Joint resolution to establish the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, and for other purposes.
PL 89-491 (S.J.Res.162), enacted 07/04/1966

80 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 89-491-JULY 4, 1966 
259 
another nation at the jamboree and world conference referred to in 
the first section of this Act. Further, the import and export of docu-
ments and paraphernalia needed by conference and jamboree delegates 
and representatives at said world conference and world jamboree will 
be guaranteed free entry and departure regardless of nationality. 
SEC. 5. Each department of the Federal Government is hereby author- 
Federal assist-
ized under such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary ^"''^" 
thereof to assist the Boy Scouts of America in the carrying out and 
the fulfillment of the plans for the encampment and conference 
referred to in sections 1, 2, and 4 of this Act. 
Approved July 4, 1966. 
Public Law 89-491 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
juiy 4, 1966 
To establish the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, and for other 
[S- J- Res. 162] 
purposes. 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United 
States of America 
in Congress assemhled^ That, as this Nation i^^^^'^^^J'^^^l^^l^i 
approaches the bicentennial of its birth and the historic events pre- commission. 
ceding and associated with the American Revolution which are of 
Establishment. 
such major significance in the development of our national heritage of 
individual liberty, representative government, and the attainment of 
equal and inalienable rights and which have also had so profound an 
influence throughout the world, it is appropriate and desirable to pro-
vide for the observation and commemoration of this anniversary and 
these events through local, State, National, and international activities 
planned, encouraged, developed, and coordinated by a national com-
mission representative of appropriate public and private authorities 
and organizations. 
SEC. 2. (a) There is hereby established a commission to be known as 
the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission (hereinafter re-
ferred to as the "Commission") to plan, encourage, develop, and co-
ordinate the commemoration of the American Revolution bicentennial. 
(b) The Commission shall be composed of the following members: 
Membership. 
(1) Four Members of the Senate to be appointed by the Presi-
dent of the Senate; 
(2) Four Members of the House of Representatives to be ap-
pointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
(3) The Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secre-
tary of the Interior, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of 
Health, Education, and Welfare, the Librarian of Congress, the 
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the Archivist of the 
United States, and the Chairman of the Federal Council on the 
Arts and the Humanities, all of whom shall be ex officio members 
of the Commission; 
(4) Seventeen members from private life to be appointed by 
the President, one of whom shall be designated as the Chairman 
by the President. 
(c) Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner in which the 
original appointments were made. 
SEC. 3. (a) It shall be the duty of the Commission to prepare an duties. 
overall program for commemorating the bicentennial of the American 
Revolution, and to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate observ-
ances and activities commemorating the historic events that preceded, 
and are associated with, the American Revolution. 
(b) In preparing its plans and program, the Commission shall 
give due consideration to any related plans and programs developed by 
260 
PUBLIC LAW 89-491-JULY 4, 1966 
[80 STAT. 
Report to Presi-
dent. 
medals, certificates of 
Recommendations. 
Transmittal to 
Congress. 
Cooperation with 
Federal agencies. 
Study by Secre-
tary of Interior. 
Recommenda-
tions. 
Cooperation by 
other agencies. 
State, local, and private groups, and it ma^ designate special com-
mittees with representatives from such bodies to plan, developj^ and 
coordinate specific activities. 
(c) In all planning, the Commission shall give special emphasis 
to the ideas associated with the Revolution which have been so im-
portant in the development of the United States, in world affairs and 
m mankind's quest for freedom. 
(d) Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Commission shall submit to the President a comprehensive 
report incorporating its specific recommendations for the commemo-
ration of the bicentennial and related events. This report may recom-
mend activities such as, but not limited to, the following: 
(1) the production, publication, and distribution of books, 
pamphlets, films, and other educational materials focusing on the 
history, culture, and political thought of the period of the Ameri-
can Revolution; 
(2) bibliographical and documentary proj ects and publications; 
(3) conferences, convocations, lectures, seminars, and other 
programs; 
(4) the development of libraries, museums, historic sites, and 
exhibits, including mobile exhibits; 
(5) ceremonies and celebrations commemorating specific events; 
(6) programs and activities focusing on the national and inter-
national significance of the American Revolution, and its impli-
cations for present and future generations; 
(7) the issuance of commemorative coins, 
recognition, and stamps. 
(e) The report of the Commission shall include recommendations 
for the allocation of financial and administrative responsibility 
among the public and private authorities and organizations recom-
mended for participation by the Commission. 
The report shall also 
include proposals for such legislative enactments and administrative 
actions as the Commission considers necessary to carry out its recom-
mendations. The President shall transmit the Commission's report to 
the Congress together with such comments and recommendations for 
legislation and such report of administrative actions taken by him as 
he deems appropriate. 
SEC. 4. (a) In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Commission is au-
thorized and directed to consult, cooperate with, and seek advice and 
assistance from appropriate Federal departments and agencies. State 
and local public bodies, learned societies, and historical, patriotic, 
philanthropic, civic, professional, and related organizations. 
Such 
Federal departments and agencies are authorized and requested to co-
operate with the Commission in planning, encouraging, developing, 
and coordinating appropriate commemorative activities. 
(b) The Secretary of the Interior is authorized and requested to 
undertake a study of appropriate actions which might be taken to 
further preserve and develop Revolutionary War historic sites and 
battlefields, at such time and in such manner as will insure that fitting 
observances and exhibits may be held at appropriate sites and battle-
fields during the bicentennial celebration. 
The Secretary shall submit 
the results of his study to the Commission, together with his recom-
mendations, in time to afford the Commission an opportunity to review 
his study, and to incorporate such of its findings and recommenda-
tions as the Commission may deem appropriate in the report provided 
for in section 3(d). 
(c) The Chairman of the Federal Council on the Arts and the 
Humanities, the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, 
and the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities 
are authorized and requested to cooperate with the Commission, 
especially in the encouragement and coordination of scholarly works 
80 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 89.491-JULY 4, 1966 
261 
and presentations focusing on the history, culture, and political 
thought of the Revolutionary War period. 
(d) The Librarian of Congress, the Secretary of the Smithsonian 
Institution, and the Archivist of the United States are authorized 
and requested to cooperate with the Commission, especially in the 
development and display of exhibits and collections, and in the devel-
opment of bibliographies, catalogs, and other materials relevant to 
the period of the Revolutionary War. 
(e) Each of the officers listed in subsections (c) and (d) of this 
section shall submit recommendations to the Commission in time to 
afford the Commission an opportunity to review them, and to incor-
porate such of the recommendations as the Commission may deem 
appropriate in the report provided for in section 3(d). 
SEC. 5. (a) The Commission is authorized to accept donations of 
oonauons. 
money, property, or personal services. 
(b) AH books, manuscripts, miscellaneous printed matter, memo- 0^^°°^^' „ |^.' ^^ 
rabilia, relics, and other materials relating to the Revolutionary War braAes. 
period and donated to the Commission may be deposited for preserva-
tion in National, State, or local libraries or museums or be otherwise 
disposed of by the Commission in consultation with the Librarian of 
Congress, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the Archivist 
of the United States, and the Administrator of General Services, 
SEC. 6. (a) The members of the Commission shall receive no compen- 
compensation, 
sation for their services as such. Members from the legislative and JtJ.^ expenses, 
executive branches shall be allowed necessary travel expenses as 
authorized under law for official travel. 
Those appointed from pri-
vate life shall be allowed necessary travel expenses as authorized by 
section 5 of the Administrative Expenses Act of 1946 (5 U.S.C. 73b-2). 7
5
^ sta?'33^r340. 
(b) The Commission shall have power to appoint and fix the com-
pensation of such personnel as it deems advisable and to appoint such 
advisory committees as it deems necessary. 
(c) The Commission may procure services as authorized by section 
Rates o
f pay, 
15 of the Administrative Expenses Act of 1946 (5 U.S.C. 55a), but ^^"0 sm^'sio, 
at rates not to exceed $75 per diem for individuals. 
(d) The Commission, to such extent as it finds to be necessary, may 
procure supplies, services, and property; make contracts; expend in 
furtherance of this Act funds appropriated, donated, or received in 
pursuance of contracts hereunder; and exercise those powers that are 
necessary to enable it to carry out efficiently and in the public interest 
the purposes of this Act. 
(e) Financial and administrative services (including those related ^f^^l^^i^^i-^^e"^ 
to budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, personnel, and procure- services. 
ment) shall be provided the Commission by the Department of the 
Interior, for which paj^ment shall be made in advance, or by reim-
bursement, from funds of the Commission in such amounts as may be 
agreed upon by the Chairman of the Commission and the Secretary 
of the Interior: Provided, That the regulations of the Department of 
the Interior for the collection of indebtedness of personnel resulting 
from erroneous payments (5 U.S.C. 46e) shall apply to the collection 
^^ ^*^t- '^^^• 
of erroneous payments made to or on behalf of a Commission em-
ployee, and regulations of said Secretary for the administrative con-
trol of funds (31 U.S.C. 665(g)) shall apply to appropriations of the 
Commission: And provided further. That the Commission shall not 
be required to prescribe such regulations. 
(f) Any property acquired by the Commission remaining upon its pr^pert°^'"°" °^ 
termination may be used by the Secretary of the Interior for purposes 
of the National Park Service, or may be disposed of as excess or sur-
plus property. 
SEC. 7. (a) All expenditures of the Commission shall be made from 
Expenditures, 
donated funds only. 
limitation. 
262 
PUBLIC LAW 89-492-JULY 5, 1966 
[80 
STAT. 
Reports to 
Congress. 
(b) An annual report of the activities of the Commission, includ-
ing an accounting of funds received and expended, shall be furnished 
by the Commission to the Congress. A final report shall be made to 
the Congress no later than December 31, 1983, upon which date the 
Commission shall terminate. 
Approved July 4, 1966. 
Public Law 89-492 
July 5, 1966 
[H. R. 13822] 
Additional As-
sistant Post-
master General. 
74 Stat. 579. 
AN ACT 
75 Stat. 790. 
To provide for an additional Assistant Postmaster General to further the 
research and development and construction engineering programs of the 
Post Office Department, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America 
in Congress assembled, That it is the 
purpose of this Act to encourage, advance, and accelerate the research 
and development and construction engineering programs of the Post 
Office Department and to provide for improvements in the administra-
tion of such programs. 
SEC. 2. Section 305 of title 39, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
"§305. Assistant Postmasters General 
"Six Assistant Postmasters General appointed by the President, 
by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall perform 
such duties as the Postmaster General designates." 
SEC. 3. Section 303(d) (21) of the Federal Executive Salary Act 
of 1964 (78 Stat. 418; 5 U.S.C. 2211(d) (21)) is amended by striking 
out "Assistant Postmaster General (5)." and inserting in lieu thereof 
"Assistant Postmasters General (6).". 
SEC. 4. Section 303(e) of the Federal Executive Salary Act of 
1964 (78 Stat. 419; 5 U.S.C. 2211(e)) is amended— 
(1) by striking out 
" (60) Director, Office of Eesearch and Engineering, Post Office 
Department." 
and inserting in lieu thereof 
" (60) Director, Eesearch and Development, Post Office Depart-
ment."; and 
(2) by adding at the end thereof the following: 
" (101) Director, Construction Engineering, Post Office Depart-
ment.". 
SEC. 5. Subsection (e) of the first section of the Act of August 1, 
1947 (Public Law 313, Eightieth Congress), as amended (5 U.S.C. 
1161 (e)), is amended to read as follows: 
"(e) The Postmaster General is authorized to establish and fix the 
compensation for not more than six scientific or professional positions 
in the Post Office Department, each such position being established to 
effectuate those research and development and construction engineer-
ing functions of such Department which require the services of spe-
cially qualified personnel.". 
Approved July 5, 1966.