in the Department of the Interior the De Soto Expedition Trail Commis-
sion, 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. 
This Act may be cited as the "De Soto Expedition Trail Commis-
sion Act of 1990". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that— 
(1) the 450th anniversary of the De Soto expedition and the 
500th anniversary of Columbus' landing provide^ appropriate 
times for the commemoration of this aspect 6f American 
history; 
(2) the expedition of Hernando de Soto was the first major 
European exploration of the interior of the southesistern United 
States; 
(3) the chronicles of the expedition provide a rare description 
of the native societies encountered by the expedition; 
(4) knowledge gained as a result of the expedition contributed 
significantly to the subsequent exploration and colonization of 
the region; 
(5) discovery of the first winter encampment in Tallahsissee, 
Florida, is the most recent archeological evidence of the De Soto 
expedition in the United States; 
(6) official commemoration of the De Soto expedition will 
encourage further archeological and historical research, and 
incresise public awareness of the early historic period of the 
southeastern United States, including the Native American 
societies the expedition encountered. 
0)) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to establish a Commission 
to encourage and direct research, and to coordinate the distribution 
of interpretive materials to the public, regarding the De Soto expedi-
tion, the native societies the expedition encountered, and the effects 
of that contact. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—To carry out the purposes of this Act, there is 
hereby established in the Department of the Interior the De Soto 
Expedition Trail Commission (hereinafter in this Act referred to as 
the "Commission"). The Commission shedl exercise its responsibil- State listing 
ities and authorities as provided in this Act with respect to that 
region of the southeastern United States comprising the States of 
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas (hereinafter in this 
Act referred to as the "involved States"). The Commission shall 
16 u s e 1244 
note. 
104 STAT. 3106 
PUBLIC LAW 101-607—NOV. 16, 1990 
consist of 19 members, appointed by the Secretary of the Interior 
(hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "Secretary") as follows: 
(1) 10 members knowledgable in the history of Spanish-Native 
American contact, including the history of the De Soto expedi-
tion, appointed from recommendations submitted by the Gov-
ernors of the involved States, of which one shall represent each 
State; 
(2) 4 members with expertise in the history of the De Soto 
expedition; 
(3) 2 members with knowledge of the Native American soci-
eties encountered by the De Soto expedition; 
(4) 2 members, one of which shall hold the position of Super-
intendent, De Soto National Memorial, the other of which shall 
have knowledge of the history of Spanish colonization of the 
southeastern United States; and 
(5) 1 member appointed from recommendations submitted by 
the Smithsonian Institution. 
(b) APPOINTMENT.—All members of the Commission shall be ap-
pointed for terms of 4 years. 
(c) CHAIRPERSON.—The Commission shall elect a chairperson from 
among its members. The term of the chairperson shall be 2 years. 
(d) TERMS.—Any member of the Commission appointed for a 
definite term may serve after the expiration of such term until a 
successor is appointed. Any vacancy in the Commission shall be 
filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was 
made. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the 
remainder of the term for which such member's predecessor was 
appointed. 
(e) QUORUM.—A simple majority of Commission members shall 
constitute a quorum. 
(f) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at lesist biannually or 
at the call of the chairperson or a majority of its members. 
(g) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Commission shall serve with-
out compensation as such. While away from their homes or regular 
places of business in the performance of services for the Commis-
sion, members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as 
persons employed intermittently in Government service are allowed 
expenses under section 5703 of title 5 of the United States Code. 
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SEC. 4. FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall— 
(1) assist in the coordination of activities of Federal, State, 
and local governments and private businesses and organizations 
in order to further the commemoration of the De Soto 
expedition; 
(2) expeditiously provide the involved States the research 
performed under section 7 and assist those States in utilizing 
such research for the public's education; 
(3) coordinate the preparation and distribution of interpretive 
materials relating to the De Soto expedition, including maps 
and brochures, for the public; 
(4) provide advice and assistance to the Secretary with respect 
to the preparation of contracts and cooperative agreements 
under section 7; and 
PUBLIC LAW 101-607—NOV. 16, 1990 
104 STAT. 3107 
(5) consider and provide advice on appropriate means to link 
together authenticated De Soto expedition and other Spanish 
Colonial sites. 
Ot)) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Commission shall submit an annual 
report to the Secretary, and to the Committee on Interior and 
Insular Affairs of the United States House of Representatives and to 
Committee on Energy £md Natural Resources of the United States 
Senate, describing the activities of the Commission and the status of 
public interpretive activities and research undertaken pursuant to 
this Act. 
(c) EXPIRATION.—The Commission established pursuant to this Act 
shall cease to exist 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 5. STAFF OF THE COMMISSION. 
16 USC 1244 
note. 
(a) STAFF.—(1) The Commission shall have the power to appoint 
and fix the compensation of such staff as may be necessary to carry 
out its duties. 
(2) Staff appointed by the Commission— 
(A) shall be appointed subject to the provisions of title 5, 
United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive 
service; and 
(B) shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, be paid 
in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter 
III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification smd 
Greneral Schedule pay rates. 
(b) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—Subject to such rules as may be 
adopted by the Commission, the Commission may procure tem-
porary and intermittent services to the same extent as is authorized 
by section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates deter-
mined by the Commission to be reasonable. 
(c) STAFF OF OTHER AGENCIES.—(1) Upon request of the Commis-
sion, the head of any Federal agency may detail, on a reimbursable 
bEisis, any of the personnel of such agency to the Commission to 
assist the Commission in carrying out the Commission's duties. 
(2) The Commission may accept the services of personnel detailed 
from one or more of the involved States (and any political subdivi-
sion thereof) 
and 
may 
reimburse the 
State(s) or 
political 
subdivision(s) for those services. 
SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
16 USC 1244 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may for the purpose of carry-
ing out the provisions of this Act hold such hearings, sit and act at 
such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evi-
dence, as the (Dommission may deem advisable. 
(b) BYLAWS.—The Commission may make such bylaws, rules and 
regulations, consistent with this Act, as it considers necessary to 
carry out the purposes of this Act. 
(c) DELEGATION.—When so authorized by the Commission, any 
member or agent of the Commission may take any action which the 
Commission is authorized to take by this section. 
(d) TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUPS.—The Commission may establish 
and appoint such technical advisory groups as may be necessary to 
provide technical advice. 
(e) DONATIONS.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Commission may seek and accept donations of funds or services 
from individuals, foundations, corporations, and other private enti-
104 STAT. 3108 
PUBLIC LAW 101-607—NOV. 16, 1990 
ties, and from public entities, for the purpose of carrying out its 
duties. 
(f) 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. 
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SEC. 7. RESEARCH. 
The Secretary, in consultation with the Commission, is authorized 
to enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with qualified 
researchers for archeological and historical research and field inves-
tigations regarding the De Soto expedition. The research and 
investigation may include research and investigation regarding the 
location of the expedition route, recovery and preservation of ar-
cheological or historical materials, identification of encampment 
sites, and advancement of knowledge regarding Hernando de Soto, 
his expedition through the southeastern United States, the native 
societies inhabiting the region during the period of the expedition 
and the cross-cultural impact of the expedition on the European and 
Native Americans societies. Such research shall fully utilize ar-
chival resources and be published as promptly as possible. 
Florida. 
SEC. 8. EXPEDITION SITE IN TALLAHASSEE. 
note. 
The Secretary is authorized to enter into a cooperative agreement 
with the State of Florida to provide technical assistance for the 
preservation and interpretation of the De Soto expedition site in 
Tallahassee, Florida. 
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SEC. 9. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. 
The Secretary may, in consultation with the Commission, provide 
technical assistance to States for the development of interpretive 
materials to enhance public appreciation of the archeological, 
historical, and cultural values associated with the De Soto expedi-
tion, the Native American societies it encountered, and the impacts 
of the European-Native American contact. 
16 use 1244 
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) COMMISSION.—For the purposes of carrying out the functions of 
the Commission, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary not to exceed $250,000. 
PUBLIC LAW 101-607—NOV. 16, 1990 
104 STAT. 3109 
Qo) RESEARCH.—For the purposes of section 7, there are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary not to exceed 
$750,000. 
Approved November 16, 1990. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 555: 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 101-232 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 136 (1990): 
Jan. 24, considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 22, considered and passed House, amended. 
Oct. 27, Senate concurred in House amendment. 
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