Women's Progress Commemoration Act
PL 105-341 (S.2285), enacted 10/31/1998

112 STAT. 3196 
PUBLIC LAW 105-341—OCT. 31, 1998 
Public Law 105-341 
105th Congress 
Oct. 31, 1998 
[S. 2285] 
Women's 
Progress 
Commemoration 
Act 
16 ilSC 470a 
note. 
16 u s e 470a 
note. 
16 u s e 470a 
note. 
President. 
Congress. 
An Act 
To establish a commission, in honor of the 150th Anniversary of the Seneca Falls 
Convention, to further protect sites of importance in the historic efforts to secure 
equal rights for women. 
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 "Women's Progress Commemora-
tion Act". 
SEC. 2. DECLARATION. 
Congress declares that— 
(1) the original Seneca Falls Convention, held in upstate 
New York in July 1848, convened to consider the social condi-
tions and civil rights of women at that time; 
(2) the convention marked the beginning of an admirable 
and courageous struggle for equal rights for women; 
(3) the 150th Anniversary of the convention provides an 
excellent opportunity to examine the history of the women's 
movement; and 
(4) a Federal Commission should be established for the 
important task of ensuring the historic preservation of sites 
that have been instrumental in American women's history, 
creating a living legacy for generations to come. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—^There is established a commission to be 
known as the "Women's Progress Commemoration Commission" 
(referred to in this Act as the "Commission"). 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—^The Commission shall be composed of 
15 members, of whom— 
(A) 3 shall be appointed by the President; 
(B) 3 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House 
of Representatives; 
(C) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
the House of Representatives; 
(D) 3 shall be appointed by the majority leader of 
the Senate; and 
(E) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
the Senate. 
(2) PERSONS ELIGIBLE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—^The members of the Commission 
shall be individuals who have knowledge or expertise. 
PUBLIC LAW 105-341—OCT. 31, 1998 
112 STAT. 3197 
whether by experience or training, in matters to be studied 
by the Commission. The members may be from the pubUc 
or private sector, and may include Federal, State, or local 
employees, members of academia, nonprofit organizations, 
or industry, or other interested individuals. 
(B) DIVERSITY.—It is the intent of Congress that per-
sons appointed to the Commission under paragraph (1) 
be persons who represent diverse economic, professional, 
and cultural backgrounds. 
(3) CONSULTATION AND APPOINTMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The President, Speaker of the House 
of Representatives, minority leader of the House of Rep-
resentatives, majority leader of the Senate, and minority 
leader of the Senate shall consult among themselves before 
appointing the members of the Commission in order to 
achieve, to the maximum extent practicable, fair and equi-
table representation of various points of view with respect 
to the matters to be studied by the Commission. 
(B) COMPLETION OF APPOINTMENTS; VACANCIES.—The 
President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, minor-
ity leader of the House of Representatives, majority leader 
of the Senate, and minority leader of the Senate shall 
conduct the consultation imder subparagraph (3) and make 
their respective appointments not later than 60 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act. 
(4) VACANCIES.—^A vacancy in the membership of the 
Commission shall not affect the powers of the Commission 
and shall be filled in the same meinner as the original appoint-
ment not later than 30 days after the vacancy occurs. 
(c) MEETINGS.— 
(1) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date on which all members of the Commission have been 
appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meeting. 
(2) SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS.—After the initial meeting, the 
Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson. 
(d) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the Commission 
shall constitute a quorum for the trsinsaction of business, but a 
lesser number of members may hold hearings. 
(e) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The Commission 
shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among its 
members. 
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
Not later than 1 year after the initial meeting of the Commis-
sion, the Commission, in cooperation with the Secretary of the 
Interior and other appropriate Federal, State, and local public and 
private entities, shall prepare and submit to the Secretary of the 
Interior a report that— 
(1) identifies sites of historical significance to the women's 
movement; and 
(2) recommends actions, under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.) and other law, to 
rehabilitate and preserve the sites and provide to the public 
interpretive and educational materials and activities at the 
sites. 
President. 
Congress. 
Deadline. 
Reports. 
16 u s e 470a 
note. 
112 STAT. 3198 
PUBLIC LAW 105-341—OCT. 31, 1998 
16 u s e 470a 
SEC. 5. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such hearings, sit 
and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive 
such evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out 
its duties of this Act. 
(b) INFORMATION FROM FE&ERAL AGENCIES.—The Commission 
may secure directly from any Federal department or agency such 
information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out 
the provisions of this Act. At the request of the Chairperson of 
the Commission, the head of such department or agency shall 
furnish such information to the Commission. 
16 u s e 470a 
SEC. 6. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 
(a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—A member of the Commission 
who is not otherwise an officer or employee of the Federal Govern-
ment shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent 
of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for a position at level 
IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United 
States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which 
the member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the 
Commission. A member of the Commission who is otherwise an 
officer or employee of the United States shall serve without com-
pensation in addition to that received for services as an officer 
or employee of the United States. 
(b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—^A member of the Commission shall 
be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, 
at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter 
I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from 
the home or regular place of business of the member in the perform-
ance of service for the Commission. 
(c) STAFF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the Commission may, 
without regard to the civil service laws (including regulations), 
appoint and terminate an executive director £ind such other 
additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commis-
sion to perform its duties. The employment and termination 
of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by 
a majority of the members of the Commission. 
(2) COMPENSATION.—^The executive director shall be com-
pensated at a rate not to exceed the rate payable for a position 
at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 
title 5, United States Code. The Chairperson may fix the com-
pensation of other personnel without regard to the provisions 
of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, 
United States Code, relating to classification of positions and 
General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for 
such personnel may not exceed the rate payable for a position 
at level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 
that title. 
(3) 
DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Any Federal 
Government employee, with the approval of the head of the 
appropriate Federal agency, may be detailed to the Commission 
without reimbursement, and the detail shall be without 
interruption or loss of civil service status, benefits, or privilege. 
(d) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMITTENT SERV-
ICES.—^The Chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary 
and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United 
PUBLIC LAW 105-341—OCT. 31, 1998 
112 STAT. 3199 
States Code, at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equiva-
lent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for a position at 
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of that title. 
SEC. 7. FUNDING. 
16 USC 470a 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—^There are authorized °''*®' 
to be appropriated to the Commission such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this Act. 
(b) DONATIONS.—^The Commission may accept donations from 
non-Federal sources to defray the costs of the operations of the 
Commission. 
SEC. 8. TERMINATION. 
16 USC 470a 
The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 30 days 
after the date on which the Commission submits to the Secretary 
of the Interior the report under section 4(b). 
SEC. 9. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 
DeadUne. 
Not later than 2 years and not later than 5 years after the note. 
date on which the Commission submits to the Secretary of the 
Interior the report under section 4, the Secretary of the Interior 
shall submit to Congress a report describing the actions that have 
been taken to preserve the sites identified in the Commission report 
as being of historical significance. 
Approved October 31, 1998. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2285: 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 105-396 (Comm. on Enei^ and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 144 (1998): 
Oct. 7, considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 10, considered and passed House. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 34 (1998): 
Oct. 31, Presidential statement.