An Act to provide for an investigation and study to determine a site for the construction of a sea-level canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
PL 88-609 (S.2701), enacted 09/22/1964

990 
PUBLIC LAW 88-609-SEPT. 22, 1964 
[78 STAT. 
Public Law 88-609 
September 22, 1964 
- ^ 
A C T 
[S- 2701] 
rp^ provide for an investisation and study to determine a site for the construc-
tion of a sea level canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. 
Atlantic-Pacific 
interoceanic 
canal. 
Study. 
60 Stat. 810. 
Report to Presi-
dent and Con-
gress. 
Appropriation. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President 
is authorized to appoint a Commission to be composed of five men from 
private life, to make a full and complete investigation and study, 
including necessary on-site surveys, and considering national defense, 
foreign relations, intercoastal shipping, interoceanic shipping, and 
such other matters as they may determine to be important, for the 
purpose of determining the feasibility of, and the most suitable site 
for, the construction of a sea level canal connecting the Atlantic and 
Pacific Oceans; the best means of constructing such a canal, whether by 
conventional or nuclear excavation, and the estimated cost thereof. 
The President shall designate as Chairman one of the members of the 
Commission. 
SEC. 2. The Commission is authorized to utilize the facilities of any 
department, agency, or instrumentality of the executive branch of 
the United States Government, and to obtain such services as it deems 
necessary in accordance with the provisions of section 15 of the Act of 
August 2,1946 (5 U.S.C. 55a). 
SEC. 3. The Commission shall report to the President for transmittal 
to Congress on July 31, 1965, with respect to its progress, and each 
year thereafter until the completion of its duties. The President shall 
submit such recommendations to the Congress as he deems advisable. 
The Commission shall continue until the President determines that its 
duties are completed, but not later than June 30, 1968. 
SEC. 4. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such 
amounts as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, 
not to exceed $17,500,000. 
Approved September 22, 1964. 
Public Law 88-610 
AN ACT 
September 24, 1964 
[s- 49] 
rpQ provide for recognition by the United States of Alaska's one hundredth 
anniversary under the American flag, and for other purposes. 
Alaska Centen-
nial celebration. 
Participation. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representati'ves 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Congress 
hereby recognizes the Alaska Centennial Celebration 
(hereinafter 
referred to as the "celebration") to be held at various locations in the 
State of Alaska during 1967, not only as an observance by the people 
of the forty-ninth State, but as an event of national significance. 
SEC. 2. (a) To implement the recognition declared in the first section 
of this Act, the President, through the Secretary of Commerce, may, 
in his discretion, cooperate with the Alaska Centennial Commission m 
the planning of the celebration and may, in his discretion, conduct a 
study to determine the manner in which and the extent, if any, to which 
the United States shall be a participant in and exhibitor at the 
celebration. 
(b) The study authorized in subsection (a) may be made, in the 
discretion of the Secretary of Commerce, by personnel of the Depart-